Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Tactical Takedown Reviews
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Tactical Takedown is a short but very sweet turn-based tactics experience that makes the most of its iconic license.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Tactical Takedown is a fun, if barebones, tactics game reminiscent of the arcade classics that define this series.
But when your biggest complaint about a game is that it left you wanting more, you know it’s something special. Like this year’s Expedition 33, Tactical Takedown overcomes the most common complaints about turn-based games to deliver a strategically action-packed experience. This is an excellent showcase of what makes the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles so beloved, and as a fan, I’m so happy to see the turtles finally get the kinds of games they deserve.
"The streets have traffic, but also friendly hot dog vendors who throw delicious, healing sausage treats."
The turtle boys don't cut 'em no slack in a short but sweet tactics game that feels like the foundation for something much bigger.
The combination of turn-based strategy and beat-'em-up gameplay felt like a bit of a square peg, round hole situation, but Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Tactical Takedown melds the two to deliver one of the freshest takes on TMNT that I've seen in a long time. It's a short-but-sweet experience that might not gel with everyone, but after 35 years of beat 'em ups and brawlers, this showcases the Turtles like you've never seen them before. And come on, that's pretty radical, dude.
With some unpleasant difficulty spikes and staid visuals, TMNT: Tactical Takedown won't be for everyone. But for those willing to overlook its idiosyncrasies, Tactical Takedown offers a compelling, yet brief, strategic challenge.
Fast-paced strategy makes Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Tactical Takedown’s turn-based action feel as active as an arcade brawler. Each level offers a jolt of arcade excitement that gives each turtle their chance to shine rather than treating them as interchangeable heroes. Its small scope leaves it vulnerable to bugs and repetition, but Tactical Takedown’s best quality is how much it’s willing to break the mold and offer a new spin on a familiar TMNT power fantasy.
Short, sweet, and smart, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Tactical Takedown took me by surprise. It’s not just about how much I enjoyed it, but how intelligently Strange Scaffold came up with a gimmick that sounds bizarre on paper, but absolutely nailed it in practice.
The writing and action do a great job of pulling players into the world of the TMNT. The fast-paced strategy offers a light touch that feels fitting for the characters and can be deceptively challenging. While it might be light compared to more complex strategy titles, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Tactical Takedown is a shell of a good time.
TMNT: Tactical Takedown is a decent time if you love the turtles and aren’t expecting a revolutionary tactics game. It has heart, humor, and enough ninja action to keep fans entertained, truly my only issue is the writing in some areas but even its not enough to distract from how much fun this tactics game is; just like my first time trying pineapple on pizza, I was surprised with how much I really enjoyed this unique mash-up and wouldn’t mind another tactical Turtles game.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Tactical Takedown is a bit lacking in terms of difficulty and enemy variety, and the story doesn't feel too creative. That said, the abilities of each Ninja Turtle reflect their personalities well and allows for some visceral tactical takedowns. Generally, it's a game that turn-based tactics fans should enjoy for a few hours.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Tactical Takedown is a new turn-based take on the iconic franchise from Strange Scaffold.
Strange Scaffold have done it again and has made another wonderful romp that is well worth your time, this time adapting the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles name and world. Dispel any doubt: the indie studio's writing chops and style transfer well to the universe of the team of amphibian martial artists, bringing over so much charm and pizazz from the IP in its first-ever turn-based affair. With plenty of visual and audio flourishes and delights, you're transported to the franchise's heyday and better yet, while you're at it, you're engaging in some good old-fashioned tactics fun, using the turtle brother's skillsets to take down wave after wave of thugs. It might not be the most mechanically deep or hardest of the genre, but it's all worth it to see those lovable crime-fighting teens back in action.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Tactical Takedown makes its way to Nintendo Switch with the same strengths and weaknesses as the recent PC release. It's a fun experience for TMNT fans, but the lazy porting effort and some missing features hold it back. The core idea is strong and the game is well put together, yet its short length and minor flaws keep it from truly shining.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Tactical Takedown is a solid but limited experience. The core of the game is a joy to mess around with even if it fails to fully capitalise on the systems given to you.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Tactical Takedown is a superb strategy game thanks to its uniqueness and rewarding sense of challenge. 🍕
Overall happy to see TMNT cross yet another genre, but Tactical Takedown just barely makes a good grade. It’s not bad but it does nothing for the genre to make me want more of it. I can, for sure, recommend this for those wanting a more toned down turn-based strategy experience, especially if you love the Turtles, however. Veterans to these games will likely find Tactical Takedown a bit slow and too simple.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Tactical Takedown is still good enough for both crowds to buy and play. Think of this game as not the pizza that the Turtles enjoy, but the side dish. Something tasty that gamers will enjoy, but don't expect to fill up on it.