TMNT Does Hades?! You Won’t Believe What Happens Next!

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In recent times, licensed video games haven’t been as impressive as they once were. Finding a good one was scarce, and a great one with no drawbacks was almost impossible. However, games like Batman: Arkham Asylum signaled a change that has persisted, with titles such as Marvel’s Spider-Man and the Star Wars: Jedi series continuing this trend. Unfortunately, the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles haven’t typically headlined excellent video games. This is different for TMNT: Shredder’s Revenge, which stands out in today’s era because most TMNT games are either exclusive to mobile or mediocre at best. Contrary to popular belief, TMNT: Splintered Fate isn’t just another simple brawler for casual kids; instead, this new port of the game resembles Hades in quality, and it exceeds expectations.

The similarities between the games and Hades are evident, and the developers are open about this comparison. Lead game designer Daniel Stansens acknowledged these comparisons and expressed his pleasure at being compared to Supergiant’s revered classic. Although players may point out differences in Splintered Fate, it doesn’t quite match the unique charm of Hades, but merely being in the same category as Hades is an accomplishment.

In simpler terms, “Splintered Fate” excels in its robust controls and multiple upgrade options. The gameplay, with swift evasion and attacks, is responsive, and the enemies are tenacious, making aimless slashing a risky move. Bosses also follow this pattern and possess several attack types to prevent players from idling. Unfortunately, it lacks tactical elements like Hades’ backstabs and environmental kills, and could benefit from more random events, as continuous lightning storms aren’t engaging enough. However, the persistent enemy assaults compel players to engage actively, thereby establishing a solid game structure.

Regardless of some shallow areas, its upgrade system manages to compensate effectively. Enhancements come in various forms and can combine with each other, empowering players to customize their playstyle. For instance, one enhancement lets you throw shurikens with every attack, which synergizes well with the buff that weakens an enemy’s defense upon shuriken impact. Rare enhancements like Hades’ duo boons offer unique effects when two distinct buffs are selected. Such interactions are crucial in roguelites, and Splintered Fate excels at capturing these core elements.

The game offers some great permanent upgrades, but it occasionally creates obstacles that might slow down progress unnaturally. For instance, acquiring various damage-enhancing upgrades at the start can be quite challenging, leading to prolonged battles if players advance too swiftly. Additionally, dialogue tends to repeat frequently and the central mystery lacks appeal, with its revelation coming in a drip-feed manner that’s not particularly engaging after each successful attempt.

Although there are minor issues, neither system is significantly flawed. Some parts even elicit laughter, and after an initial learning phase, the progression offers a satisfying power boost as players improve. It may not have numerous random events, but players can modify their runs by making them more challenging with intriguing, risky penalties similar to Pact of Punishment-like debuffs. Each Turtle and Casey Jones has distinct characteristics. Despite its impressive impact, it’s hard not to draw parallels with Hades, which left a massive footprint in the gaming world that makes it challenging for other games to compete. Much like Dark Souls, the game that pioneered this type of playstyle stands so tall that many subsequent games find it difficult to match its success.

It appears that the positive feedback for “Splintered Fate” may be due to its association with a child-oriented franchise, which is somewhat difficult to ignore given its cartoonish appearance. At first glance, it might seem like just another kids’ game, and this impression isn’t improved by its initial release on iOS platforms without much initial excitement. The truth is, it didn’t need to be exceptional. Many TMNT games haven’t been and haven’t strived for much more than the basics. Even PlatinumGames, a studio renowned for hit action games like “Bayonetta,” “Vanquish,” and “Nier: Automata,” couldn’t break through with their less-than-stellar 2016 release, “TMNT: Mutants in Manhattan,” which was withdrawn from digital stores just seven months after its launch.

The Turtles are yet to receive their “Arkham Asylum”, but if the studio can survive long enough to complete it, “The Last Ronin”-esque (God of War-like) title could potentially succeed. However, a high-budget Game of the Year contender might not be crucial for the TMNT’s video game success if more developers follow Super Evil Megacorp’s lead and create quality games in unconventional genres like they did with “TMNT: Splintered Fate”. The turtles can adapt to a wide range of genres, so finding the right fit and executing it well is an impressive strategy. Zagreus currently reigns supreme in the roguelike genre, but even being compared favorably to “Hades” suggests that “Splintered Fate” may be exactly what the franchise needs in terms of video games.

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2025-05-19 20:40