TMNT: Empire City Proves The Heroes In A Half Shell Are Perfect For VR (Preview)

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Virtual reality gaming is constantly reimagining beloved characters, letting players step into the shoes of childhood heroes. A recent example is TMNT: Empire City. Created by Cortopia Studios and published by Beyond Frames Entertainment, this game is designed for four players to team up and each control one of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, battling Foot Ninja across the rooftops and sewers of New York City.

Bringing the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles into virtual reality is a great idea, and Cortopia Studios has executed it well. A recent hands-on preview of TMNT: Empire City on the Meta Quest 3 showed exciting combat and impressive graphics, making for a really enjoyable experience. If the full game lives up to the standard set by the tutorial, it could be a fantastic VR title and a must-have for TMNT fans.

Thinking Like A Turtle

The most interesting part of TMNT: Empire City is that you can play as any of the four turtles. Each turtle fights differently, offering a unique combat style. The demo let players try out each turtle in a tutorial, learning the controls as they switched between them. Leonardo’s swords will feel familiar to players of games like Deadpool VR, but Michelangelo’s nunchucks and Donatello’s staff offer a distinct feel with their own weight and movement.

A neat detail is how Raphael and Michelangelo charge their attacks by spinning their weapons, which feels great during the fast-paced action. Each Turtle plays a bit differently, and the demo showed off unique skills like Donnie’s hacking. Combat is easy to pick up – it’s all about hitting, blocking, and dodging – but the addition of items like smoke bombs and throwing stars keeps fights interesting and adds a bit of strategy.

While not groundbreaking, the game feels satisfyingly powerful, especially when you land a surprise attack. The best part of the virtual reality experience comes when you play as Mikey and navigate the rooftops, jumping between buildings to deliver kicks and sneak attacks.

The game really captures what it feels like to be the Ninja Turtles, and the characters’ signature wit shines through. Although climbing in VR can still be a little disorienting, the overall action and movement in TMNT: Empire City are remarkably well done.

Turtle Power!

Although the core gameplay is good, what really makes TMNT: Empire City stand out is how it looks and feels. The game’s visuals, with their subtle shading, perfectly capture the spirit of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, and the slightly cartoonish style makes you feel like you’re truly part of that world. Each Turtle has a unique personality, and their conversations – especially when they’re interacting at their base – are particularly engaging.

The graphics aren’t perfect up close, but the game looks fantastic when you’re playing. Taking down enemies, like sneaking up on a Foot ninja and knocking them out, feels really satisfying and over-the-top, especially with a charged-up, glowing attack. The game embraces the classic, energetic style of Saturday morning cartoons, giving the characters a bright and lively feel.

The game appears to be a lighthearted and enjoyable experience, continuing the story after Shredder’s defeat. The boss fight with Karai suggests the Foot Clan is plotting something big, potentially bringing a well-known villain back into the mix – a classic setup for the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. The game strikes a good balance between humor and seriousness, with witty dialogue that makes the characters engaging. Fans will also appreciate glimpses of April O’Neal and Casey Jones, suggesting they’ll be key players in the full game.

Empire City really understands what makes the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles special, making it a fun and engaging world to explore. Even after the exciting action sequences in the demo, I enjoyed simply spending time with the Turtles in their well-designed base, which is a great place to see their personalities and relationships shine. If you’re a TMNT fan, you’ll appreciate how Empire City brings the franchise to life.

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2025-12-10 01:12