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Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge was announced in March but some new details were revealed at Gamescom 2021. Dotemu’s involvement as the game’s publisher is more than enough for higher than average expectations. The French video game company has shown it understands how to properly adapt retro-style titles. Dotemu’s work on Streets of Rage 4 was simply masterful.
Shredder’s Revenge may be a different series but it’s also a beat ’em up title from another woefully underutilized franchise. Fans already had every reason to be shella excited for the new TMNT title. Dotemu adding April O’Neil to the game is super radical, especially the way she was designed.
April O’Neil was the first human friend and ally to the Ninja Turtles. She’s been with the turtle team since the very beginning of the series, which goes back to 1987. Her inclusion in Shredder’s Revenge is a big deal. Despite being such an important and prominent character, she’s only been playable in a few games. She’s appeared in several but was almost always used as a “damsel in distress.”
April was playable in a few games, including Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Tournament Fighters for the Sega Genesis, but her playable appearances are pretty rare. She was only playable in three other games and they were some of the uh, well, games that Konami and Dotemu didn’t work on. And Dotemu didn’t just casually add April to the game. Her character kicks ass, just like she always has in the comics, shows, and films.
In the trailer, April is wearing her iconic yellow jumpsuit and the accessories she needs to investigate and report the news. She’s got the agility, punches, and kicks needed to take down the soldiers of the Foot Clan. She will be fully playable alongside the turtles, and will be expecting some slices of pizza for the help.
Seeing how much thought has gone into April’s design, movement, and attacks adds to the already high credibility of Dotemu. Her personality even shines in the trailer, like with the mic drop. Shredder’s Revenge really feels like it’s meant to be a Ninja Turtles game, instead of a generic beat ’em up with TMNT paint splashed over the surface.
Dotemu and Tribute Games are still hard at work on Shredder’s Revenge and aren’t expecting it to release until sometime in 2022. It looks like the two companies have used their time well though because Shredder’s Revenge looks like the older TMNT beat ’em ups, like Turtles in Time, but with all the modern improvements we’ve come to expect since the earlier “Cowabunga Dude” days.
The amount of time between April O’Neil’s announcement and the pending release date gives pause too. It feels like some more character announcements could be on the way. Perhaps some additional antagonists, like Splinter and Casey Jones? Or maybe some cool unlockables for repeat playthroughs with friends, like Bebop and Rocksteady?
You can wishlist Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge on Steam to stay updated. The Ninja Turtles will also be raising shell on the Nintendo Switch when it releases next year. (No specific release date has been provided at this time beyond the year).
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