Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Turtles in Time Re-Shelled
Encyclopedia
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Turtles in Time Re-Shelled (sometimes shortened Turtles in Time: Re-Shelled) is an enhanced remake
of the arcade game, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Turtles in Time
, which itself is a sequel to the original Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
arcade game. Both of the original arcade games were produced by Konami
. It is a side scrolling
beat 'em up
based on the 1987 animated series
. It was developed and published by Ubisoft Singapore for the PlayStation 3
and Xbox 360
. It was released Worldwide
on August 5, 2009 on Xbox Live Arcade
and September 10, 2009 on the PlayStation Network. The game was later delisted from the Xbox Live Marketplace
and the PlayStation Store
in June 2011, due to an expired license.
The game was a commercial success, moving more than 387,000 units as of year-end 2010 on Xbox Live Arcade. It also was the top downloadable title on the North American PlayStation Network the month of its release. Despite high sales, critical reception was mediocre overall. The PlayStation 3 version holds a score of 56.50% at GameRankings, while the Xbox 360 version holds a score of 61.79%. Reviewers generally praised the enhanced visuals and addition of online play, but were critical of the little replay value and the inability to join a game already in progress.
beat 'em up
. Players control the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
: Leonardo, Donatello, Michaelangelo, and Raphael. Each playable character has his own strengths and weaknesses. Up to four players can play simultaneously, and can play any combination of local and online multiplayer. Players are given a basic control setup, with jump, attack, and special attack buttons in addition to movement. Certain button combinations can execute special moves, such as a sprint, dash attack, or special attack. New to the remake is the ability to attack in eight directions, as opposed to the two directions of the original version.
Other enhancements were made to Re-Shelled over the original game. The graphics were recreated completely in 3D, with players now moving in and out of a true 3D camera. The opening and closing cinematics were redesigned with a stylized comic book feel. The vocal quips of the arcade version return, albeit re-recorded by the cast of the 2003 cartoon
. The music has also been updated, with the original theme song from the being replaced. Re-Shelled also features Survival and Quickplay modes as well as leaderboards
which track a player's high score.
reporting from Liberty Island
. Suddenly, Krang
flies in using his giant exosuit
and steals the Statue of Liberty
. Immediately thereafter Shredder
hijacks the airwaves to laugh at the turtles. They head to downtown New York and pursue the Foot Clan
through the streets and the city sewers, where Shredder sends them through a time warp
. The turtles then have to fight Shredder's army through multiple eras of time to defeat him.
, however the price was lowered to 800 prior to the game's release. When questioned as to the reason for the price drop, a Ubisoft representative responded "We wanted to give something to the loyal TMNT fans in honor of the 25th anniversary." It was released on PlayStation 3 following the time exclusivity on September 10, 2009. The game was later delisted from the Xbox Live Marketplace
and the PlayStation Store
in June 2011, due to an expired license.
reports similar scores, with the PlayStation 3 version averaging 55/100 and the Xbox 360 version averaging 60/100. Despite mediocre reviews it was a commercial success, moving more than 387,000 units on Xbox Live Arcade as of year-end 2010. It also ranked as the top downloadable title on the North American PlayStation Network the month of its release.
Reviewers generally had positive remarks in regards to the upgraded graphics in the game. Dale Nardozzi of TeamXbox
stated the visual upgrade has "a fancy sheen that completely modernizes this code." IGN
's Daemon Hatfield also praised the new visuals, but expressed dissatisfaction with the fact that players could not choose the original graphics, saying that "the original arcade graphics have a certain charm this version doesn't." Official Xbox Magazine
(OXM)s Ryan McCaffrey agreed, noting "we would’ve loved a Secret of Monkey Island
/R-Type
–esque way to revert to the classic graphics on the fly." In regards to the game's multiplayer, reviewers appreciated the new online component; however, some were disappointed with the inability to join games on the fly, which the original arcade version allowed. Scott Sharkey of 1UP.com
and the reviewer from GameZone
both noted that the game is more fun with four players. Sharkey stated that multiplayer gameplay "amplifies the fun by an order of magnitude for each person who joins in."
Criticisms were made in regards to the game's simplicity and lack of replay value. The reviewer from GameTrailers
was disappointed with the control scheme, stating it was too simplistic. TeamXbox
's Dale Nardozzi stated that while the turtles can now attack in more directions players will still "more than likely get a severe, gang-up-style beatdown." IGN
's Daemon Hatfield criticized the game's difficulty, but conceded that Turtles in Time "was made for arcades and it shows in the cheap bosses and unavoidable traps."
Enhanced remake
A video game remake is a game closely adapted from an earlier title, usually for the purpose of modernizing a game for newer hardware and contemporary audiences. Typically, a remake shares essentially the same title, fundamental gameplay concepts, and story elements of the original game...
of the arcade game, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Turtles in Time
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Turtles in Time
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Turtles in Time, released as Teenage Mutant Hero Turtles: Turtles in Time in Europe, is an arcade video game produced by Konami. A sequel to the original Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles arcade game, it is a scrolling beat 'em up based mainly on the 1987 TMNT animated...
, which itself is a sequel to the original Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (arcade game)
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, released as Teenage Mutant Hero Turtles in Europe, and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Super Kame Ninja in Japan, is a side-scrolling beat-'em-up released by Konami as a coin-operated video game in...
arcade game. Both of the original arcade games were produced by Konami
Konami
is a Japanese leading developer and publisher of numerous popular and strong-selling toys, trading cards, anime, tokusatsu, slot machines, arcade cabinets and video games...
. It is a side scrolling
Side-scrolling video game
A side-scrolling game or side-scroller is a video game in which the gameplay action is viewed from a side-view camera angle, and the onscreen characters generally move from the left side of the screen to the right. These games make use of scrolling computer display technology...
beat 'em up
Beat 'em up
Beat 'em up is a video game genre featuring melee combat between the protagonist and a large number of underpowered antagonists. These games typically take place in urban settings and feature crime-fighting and revenge-based plots, though some games may employ historical or fantasy themes...
based on the 1987 animated series
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (1987 TV series)
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles is an American animated television series produced by Murakami-Wolf-Swenson. The pilot was shown during the week of December 28, 1987 in syndication as a five part miniseries and began its official run on October 1, 1988...
. It was developed and published by Ubisoft Singapore for the PlayStation 3
PlayStation 3
The is the third home video game console produced by Sony Computer Entertainment and the successor to the PlayStation 2 as part of the PlayStation series. The PlayStation 3 competes with Microsoft's Xbox 360 and Nintendo's Wii as part of the seventh generation of video game consoles...
and Xbox 360
Xbox 360
The Xbox 360 is the second video game console produced by Microsoft and the successor to the Xbox. The Xbox 360 competes with Sony's PlayStation 3 and Nintendo's Wii as part of the seventh generation of video game consoles...
. It was released Worldwide
World
World is a common name for the whole of human civilization, specifically human experience, history, or the human condition in general, worldwide, i.e. anywhere on Earth....
on August 5, 2009 on Xbox Live Arcade
Xbox Live Arcade
Xbox Live Arcade is a type of video game download distribution available primarily in a section of the Xbox Live Marketplace, Microsoft's digital distribution network for the Xbox 360, that focuses on smaller downloadable games from both major publishers and independent game developers...
and September 10, 2009 on the PlayStation Network. The game was later delisted from the Xbox Live Marketplace
Xbox Live Marketplace
The Xbox Live Marketplace is a virtual market designed for Microsoft's Xbox 360 console that allows Xbox Live members to download purchased or promotional content...
and the PlayStation Store
PlayStation Store
The PlayStation Store is an online virtual market available to users of Sony's PlayStation 3 and PlayStation Portable game consoles via the PlayStation Network. The Store offers a range of downloadable content both for purchase and available free of charge. Available content includes full games,...
in June 2011, due to an expired license.
The game was a commercial success, moving more than 387,000 units as of year-end 2010 on Xbox Live Arcade. It also was the top downloadable title on the North American PlayStation Network the month of its release. Despite high sales, critical reception was mediocre overall. The PlayStation 3 version holds a score of 56.50% at GameRankings, while the Xbox 360 version holds a score of 61.79%. Reviewers generally praised the enhanced visuals and addition of online play, but were critical of the little replay value and the inability to join a game already in progress.
Gameplay
Turtles in Time Re-Shelled is a side scrollingSide-scrolling video game
A side-scrolling game or side-scroller is a video game in which the gameplay action is viewed from a side-view camera angle, and the onscreen characters generally move from the left side of the screen to the right. These games make use of scrolling computer display technology...
beat 'em up
Beat 'em up
Beat 'em up is a video game genre featuring melee combat between the protagonist and a large number of underpowered antagonists. These games typically take place in urban settings and feature crime-fighting and revenge-based plots, though some games may employ historical or fantasy themes...
. Players control the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles are a fictional team of four teenage anthropomorphic turtles, who were trained by their anthropomorphic rat sensei in the art of ninjutsu and named after four Renaissance artists...
: Leonardo, Donatello, Michaelangelo, and Raphael. Each playable character has his own strengths and weaknesses. Up to four players can play simultaneously, and can play any combination of local and online multiplayer. Players are given a basic control setup, with jump, attack, and special attack buttons in addition to movement. Certain button combinations can execute special moves, such as a sprint, dash attack, or special attack. New to the remake is the ability to attack in eight directions, as opposed to the two directions of the original version.
Other enhancements were made to Re-Shelled over the original game. The graphics were recreated completely in 3D, with players now moving in and out of a true 3D camera. The opening and closing cinematics were redesigned with a stylized comic book feel. The vocal quips of the arcade version return, albeit re-recorded by the cast of the 2003 cartoon
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (2003 TV series)
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles is an American animated series, mainly set in New York City. It first aired on February 8, 2003 and ended on November 21, 2009...
. The music has also been updated, with the original theme song from the being replaced. Re-Shelled also features Survival and Quickplay modes as well as leaderboards
Game ladder
A ladder tournament is a form of tournament for games and sports. It is an extended tournament, which can potentially go on indefinitely. In a ladder tournament, players are listed as if on the rungs of a ladder. The objective for a player is to reach the highest rung of the ladder...
which track a player's high score.
Synopsis
The game begins as the turtles watch a television newscast of April O'NeilApril O'Neil
April O'Neil is a fictional character in the Mirage Studios franchise Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. In each of the many TMNT continuities, she is a good friend of the Turtles: Leonardo, Raphael, Donatello and Michelangelo.-Comics:...
reporting from Liberty Island
Liberty Island
Liberty Island is a small uninhabited island in New York Harbor in the United States, best known as the location of the Statue of Liberty. Though so called since the turn of the century, the name did not become official until 1956. In 1937, by proclamation 2250, President Franklin D...
. Suddenly, Krang
Krang
Krang is a fictional supervillain who appears in the Sonic The Hedgehog TV shows and most frequently in the 1987 STH cartoon and its associated media, such as the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Adventures comic book and most of the classic TMNT video games....
flies in using his giant exosuit
Powered exoskeleton
A powered exoskeleton, also known as powered armor, or exoframe, is a powered mobile machine consisting primarily of an exoskeleton-like framework worn by a person and a power supply that supplies at least part of the activation-energy for limb movement.Powered exoskeletons are designed to assist...
and steals the Statue of Liberty
Statue of Liberty
The Statue of Liberty is a colossal neoclassical sculpture on Liberty Island in New York Harbor, designed by Frédéric Bartholdi and dedicated on October 28, 1886...
. Immediately thereafter Shredder
Shredder (TMNT)
The Shredder is a fictional character and primary antagonist from the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles franchise. At one point or another in every incarnation of the TMNT stories, he has been the archenemy of Splinter and the Turtles...
hijacks the airwaves to laugh at the turtles. They head to downtown New York and pursue the Foot Clan
Foot Clan
The Foot Clan is a fictional ninjutsu clan in the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles universe and the Turtles' main antagonists. It is usually led by the Shredder. The Foot Clan was originally a parody of the criminal ninja clan the Hand in the Daredevil comics...
through the streets and the city sewers, where Shredder sends them through a time warp
Time travel
Time travel is the concept of moving between different points in time in a manner analogous to moving between different points in space. Time travel could hypothetically involve moving backward in time to a moment earlier than the starting point, or forward to the future of that point without the...
. The turtles then have to fight Shredder's army through multiple eras of time to defeat him.
Development and marketing
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Turtles in Time Re-Shelled was first unveiled in April 2009 at the Galabunga event in New York City. Originally slated for release on the Xbox 360 on July 22, 2009, it was first released as a timed exclusive for the Xbox 360 on August 5, 2009 as part of the Xbox Live Summer of Arcade. Re-Shelled was originally priced at 1200 Microsoft pointsMicrosoft Points
Microsoft Points are the currency of the Xbox Live Marketplace, Games for Windows - Live Marketplace, Windows Live Gallery, and Zune online stores. The points allow users to purchase content without a credit card and to reduce the number of small credit card transaction fees, which Microsoft would...
, however the price was lowered to 800 prior to the game's release. When questioned as to the reason for the price drop, a Ubisoft representative responded "We wanted to give something to the loyal TMNT fans in honor of the 25th anniversary." It was released on PlayStation 3 following the time exclusivity on September 10, 2009. The game was later delisted from the Xbox Live Marketplace
Xbox Live Marketplace
The Xbox Live Marketplace is a virtual market designed for Microsoft's Xbox 360 console that allows Xbox Live members to download purchased or promotional content...
and the PlayStation Store
PlayStation Store
The PlayStation Store is an online virtual market available to users of Sony's PlayStation 3 and PlayStation Portable game consoles via the PlayStation Network. The Store offers a range of downloadable content both for purchase and available free of charge. Available content includes full games,...
in June 2011, due to an expired license.
Reception
Turtles in Time Re-Shelled received mixed reviews from critics, but mediocre reception overall. The PlayStation 3 version holds a score of 56.50% at GameRankings, while the Xbox 360 version holds a score of 61.79%. MetacriticMetacritic
Metacritic.com is a website that collates reviews of music albums, games, movies, TV shows and DVDs. For each product, a numerical score from each review is obtained and the total is averaged. An excerpt of each review is provided along with a hyperlink to the source. Three colour codes of Green,...
reports similar scores, with the PlayStation 3 version averaging 55/100 and the Xbox 360 version averaging 60/100. Despite mediocre reviews it was a commercial success, moving more than 387,000 units on Xbox Live Arcade as of year-end 2010. It also ranked as the top downloadable title on the North American PlayStation Network the month of its release.
Reviewers generally had positive remarks in regards to the upgraded graphics in the game. Dale Nardozzi of TeamXbox
TeamXbox
TeamXbox is a gaming media web site dedicated to Microsoft's Xbox and Xbox 360 platforms. While the majority of content is Xbox and Xbox 360 related, the site occasionally covers general technology and other video game news....
stated the visual upgrade has "a fancy sheen that completely modernizes this code." IGN
IGN
IGN is an entertainment website that focuses on video games, films, music and other media. IGN's main website comprises several specialty sites or "channels", each occupying a subdomain and covering a specific area of entertainment...
's Daemon Hatfield also praised the new visuals, but expressed dissatisfaction with the fact that players could not choose the original graphics, saying that "the original arcade graphics have a certain charm this version doesn't." Official Xbox Magazine
Official Xbox Magazine
Official Xbox Magazine is a monthly video game magazine which started in November 2001 around the launch of the original Xbox. A preview issue was released for E3 2001, with another preview issue for November 2001. The magazine is bundled with a disc that includes game demos, preview videos and...
(OXM)s Ryan McCaffrey agreed, noting "we would’ve loved a Secret of Monkey Island
The Secret of Monkey Island
The Secret of Monkey Island is a graphic adventure game developed by Lucasfilm Games and published by the same company after its name was changed to LucasArts. The game spawned a number of sequels, collectively known as the Monkey Island series...
/R-Type
R-Type
is a side scrolling shoot-em-up arcade game produced by Irem in 1987. The player controls a space fighter named R-9a "Arrowhead" to defend humanity against a mysterious but powerful alien life-form known as "Bydo", which was later discovered to be not entirely alien in origin...
–esque way to revert to the classic graphics on the fly." In regards to the game's multiplayer, reviewers appreciated the new online component; however, some were disappointed with the inability to join games on the fly, which the original arcade version allowed. Scott Sharkey of 1UP.com
1UP.com
1UP.com is a video game website owned by IGN Entertainment, a division of News Corporation. Previously, the site was owned by Ziff Davis before being sold to UGO Entertainment in 2009....
and the reviewer from GameZone
GameZone
GameZone is an American multiplatform video game website. GameZone's daily coverage includes reviews, previews, news, hints & cheats, and editorials. Additionally, GameZone offers downloads, a child-targeted website and in association with GameStop, hosts GZGameShop, an online retailer...
both noted that the game is more fun with four players. Sharkey stated that multiplayer gameplay "amplifies the fun by an order of magnitude for each person who joins in."
Criticisms were made in regards to the game's simplicity and lack of replay value. The reviewer from GameTrailers
GameTrailers
GameTrailers is a media website that specializes in video game related content. It provides free access to original programming , game trailers and recorded game play. Along with standard definition , many of the video clips are offered in a higher resolution .Users can upload videos, create...
was disappointed with the control scheme, stating it was too simplistic. TeamXbox
TeamXbox
TeamXbox is a gaming media web site dedicated to Microsoft's Xbox and Xbox 360 platforms. While the majority of content is Xbox and Xbox 360 related, the site occasionally covers general technology and other video game news....
's Dale Nardozzi stated that while the turtles can now attack in more directions players will still "more than likely get a severe, gang-up-style beatdown." IGN
IGN
IGN is an entertainment website that focuses on video games, films, music and other media. IGN's main website comprises several specialty sites or "channels", each occupying a subdomain and covering a specific area of entertainment...
's Daemon Hatfield criticized the game's difficulty, but conceded that Turtles in Time "was made for arcades and it shows in the cheap bosses and unavoidable traps."