The four-player fighting game, called Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle: Smash Up, is notable in that it will be the first Turtles game to not be tied to a TMNT movie, television show, or comic book. It is also part of the "shell-ebration" of the 25th anniversary of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and is slated to ship out in fall 2009.
UBISOFT® CELEBRATES 25th ANNIVERSARY OF TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES® WITH LAUNCH OF NEW VIDEO GAME
SAN FRANCISCO – January 26, 2009 – Today Ubisoft announced that it will launch an all-new, original Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles® (TMNT®) video game – the first that is not tied to a TMNT® movie, television show or comic book – which will be a four-player action fighting title. The game is being developed by Game Arts, noted for working on the critically acclaimed Super Smash Bros.™ Brawl for Wii™. Scheduled for release in fall 2009, the video game will be a key event in the year-long "Shell-ebration” of the 25th anniversary of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles® which, in addition to the video game launch, will include new and exciting products and experiences for TMNT® fans in the U.S. and around the world. The success of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles® in various media has been sustained over the last 25 years with numerous "bests,” including: the best-selling video game on Xbox LIVE® Arcade for the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft in 2007; and in the late '80s and early '90s, the No.1-rated Saturday morning TV show in the US; the No.1-rated daily syndicated animated TV strip for children; the No.1 Nintendo Entertainment System™ and Game Boy™ Advance video game in the world and the No.1 live touring arena show in the U.S.
"We're really excited to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the first TMNT® comic and we have a number of radical 'Shell-ebration' events planned for 2009," said Gary Richardson, CEO of Mirage Studios. "The awesome new video game that Ubisoft will release in 2009 is an important part of celebrating this Turtles milestone with fans around the world."
"There is no better tribute to the Turtles than the creation of a brand-new game that will help to launch the next 25 years of success," said Tony Key, senior vice president of sales and marketing at Ubisoft. "It's our pleasure to partner again with Mirage as part of the worldwide birthday celebration for the Turtles."
More details about the game can be found in the January 2009 TMNT® cover story issue of Nintendo Power magazine in the U.S.
I read in NP that both will be options (much like in Smash Bros). They didn't say which would be the default method.
I'm not sure if this is true or not, but I read somewhere that this game will not have an increasing damage meter ala Smash Bros, but a decreasing health bar, with the ability to still knock people out of the level. I'm hoping it isn't true, but I suppose we'll see.
I'm with GP. The early Mirage stuff was good, don't get me wrong, but the whole first two volumes felt (and continue to feel) discombobulated. I'm hoping that the game is a celebration of the whole 25-year history of the franchise. A little bit from the Mirage series, a little bit from the old cartoon, new cartoon, Archie Adventure Series (Ninjara, anyone?), and even the one-shot Image series.
Maybe multiple versions of "skins" for certain characters to reflect their history? All of the turtles could have their original Mirage look (everyone wears red), the current cartoon look, and maybe the TMNT movie look? Shredder could have the original Mirage look, the old cartoon look, and his current cartoon look.
If we get a review copy of this, I'm calling it RIGHT NOW.
I'm with GP. The early Mirage stuff was good, don't get me wrong, but the whole first two volumes felt (and continue to feel) discombobulated. I'm hoping that the game is a celebration of the whole 25-year history of the franchise. A little bit from the Mirage series, a little bit from the old cartoon, new cartoon, Archie Adventure Series (Ninjara, anyone?), and even the one-shot Image series.
Maybe multiple versions of "skins" for certain characters to reflect their history? All of the turtles could have their original Mirage look (everyone wears red), the current cartoon look, and maybe the TMNT movie look? Shredder could have the original Mirage look, the old cartoon look, and his current cartoon look.
If we get a review copy of this, I'm calling it RIGHT NOW.
Too late my friend, I called this beast the minute I heard about months ago :P.
Yeah, I guess it won't be a huge deal if the pacing is similar. I hope the game does separate itself from Smash will still retaining the fast paced fun that Smash offers.
Archie Adventure Series (Ninjara, anyone?), and even the one-shot Image series.
Doesn't he have a sword? I'd say he's closer to mate a knight
Doesn't he have a sword? I'd say he's closer to mate a knight
Since the original news hit, my frothing demand for this game has increased. Even if it is a blatant ripoff of Smash Bros. with TMNT, those are still two of my favorite things.
Please be good.
Spak, I'm only including crossover characters in my unlockables. Usagi has shown up in the original Mirage series and the new cartoon. Savage Dragon was in the Image run, and Venus was in the terrible live-action cartoon. By the same token you could include Ceberus, who popped up in the original Mirage series, too.
Bebop and RockSteady definitely need to be hidden characters, and since they made a inside joke reference to Bebop (I think) in Fast Forward who knows what is possible.
They were made comical later...but the first few seasons it was like oh CRAP, Bebop and Rocksteady are there.
Really The Hun kinda took there place as the hulking servant enemy to The Shedder.
One thing I'd like to point out is don't expect too many characters in this game. This is only the first game in what could be a series. The first game in most fighting series usually only have a roaster around the mid-teens. And since we have 5 characters confirmed right now, that only leaves room for around 10 more characters, or maybe even less.
Now there could end up being more character but right now it's best to keep expectations realistic since this is how the majority of fighting games start out.
