The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles turn 25 years old this year, and Mirage is trying to take advantage of that by invading our lives with everything from classic toy reproductions to a Twitter account, TMNT movies on blu-ray, and even a brand spanking new video game.
The game is called Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Smash-Up (official site here), and it’s being made by the team behind the Smash Brothers series, exclusively for the Wii. Love that logo! For a game thats supposedly not tied to any particular incarnation of the Turtles, it oozes nostalgia. The graphics, on the other hand, look like they were influenced heavily by the most recent CG movie.
The Roster
There aren’t many details around yet about any characters other than the Turltes and Splinter, but the Smash Bros games are known for their huge rosters, and in a couple interviews, crew from Ubisoft have stated that the yet-to-be-announced characters will hold some surprises.
Here are some of my hopes/predictions for the other characters in this game.
1. The Shredder
- Probability: Without a doubt
- Weapons: The blades all over his body
Pretty obvious choice. I’d say he’ll definitely be in the game, but what will he look like? A modernized version of the 80s cartoon, or will he be more in the style of the original comics?
2. Casey Jones
- Probability: You may rely on it
- Weapons: Golf club, cricket stick, baseball bat
It’d be hard to imagine a TMNT brawling game without Casey Jones, a natural-born-brawler. Expect some form of a cut-off shirt and his trademark hockey mask.
3. Bebop and Rocksteady
- Probability: Reply hazy, try again
- Weapons: Lazer and regular-type guns, muscles
Bebop and Rocksteady are TMNT nostalgia staples, but I’m not sure they’ll make it into the game. Ubisoft has said a few times that Mirage is helping them flesh out their roster, and I’m not sure if they would include characters that were just from the cartoon and the Archie comic line. I’m crossing my fingers though, because storming around as those characters in a modern game would be awesome.
4. Krang & his Android Body
- Probability: Outlook is good
- Weapons: Shooting android hands, size-changing abilities
Krang has to be in this game. Whether he’ll be in his 80s android body is yet to be seen, but come on, do you really expect a nostalgic TMNT game to not have Krang? Are you listening Ubisoft?
5. Usagi Yojimbo
- Probability: Signs point to yes
- Weapons: Samurai swords
Yojimbo was a character I remembered more from his toy than anything else, but he’s got a pretty big history in the comics and even in the cartoon, so I’m rooting for him. Ubisoft says they’re making this game for us, so lets see if they deliver.
6. Baxter Stockman
- Probability: As I see it, yes
- Weapons: Probably lazer guns and robot things
Baxter created the mousers and was a general pain in the ass to the turtles throughout their history, so I’d say we may see him buzzing around the screen when the game gets released.
7. Leatherhead
- Probability: Better not tell you now
- Weapons: Muscles n’ guns
The best animated cajun croc to date (competition coming this fall from Disney’s return to 2D animation), he’d be a shoe-in if they really are trying to target us “grown up” fans.
8. The Rat King
- Probability: Outlook not so good
- Weapons: Rats
I don’t see the Rat King being a very fun character to control, unless he could actually throw rats at people, because that would be awesome.
9. Fugitoid
- Probability: Ask again later
- Weapons: Crazy inventions and again, probably lazers
Fugitoid was always one of my favorite toys. His chest opened up and you could stick a gun in it. In the 90s that was all you needed. Today, he might not be Smash-Up worthy.
10. Ace Duck
- Probability: Don’t count on it
- Weapons: Egg Grenades
Attention Ubisoft: If you put Ace Duck in this game, I will buy 10 copies. He had nothing to do with the cartoon when the toy came out, but thats what I love about him. He’s a pilot who was turned into a duck, and now he supposedly flies the turtles’ blimp. Very important character.
Well, those are my picks, what about yours? Panda Khan anyone?
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