Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: City at War (TMNT: CAW) is a fighting video game based upon the fictional universe of IDW Publishing. The game was developed by Mad Man Ninja Studios and NetherRealm Studios, and published by Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment for the PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, Samsung Zeo and Microsoft Windows. It is the second game in the Mad Man Ninja Studios' TMNT series, after Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Born to Shred and before Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Rise of Krang. It was released in November 2024 in North America, Europe, and Australia, and December 2024 in Japan.
Gameplay[]
Much like its predecessor, Born to Shred, players select one of several characters from the TMNT Universe (consisting of both villains and heroes), to engage in combat, aiming to knock out their opponent. The game is set in a 2.5D environment: while character models and backgrounds are rendered in three-dimensional graphics, the characters are restricted to fight within a two-dimensional space. City at War builds upon several aspects from NetherRealm Studios' previous title, including its controls, game mechanics, narrative-driven campaign, and online functionality.
Plot[]
The game follows directly the events of Born to Shred, with the passing of Shredder. Splinter and the Turtles, named as "Clan Hamato" faced off against the "Clan Foot" in a traditional combat ritual, the Gauntlet, for the dominance. When Clan Hamato prevailed in the Gauntlet and Splinter accepted becoming new jōnin of the Foot Clan, and his four sons became Foot Clan chūnin,
However, New York City is plunged in chaos as four factions wrestle for control. At the center of it all, the Turtles face difficult decisions on how to be true to their individual selves and morals, while still keeping their family together against insurmountable odds. This factions are:
- The Foot Clan Rebels, with their leader Oroku Karai, who has survived into the new age and deserted after Splinter took over;
- The Purple Dragons, with ther leader Arnold Jones, a street gang who frequents the neighborhoods near the Second Time Around shop;
- The zealous government agent John Bishop, leader of the Earth Protection Force, who seeks to eradicate mutantkind and aliens;
- The mysterious Madame Null and her enterprise Null Group, a business conglomerate with its hands in many ventures and ties to other dimensions which deliberately creates mutants as a slave workforce;
- The Mighty Mutanimals, a group of mutant animals that perceive an inevitable war between mutants and humans, eventually resorting to terroristic means to defend and recruit their fellow mutants.
Characters[]
Teenage Mutante Ninja Turtles: City at War features 32 playable characters from the TMNT Universe consisting of both villains and heroes.
| TMNT: City at War Characters |
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Reception[]
The game received positive reviews from critics, who praised its story, gameplay mechanics, and use of the IDW Comics license.
IGN's Vince Ingenito labeled the game as "both a very good brawler and a big old sloppy love letter to fans". Ingenito praised the story mode, unique fighting game mechanics, and the overall use of the IDW license. Mikel Reparaz of Official Xbox Magazine praised City at War for its "fast, destructive, and extremely accessible" gameplay, calling the game "one of the most enjoyable 2D fighters in years". Electronic Gaming Monthly's Ray Carsillo awarded the game a near-perfect score, praising the story, gameplay mechanics, and collectibles, while faulting its long and frequent load times.