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Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 2: Battle Nexus

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Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 2: Battle Nexus is a 2004 beat 'em up game developed and published by Konami. It is the sequel to Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and is based on the 2003 TV series.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 2: Battle Nexus
North American GameCube cover art
Developer(s)Konami Computer Entertainment Studios
Publisher(s)Konami
Director(s)Naomi Kaneda
Producer(s)Yasushi Kawasaki
Designer(s)Takayuki Ide
Akihiro Ishihara
Composer(s)Yuichi Tsuchiya
Masanori Akita
SeriesTeenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
Platform(s)PlayStation 2, Xbox, GameCube, Game Boy Advance, Windows
Release
  • NA: October 19, 2004[1]
  • PAL: November 20, 2004 (GBA)
  • PAL: March 11, 2005[2]
Genre(s)Beat 'em up
Mode(s)Single-player, multiplayer

The game has cel-shaded graphics, four-player gameplay, and includes the first TMNT arcade game as an unlockable bonus.[3] Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 2 Battle Nexus is based mostly on the end of the second season of the 2003 animated TMNT series. The game also has 4 tournaments consisting of waves of enemy attacks.

The cinematic cutscenes are adapted from various episodes in the cartoon series featuring the Feudal Japan arc in which the origin of Oroku Saki is discovered.

Gameplay

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Screenshot of gameplay. Slashuur (left) and Donatello (right).

Unlike the 2003 TMNT game, Battle Nexus supports up to four players. Each player may select a "team" that consists of a turtle and an unlockable character that can replace the turtle. Four teams are present in the game, if less than four players are playing, one player may select more teams and cycle through them in the game. Each team has their own specific abilities that can help players progress through the game. Blue Team can attack while dashing, and cut through certain obstacles (gates, trees, bamboo, etc.). Red Team can lift and push certain heavy objects. Orange team can reflect arrows with their guard (and Michelangelo can fly with his nunchucks). Purple team can utilize computer consoles (and Donatello can fire a laser instead of throwing shuriken).

Unlike the previous game, players share one health bar so if one player gets hurt, the health decreases for all of them. Characters have "weak" and "strong" attacks and they do different moves with different combinations. To beat the level, you must either get to the designated point of the level, kill all enemies, kill the boss, survive until the time runs out or do the specific goal until the time runs out.

Side goals are to collect artifacts that are usually in hidden or hard-to-reach places. To collect crystal pieces that increase your attack, defense, charge attack and shuriken throwing abilities.

Plot

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The game adapts the second season of the TV series, starting from the first season's finale where the turtles Leonardo, Raphael, Michelangelo and Donatello infiltrate the Foot's headquarters to confront the Shredder, getting help from a group of warriors known as the guardians. After defeating both Hun and the Shredder, the turtles find their injured master Splinter missing and their search leads them to the TCRI building which is responsible for the creation of the ooze that mutated the turtles and Splinter and discover that the building is occupied by an alien race known as the Utroms. They try to sneak in and find their master but are cornered by the Utroms and a strange warp device transports them out of the building.

The turtles find themselves in the other side of the galaxy on the planet D'Hoonib ruled by the Federation and are caught in a war between the Federation and the Triceratons, both of them seeking professor Honeycutt, also known as Fugitoid, who has the plans for a teleportation device that both sides seek to use against each other. While avoiding capture, the turtles and Fugitoid encounter the famous mercenary Slashuur who is hired by the Triceratons to capture the latter. The turtles and the Fugitoid are brought back to earth by the Utroms and reunite with master Splinter. The Utroms reveal their history to the turtles that they were transporting an Utrom criminal on board their ship who escaped and caused them to crash land on earth a thousand years ago as well as their enmity with the Foot clan since feudal Japan. After coming under attack from the Foot clan led by a very much alive Shredder, the Turtles help the Utroms and Honeycutt escape to their homeworld through the Warp device and discover Shredder's true identity as the Utrom prisoner.

Afterwards, they face the Ultimate ninja who seeks glory by defeating Leo, help their mutated friends from the underground return to human form and escape, befriend a mutant crocodile known as Leatherhead, and help Karai of the Foot clan end the turf war of New york caused by Shredder's defeat. The Shredder, who has survived the implosion of the TCRI building, sends a robot in the likeness of Splinter to attack the turtles, but they defeat it with the help of a deluded Triceraton soldier known as Zog. Shredder later sends Slashuur after the Turtles whom revealed to be familiar with Hamato Yoshi, Splinter's master. After learning that Yoshi was killed by the Shredder, Slashuur remembers that he is also a victim of the utrom Shredder and reveals himself as an utrom as well. The turtles along with Splinter and Zog attack the Foot's freighter where he is creating an army of advanced robots. After defeating Hun and Karai, they are joined by Slashuur against the Shredder, with Zog Sacrificing himself so they can escape the exploding ship.

The turtles can also participate in Battle Nexus, a multiversal battle tournament where many of their allies such as Traximus and Slashuur are taking part, they also meet Miyamoto Usagi, a samurai rabbit. The Turtles and their allies foil the plans of the Ultimate ninja and Drako to claim the Ultimate Daimyo's war staff and Mikey is declared champion afterwards.

Reception

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The Game Boy Advance and PC versions received "mixed" reviews, while the GameCube, PlayStation 2, and Xbox versions received "generally unfavorable reviews", according to the review aggregation website Metacritic.[4][5][6][7][8]

Test Monkey of GamePro said of the Game Boy Advance version, "While the incorporation of stealth may not be the strongest feature in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 2, it's probably the only change worth noting. Although there are other modes for you to try, they're really not worth the time."[25][b] However, Bones said of the PlayStation 2 version, "behind the flashy extras and cool license, TMNT2 remains an utterly forgettable (albeit forgivable) example of the modern gaming mediocrity."[26][c]

Notes

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  1. ^ Three critics of Electronic Gaming Monthly gave the console versions each a score of 3/10, 4/10, and 2/10.
  2. ^ GamePro gave the Game Boy Advance version two 3/5 scores for graphics and sound, and two 3.5/5 scores for control and fun factor.
  3. ^ GamePro gave the PlayStation 2 version 4/5 for graphics, 4.5/5 for sound, 3/5 for control, and 2.5/5 for fun factor.

References

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  1. ^ "KONAMI'S TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES® 2: BATTLENEXUS™ [sic] SHIPS TO RETAIL STORES NATIONWIDE". Konami. October 19, 2004. Archived from the original on March 7, 2005. Retrieved March 8, 2023.
  2. ^ Bramwell, Tom (March 11, 2005). "What's New?". Eurogamer. Gamer Network. Archived from the original on April 26, 2005. Retrieved May 31, 2024.
  3. ^ "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 2: Battle Nexus". MobyGames. Atari SA. Archived from the original on January 24, 2023. Retrieved May 31, 2024.
  4. ^ a b "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 2: Battle Nexus critic reviews (GBA)". Metacritic. Fandom. Archived from the original on December 31, 2018. Retrieved May 31, 2024.
  5. ^ a b "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 2: Battle Nexus critic reviews (GC)". Metacritic. Fandom. Archived from the original on August 17, 2020. Retrieved May 31, 2024.
  6. ^ a b "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 2: Battle Nexus critic reviews (PC)". Metacritic. Fandom. Archived from the original on August 12, 2022. Retrieved May 31, 2024.
  7. ^ a b "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 2: Battle Nexus critic reviews (PS2)". Metacritic. Fandom. Archived from the original on September 24, 2021. Retrieved May 31, 2024.
  8. ^ a b "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 2: Battle Nexus critic reviews (Xbox)". Metacritic. Fandom. Archived from the original on December 5, 2021. Retrieved May 31, 2024.
  9. ^ a b c Ford, Greg; Elliott, Shawn; Baker, Chris (December 2004). "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 2: Battle Nexus (GC, PS2, Xbox)" (PDF). Electronic Gaming Monthly. No. 185. Ziff Davis. p. 150. Retrieved June 1, 2024.
  10. ^ a b c Zoss, Jeremy (November 2004). "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 2 [Battle Nexus] (GC, PS2, Xbox)". Game Informer. No. 139. GameStop. p. 145. Archived from the original on October 21, 2005. Retrieved May 31, 2024.
  11. ^ Provo, Frank (November 3, 2004). "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 2 [Battle Nexus] Review (GBA)". GameSpot. Fandom. Archived from the original on September 28, 2023. Retrieved May 31, 2024.
  12. ^ Navarro, Alex (October 19, 2004). "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 2: Battle Nexus Review (GC)". GameSpot. Fandom. Archived from the original on December 7, 2004. Retrieved May 31, 2024.
  13. ^ a b Navarro, Alex (October 19, 2004). "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 2: Battle Nexus Review (PS2, Xbox)". GameSpot. Fandom. Archived from the original on December 8, 2004. Retrieved May 31, 2024.
  14. ^ a b c Sandige, Abby (October 19, 2004). "GameSpy: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 2: BattleNexus [sic] (GCN, PS2, Xbox)". GameSpy. IGN Entertainment. Archived from the original on August 20, 2007. Retrieved June 1, 2024.
  15. ^ Zacarias, Eduardo (October 31, 2004). "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 2: Battle Nexus - GBA - Review". GameZone. Archived from the original on September 29, 2008. Retrieved June 1, 2024.
  16. ^ Hopper, Steven (January 10, 2005). "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 2: Battle Nexus - PC - Review". GameZone. Archived from the original on October 2, 2008. Retrieved June 1, 2024.
  17. ^ Bedigian, Louis (October 22, 2004). "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 2: Battle Nexus - PS2 - Review". GameZone. Archived from the original on March 29, 2008. Retrieved June 1, 2024.
  18. ^ a b c Castro, Juan (October 19, 2004). "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 2: Battle Nexus (GCN, PS2, Xbox)". IGN. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on May 31, 2024. Retrieved May 31, 2024.
  19. ^ Castro, Juan (November 23, 2004). "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 2: Battle Nexus (PC)". IGN. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on March 31, 2023. Retrieved May 31, 2024.
  20. ^ "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 2: Battle Nexus (GBA)". Nintendo Power. Vol. 186. Nintendo of America. December 2004. p. 154.
  21. ^ "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 2: Battle Nexus (GC)". Nintendo Power. Vol. 186. Nintendo of America. December 2004. p. 141.
  22. ^ Baker, Chris (November 2004). "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 2: Battle Nexus". Official U.S. PlayStation Magazine. No. 86. Ziff Davis. p. 132. Archived from the original on November 15, 2004. Retrieved June 1, 2024.
  23. ^ "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 2: Battle Nexus". Official Xbox Magazine. Future US. Christmas 2004. p. 68.
  24. ^ "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 2: Battle Nexus". PC Gamer. Vol. 12, no. 3. Future US. March 2005. p. 75.
  25. ^ Test Monkey (December 2004). "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 2 [Battle Nexus] (GBA)" (PDF). GamePro. No. 195. IDG. p. 134. Archived from the original on March 10, 2005. Retrieved June 1, 2024.
  26. ^ Bones (December 2004). "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 2: Battle Nexus (PS2) [control score is mislabeled as "3.5/5"]". GamePro. No. 195. IDG. p. 116. Archived from the original on February 7, 2005. Retrieved June 1, 2024.
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