After their emergence into the pop culture mainstream in 1987, the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles quickly expanded into video games. In 1989, Konami started the line of Ninja Turtles games with a four-player beat-em-up game entitled, unsurprisingly, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. A bestseller in every region, TMNT led to a string of sequels, all of which were ported to home consoles, as well as the home-exclusives Manhattan Project for the Nintendo Famicom/Nintendo Entertainment System and Hyperstone Heist for the Sega Mega Drive/Genesis.
Released in 2022 for the 35th anniversary of the franchise, Tribute Games’ TMNT: Shredder’s Revenge takes place in the 1980s setting of the original series and features many period-accurate touches. In addition to the titular reptiles, it includes April O’Neil and Splinter as playable characters, with Casey Jones as an unlockable addition announced in early June 2022. The heroes on a half shell continue to cut Shredder no slack whatsoever in this deep, couch-friendly co-op experience.
7 Splinter Taught Them To Be Ninja Teens
Master Splinter may be the teacher, but the students have most definitely eclipsed the master in this game. The slowest character in Shredder's Revenge, his otherwise good stats are hampered by the fact that he has difficulty reaching his Foot Soldier opponents before they can attack. In single-player, his speed is most definitely a hindrance.
Splinter excels in team battles because his sons can keep the Foot busy while he unleashes his powerful attacks. Because of this, he is one of the best characters to have in a multiplayer game. In a solo game environment, Splinter should be passed over in favor of his sons, April, or the hidden character.
6 April O’Neil, Channel 6 News
April O’Neil, a reporter for Channel 6 News and the Turtle boys’ most loyal human ally, is a playable character for the first time since 2005’s party fighter Mutant Melee. Highly mobile but lacking in power, April is a lesser character for the opposite reason as Master Splinter. Her attacks simply don’t have the put-down power of the turtles.
What April does have in her pocket is the highest mobility in the game, and the ability to string together combos more than any other character. Add in her mobile special attack, unique in the game, and April will appeal to those who enjoy kiting enemies and dishing out huge combos that synergize well.
5 Casey Jones Is Very Good But Not Totally OP
.jpg?q=50&fit=crop&w=750&dpr=1.5)
The game’s only hidden character, Casey Jones is the best of the non-Turtle characters. Fans rejoiced when he was announced as a playable character just before the game's launch. The hockey-masked warrior in the comics is a parody of rough-and-tough vigilante characters like Wolverine and Punisher. He is most often paired up with the equally-unstable Raphael, with whom he interacts like a flask of Nitroglycerine and a paint shaker.
In Shredder's Revenge, Casey Jones shines in middle difficulty levels. He is a bit too overpowered for the easier difficulties. His long reach and powerful special attack make him a highly effective power-speed-durability triple threat into the endgame.
4 Leonardo Leads From The Middle Of The Pack
The most beginner-friendly character of the Turtles, Leonardo’s intuitive twin katana swords and long reach make him a sturdy first-choice character to learn the game with. Paired with above-average mobility and a screen-filling special attack, Leo is one of the best all-range fighters in TMNT: Shredder’s Revenge.
Balance is the watchword for a Leonardo player. He is neither bad nor fantastic at anything in the game. His combo power is slightly lower than his brothers, but as a result he synergizes well, especially with fellow long-range fighter Donatello. The only serious negative for Leonardo is that having the most straightforward weapon means that his game mechanics are shallower than his brothers.
3 Donatello Does Machines And Covers Most Of The Screen
The technician of the team, Donatello is slower than his brothers but makes up for it with the long-range and wide sweep of his bo staff. While not the most agile of the Turtles, and ironically possessing one of the shorter-ranged special attacks, Donnie’s wide attack arc means that a properly positioned Donatello can dominate a significant swath of screen real-estate.
Donatello is like his long-ranged brother Leonardo in that his attack power is lowered for balance reasons. Positioning is key for long-term success as a Donatello player. Donnie’s slower speed compared to his brothers combined with his long attacks and wide arc mean that he often only needs to get near where he should be.
2 Raphael Is Cool But Rude, And Strong To Boot
One of the most well-liked of the four Turtles and the team’s second-in-command, Raphael is nearly tied with Michelangelo for top Turtle and top character in the game. Raph’s game-worst reach is balanced by his massive attacks and strong mobility. The most aggressive Turtle is well-represented in the game by a high-risk/high-reward playstyle that dishes crushing assaults but requires him to get uncomfortably close to Foot enemies.
Overall, Raphael’s crushing power and high mobility make him a top choice. Many tier lists put him as the top-level Turtle. Michelangelo and Raphael are nearly equivalent in power, but have different playstyles. In spite of this, Raphael’s aggressive playstyle, deep move list, and overall fun factor make him a clear choice above his blue-hued brothers.
1 Michelangelo Is A Party Dude Who Reigns Supreme
Having the second most impressive speed in the game as well as bone-crunching power and wide-ranging special attacks makes Michelangelo the top Turtle. While his range is a glaring weakness, Mikey is a fun character who can eradicate swaths of Foot ninjas up close and dish impressive damage to boss baddies like Bebop and Rocksteady.
Michelangelo’s impressive power-speed combo mean that his range is less of a detriment than it looks at first glance, and his range is better than Raphael’s in any event. A powerful turtle with high speed, an impressively chainable air combo, and an incredibly impressive special attack, fan-favorite Michelangelo takes the top spot.