Immersive Turtle Mayhem
When I played TMNT: Empire City for the first time last year, I was instantly impressed by how easily being a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle jived with the immersive first-person VR perspective. Dashing from rooftop-to-rooftop, scaling skyscrapers, and taking down Foot Clan ninjas in melee combat showcase the stuff that VR is best at pulling off. The unique charms of these goofy reptiles pair perfectly with the playfulness in a way that only virtual reality games can do. After last year’s demo left me with many questions, I recently had the chance to try the co-op features alongside a developer and freely roam one of its open-area hub zones.
Co-op Shenanigans
No Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles game is complete without cooperative multiplayer. A core part of the turtles' fantasy is bringing the crew of four legendary fighters together to tackle over-the-top goons with some comic mischief. Doing so in VR is as hilarious as you’d hope. Seeing your friends represented by dorky, green anthropomorphized reptiles never stops being amusing. Watching my co-op partner jump around and swing weapons with reckless abandon was a source of constant laughter.
Half of the fun in VR comes from interacting with your buddies, so I spent a good chunk of time just hanging out at the underground secret hideout. We enjoyed pizza, chugged soda, and threw items at one another for laughs.
Exploring Empire City
The real excitement kicks in when you hit the streets of Empire City. The game allows you to explore parts of the city in search of quests and mini-games. One involved beating up some Foot Clan goons and returning stolen goods, while another had us racing against time to gather floating letters, reminiscent of Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater. While the side quests aren’t groundbreaking, they provide decent opportunities for silly antics and friendly competition among friends.
Additionally, the game includes charming details, like how downed friends hide in their shells and need a fellow bro to revive them. You can also spot Shredder’s massive skyscraper base from nearly anywhere in the city.
Boss Battles and Progression
Along with exploration, I got a glimpse of the main story and progression systems. After gathering intel and dispatching some goons, my team faced Rocksteady, triggering a challenging boss fight. We had to work together to dodge his powerful attacks while taking our shots when possible. Healing items from earlier missions proved crucial, as we barely escaped becoming turtle soup.
I also learned about the progression systems. Players can gather scraps during missions and return to the sewer for Donnie to transform them into gadgets and upgrades. Early examples include healing injectables and smoke bombs for stealthy retreats. However, I was disappointed to discover that skateboarding isn't included. Given the game’s chaotic nature and open areas, having skateboards would’ve been a fun addition.
A Positive Outlook
After spending more time with TMNT: Empire City, I’m optimistic about its potential to entertain me and my friends. The multiplayer mode feels effortlessly hilarious, and I'm looking forward to the final product, set to release later this month.
