Metascore
71 out of 100

Mixed or average reviews - based on 16 Critics

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 6 out of 16
  2. Negative: 0 out of 16
  1. Each turtle has his own attacks and skills, plus his own unique set of stages, and it's all tied together with great looks and sounds that make TMNT feel like a really polished SNES game - not a bad thing at all from where I sit. [Nov 2003, p.100]
  2. 83
    Since each Turtle has his own fighting style, it doesn't ever get old. [Nov 2003, p.72]
  3. The boss battles and platforming challenges vary just enough, and the minigames (such as the side-scrolling shooter level and the "Excitebike"-inspired motorcycle race) are great. [Dec 2003, p.104]
  4. It's a fun and fresh play. [Dec 2003, p.151]
  5. 80
    Though the Turtles may have aged almost 20 years, their look is as sharp and clean as when they first jumped out of the sewers. From the crazy animated ninjitsu moves to the colorful levels, the Turtles never looked so good on a small screen.
  6. 75
    A mixed bag. The innovative level design and variety keep things interesting, but it's over far too quickly.
  7. A fun little title with decent combat controls, but there is absolutely no incentive to play it again after beating it the first time. [Nov 2003, p.73]
  8. It is a fun game for a crazy new TMNT fan, but older TMNT fans will be disappointed by the exclusion of the original cartoon characters.
  9. If there is one major complaint it's that the game is too short. It can be completed in an afternoon and there's virtually no replay value at all.
  10. 69
    The game isn't much more than your typical "Final Fight" or "Double Dragon" type of game, but it's a pretty satisfying gaming experience...especially for those who dig the Turtles. But you just can't ignore the fact that the game's irritatingly short.
  11. The graphics are surprisingly good and showcase exactly what the Gameboy Advance is capable of.
  12. Fans of the new TV series and even older fans of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles will enjoy this title, provided they can ignore the skateboarding and other driving sections of the game.
  13. 60
    The gameplay is quite good, with each turtle possessing his own style of gameplay, but the overall redundancy and ease that the game offers up is simply inexcusable.
  14. A brand-new game that combines simple beat-'em-up gameplay with the kind of run-and-jump action that has been done so often, and oftentimes much better, in numerous other side-scrolling games.
  15. A perfectly average beat-em-up that will likely keep fans of the cartoon enthralled. [Nov 2003, p.202]
  16. But with all the complaints, the game is a hoot while it lasts, though it’s over before you really have a chance to get into it.
User Score

Universal acclaim- based on 5 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 5 out of 5
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 5
  3. Negative: 0 out of 5
  1. MDeez
    7
    This game has so much potential, but it falls short in a few areas. Total gametime is short, and there's no climactic end boss battle, not even on the higher difficulty levels. The gameplay is great, the minigames are a refreshing break from the usual side-scrolling fights, the individual character moves are great, cutscenes and storyline is decent, music is good. If only more prevalent bad guys from the cartoon had been weaved into the story, and the gameplay experience lenghtened, then this game would have deserved an 8 or 9. Full Review »
  2. LeeB.
    10
    I will give it 12+ good.
  3. NinjaCop
    10
    Except for the meaninglessly excessive dialogue, this is one hell of an action game. Konami made all the old turtles games for NES, SNES, Gameboy, and Genesis (and i've played every one of them) and they score another hit here. The great thing about the GBA is that classic gaming genres are reinvented with 1993 quality graphics and 2003 quality gameplay. The mini-games are great, and after you beat it you can play them any time. The game is a little short, but you'll play through it on every difficulty level and revisit your favorite levels enough for it to have replay value. The GBA has incredible action games like Spiderman: Mysterio's Menace, Ninja 5-0, X2: Wolverine's revenge(much better than it's console counterparts), all of the Castlevania games, Metroid Fusion, Iron Man, Bruce Lee, and now this. These games take classic gaming to a whole new level, adding elements of stealth, character development, and often numerous moves and/or weapons. To me, these games are definately the bread and butter of the GBA. So get Turtles, and try to play the rest (Spiderman gets my highest marks). Full Review »