365//365: Day 012 – [Comparison Series] Part 3: TMNT: Turtles in Time Reshelled (360)

.

Finally, we have Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Turtles in Time Reshelled. This is a remake of sorts that offered new brand new 3D models and stages, new music and touched up gameplay. For me, there are two things I feel should define whether something deserves a remake or not: 1. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. 2. There are just some games that don’t need makeovers. Reshelled tried to fix something that wasn’t broken, and not only that, there was no real need to go tweak anything about Turtles in Time.

.

Let’s start off with Reshelled and its new look. While the character models are clean, animate well and do retain the Ninja Turtle look and feel, it looks way too different from the previous two. The backgrounds look great, but they don’t come off as alive to me. There are some bright spots, however. Bosses like Tokka and Rahzar and especially Leatherhead, look excellent, with the latter looking less cartoon like, and more aggressive. If this were a brand new Ninja Turtles game, I would not object to its look, however it’s not, and the look was one of the most memorable aspects to the original game. Even though Reshelled feels like an interactive cartoon more than the previous two titles, it doesn’t feel right whatsoever.

.

Despite the shadows, higher detail and all the work done, I really am not that into Reshelled's visual remake.

.

Another knock on Reshelled comes to how it plays. Your special attack doesn’t take away any health, leading to the ability to spam bosses with them, once you get a bosses pattern down. You also attack so much faster, with the enemies outside the bosses seemingly weaker. Bosses take forever to kill, as they removed the ability to attack with a flurry of attacks, and back away while the boss initiates their attack. It bogs down boss battles so much, that in the end, it feels like a boss battle lasts longer than the clearing to. Speaking of the clearing to, with the enemies so weak now and how you can kill half of them and then advance the screen forward, you can whiz right through each stage with zero problem. That’s no fun whatsoever. But for some reason, I feel so bored playing the game, that I want to rush through and beat it as fast as I can. Never once with Hyperstone Heist and Turtles in Time did I feel that or do that.

.

All that great music you remembered? Gone. The remixed music sounds too jazzy and lacks the big fight feel as with the previous two. The sound effects are at least faithful, not to mention well done. They sound better in the fact that clarity and quality is easily available with this generation of consoles. However, I can’t say the same about good gameplay and good times.

.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Turtles in Time Reshelled is a failed experiment at revitalizing an old title that needed no form of revitalizing, resuscitation or revamping of any kind. As a stand alone game, it feels extremely short, thanks to the ability to run through huge chunks of the stage, yet take forever when it comes to boss battles, looks decent enough and really is no fun to play. Compared to Hyperstone Heist and Turtles in Time, other than sound effects, this remake of a 15+ year old game is INFERIOR to them both. It’s a shame too, because I was looking forward to Reshelled ever since it was first announced. After playing it, I have to say this is more disappointing than when I was hyped up by Fighting Force. Reshelled is not worth $.15, let alone $15.

.

Top: Hyperstone Heist .. Mid: Turtles in Time .. Bot: Reshelled

.

Who Won The Battle Of….

.

Visuals: Turtles in Time
Beautiful, arcade quality graphics that look better than Reshelled’s attempt at revitalizing the visual aspects of the game. Hyperstone Heist is nipping right on Turtles in Time’s heels however.
Audio: Turtles in Time
Digitized vocal clarity, great sound effects and awesome music top Hyperstone Heists’ great music, poor sound and hollowed out digitized voices.
Gameplay: TIE Hyperstone Heist + Turtles in Time
They both play similar enough and even though Hyperstone Heist feels a tad stiff, its the same pick up and play ease and good times.
Replay Value: TIE Turtles in Time + Hyperstone Heist
Turtles in Time is just awesome. Good replay value, fun multiplayer, great stages exclusive to it. Hyperstone Heist however, feels like a remixed version, and not so much a sequel or prequel. Your experience will be slightly different between the two, but they both hold equal lasting power.

.

Reshelled Rating: 4.4
Hyperstone Heist Rating: 8.4

and your winner for this Comparison Series….

Turtles in Time: 8.9

.

Final Notes

It if ain’t broke, don’t fix it. Reshelled tried to spruce things up with an already solid title, and ended up failing at not only being a remake, but being a stand alone title. Avoid at all costs. Hyperstone Heist has its differences here and there between its self and Turtles in Time, but they both share a great time, single player of two player. Turtles in Time nailed nearly every important thing to a game in this genre and created a timeless classic that’s sure to entertain every time you come back to it.