There have been a lot of games based on this license over the years from the good old days of the NES and the arcades to modern consoles like the Switch. Most of them have been action-based platformers or classic brawlers.Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Splintered Fateintroduces a new genre to the mix, roguelikes, and it fits well for the license.
Master Splinter is kidnapped once again by the evil Shredder who has somehow created a dimensional warp system. This is causingNew York Cityto warp in unexpected ways. As the four Turtles, it is up to them to save Master Splinter and to correct Shredder’s wrongdoings. That’s the basic premise ofTeenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Splintered Fate, so let’s get to some common beginner mistakes everyone should avoid.
6Don’t Rely On One Turtle
Upgrades Apply To All Turtles
Players are forced to begin the tutorial with Leonardo, but after that, they can choose one of the four main Turtles to play with. Typically in RPGs with a character select system, heroes grow as individuals. Many games also don’t allow players to swap out characters mid-mission.
While players cannot swap out Turtles mid-mission, they can once they get back to home base. All characters grow together as well using the various permanent upgrade systems like withDragon Upgrades inTeenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Splintered Fate. Players may not want to switch out characters for fear of reverting stats, but they should definitely give each hero a shot.
5In The Early Game, Ignore Turtle Powers
Dragon Coins Are The Way To Go
On the subject of Dragon Upgrades, it is similar toskill trees in other RPGs. Dragon Upgrades require Dragon Coins which can be found while on runs as rewards after a skirmish. What rewards will be will always be randomized as is the curse of roguelikes.
For example, one reward screen may have three Turtle Powers which are temporary boosts in the game. Sometimes there will be Turtle Powers, Scraps to use at the shop, Dragon Coins, Dreamer Coins, and so on. If players want to get stronger fast, they should just rack up Dragon Coins. Don’t worry about the temporary boosts or even Dreamer Coins. Dragon Coins are the way to go.
4Playing The Game Alone Sort Of Ruins The Experience
Sometimes It’s Best To Wait For Friends
Most games based on the franchise include co-op. One of the best-ranked brawlers of all time,Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Turtles in Time, has a four-player co-op. It just makes sense given that these four Turtle heroes are so close.Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Splintered Fatealso features four-player co-op both online and offline.
Players don’t have to always max out the co-op factor and instead play with two or three friends. Doing so will make the game a lot easier. Instead of picking upTeenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Splintered Fateright away, it might be better to wait until players know they will have a good co-op group ready as it would be a mistake otherwise. If players don’t want to wait, then there is also a difficulty system to lower the stakes. This won’t make the game a piece of cake either, but it will level the playing field on Easy.
3Don’t Ignore An Enemy’s Tell Signs
Reacting To Attacks Will Save HP
This game has a lot in common with Hades and the enemy warnings are one of them. When an enemy is about to attack, a colored area of effect will be displayed onscreen. The best examples of this happen during boss fights like with Leatherhead, a classicvillain in theTeenage Mutant Ninja Turtlesseries.
There will be circles, dotted lines, rectangular paths, and so on. Getting out of harm’s way is as easy as dodging out of these colored zones. It’s a basic tip that most will grasp right away. What they may not realize is that dodges aren’t free as they run on cooldowns. Boosting the allotment of dodges via Dragon Coins would be one of the better early permanent upgrades.
2Mistaking That All Cooldowns Work The Same
Use ‘Em If You Got ‘Em
The dodge mechanic cooldowns are not the same for the rest of the player’s skill set. Each Turtle comes equipped with a Special move and a Tool. Raphael, for example, can stab multiple times in a row with his Special. His Tool, Turtle Line, will bring enemies toward him like a more PG-Rated version ofScorpion’s move fromMortal Kombat.
Specials and Tools recharge when players attack enemies. This is not typical for a roguelike, RPG, etc. Most games with cooldowns use time to replenish numbers, like the dodges, but for whatever reason Specials and Tools are different. It’s important for players to realize this early on and to use Specials and Tools as much as possible when they are ready.
1Not Understanding The Reward System
Check Equipment Levels As You Go
Players may not realize they can check their equipment mid-level. Pressing up on the Switch’s D-Pad will display what boosts they have acquired so far. There are technically six categories. There are strikes that will affect normal attacks by adding elements. There are Dashes, which are the dodges. Abilities can grant extra boons, also typically on the elemental range. While all four Turtles start with Tools, they can get new ones during a run too.
Leonardo, for example, can find Raphael’s Turtle Line. Artifacts are pieces of gear that can be replaced at a home base or in shops during a run. Artifacts typically cannot be found in reward menus. The last category lists all of the passive boosts for heroes currently. So, when conflicted about whatTurtle Power to upgrade next inTeenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Splintered Fate, players should always consult their equipment menu and fill in the gaps as soon as possible. Dodging, again, is important but so is adding a modification to make Dashes hurt enemies as well.
