As revealed in a recent interview with Polygon, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles’ “The Last Ronin” graphic novel mini-series is set to receive the video game treatment. Unlike other game adaptations in the Heroes in a Half-Shell’s storied history (such as last year’s colourful and upbeat Shredder’s Revenge), this will be a darker and grittier tale aimed at more mature audiences. Details are currently limited, but fans should expect a deeper, more emotional story and fast-paced action based on 2018’s God of War and 2022’s God of War: Ragnarök’s combat style.
Paramount Global’s senior vice president for Games and Emerging Media, Doug Rosen explained that the upcoming game is in the early development stages at a currently unnamed studio. While he wouldn’t say which studio, he was keen to stress that they have found the best partner to adapt “The Last Ronin” into “an ambitious AAA video game”. There is currently no release window set in stone, with Rosen believing the game to be “still a few years off” yet.
Gameplay-wise, the title will be a departure from the recent old-school beat-‘em-ups and dip into the type of third-person action-adventure seen in the recent God of War games. In terms of story, the game is set to follow the events of the mini-series closely. “The Last Ronin” (which began its publication run in 2020) is set in the distant future where only one of the turtles has survived a deadly attack. The surviving Turtle’s identity is kept secret as he battles his way across a war-torn New York City, seeking revenge for the deaths of his closest friends. As this Turtle uses the signature weapons of all four of the original team – katanas, sai, bo staff, and nunchucks – players should expect to master each in turn and swap between them on the fly as the battle hordes of Foot Clan soldiers in cinematic combat encounters.
From the sound of things, “The Last Ronin” is receiving the same love and attention as Rocksteady’s Batman Arkham series and Insomniac’s Marvel’s Spider-Man. If that is the case, then fans should expect the same level of care and attention for its well-loved characters, punchy combat and a well-written, emotional story, and plenty of hidden easter eggs when the game finally launches. Doug Rosen ended his interview with the tease that many more TMNT games are on the horizon.
