The upcoming TMNT: The Last Ronin game has a lot of potential. An adaptation of the 2020 comic book of the same name written by series creators Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird, along with writers Tom Waltz and Andy Kuhn as well as featuring art by Kuhn and Ben Bates, the miniseries is set in a fictional future New York City and follows the Last Ronin as they complete one final mission. Long after the comic book death of Master Splinter and three of their turtle brothers, the Last Ronin returns to the city they once protected to exact vengeance on the Foot Clan and Oroku Hiroto - the grandson of Oroku Saki, A.K.A. The Shredder.
Contrary to popular belief, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles isn't just a franchise for kids. While most of the cartoons are geared toward children, the original comics by Easton and Laird are darker and tackle more mature subjects. This theme continues with The Last Ronin and the upcoming game, as Doug Rosen - the senior vice president for games and emerging media at Paramount Global - has mentioned the game will take inspiration from the recent Norse God of War titles. Those who have read The Last Ronin comic will know how violent and gritty the story is, and seeing as the game will follow suit, it will most definitely be geared toward a more mature audience.
TMNT: The Last Ronin Has A Lot Of Death In It
It's no surprise that a comic miniseries titled The Last Ronin revolves around death and finality. From the get-go, readers already know the main protagonist is the last surviving member of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. The identity of this particular turtle is revealed after the end of the miniseries' first issue, with the implications being just as shocking as the reveal. The Last Ronin's cynical personality is a stark contrast to the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles nostalgia fans may be used to, which makes his identity all the more appalling.
This cynicism isn't unwarranted, either. The Last Ronin's brothers, master, and some of their closest friends have been murdered by Oroku Hiroto and his clan in The Last Ronin comic book, and in violent and gruesome ways while at it. The city the turtles once protected is also under Hiroto's rule and any citizens living in New York are forced to follow his oppressive regime. Everything the Last Ronin and their family and friends worked for in the past has been for naught, which is why the final turtle finds it so hard to look on the bright side.
Why The Last Ronin is a Dark Spin on the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
Because of what happened in the past, both the Last Ronin and Oroku Hiroto's parties are spurred on by selfish desires. Hiroto, being the descendant of The Shredder, wants to purge the last remaining turtle to surpass his grandfather and ensure his reign. Though defeating Hiroto will result in New York City's freedom, the Last Ronin wants him dead for selfish reasons.
The turtle wants revenge on Hiroto for killing those he loved, which he accomplished by using a supposed truce to lure the turtles and Master Splinter into the open and finish them off for good. Since the focus of the story is on the Last Ronin, readers of the comic can see him violently murder robotic and human Foot Clan members, hence why the early comparison between TMNT: The Last Ronin and God of War Ragnarok. He often seems like he is no longer in control and forgets the teachings his sensei and brothers taught him.
Amidst all the violence, the Last Ronin also periodically talks with the ghosts of his dead brothers. Hallucinations born from survivor's guilt, his brothers constantly tell him what to do and make him feel guilty about the past. While not essentially dark, some of the topics addressed through the turtles' conversations and flashbacks might not be easily understood by younger audiences. The Last Ronin was made for long-time fans of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, which is why it isn't afraid to grow up with its core audience. Since the game will lean heavily into the story of the comic, it's fair to say that this is one title that will be more appropriate for an older audience.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Last Ronin is currently in development.