After its initial reveal earlier in the year, the first DLC for TMNT: Shredder's Revenge arrives this week for all platforms. Dubbed the Dimension Shellshock DLC, this new expansion brings two fan favorite characters from the cartoons and comics into the fray as well, as introduces a brand new Survival Mode that is sure to be a welcome addition for fans. TMNT: Shredder's Revenge is a modern beat 'em up that harkens back to the classic games featuring the Heroes in a Half Shell, and developer Tribute Games has shared some exclusive screenshots detailing what fans can expect from the DLC.
One of the most interesting features included in Survival Mode is the new Boss Mutation mechanic, which allows the heroes to briefly assume the form and abilities of one of the Turtles' iconic villains. So far, Tribute has shown off classic baddies such as Shredder, Bebop, and Rocksteady, but fans shouldn't rule out the possibility of future DLC additions in TMNT: Shredder's Revenge. With plenty of stages to get through, the ability to transform into bosses as a power-up, and new collectibles, Shredder's Revenge's DLC is packing quite a punch in terms of content.
TMNT: Shredder's Revenge - Dimension Shellshock DLC Screenshots
It's clear from the screenshots that Tribute Games is aiming to give fans access to some oft-requested features in the new DLC. Mainly, the ability to play as some of the Turtles' most iconic foes in the new Survival Mode. Using the Boss Mutation mechanic, players can briefly assume the form and abilities of one of three iconic villains. Discussing with Game ZXC how these encounters were balanced within the general flow of gameplay, Game Designer Frederic Gemus notes that the intention was for these moments to elicit the ultimate beat 'em up power fantasy.
"...we wanted them to be tilting the balance a bit to the overpowered side to be honest! Shredder and the others needed to feel like an actual reward, and we've reimplemented most of the bosses' moves, including their respective big crowd attacks. We balanced these and avoided player exploitation by giving each boss a low amount of HP, so players still need to be careful, and by limiting the mutations to one at a time...this way, skilled players can get quite a bit of time with each of them, but the game remains challenging!"
In terms of the new locations in Survival Mode, the aptly named Mirage Dimension pays homage to several different eras of the Turtles' long history across several different mediums. A keen eye may notice one of the panels from the very first issue of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles comic by co-creators Kevin Eastman & Peter Laird, while other modifiers change the appearance of the Turtles themselves to represent their past iconic video game appearances. Outside the new Boss Mutation mechanic, players can expect new kinds of foot soldiers as well as unique modifiers to stages thanks to the interdimensional chaos such as low gravity or exploding foes happening on-screen. Each round also ends with a very important decision for players to make:
Each bout concludes with a strategic decision: two portals offering different options. You can opt to gain more crystals and face harsher challenges or a variety of power-ups and other perks. This choice is very important for your survival as HP is key here! A wise choice needs to be made at every step.
There are also some unique rewards that players can expect to earn across the new Survival Mode, with collectible crystals rewarding player performance and used to unlock upgrades for each character. Not only can the crystals be used to unlock player upgrades, they can also unlock new character palettes representing iconic appearances of each character. Gamus again notes that "each character also has 5 extra color palettes to unlock, which can also be used on Story Mode and Arcade Mode." Between Survival Mode itself, two new characters to use in all three game modes, and a slew of potential unlocks, fans of TMNT: Shredder's Revenge have plenty to gain from jumping into the Dimension Shellshock DLC.
Progressing across the Survival Mode goes through two things: Foot Clan fighting and crystal gathering! On top of transporting you from one dimension to another, completing crystals will unlock more hit points, ninja power bars, lives and even the much-coveted character palettes! For instance, get your hands on the right combination of crystals, and you’ll earn a snazzy new kimono for your samurai rabbit.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder's Revenge is available now on Mobile, PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S. The Dimension Shellshock DLC launches on August 31.
