It’s gone. If you head over to the PlayStation Store right now and type in TMNT Mutants in Manhattan, you’ll find absolutely nothing. No buy button. No digital deluxe edition. Just a digital ghost town.
PlatinumGames developed this title. That’s the studio behind Bayonetta and NieR: Automata. People expected a masterpiece, or at least a high-octane action brawler that would redefine the turtles for a new generation. Instead, we got a game that stayed on digital shelves for less than a year before being ripped away due to licensing expiration between Activision and Nickelodeon.
Honestly, the whole situation is a mess.
If you own a physical copy of TMNT Mutants in Manhattan on PS4, you’re holding a piece of "delisted" history. It’s a polarizing game. Some fans swear by its combat mechanics, while others find the repetitive level design a total slog. But because you can’t easily buy it anymore, the mystique around it has grown way past its actual quality.
The PlatinumGames Pedigree vs. Activision’s Timeline
PlatinumGames has a specific "feel." Their combat is usually tight, frame-perfect, and rewarding. When news first broke that they were handling the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, the hype was through the roof. We were coming off the back of Transformers: Devastation, which was surprisingly excellent.
But TMNT Mutants in Manhattan felt rushed. It was rushed.
The game uses a cel-shaded art style that looks like a comic book come to life. Mateus Santolouco’s character designs from the IDW comic series served as the primary inspiration. The turtles look lean, gritty, and distinct. Leo has his classic stoic vibe, while Mikey is decked out in gear that actually makes him look like a teenager.
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The problem? The levels.
Instead of the intricate, sprawling environments we see in Bayonetta, we got open-zone arenas that felt a bit empty. You’re basically dropping into a section of New York City, fighting waves of Foot Soldiers, and then moving to a boss. It’s a boss-rush game disguised as a brawler. If you go into it expecting a 15-hour epic journey, you’re gonna be disappointed. It’s short. You can blast through the campaign in about four hours if you’re moving fast.
Why TMNT Mutants in Manhattan is a Technical Oddity
Performance on the PS4 is a sticking point for many. You’d think an action game from Platinum would hit a locked 60 frames per second. Surprisingly, it doesn't.
The game is locked at 30fps. For a studio known for high-speed precision, this was a massive letdown at launch. It feels heavier than it should. However, the team-up mechanics are where the "expert" play comes in. You aren't just playing as one turtle; you have the whole squad.
The AI handles the other three unless you’re playing online co-op. This is where the game shines and simultaneously falls apart. Coordinating "Ninjutsu" moves—special cooldown abilities—is the core loop. You can chain a "Cheer" move to reset someone’s cooldowns, while another player uses a "Turbo" buff. When all four turtles unleash their specials on a boss like Bebop or Rocksteady, the screen becomes a chaotic explosion of particles and shells.
It’s loud. It’s messy. It’s very "Platinum."
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But let's talk about the online-only co-op. There is no local split-screen. In a TMNT game! That’s basically a cardinal sin in the world of beat-'em-ups. If you want to play with friends, you all need your own PS4s and your own copies of the game. Since the digital version is gone, that means everyone needs a physical disc.
The Bosses Are the Real Stars
If there is one reason to track down a copy of TMNT Mutants in Manhattan, it’s the boss fights. Platinum knows how to build a boss encounter.
- Bebop and Rocksteady: They fight like heavy bruisers, using chainsaws and guns.
- Slash: He’s fast, aggressive, and requires actual parrying skills.
- Krang: A massive, multi-stage fight that feels like a classic arcade climax.
- Wingnut: A flying pest that forces you to use your vertical movement.
- Shredder: The final test. He is punishing.
The parry system is simplified compared to Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance, but it’s there. If you time your block perfectly, you’ll zip behind the enemy for a counter-attack. On "Hard" or "Very Hard" difficulty, the game stops being a button-masher and starts requiring actual strategy. You have to manage your items—like pizzas for healing or turrets for crowd control—carefully.
The Delisting Nightmare and Market Value
In early 2017, just eight months after release, Activision’s license for TMNT expired. Poof. Gone.
This happens more often than you’d think with licensed games (look at Marvel Ultimate Alliance or the Transformers games), but the speed of this removal was shocking. Because the digital version vanished, the physical PS4 discs became the only way to play.
Prices shot up. For a while, you couldn't find a copy for less than $60, even though the game was widely panned by critics at launch.
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Currently, the market has leveled out a bit, but it’s still a "collector's item." It’s a weird feeling knowing that a piece of software is essentially "finite." You can't just go to a store and get a fresh copy. You’re hunting through eBay or local retro game shops, hoping the previous owner didn't scratch the hell out of the disc.
Is it a "good" game? It’s okay. It’s a 6/10 or a 7/10 depending on how much you love the IDW turtles. But as a piece of gaming history, it’s fascinating. It represents the end of an era for Activision’s licensed output.
How to Actually Enjoy the Game Today
If you manage to snag a copy, don't play it solo. The AI is... well, it’s not great. They’ll often stand in fire or fail to revive you at crucial moments.
The real magic is in the 4-player online co-op. Believe it or not, the servers are still up. You can still invite friends to a lobby. If you can coordinate a group of four people who all have the disc, the game transforms. You can perform "Sync Attacks" where two turtles grab an enemy and perform a specialized takedown.
Survival Tips for the Streets of NYC:
- Parry, don't just dodge. The dodge has a cooldown, but a perfect parry opens up massive damage windows.
- Check the rooftops. Collectibles and green orbs (for upgrades) are tucked away in corners you’ll miss if you just follow the objective marker.
- Upgrade your Ninjutsu fast. The base moves are weak. You need the leveled-up versions to survive the later stages on higher difficulties.
- Equip "Commando" or "Medic" roles. Assigning specific turtles to certain roles via their gear sets makes the team much more effective.
What to Do Next
If you're a die-hard TMNT fan or a PlatinumGames completist, start looking at local independent game stores rather than big chains. They often don't track the "delisted rarity" price spikes as aggressively as online sellers.
Check the disc for "disc rot" or heavy resurfacing marks. Since this is the only way you'll ever play the game on your PS4, you want a copy that’s going to last. Once you have it, focus your playtime on the boss rush mode. It strips away the boring navigation and gets straight to the combat, which is what the game does best.
Skip the easy difficulty. It's boring. Start on Normal, and as soon as you get the hang of the parry timing, bump it up. That's where the real game lives.
Actionable Insight: If you find a copy of TMNT Mutants in Manhattan at a thrift store or garage sale for under $30, buy it immediately. Even if you don't keep it, its status as a delisted title ensures it will always have trade-in value for collectors. For players, ignore the mixed reviews and treat it as a "Boss Rush" arcade game rather than a full AAA adventure. You'll have a much better time.