TMNT Shredder's Revenge unveils exclusive new screenshots of the Dimension Shellshock DLC

After its initial unveiling earlier this year, the first DLC for TMNT: Shredder's Revenge is set to release this week on all platforms. Entitled "Dimension Shellshock," this DLC introduces two beloved characters from the cartoons and comics into the fray, along with the introduction of a brand-new survival mode, which is sure to be a welcomed addition for fans. TMNT: Shredder's Revenge is a modern beat-'em-up game that pays homage to the classic games featuring the heroes in a half-shell, and developer Tribute Games has shared exclusive screenshots showcasing what fans can expect from the DLC.

One of the most intriguing features in the survival mode is the new boss mutation mechanism, which allows the heroes to temporarily assume the form and abilities of one of the iconic villains from the Turtles' universe. So far, Tribute has showcased classic foes such as Shredder, Bebop, and Rocksteady, but fans should not rule out the possibility of future DLC additions to TMNT: Shredder's Revenge. With numerous stages to play through, the ability to transform into bosses, and new collectibles, Shredder's Revenge DLC delivers substantial content and packs quite a punch.

TMNT: Shredder's Revenge - Dimension Shellshock DLC Screenshots

From the screenshots, it is evident that Tribute Games aims to grant fans access to several highly desired features in the new DLC. Particularly noteworthy is the opportunity to play as some of the Turtles' most iconic adversaries within the new survival mode. Through the boss mutation mechanism, players can temporarily assume the form and abilities of three iconic villains. In a conversation with Game Rant, game designer Frederic Gemus explains how these encounters have been balanced within the overall flow of the game. The intention was for these moments to evoke the ultimate power fantasy of a beat-'em-up experience.

"...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!"

Regarding the new locations in the survival mode, the appropriately named Mirage Dimension pays homage to several different eras from the long history of the Turtles across various media. An observant viewer may notice one of the panels from the very first issue of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles comic by co-creators Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird, while other modifiers alter the appearance of the Turtles themselves to depict their iconic past video game appearances. Aside from the new boss mutation mechanism, players can expect new types of foot soldiers and unique stage modifiers arising from interdimensional chaos, such as gravity alterations or exploding enemies on the screen. Each round also concludes with a highly significant decision for the players:

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 earn in the new survival mode. Collectible crystals reward player performance and are used to unlock upgrades for each character. The crystals can not only be used to unlock player upgrades but also to unlock new character palettes representing iconic appearances for each character. Gamus once again notes that "each character also has 5 additional color palettes to unlock, which can be used in the story mode and arcade mode as well." With the survival mode itself, the two new characters usable in all three game modes, and a variety of potential unlocks, fans of TMNT: Shredder's Revenge have much to gain by immersing themselves in 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 now available for mobile, PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S. The Dimension Shellshock DLC will be released on August 31st.