To that end, there will allegedly be different characters from the new kids TV show, the old kids TV show, the comic books and possibly even from the other video games. Unfortunately, Ubisoft is saving most of its announcements about TMNT's stage and character lineup for San Diego Comic Con later this month, but from what few characters were available, it looks like the April O'Neil they're working with is the anorexic-looking chick from the new show. Alas.

What Is It?
TMNT Smash-Up is a brawler in the same class as Super Smash Bros. Brawl. It even looks like Brawl probably due to the fact that the developer, Game Arts, did preliminary development on Brawl for Nintendo. Gameplay is a straight-up smackdown between for playable characters in various stages with environmental hazards like man (or turtle) eating crocodiles.

What We Saw
UbiNintendo's schedule was running a little bit behind, so journalists only got about 20 minutes of hands-on time with the brawl mode. The build we were on only had four selectable stages and just seven characters (although an additional two were announced at E3 and more are still to be announced at Comic Con, we're told).

How Far Along Is It?
Not very, based on what stages and which characters were available. The game is due out September 22, 2009.

What Needs Improvement?
My Thumbs For A GameCube Controller: Currently is only demoing two control schemes – a Nunchuck/Wiimote setup and a sideways Wiimote setup. Because this is a fast-paced brawler where you have to tap twice on the D-pad to dash, that second control scheme is absolute murder on your thumbs. I asked if the GameCube controller would be an option and was given a definite yes. Although, the associate producer did tell me that Game Arts is aware of Smash Bros. fans' preference for the GameCube controller.

I'm Uneasy About Motion Controls: I noticed a mechanic where if a player's grab was broken or they took a bad hit, they'd get dizzy and an icon would encourage the player to shake the Wii Remote to restore them. This was hard to accomplish with the sideways setup because you had to turn the controller around in your hand to a normal Wiimote position to shake – and it was border-lining on the tacked-on feel many Wii games give into when integrating motion controls. Again, the associate producer says the developer is aware of the revulsion many gamers have to waggle-fests.

Ugh. April: I'm sorry, but I just don't like this version of longtime turtles ally April O'Neil. Her character model isn't very attractive and the yellow ninja outfit she's sporting is even more of an eyesore than the yellow 80s jumpsuit she wore in the cartoon of my childhood. Bring back the raincoat-wearing, jean-sporting April from the comics; she was cool. And a computer hacker!

What Should Stay The Same?
Yay For Brawling! I rather liked the fighting styles of most of the characters and the controls were easy to figure out by virtue of knowing Smash Bros. inside and out. Donatello had a good range with his bo staff and Raphael had speedy combos with his sai; the special ninja attacks were easy to trigger even with the sideways Wiimote setup and the grab system allows for players to break free and inflict dizziness on the jerk who grabbed them.

Detailed Environments: One of the cityscape stages maybe a little bit too much like something out of Smash Bros. (think Earthbound levels), but I could tell the sewer and jungle levels were all turtle. Each environment was interactive in some way – like the jungle level, you can destroy the hanging platforms that would normally protect players from crocodile attacks – and it looks like some stages will have multiple parts.

Final Thoughts
It's early days yet, so I'm not really sure how I feel about TMNT Smash-Up. On the one hand, I'm glad to have another Wii brawler, especially one developed by the guys who had a hand in Brawl. But on the other hand, I don't really watch the new cartoon and I haven't seen enough homage done to other parts of the Ninja Turtle franchise for me to justify buying it. Guess I'll just have to wait and see what turns up at Comic Con.

Given the name Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Turtles in Time Re-Shelled, it's a modern remake of Konami's classic 1991 side-scrolling arcade title, and will be out worldwide on July 22. Well, it'll be out on Xbox Live Arcade on July 22. As for the PlayStation Network, all Ubisoft will say is that it'll be out "later this year".

Dominic from Gamervision caught the Turtle Van at Citizen's Bank Park in my old home town of Philadelphia this weekend, and somehow amidst all of that overwhelming turtle power managed to whip out his cell phone for an impromptu recording session. While the sound is pretty much non-existent, the video is surprisingly non-shaky, giving us a good look at the 3D turtles in action.

I'd add the obligatory "cowabunga" here, but you'd be expecting that.

First Footage of Turtles in Time Remake [Gamervision]

This teaser for the four-player waggle-filled brawler — from the developers of Super Smash Bros. Brawl and just recently officially announced — is heavy on "Brawl" mentions, but light on details. We only see three playable characters, Leonardo, Donatello and Splinter. That may be enough to lure in lapsed turtle fans and anyone looking for a fighter that's actually playable online.

We'll find out this Fall, I suppose when TMNT: Smash-Up is "coming out of its shell."

Supposedly, the team tasked with creating this 2.5D brawler is comprised of former Team Ninja staffers and folks who worked on Super Smash Bros. Brawl. GoNintendo is reporting that the Wii-bound fighter is scheduled for a late 2009 release and will feature online play said to outperform Brawl.

An Ubisoft rep is quoted as saying that the game, while licensed, is not directly tied to a movie or television show, but will be a standalone effort. Our interest in the turtles couldn't be much lower, as a grown man, but given the pedigree of the developers, we'll say "Go, ex-Team Ninja, go!"

New TMNT Game - More Details [GoNintendo]

Star Fox 64 (1000 Wii points): Join Fox and friends as they blast through 15 missions of shooty goodness as they make their way to planet Venom for a confrontation with the evil Andross while still somehow finding time to produce a daily morning talk show.. SF64 (or Lylat Wars to you Europeans) was the second best selling game of 1997, surpassed only by Mario Kart 64. Sexy.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (NES - 600 Wii Points): With turtle mania in full swing once again following the relatively strong box office of the new movie, the VC gets the very first TMNT video game, Ultra's Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. A weird combination of platforming and overhead missions, this was the second title I got for my original NES, and it taught me how to curse at video games. Ah, memories.

Dragon's Curse (TG16 - 800 Wii Points): Not familiar with this one, but it's a platformer that involves a man changing into animals, so the theme stands!

Nice week for the VC, especially for you closet furries out there. Definitely makes up for last week's barrel scraping. Hit the jump for the official descriptions! Michael Fahey

Star Fox 64 (N64, 1-4 players, 1,000 Wii Points):

Players take the controls of their Arwing and complete 15 missions to reach the final objective: a showdown on Venom, the home planet of the interplanetary tyrant, Andross. Throughout the adventure, players have to accomplish challenging objectives in order to reach and conquer every mission. Skim over the surface of an alien sea, weave through the concrete canyons of a futuristic metropolis or dodge planetoids the size of mountains. Between missions, players will be treated to real-time 3-D movies that progress the story of the Star Fox team of space mercenaries in their struggle against the evil ape emperor, Andross.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (NES, 1 player, 600 Wii Points):

Cowabunga! Players take control of the turtles in a half shell and rescue reporter April O'Neil from the clutches of the evil Shredder. Battle against the Foot Ninja Clan as Leonardo, Michaelangelo, Donatello and Raphael with their trademark weapons and ninja abilities. Search through five stages and dozens of areas throughout the New York City sewers, rooftops and ultimately Shredder's Technodrome to save April. Players must scarf down some pizza to keep up their energy, as they'll need it to defeat Shredder. Turtle Power!

Dragon's Curse (TurboGrafx16, 1 player, 600 Wii Points):

After defeating the Mecha Dragon in the depths of the Dragon Castle, the wounded beast casts a spell on the hero, turning him into an ugly creature. To return to human form, he must find the Salamander Cross, which can break any curse. This side-scrolling action role-playing game is nonlinear, allowing players to venture freely. Collect gold and items while upgrading equipment and powering up stats. The hero starts as Lizard-Man but, upon defeating the dragon bosses, is changed into other creatures such as Mouse-Man, Piranha-Man, Tiger-Man and Hawk-Man. Each creature possesses distinct abilities such as the ability to fly, swim, walk on ceilings or cling to walls. Players use each creature's special skills to widen your search for the Salamander Cross and bring the hero back to his human form!

Between this and the new games and movie coming out, I cannot help but hope for a revival of my favorite TMNT clone, the Adolescent Radioactive Black Belt Hamsters. Michael Fahey

Cowabunga! It's Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles on Xbox LIVE Arcade [GamerScore Blog]

According to IGN, TMNT will hit XBLA sometime in March for the low, low price of 400 Microsoft Points, better known as five US dollars. The game will support two to four-player online co-op play and, presumably, be totally tubular. Michael McWhertor

TMNT Officially Head to XBLA [IGN]

This sorta looks like the old X-Man arcade game but with better graphics... and anthropomorphic turtles. I'm sure it will be fun, just not really revolutionary. Brian Crecente

Ubisoft showed a bit of the work they are doing on the upcoming Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles game at the Comic-Con this week.

The company's Montreal office has been working closely with Imagi Animation Studios to create the game based on the feature-length CGI movie set to hit on March 30, 2007. The game is set to debut on the same day.

The above video is a sneak peak at the making of the game. Brian Crecente