It has been 3 months since then Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Splintered Fate was released for the Nintendo Switch, and since then a content map has been revealed – highlighting several updates, fixes, new features and story DLC in the works.
iGamesNews reached out to the game’s developer, Super Evil Megacorp, to get some insight into the creation of the radical roguelike, and to also see if we can learn more about the aforementioned DLC that was released in August.
We’re joined by Daniel Stansens, lead game designer at Super Evil Megacorp. Having been in the gaming industry for over 8 years, Stansens now leads the team behind the game as an authority on its combat systems and core gameplay. You can watch the entire interview below:
To begin with, why did you decide to make a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Splintered Fate roguelike? Do you think it was the right choice in the end?
Stop: Well for starters, there are a lot of Ninja Turtles fans on the team, so we led with a passion for the characters and the world: everyone was very excited to be involved. While working with Paramount Game Studios on development, we wanted to bring something different to the Ninja Turtles gaming universe and a roguelike seemed like a fun, fast-paced option that fit well with the existing world while also utilizing the skills of Super Evil Megacorp and the custom game engine, EV IL Engine. Our game engine enabled the development of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Splintered Fate to be fully cross-platform on day one – not only available in the Apple Store, but also fully supported by the Apple TV controller and with a clear plan to expand to Nintendo Switch and beyond with efficiency. And again, since there are four Ninja Turtles and they’re known for working together, we decided to create a co-op roguelike that could be played co-op or online – which was definitely a good fit for this universe.
Which Ninja Turtle is your favorite?
Stansenov: That’s a tough question, as each turtle brings its own unique style and play to the table. But as a kid, and even now, I adored Donni. His creativity, technical savvy and intelligence always resonated with me, and he was always the reliable one – which I try to be, especially now as a game developer. In Splintered Fate, I like playing as Donnie because of how satisfying his staff attacks are, but the game encourages players to try out all of the Turtles by offering unique perks and play styles for each one.
What was your biggest challenge and biggest victory when making the game?
Stansenov: Building a narrative within a roguelike structure is a challenging thing. To see and make sure you’ve covered as many details, kinks, easter eggs and player choices as possible… a lot of work goes into keeping track of it all! We’re incredibly grateful that Splintered Fate’s development win is that the differences and strengths between the brothers fit perfectly into a roguelike world that, through its structure and identity, focuses on player action, creating unique builds, and challenging boss encounters. It was also an honor to work with Tom Waltz, one of the creators of the comic book ‘Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Last Ronin’. to support us in staying loyal to IP. Identifying the voice talent was also extremely important, because everyone knows the voices from the animated series and movies, so we wanted to stay familiar.
Can you tell us about the upcoming DLC for Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Splintered Fate?
Stop: It’s a top secret for now, but I’m happy to confirm that, yes, DLCs are in the works. and that new characters, powers, bosses and playable areas will be unlocked on them. Fans can look forward to a new character to master, more story and even more replayability in the future. If you want to know more about it, keep an eye on our social media channels and website as we hope to announce more early next year. Along with the DLC, we’re also adding new features to the main game including crossplay, online matchmaking, challenges and leaderboards so keep an eye out for that too!
Finally, do you have a message to convey to the fans of the game?
Stop: I want to say a big thank you to everyone who has already played the game, left a review, tried the Steam Demo or told a friend about it. Fan support means everything to us, and we’re excited to continue creating more Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles fun for everyone to enjoy. There are some really neat things in the pipeline that will interest Turtle fans, so stay tuned for more.
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