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The story of TMNT: The Last Ronin is widely considered one of the darkest adventures featuring the heroes in a half shell and is treated with reverence by long-time fans. A brief teaser for The Last Ronin’s upcoming video game adaptation was shown at THQ Nordic’s showcase, and it seems like the grim tone of the original comic will be retained.
Details on The Last Ronin game remain fairly scarce, but it looks set to be a faithful adaptation of the acclaimed storyline while taking the property in a bold new direction. The game is assumably reasonably early in its development cycle, meaning it could be a while before we get a real look at gameplay and plot elements. If you’re curious to know more about the acclaimed story, we’ve got you covered.
What is The Story Behind TMNT: The Last Ronin
TMNT: The Last Ronin’s story was first told across a five-issue miniseries written by TMNT co-creators Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird. The story takes place in an alternate timeline that features a futuristic and totalitarian New York, which has been ruined by pollution and climate change. To make matters worse, the Big Apple is now ruled with an iron fist by Oruku Hiroto, grandson of the turtles’ archnemesis – the Shredder.
The Last Ronin follows the last surviving Ninja Turtle as he battles against synthetic Foot Clan ninja to free New York from Hiroto’s oppression and avenge the deaths of his brothers. One of the biggest mysteries surrounding The Last Ronin was the identity of the surviving Ninja Turtle, and the answer is surprising, to say the least.
TMNT: The Last Ronin Story -Who is The Last Ronin?
In The Last Ronin, the surviving Ninja Turtle is, in fact, Michelangelo. Throughout most interpretations, Mikey is often portrayed as the light-hearted goofball among the four turtles and typically serves as comic relief. That’s a far cry from his portrayal in The Last Ronin. This version of Michelangelo is a cold, stoic, and hardened warrior who is left wrestling with his grief as visions of his brothers haunt him.
To aid him in his mission of destroying the Foot Clan once and for all, Michelangelo obtained complete and total mastery over martial arts. Along with his famous nunchaku, he also wields his brothers’ signature weapons leading him to become proficient in Kenjustu, Bōjutsu, and Tonfā.
Michelangelo works alongside an older April O’neil and later becomes a mentor figure to her daughter, Casey Marie Jones, after training her in martial arts.
Everything we know about The Last Ronin Game
The Last Ronin Game is an action RPG and will be developed by Black Forest Games, best known for its remake of Destroy All Humans. In an interview with Polygon earlier this year, Doug Rosen, Senior Vice President for Games and Emerging Talent at Paramount Global, teased that The Last Ronin will be a AAA experience aimed at mature audiences.
He also hinted at the game’s combat system, which will see Michelangelo utilize all four of his brother’s signature weapons through different combat styles. While the original comic solely focuses on Michelangelo, Rosen has suggested that each of the Ninja Turtles will be playable in flashbacks.
Related: How Does TMNT: Mutant Mayhem Compare to Previous Movies?
The Last Ronin game has been directly inspired by Sony Santa Monica’s God of War duology. That’s a high bar to set, and whether it can reach those heights remains to be seen, but with the source material at hand, The Last Ronin could be one of the first truly great AAA experiences for TMNT.
