During the pandemic,Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtlesreleased a graphic novel calledThe Last Roninthat flipped the franchise’s typically feel-good tone on its head in favor of dark, unsettling themes - and fans loved it. Now, asThe Last Roninis being adapted into a newTeenage Mutant Ninja Turtlesvideo game, those unfamiliar with the source material may be in for a mix of shock and heartbreak.
The Last Roninfollows the story of one of the four brothers (who remains unidentified during the story’s introduction) as he aims to avenge the death of his siblings. The story takes place in a battle-worn New York City that has succumbed to the rise of Oroku Hiroto, Shredder’s grandson, and an unprecedented level of dominance by the Foot Clan. With this gloomy setting and focus on more visceral combat in mind, it’s no surprise thatThe Last Roningame will draw inspiration fromGod of War.
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The Last Ronin Leaves One Turtle Standing
The Last Ronintakes theTeenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, a franchise centered around family and brotherhood, andkills three of the turtle brothers along with Master Splinter. It’s hard to imagine more of a brutal gut-punch to introduce a story. While many fans might expect either the battle-hardened Raphael or natural-born leader Leonardo to be the sole survivor, the eponymous Last Ronin is revealed to be the youngest brother, Michelangelo.
Designating Michelangelo as the lone survivor was a knife-twisting reveal, as he’s the most easy-going of the bunch and a natural jokester, yet becomes the one tasked with avenging his family. WhileThe Last Roninshould offer advantages over otherTeenage Mutant Ninja Turtlesgamesin terms of gameplay depth and exploring the franchise’s characters, its story is discomfiting and delves into unexpectedly dark subjects.
Not only doesThe Last Roninsee the deaths of Leo, Raph, Donnie, and their teacher, but also fan-favorite companion Casey Jones in a joint final stand alongside Leo. With nearly the entire main cast ofTeenage Mutant Ninja Turtlesdismantled, it’s only theturtles' long-time companion April O’Neilwho survives to aid Michelangelo.
How a Game Based on The Last Ronin Could Look
It’s possible thatTeenage Mutant Ninja Turtlefansmay still get to play as all four brothers in a game based onThe Last Ronin. Yet if it does happen, players are likely going to be taking control of Raphael, Leonardo, and Donatello during their last moments.The Last Roningraphic novel doesn’t hold any punches in detailing how each of the brothers died, all of which could easily be flipped and made into playable moments for a video game.
The Last Roningame will undoubtedly center around Michelangelo’s revenge mission. Since the source material is a relatively short graphic novel and lacks many of theclassicTeenage Mutant Ninja Turtlevillains, it’s possible that a video game adaptation will have to figure out creative ways to incorporate time-tested antagonists in order to lengthen the experience and add more familiarity for casual observers. Still, it’s unlikely that the core of the story will change, which means that inveterateTeenage Mutant Ninja Turtlesfans are in for serious heartbreak. Despite the bleak re-imagining thatThe Last Roninbrings, it’s also a poignant look at the characters and bonds that tied them all together, which will certainly be worth exploring in any medium.
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