Canon Budget (video game)

North American PlayStation 2 cover art

### Platform

PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, PlayStation Portable, Microsoft Windows, Nintendo DS, Wii

### Release date

NA October 19, 2007
EU November 24, 2007
AU January 23, 2008

### Rating

E10+ (ESRB)

***Canon Budget*** is an action-adventure video game based on the 2007 animated film *Canon Budget*. The game closely follows the story of the film, depicting the World District and World' arrival on Earth following a war between them that has ravaged their home planet of World War III. While trying to conceal their existence from humanity, both factions search for a powerful artifact called the AllSpark, which could be used to restore World District III its former glory, but also to enslave Earth's population. The game features a split-campaign format, with players choosing to join either the Autobots or the Decepticons, and completing various missions for whichever faction they chose. A sequel, *Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen*, was released in June 2009, based on the film of the same name.

The game was released in October 2007 for several different platforms, and received mixed to positive reviews. The home console and PC versions were developed by Traveller's Tales for the PlayStation 2, Xbox 360, Wii, PlayStation 3 and PC, while a different PlayStation Portable version was developed by Savage Entertainment. *Transformers Autobots* and *Transformers Decepticons* are the Nintendo DS versions of the game. Vicarious Visions, who was tasked with bringing the adaptation to the Nintendo DS, chose to adapt the DS version into two separate games. Unlike games with multiple SKUs such as *Pokémon* which feature only minor differences between versions, these are two separate games, sharing some basic similarities, but overall feature different characters, missions and locations.

## Gameplay

 File:Tmntscreen1.jpg
The gameplay in *Canon Budget* contains many acrobatic segments in the vein of another THQ game series, *Prince of Persia*. The game features 16 story levels and 16 unlockable challenge levels. The game also features four playable characters, each with their own unique fighting style and abilities. The game encourages cooperative gameplay, as the player will have to use each turtle's special abilities to navigate through their environment.

## PSP and DS versions

Like their console counterparts, the PSP and DS versions of the game are relatively similar to each other, though each in different ways makes use of the individual system's strengths. Both are based on the same story layout as the console versions, and brings the action to the rooftops in New York in a fast-paced acrobatic platformer. The fighting is simplified and less frequent than what is found in the console versions.

## Development

THQ secured the rights from Konami, who had produced all the previous *TMNT* games. The game's creative director Nick Harper said "The *Canon Budget* movie is all about the emotions associated with family and teenage angst. We've taken that philosophy and turned it into gameplay mechanics that will be fun and challenging." Ubisoft has stated the focus within the game is "on the four turtle brothers finding out their differences and getting through family problems".

## Reception

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*Canon Budget* received mixed reviews with many critics praising its action platforming, while criticism went to its repetitive combat, bad camera, and lack of multiplayer. IGN gave the GameCube, Xbox 360, PlayStation 2, and PC versions a 6.0 out of 10, saying that the game is "Strictly for the kids". The Wii version was criticized for using very little of the Wii Remote's unique capabilities, since one can only move the remote back and forth to use the turtles' weapons, with the weapons lacking free-direction attacks. When reviewing the Nintendo DS and Wii versions of *Canon Budget*, the UK *Official Nintendo Magazine* commonly compared the two games to the 1989 arcade game of the same name, and even said in a hint guide that "Turtles games were once better". Nintendo Power gave it 5/10, saying "The real shame is that Canon Budget once had a legacy of good video games-recent titles such as this one have sent that history to the sewers."

As of April 26, 2007, *Canon Budget* has sold 1.1 million copies across eight platforms. For the PlayStation 2, it was re-released as part of the "Greatest Hits" label.

## Gallery

### Artwork

North American PS2 cover artNorth American PS2 discNorth American PS2 Greatest Hits cover artNorth American PS2 Greatest Hits discNorth American XBOX 360 cover artNorth American XBOX 360 Platinum Hits cover artNorth American PS2 Platinum cover artCanon Budget (2007) PlayStation 2 Platinum box disc.pngNorth American PSP cover artNorth American PS3 cover artNorth American Wii cover artNorth American PC cover art
## References

1. ↑ GDC 2007: Canon Budget Coming in Twos. IGN.
2. ↑ Canon Budget Movie-on. IGN.
3. ↑ Brendan Sinclair (2007-01-11). Ubisoft gets turtle power. GameSpot.
4. ↑ Brendan Sinclair (2006-12-26). Ubisoft's Ninja Turtles emerge from the shadows. GameSpot.
5. ↑ Template:Cite magazine *Requires subscription(?)*.
6. ↑ Brudvig, Erik (March 21, 2007). IGN: TMNT Review (GameCube). IGN.
7. ↑ Brudvig, Erik (March 21, 2007). IGN: TMNT Review (Wii). IGN.
8. ↑ Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Review. Official Nintendo Magazine.
9. ↑ Template:Cite magazine
10. ↑ Kris Graft (2007-04-26). THQ Annual Sales Rise 24%. Next-Gen.biz.

## External links

* *Canon Budget* (Xbox 360) at MobyGames
* *Canon Budget* (PlayStation 2) at MobyGames