Four brothers in shells must navigate through treacherous sewers and urban environments to stop the Foot Clan's schemes, with players able to rotate between Leonardo, Raphael, Donatello, and Michelangelo before each stage to exploit their unique combat styles—whether favoring speed, range, or balance. Captured turtles can be rescued between levels, but if all four fall into enemy hands, the mission ends, raising the stakes with each confrontation. Beyond standard street combat, the adventure demands players overcome dynamic obstacles like tumbling boulders and moving platforms while shifting between constrained corridors and open arenas that allow more freedom of movement. Recognizable adversaries emerge throughout, from the brutish Bebop and Rocksteady to the enigmatic Krang, with multiple difficulty settings that escalate enemy strength and boss tactics to match players' skill levels.