We're champing at the bit for Dotemu and Tribute Games' upcoming Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder's Revenge, a brand-new brawler which sees the four heroes in half shells return to what they know best - kicking shell and taking names!

Dotemu has released a behind-the-scenes video, which is planned to be the first in the series, looking at the game's development. This first entry, titled 'Once upon a shell', sees Tribute Games’ Co-Founder Jean-Francois Major and Dotemu CEO Cyrille Imbert sit down with a cuppa to talk about how Shredder's Revenge came to be.

As it turns out, both Dotemu (who was working on Streets of Rage 4 at the time) and Tribute Games were pitching a TMNT brawler to Nickelodeon at the same time. So, instead of challenging each other at the arcade, they decided to join forces.

The two studios were adamant from the get-go that they wanted their Ninja Turtles to be based on their 1987 designs, and with years of fanboying behind the developers, Major relished the chance to take on the next TMNT game:

“Contributing to an iconic universe like Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles is an incredible opportunity on any level, but even after completing a TMNT project years ago, I always held out hope that I’d be able to create an experience set in the original era that inspired so much of my childhood wonder. We finally found a partner that shares Tribute Games’ passion for the Heroes in a Half Shell’s debut. Getting to continue the legacy of the classic, beloved TMNT beat-em-ups that fans around the world grew up playing is surreal.”

Imbert comments on the partnership between Dotemu and Tribute Games more than favourably, too:

“The reputation we’ve built with exceptional partners through modern classics like Streets of Rage 4 was vital to beginning our journey with Nickelodeon and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge. Tribute Games clearly shares our passion for the world of TMNT. Their deep understanding and devotion to the essence of classic beat-em-ups makes them the perfect force to ensure Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge is the evolution of brawling fans deserve.”

Both studios have the perfect pedigree to create a modern-day arcade classic, and like any good behind-the-scenes video, there are whiteboard doodles, figurines on shelves, and all kinds of TMNT merchandise. It's clear both Imbert and Major are passionate and excited to get their vision into our hands, and we cannot wait.

Shredder's Revenge is due out sometime this year. How many times have we watched the reveal trailer? Oh, just a hundred handful! Let us know how excited you are in the comments!