Cowabunga! Ubisoft announces North American availability of TMNT: The Video Game, the cross-platform tie-in with the upcoming CGI feature film starring the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. A playable demo of the PC version is available (story), and here's the announcement:

SAN FRANCISCO – MARCH 20, 2007 – Today Ubisoft, one of the world's largest video game developers and publishers announced that its TMNT(TM) video game, based on the upcoming CGI feature-length film starring the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles®, is now available at video game retailers in North America. Developed by Ubisoft's world-class Montreal and Quebec City studios, TMNT, the video game, is rated E10+ and is available for the Xbox 360(TM) video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, the PlayStation®2 computer entertainment system, the PSP® (PlayStation®Portable) system, Windows® PC, Game Boy® Advance, Nintendo DS(TM), Nintendo GameCube(TM) and Wii(TM).

The new TMNT video game incorporates the same dark and dangerous environments and extends the adventurous themes featured in the new TMNT CGI film being developed by Imagi Animation Studios and Mirage Licensing and distributed by Warner Bros. The TMNT movie, which opens in U.S. theaters on March 23, 2007, takes place in a New York City plagued by secretive villains and strange, otherworldly creatures. Faced with these perils, the Turtles will experience their most trying time both as heroes and as a family, as Raphael, Donatello and Michelangelo lose their focus and struggle to maintain their unity and ninja discipline. In the movie and in the highly immersive video game adventure, it's up to Leonardo and the faithful father figure Splinter to reunite the band of brothers and save New York City from a monstrous evil that lurks around every corner. Video game players will engage in over-the-top acrobatic navigation, collaborative combat and powerful fighting moves.

"Ubisoft is proud to be introducing everyone's favorite Turtles to the next generation of video games,” said Tony Key, vice president of marketing at Ubisoft. "Ubisoft has worked closely with the creators at Imagi and Mirage to develop an immersive gaming experience that gives players a chance to expand the adventures in the film by submerging themselves in the sewers and scaling the rooftops of New York City in true ninja style.”

TMNT Video Game key features include: Intense Ninja Fighting: Harness the power of Ninjitsu and become a master of combat. Leonardo, Raphael, Donatello and Michelangelo are playable and each have unique acrobatic moves, weapons and combat skills, such as Michelangelo's fast nunchuck face slap and Raphael's powerful Sai throw.

Unique Acrobatic Navigation: The Turtles jump from rooftop to rooftop, scale tall buildings, dive into sewers and race through every corner of the city to confront their enemies.

Powerful Tag-Team Moves: Together the Turtles can team up to reach locations unattainable alone or defeat the enemy.

Diverse Enemies and Bosses: Features characters from the movie and the original comic book series – including the Purple Dragon Street Gang and the infamous Foot Clan – and a whole new group of enemies creep out of the shadows to face the Turtles.

Nine Wii Mini-Games: The Wii version features nine exclusive mini-games and each character has different movements and challenges. For example, Leonardo is forced to take action in a crime-ridden hotspot and in a game called "Shooting Alley” as he throws his Shuriken to keep enemies at bay.

Ubisoft's TMNT video game is being created under a licensing agreement with Mirage Licensing, Inc. The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles are represented for merchandising by 4Kids Entertainment. Please visit www.tmntgame.com to access the official game Web site and www.tmnt.com for the latest news and information on the new CGI movie.