Turbo Kid
- April 9, 2024
- Outerminds Inc.
Get on Steam"Turbo Kid" is a pixel-art Metroidvania game based on the film of the same name. As a lone warrior, you'll traverse a post-apocalyptic wasteland, battling enemies with an array of weapons, including a machete and the Turbo Glove™. Your trusty BMX bike is your trusty companion, allowing for faster movement and access to new areas.
PC
Steam Deck
Windows
Reviews
- The graphics, soundtrack, and story are all amazing, capturing the essence of the film.
- The gameplay is challenging yet rewarding, with unique mechanics like biking that enhance exploration.
- The game features a nonlinear design, allowing players to tackle challenges in their own order, which adds to the replayability.
- Some players found the controls awkward and unresponsive, particularly during boss fights.
- The save system can be frustrating, as it lacks clear indicators for collectibles and requires backtracking.
- There are reports of bugs that can hinder progress, including game freezes and issues with teleporting.
- music127 mentions
- 61 % positive mentions
- 37 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received widespread acclaim, with many reviewers praising its nostalgic 80s synthwave style and the exceptional work of the band Le Matos, who created the soundtrack. Players describe the music as immersive, energetic, and a perfect complement to the game's atmosphere and gameplay, often highlighting it as a standout feature that enhances the overall experience. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a must-listen, elevating the game to a memorable level for fans of retro gaming and the original film.
“The hauntingly beautiful soundtrack sets the perfect tone, immersing you in the desolate yet captivating atmosphere.”
“Le Matos did an outstanding job, capturing the essence of the movie soundtrack and delivering an equally impressive experience for the game.”
“The soundtrack is undeniably a highlight of this awesome adventure.”
“Le Matos are so damn good at what they do, just wish there was an official OST release that was purchasable or was on YouTube; the new tracks made for the game sound amazing and I wish there were uploads of them.”
“Aside from the captivating setting and music, Turbo Kid is a fairly by-the-books metroidvania: you explore a two-dimensional landscape in search of quest items, return to previously inaccessible locations upon unlocking certain power-ups, face off against groups of predictable enemies, and battle brutally difficult bosses.”
“The retro style visuals, the soundtrack, the bike skills all make this game so incredibly enjoyable and I can't put it down!”
- gameplay78 mentions
- 64 % positive mentions
- 32 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The gameplay is widely praised for its unique mechanics, particularly the integration of a bike for traversal, which adds a fun twist to the metroidvania experience. Players appreciate the tight controls, engaging combat, and well-designed levels, although some find the difficulty can become frustrating. Overall, the game successfully combines nostalgic retro aesthetics with smooth, enjoyable gameplay that keeps players invested.
“Everything in this metroidvania is top tier: music, level design, gameplay, story,...”
“The gameplay is fun with just enough challenge to keep things interesting.”
“The gameplay is not only interesting but also incredibly engaging, making each moment spent in-game fun.”
“However, gameplay trumps it and will make you not care about the story that much.”
“But the gameplay was mid and became outright annoying by the end.”
“The controls and mechanics are far too sloppy for combat time trials.”
- story45 mentions
- 49 % positive mentions
- 44 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The story of Turbo Kid is generally well-received, with many players praising its engaging narrative, charming characters, and connection to the original movie. While some reviews mention that the story can feel average at times, the overall consensus highlights its depth, humor, and the enjoyable exploration of a post-apocalyptic world. The game successfully weaves its lore into the gameplay, making it a compelling experience for fans of the genre and the film.
“Turbo Kid is a very fun metroidvania set in an interesting post-apocalyptic world with lovable characters and a good-hearted story.”
“Overall, it's a must-play for any fan of retro gaming, offering a captivating story, catchy retrowave soundtrack, and gameplay that strikes the perfect balance between challenge and enjoyment.”
“The lore, the story, and universe (that follows the movie which is also a recommended watch), everything is filled with personality and charm.”
“I guess the only downside is the story, which is a little meh.”
“However, gameplay trumps it and will make you not care about the story that much.”
“Aside from the captivating setting and music, Turbo Kid is a fairly by-the-books metroidvania: you explore a two-dimensional landscape in search of quest items, return to previously inaccessible locations upon unlocking certain power-ups, face off against groups of predictable enemies, and battle brutally difficult bosses.”
- graphics36 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their stunning pixel art and retro aesthetic, effectively blending nostalgic elements with modern design techniques. Reviewers highlight the detailed environments and fluid animations that enhance the overall experience, making it visually appealing and immersive. The art style, combined with a captivating soundtrack, contributes to a cohesive and engaging atmosphere that resonates well with fans of the genre.
“The fluidity of animation and quality of the graphics is remarkable, bringing the crumbling ruins and barren landscapes to life with stunning detail.”
“Killer music from Le Matos, beautiful pixel art graphics, and very fluid gameplay.”
“The art style is beautiful; there's so much detail in the background that I sometimes stop just contemplating the level of craft.”
“Combat, movement, exploration, and visuals are all very middling and don't feel very good.”
“The graphics look intentionally 'retro' simple, but there's some really neat environment and animation details.”
“For those who grew up playing retro games, Turbo Kid delivers a wave of nostalgia with its old-school aesthetics and gameplay mechanics.”
- atmosphere8 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 38 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its hauntingly beautiful soundtrack and polished environments, which effectively immerse players in a captivating and retro-inspired ambiance. Reviewers highlight the seamless blend of music and art that enhances the overall experience, making it a fitting tribute to the original movie "Turbo Kid." Overall, the game's atmosphere is described as rich, engaging, and reflective of its source material.
“The hauntingly beautiful soundtrack sets the perfect tone, immersing you in the desolate yet captivating atmosphere.”
“Awesome atmosphere, the music and art blend together so well to create a unique ambiance.”
“The atmosphere and the gameplay remind me of the movie: rich, simple, fun.”
“The game's environments and overall atmosphere are extremely well polished.”
“They nail the atmosphere of Turbo Kid, and it really does seem a fitting game for the movie.”
- humor6 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is widely praised for its clever and heartfelt writing, effectively capturing the tone of the original movie. Players appreciate the blend of charm and fun gameplay, with many highlighting the colorful and humorous dialogues, especially in the French version. Overall, the game successfully combines classic metroidvania elements with modern RPG features, resulting in a satisfying and entertaining experience.
“More charm, humor, fun gameplay, and inventive things than many games put together.”
“Turbo Kid absolutely nails motivating me to help the kid and his new friends with clever, heartfelt, funny writing that matches the tone from the movie.”
“I love the setting of the movie, and the developer did a great job translating the tone, humor, and aesthetic into game form.”
- stability4 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Overall, the game demonstrates strong stability, running smoothly on platforms like the Steam Deck with minimal bugs reported. However, some users have encountered a specific issue where teleporting to the central hub can cause a soft lock, necessitating a restart.
“Even better than the movie, and it runs great on the Steam Deck!”
“The game runs great and is mostly bug-free.”
“Runs great on Steam Deck.”
- emotional3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of "Turbo Kid" is highlighted by its clever and heartfelt writing, which effectively motivates players to support the protagonist and their friends. As a direct sequel to the film, it carries poignant messages that resonate deeply, particularly for those familiar with the movie's themes.
“Turbo Kid absolutely nails motivating me to help the kid and his new friends with clever, heartfelt, funny writing that matches the tone from the movie.”
“This is a direct sequel to the movie, so if you haven't seen it yet, there may be some heartfelt messages that won't come across as well.”
- grinding3 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be annoying and tedious, despite the presence of accessibility options that can make challenging boss fights more manageable. While there are tools to help locate secrets, many feel that the prospect of retracing every part of the map is overly tedious.
“It's just annoying and tedious.”
“There is a chip you can equip which will ping if you are close to a secret, but I wasn't going to retread every square of the map from scratch with that; that'd be too tedious for my taste.”
- optimization2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game is praised for its smooth performance, consistently running at 60fps, though some users report occasional frame rate dips on the Steam Deck. Overall, the optimization contributes positively to the immersive metroidvania experience.
“Great metroidvania with an amazing ambiance, runs smoothly at 60fps with occasional dips on the Steam Deck.”
“Great game, great music, mechanics run smoothly, gory as heck, etc.”
