Turbo Overkill
- August 11, 2023
- Trigger Happy Interactive
- 13h median play time
By just about every single metric for evaluating a boomer shooter, Turbo Overkill excels and delivers in spades. I had a near limitless amount of agency to play as I want and still enjoy a boomer shooter experience without frills, gimmicks, and other artificial difficulty spikes. It oozes creativity while taking players on an exhilarating ride through a cyberpunk apocalypse. It’s the perfect blend of gore, seriousness, and silliness. Turbo Overkill is a literal spectacle of unfettered, high-octane boomer shooter gameplay. Call it a symphony of destruction, mayhem, gore, and violence. Call it bloody good fun. Call it whatever you want, really, so long as fun is somewhere in that mix. The world of Turbo Overkill is one worth exploring and desecrating with Johnny Turbo’s chainsaw leg.
Get on Steam"Turbo Overkill" is a single-player, sci-fi shooter game with an outstanding story, excellent gameplay, and unique atmosphere. As Johnny Turbo, a half-metal, half-human murder machine, you'll wreak havoc in a Blade Runner-meets-DOOM hellscape using your arm rockets and leg chainsaw to save Paradise from a rogue AI. The game boasts stunning visuals, excellent music, and plenty of humor, but expect some bugs and grinding to fully enjoy this boomer shooter masterpiece.
PC
Steam Deck
Windows
Reviews
- Turbo Overkill is a fast-paced, over-the-top shooter that combines elements of classic boomer shooters with modern mechanics, providing a thrilling gameplay experience.
- The game features a diverse arsenal of weapons, each with unique abilities and upgrades, allowing for varied playstyles and strategies.
- The vibrant cyberpunk aesthetic, engaging story, and killer soundtrack enhance the overall experience, making it a must-play for fans of the genre.
- The game can feel overly long, especially in the later chapters, leading to repetitive gameplay and fatigue.
- Some boss fights are frustratingly drawn out with multiple phases and lack of checkpoints, which can detract from the overall enjoyment.
- Difficulty balancing issues exist, with some enemies being overly punishing while others feel too easy, leading to inconsistent gameplay experiences.
- gameplay1,151 mentions
- 41 % positive mentions
- 57 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "Turbo Overkill" is characterized by its fast-paced, frenetic action and innovative mechanics, particularly the standout chainsaw leg that allows for dynamic movement and combat. Players appreciate the variety of weapons, fluid movement options, and the constant introduction of new mechanics that keep the experience fresh, although some note that the gameplay can become repetitive over time. Overall, it combines elements from classic shooters like Doom with modern mechanics, creating a unique and engaging experience set in a vibrant cyberpunk world.
“Turbo Overkill is a great example of a cool action game that shows that games must be about fun and gameplay, and graphics with other stuff are secondary.”
“The gameplay is fun at first but gets repetitive as you get deeper into the game and start encountering issues, bugs, and frustrating parts.”
“The gameplay is fast, highly movement-based, and feels just right.”
“The game is okay, but there are several gameplay problems, like you can't control the direction of the chainsaw leg, the jump pads are often positioned incorrectly or they have too small a radius, which can make you fall, and the grapple hook also does not always pull you onto the platforms but against them, which is annoying.”
“The gameplay loop is basically first-person Shadow the Hedgehog... you have a bunch of sick guns to use, but nothing is more satisfying than slide tackling into hordes of enemies with your chainsaw leg.”
“The much written-about 'chainsaw leg' is imaginative but doesn't really change the gameplay much.”
- music956 mentions
- 58 % positive mentions
- 40 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The music in *Turbo Overkill* has been widely praised for its energetic and engaging soundtrack, which blends synthwave, rock, and orchestral elements to enhance the fast-paced gameplay. Many players describe it as a "banger" that perfectly complements the game's cyberpunk aesthetic and frenetic action, although some note that it can become repetitive over time. Overall, the soundtrack is considered one of the standout features of the game, contributing significantly to the overall experience.
“Turbo Overkill is such a comprehensive boomer shooter with one of the best soundtracks I’ve ever heard in a game.”
“The music is an incredible 10/10, and the sound effects are 9/10 because they're just barely not chunky enough for me.”
“The soundtrack is an absolute banger, with a pulse-pounding electronic score that perfectly complements the game's fast-paced action.”
“The one downside for me was the music in some stages got really repetitive and didn't seem to fit.”
“Overall, it is a great game, with the only flaw being the music banging 24/7 instead of only in fights, making it feel more like background music.”
“The music is pretty mid, and repetitive unfortunately.”
- story744 mentions
- 34 % positive mentions
- 62 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The story of "Turbo Overkill" is a campy, over-the-top narrative that serves as a backdrop for its fast-paced gameplay, featuring a protagonist named Johnny Turbo navigating a cyberpunk world filled with absurdity and humor. While some players found the plot engaging and surprisingly well-developed, others criticized it for being simplistic or convoluted, with repetitive mission structures and uneven pacing. Overall, the story is seen as a fun, albeit flawed, element that enhances the chaotic action rather than detracting from it.
“The dystopian cyberpunk aesthetic is pulled off very well and the story is captivating.”
“The story is actually really good, if somewhat silly.”
“Turbo overkill is a fantastic love letter to the retro fps genre, the story is oddly charming with likable characters despite largely being an excuse for 'go here and shoot anything that moves', the soundtrack has no right that good, and most importantly it's just good old fun.”
“The main issues I had with this game were the story, main character, longer-than-needed levels, most of which were super confusing, walking on walls/special platform jumps, and game-breaking bugs.”
“The storyline made zero sense, felt rushed, and the levels needed to be shorter for a fast-paced FPS game like this.”
“The story suffers because it doesn’t make much sense as you go through this repetitive gaming style.”
- graphics734 mentions
- 51 % positive mentions
- 47 % neutral mentions
- 1 % negative mentions
The graphics of "Turbo Overkill" have received widespread acclaim for their vibrant cyberpunk aesthetic, blending retro pixel art with modern lighting effects to create a visually stunning experience. Players appreciate the game's colorful environments and detailed level design, although some have noted occasional performance issues and a chaotic visual style that can be overwhelming. Overall, the graphics are praised for enhancing the fast-paced gameplay and immersive atmosphere, making it a standout in the boomer shooter genre.
“The graphics are cohesive, and the gameplay is immaculate.”
“Visually, the game is a masterpiece, seamlessly merging retro aesthetics with stunning modern graphics.”
“The cyberpunk aesthetic is executed with precision, immersing players in a vibrant, dystopian world filled with neon lights and futuristic landscapes.”
“The game lagged very inconsistently; in some areas I was on max graphics without a hiccup, and in others the game chugged at minimum graphics.”
“That said, when all the chaos unfolds, even the visuals themselves can become an assault on the eyes, what with the exaggerated cyberpunk aesthetic and areas where the color space devolves into a saturated fluorescent mess.”
“Art style seemed competent at first, but soon things just became a shiny neon mess, especially when equipping any power-up.”
- humor158 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is a standout feature, blending absurdity and campy 80s references with self-aware dialogue that often elicits genuine laughter. Players appreciate the witty writing and character interactions, which enhance the overall experience without detracting from the action. While some humor may be hit or miss, it generally adds a fun layer to the fast-paced gameplay, reminiscent of classic titles like Duke Nukem and Borderlands.
“The absurdity of the game and its story is quite funny, yet it also manages to make you feel like a badass cyborg.”
“Turbo Overkill seamlessly blends the adrenaline-pumping chaos of cyberpunk aesthetics with a healthy dose of side-splitting humor.”
“The game's humorous undertones are woven into the fabric of the experience, adding an extra layer of enjoyment to the already exhilarating gameplay.”
- stability94 mentions
- 15 % positive mentions
- 2 % neutral mentions
- 83 % negative mentions
The game's stability has received mixed feedback, with many players reporting frequent bugs and glitches, including issues with checkpoints, wall-running, and soft-locks that hinder progress. While some users noted that the game runs well on various platforms and found the experience enjoyable despite the bugs, others expressed frustration with the game's inconsistency and the impact of glitches on gameplay. Overall, the game is considered buggy but still fun, especially for an early access title, with expectations for improvements in future updates.
“Runs great on my laptop, never dipped under 200fps.”
“Looks great, runs great, has really cool boss fights; overall is an absolute blast to play.”
“It runs great, feels great, and the music is amazing as well.”
“And finally, I understand this is an indie game so I don't want to go too hard on this point, but I've gotten hard stuck twice due to checkpoint-related glitches.”
“In the last levels there are soft-lock glitches that prevent you from progressing.”
“This game has all the bits and pieces that make a great game with the worst optimization and buggiest glitches I have ever seen.”
- optimization78 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 51 % neutral mentions
- 15 % negative mentions
Overall, the optimization of the game has received mixed feedback. While many players report smooth performance and minimal bugs, especially on higher-end systems, others have experienced frame rate drops and performance issues, particularly on lower-end setups or specific levels. Some users suggest that further optimization is needed, especially given the game's early access status.
“Excellently optimized, fun gameplay, 20 hours plus of combat for a great price!”
“Performance was solid throughout my playtime and I didn't come across any bugs or glitches.”
“Optimization-wise, it's great. I run a RTX 3070 and i5-9600K, 1440p at 144Hz, there are no crashes, no stutter, I never had a single slowdown throughout the entire game, my FPS stays above 130 FPS 99% of the time.”
“Optimization is meh, the FPS gets below 144 sometimes.”
“Great game, but the release version messed up my frame rates and causes stuttering.”
“Poor optimization makes the game unplayable.”
- atmosphere60 mentions
- 60 % positive mentions
- 35 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its vibrant and immersive cyberpunk aesthetic, characterized by a colorful yet gritty dystopia and a dynamic synthwave soundtrack that enhances the experience. Reviewers highlight the attention to detail in the environment and sound design, which collectively create a compelling and engaging world that surpasses even notable titles like Cyberpunk 2077. Overall, the atmosphere is described as a perfect blend of retro influences, humor, and layered gameplay, making it a standout feature of the game.
“I think the art style captures the Blade Runner-like neon light dystopia atmosphere perfectly.”
“This atmosphere permeates the entire game's universe.”
“I was thinking that the game was going to be more on the surface, but surprisingly has more depth than you think. The only thing the game doesn't have is deep lore, seeing as it doesn't do anything to help the story, but it would definitely help with the atmosphere.”
“7/10 lots of bugs and small issues, but the game really delivers on some classic shooting action with a heavy cyberpunk influence that is dripping with atmosphere.”
“The atmosphere is peak cyberpunk, a colorful but gritty dystopia accompanied by a bombastic synthwave soundtrack that keeps you banging through the levels.”
- grinding54 mentions
- 4 % positive mentions
- 7 % neutral mentions
- 89 % negative mentions
The grinding aspect of the game has been widely criticized for being tedious and frustrating, particularly in the later stages where repetitive enemy encounters and challenging boss fights detract from the overall experience. Many players found the initial acts to be slow and uninspired, while later levels introduced more variety but still suffered from excessive grinding and difficulty spikes. Despite some enjoyment in the fast-paced combat mechanics, the overall sentiment leans towards the grinding elements being a significant drawback that hampers replayability.
“Collectibles aren't tedious and provide rewards in the form of smaller challenge levels.”
“Boring and tedious game loop, wasting your time on walking.”
“I put my ego aside and lowered the difficulty, and found out that it's way more fun to just wipe out hordes of enemies as stylishly as possible than to spend tens of minutes grinding out a single room just for the 'satisfaction' of it all.”
“Tedious 'destroy x number of objectives to progress' mission structure is used to lazily pad out the levels all while you get to suffer through uninspired Borderlands 3-tier writing as you do it.”
- replayability42 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 55 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The game offers significant replayability through its engaging campaign, multiple difficulty settings, and various modes like endless and arcade, which encourage players to revisit levels for collectibles and secrets. While some players found certain aspects, like the horde mode, lacking in replay value, the overall consensus highlights a strong sense of progression and fun mechanics that enhance the replay experience. However, a few critiques mention issues with level design that could hinder backtracking, potentially affecting the desire to replay certain levels.
“An amazing cinematic campaign with 25 replayable good-sized levels to 100% with 2 types of collectibles that unlock new cool secret levels and cheats.”
“The sense of progression also stands out incredibly well here, as it's constantly introducing new mechanics and gimmicks that don't feel too forced or over-centralizing, just the perfect balance of fun and challenging to really make this whole experience fresh and highly replayable.”
“I enjoyed every second of the campaign, and the endless mode and arcade mode add a ton of replay value.”
“Five difficulties, 12-15 hours of playtime (only the first 2-4 were enjoyable), uninspired horde mode, no replay value, not worth those $25 - rather buy on >50% discount.”
“Just finished it and I don't think it has any replay value, but definitely recommended.”
“I would even go so far as to say it would increase its replayability if it was shorter.”
- emotional12 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players express a strong emotional connection to the game, highlighting moments that evoke tears and a sense of nostalgia, particularly through impactful character interactions. The game's design is praised for its passion and wholesomeness, creating an exhilarating experience that makes players feel powerful and engaged. Overall, the emotional depth resonates with players, enhancing their investment in the game's narrative and mechanics.
“I cried when the patriarch/Gabriel said 'skill issues, Johnny' and proceeded to become an amalgamation abomination.”
“I hope this game sells well and the developer is well rewarded, because it's so incredibly wholesome and clearly made with passion and love for this subgenre of FPSs.”
“At its peak, when you are in the zone dodging everything, dishing out insane damage, all while flying through the air almost never touching the ground, you will feel like a god.”
- character development12 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 42 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
Character development in the game receives mixed reviews; while some players find it engaging and well-integrated into the fast-paced action, others criticize the lack of a coherent story and underwhelming character designs. The cutscenes are noted for their visual appeal, but overall, the depth of character development seems inconsistent, with some players unable to finish due to these shortcomings.
“Incredibly fast paced, never a dull moment, and it keeps you interested with the character development, augments, and weapon mods.”
“The character development and story are surprisingly engaging for an action-packed game like this.”
“It makes for fun cutscenes at least, and many of them show off the impressive level and character design.”
“However, personally, I couldn't finish because it basically lacks a story or any character development.”
“I love the visual style of this game, but I feel like the character designs let it down just a little.”
“Beating the game, I have to say Maw's final boss level is garbage, awful looking character design, and miserable wannabe Doom marauder.”
- monetization12 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The monetization aspect of the game is criticized for its intrusive and poorly executed advertisements, which clash with the game's tone and narrative. While the developers have clearly invested significant effort into the game's world-building, the reliance on bland stock music and irreverent humor detracts from the overall experience. Despite these issues, some players appreciate the immersive environment and the intention behind the game's design, suggesting it is not merely a cash grab.
“The bland stock music, ads that say, 'bruh' on them, and all the bad writing and annoying waypoints directly in my face half the time are the cherry on top.”
“The game also doesn't seem to know if it wants to be serious or irreverent, so you get your handler yelling about shit sandwiches and a bunch of dick joke advertisement billboards, and then after the first boss battle you get super maudlin music and 'oh no, I, your friend, am dying nooo,' which just clashes insanely hard.”
“- the vehicles are some of the weakest parts of the game, which is funny considering that it's one of the things hyped in the advertising.”
