Review | Turbo Overkill - Smokin', Shooter, Style
The last few years have been something of a renaissance for the golden age of PC shooters, a genre that’s been lovingly dubbed “Boomer Shooters”. We’ve seen remasters of Quake, ports and re-releases of multiple DOOM games, a… Chex Quest remake… That is before we even talk about all of the new names looking to revive the feeling of those classic 90s first-person shooters. While there have been successful attempts, many fall short of actually bringing something new or modern to the tried-and-true “kill enemies and grab keys” formula. Enter Turbo Overkill.
Rip and tear, besties!
Turbo Overkill is a clear riff on that classic formula but pulls its weight in modernizing and expanding on the genre. The first thing that’s clear is the striking visuals. Instead of 2D sprites in a 3D world like many of its kind, Turbo Overkill uses pixel-art-based textures wrapped around 3D models. This gives the world a very distinct and interesting style, on top of its already beautiful, well-realized futuristic aesthetic.
The soundtrack lends itself perfectly to the gameplay and the visuals too. It’s an aggressive blend of rock and EDM (did I mention the DOOM influence?) that leans more towards the electronic side. This style is always a welcome accompaniment to slashing up baddies that manages to never get old.
This is my boomstick!
The only real drawback to Turbo Overkill is the story. To be perfectly clear, it’s barely a drawback, but it does take away a bit from the overall experience. It’s a very surface-level tale of a corrupt overlord taking over the world. Attach some average, some bad, and some downright grating voice acting and you’ve got a tough sell when asking anyone to care about what is happening to these characters.
Where Turbo Overkill really shines is when it challenges you with its platforming combat. This was where the game fully clicked. You have a slide that gives you some extra speed and kills enemies with the chainsaw attached to your leg, you have two air dashes and wall running reminiscent of Ghostrunner. Experimenting with these mechanics to find the collection-adjacent secrets was exceptional and felt very fresh in a way first-person shooters haven’t in a long time.
Talk to the wall, pal!
Turbo Overkill is a blast to slash, shoot, and chainsaw your way through. It stands alone in its visual style and stands its ground in gameplay and audio. The story leaves much to be desired, but as it’s a small part of an otherwise great package, it rarely takes away from the experience. Turbo Overkill knows what it is, and delivers you exactly that. It plays to its strengths and gives you a great, fresh take on the old man’s “boomer-shooter”.
