[Dual Analysis] Turbo Overkill: A Comprehensive Review

Turbo Overkill by Apogee Entertainment and Trigger Happy Interactive is a mature-rated first-person shooter that has brought its frenetic pace to consoles. Let’s dig into what this game offers in our review of Turbo Overkill!

This review is a collaboration between myself and Ceidz. We both got our hands on the game, testing it out on PlayStation and Nintendo Switch, and we’re here to share our insights.

Boasting stunning cyberpunk visuals, Turbo Overkill is perhaps the wildest FPS ever to bear Apogee’s name. You step into the shoes of Johnny Turbo, a character enhanced with concealed arm rockets and a chainsaw that springs from his lower leg to deal brutal slides to enemies.

Returning to his hometown of Paradise, Johnny discovers that the place has fallen into chaos, its inhabitants controlled by Syn, a rogue AI commanding an army of enhanced henchmen. Eager to escape the ghosts of his past, Johnny embarks on a daunting mission: to eliminate the most advanced AI ever created. But with rival bounty hunters gunning for the same prize, nothing comes easy in Paradise.

Growing up with classic FPS games, I was eager to see what Turbo Overkill would bring to Nintendo’s console. Initially launched on Steam in 2023, the game now makes its console debut. Playing as Johnny Turbo, armed with rocket-powered enhancements and a lethal leg chainsaw, you’re in for an action-packed experience.

Finding himself back in Paradise, Johnny is faced with a city under siege by Syn, spreading its pernicious influence like a rampant virus and posing a dire threat to the populace. Your mission is clear: beat back Syn’s forces and eventually obliterate the AI itself.

Playing in this intense FPS world, you’ll navigate Johnny using the left stick while aiming with the right. Change your view by pressing up on the D-Pad, leap and double leap using the B button, and dash with R. The X button is for your trusty grapple hook, and the chainsaw slide activates with L. Your primary and secondary attacks are mapped to the ZR and ZL buttons, respectively. The left and right D-Pad buttons open your weapon wheel for quick swaps, and the Y button launches micro-missiles. When available, press down on the right stick to enter Turbo-Time, slowing the chaos around you for snappy kills.

The core loop of Turbo Overkill is straightforward yet addictive. Defeat waves of foes, accumulate cash to augment Johnny, upgrade his arsenal, and expand your skill tree. Defeating bosses earns you special augments, keeping you ahead of the game across its 24 intense levels.

As EdEN pointed out, Turbo Overkill serves up a fast, violent FPS experience deserving of its mature rating on PlayStation 5. Set in a post-apocalyptic world, it’s saturated with bloodshed as a focal point. There’s a main Campaign Mode to explore Johnny Turbo’s story, an Arcade Mode for a straightforward dive into the action, and an Endless Mode for perfecting your killing skills.

From the moment you dive into the tutorial-like first level, the game never lets up on its high-octane action, which more than justifies that mature rating.

Expect relentless violence as enemies meet gory fates under your assault. Controls are intuitive, facilitating fluid combat and swift movement. Sprinting into a chainsaw slide never gets old. However, one slight hiccup is the menu’s disregard for the PlayStation’s usual navigation standards, opting out of letting you backtrack with the Circle button.

Turbo Overkill caters to all players with five difficulty levels. Beginners might try Virgin Blood, where enemy forces are less intense, while Murder Machine will push even the most seasoned FPS veterans to their limits with its brutally increased enemy speed and damage output. Health and resources under this difficulty are sparse, adding to the challenge.

Visually, the game marries modern aesthetics with retro sensibilities, drawing clear inspiration from classics like Doom. The exaggerated field of view paired with smooth 60 FPS on PlayStation 5 delivers a nostalgic yet fresh feel, even if the character perspective seems oddly low to the ground.

Completionists will relish unlocking every achievement, leading up to the coveted Platinum trophy. Achievements range from completing different difficulty settings, discovering collectibles, racking up in-game currency, acquiring all weapons and upgrades, and excelling in Endless Mode.

Reliving the spirit of 90s shooter classics, Turbo Overkill’s campaign and gameplay remain remarkably engaging, combining rapid, exaggerated gunplay with pure fun.

Initially introduced on Steam and now available on consoles, players on Nintendo Switch will notice reduced graphics fidelity compared to the PlayStation 5, though balancing the framerate was a priority. Load times are slightly longer on the Switch, though the game efficiently leverages the PS5’s speedy SSD for swift transitions. Turbo Overkill is also a Cross-Buy title for PlayStation, meaning one purchase gets you both the PS4 and PS5 versions without extra charges.

Disclosure: This Turbo Overkill review stems from copies provided by Apogee Entertainment for the PlayStation 5 and Nintendo Switch platforms.