Quick Summary

A well presented metroidvania that has an interesting premise including a BMX as part of your arsenal. As you struggle through the aftermath of atomic war.

Detailed Analysis

Story

Turbo Kid is a singleplayer metroidvania with multiple weapons, skills, and pixel gore where you ride your BMX and blast your enemies as you discover the secrets of the Wasteland. Created as a continuation of the 2015 Sci-fi/Action cult-classic of the same name, fans of the movie were aching for a Turbo Kid video game adaptation. Heeding the call, Outerminds launched a Kickstarter campaign in 2021 and successfully funded their campaign within less than 24 hours. Turbo Kid launched on PC in April of 2024.

Visuals

The game features wonderful pixelized graphics for the most part. However there are some areas within the map that don't quite work with the colour palette. This could be down to playing the game in handheld mode on the Switch 2 rather than a monitor or TV.

The map itself is vast and well thought out there are lots of nooks and crannies to find hidden side quests and collectible items to aid you in your journey.

Performance

While the game runs incredibly smooth for 97% of the game, there are occasional issues with performance. These are very specific issues though the first being the pause menu. There's a notable delay when unpausing gameplay which is a little jarring when you forget about it as you expect the smooth gameplay to resume. There's also a bug towards the end of the game where I died after completing a quest and had to quit and restart the game to solve the issue upon reloading. I had to redo this section again which was annoying. The Switch 2 maintains a stable 30fps, though I haven't tested the original switch. I can imagine some areas may have minor stuttering with the original hardware. Load times between areas are reasonable; they are also few and far between on the most part.

Gameplay

Turbo kid handles really well. The buttons are reactive and the movement is satisfying with lots of platforming to perform. Learning how to ride the bmx is the hardest part of the game and the most satisfying however it's not needed enough which is a little disappointing. The boss battles are varied and rewarding with you usual difficulty spike at the beginning and end. Overall it's satisfying but i think there could have been more.

Value

At its price point, TurboKid offers solid value for metroidvania fans. The main campaign provides approximately 10 - 12 hours of content, with additional time for completionists seeking all collectibles and secrets. The unique BMX mechanics and nostalgic 80s aesthetic help it stand out in a crowded genre. However i do wish there was more bmx needed especially as a lover of all things xtreme sports.

Target Audience

This is for fans of the original TurboKid film wishing to see what happens next, metroidvania enthusiasts, and players who appreciate retro-styled pixel art games. People who enjoyed titles like Axiom Verge or Steamworld Dig will find plenty to love here too

Comparison to Similar Items

TurboKid carves its own niche in the metroidvania space with its BMX traversal system, setting it apart from traditional entries like Hollow Knight or Metroid Dread. While it may not reach the polished levels of those titles, its unique mechanics and faithful adaptation of the film's aesthetic make it a worthy addition to any metroidvania collection.

Final Verdict

Despite minor technical hiccups, TurboKid succeeds in delivering an engaging metroidvania experience that honors its source material while providing fresh gameplay mechanics. The BMX integration feels natural and adds a layer of speed and style to exploration that few games in the genre can match.