Kong: Survivor Instinct Review (SWEGM)
As Monsterverse fans, we love our giant monsters. They're really the only thing that makes any of the Legendary movies worth watching. Nobody cares about the bland human characters who are just there to keep the plot moving along. We just wanna see a big lizard throw down with a big monkey. So when it was announced that the first proper licensed game was going to be a Metroidvania where you're just some lame regular-size guy looking for his lame most likely regular-size daughter? I noped out right then and there. "This is stupid," I thought. "Nobody asked for this!"
Fast forward to October 22, I did what every self-respecting Monsterverse fan who's starved for content of the video game variety and has no restraint whatsoever would do: I bought it anyway! And my verdict, having just finished it? It's actually way more fun than it has any right to be lol.
That's not to say it's perfect; for starters the voice acting particularly for the main character is pretty bad, and the human characters and story in general are all entirely forgettable. But again, if you know anything about the Monsterverse why would you come in expecting anything more than that?
No, the real star of this game is the game itself. The puzzles are fun, the combat is decent, and the level design is fantastic. From the ruined buildings to the underground Monarch facilities, every area stands out visually, and I had a fun time exploring every nook and cranny. That combined with the prospect of running into an angry Titan kept me engaged throughout, wondering what would be around the next corner.
Speaking of the Titans, there is lore to uncover about the handful of monsters showcased in the game, which adds to the rewarding feeling of the exploration if you're into that sort of thing. Other things you can collect are health and ammo upgrades. Overall there's not a ton of backtracking required, and only a handful of tools you'll collect to help you advance to new areas. If you're paying close enough attention you can probably 100 percent it the first playthrough with relative ease. I think I finished with 97 percent. I've seen some debate as to whether it's more like Limbo or Metroid. I haven't played Limbo, but I feel like I'd consider this game like a Metroidvania-Lite.
I'd give it a 7.5 out of 10. Would have been an 8, but the ending kinda left a lot to be desired. I felt like there was one final climactic chase segment incoming, but instead the game just kinda ended when my interest in what was going on was at its peak.
Overall, while this isn't the first Monsterverse game I would have asked for, I enjoyed it far more than I expected to. I'd even go so far to say I wouldn't mind a sequel, especially one that focused on Godzilla. If you're into both Metroidvanias and Monsterverse, I'd highly recommend giving Kong Survivor Instinct a shot, especially at the introductory price. If you're only into one or the other though, I don't know if you'll get as much mileage out of it as I did.