Let’s not beat around the bush: King Kong has had a rough time lately. He’s been relocated from his home, experienced loss, and fought colossal sea creatures in relentless battles. In the gaming world, Kong’s track record has also been mixed, from the highly regarded King Kong on Xbox 360 to the disastrous Skull Island: Rise of Kong in 2023.
But now he’s back, and in Kong: Survivor Instinct he’s wreaking havoc on the world while you play as a human desperately trying to save his daughter.
This 2.5D action-adventure Metroidvania game follows the events of one of the recent movies and is considered canon. As Kong rampages through the city, you take on the role of David, a father who ventures into the chaos to find his daughter. Along the way, he must navigate crumbling buildings and confront violent survivors, all while contending with Kong’s destructive appearances.
While the writing occasionally feels like a low-budget action movie and the cutscenes aren’t particularly impressive, the sense of navigating a city in turmoil is effectively conveyed.
Gameplay involves traversing the environment, jumping across gaps, hanging onto ledges, and pulling yourself up and down obstacles. You’ll encounter environmental puzzles that require finding keys, using blocks to open doorways, or employing good old-fashioned strength to pull down barriers. And as you progress, you acquire items and weapons like crowbars and sledgehammers to break through boarded-up areas.
The Metroidvania elements shine as you unlock new areas and revisit previously inaccessible locations and the fast travel system makes backtracking convenient. Combined with the generous checkpointing, it all ensures a smooth experience in Kong: Survivor Instinct.
Combat was my least favourite aspect, though some players might enjoy it. Success hinges on timing and mastering the parry system, but facing multiple enemies simultaneously can be overwhelming. Acquiring a gun later in the game makes combat slightly easier, but resources like bullets and first aid kits are scarce.
However, the game features some exciting set pieces where you must escape Kong’s wrath, and these platforming challenges are both fun and impressive.
Aside from the somewhat stilted cutscenes, the 2.5D visuals are excellent. The depiction of a city in disarray is convincing, and Kong’s appearances are visually striking. The lighting is well-implemented, and the overall presentation is smooth and polished.
And further to that, the sound design is also noteworthy, with a good soundtrack and impactful effects. While some of the voice acting is a bit cheesy, it fits the game’s overall tone.
You will enjoy your journey through Kong: Survivor Instinct, perhaps more than you may have anticipated. It’s refreshing to play a Metroidvania with a focus on exploration, and you’ll want to uncover every secret the world holds. Kong’s presence adds a sense of scale and excitement, and the 2.5D world is well-realised. While the story is somewhat B-movie-esque, it works within the context of the game, however, the combat can be frustrating and is far from a highlight.
For King Kong fans, Kong: Survivor Instinct is most certainly a significant improvement over last year’s Kong offering. But then, it pretty much had to be.
Kong: Survivor Instinct Unleashes Titan-Sized Action – https://www.thexboxhub.com/kong-survivor-instinct-unleashes-titan-sized-action/
Buy Kong: Survivor Instinct on Xbox – https://www.xbox.com/en-GB/games/store/kong-survivor-instinct/9mzg9hfbwdsf
