Kong: Survivor Instinct Review

Initial release date: October 22, 2024

Platforms: PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X and Series S, Microsoft Windows

Developer: 7Levels

Genres: Platform game, Fighting game, Shooter game, Adventure

Publishers: 7Levels, 4Divinity

Movie tie-ins are frequently hit or miss, but the teaser for Kong: Survivor Instinct captivated me from the start, but it’s not what you’d expect from a 2.5D action-adventure metroidvania. It has massive giants terrorising the city, and you’re only one man, but it works quite well. As you progress and discover more about the shady goings on, you will encounter many titans and opponents, making for a thrilling experience that is not only enjoyable but also one of the best-looking games of 2024.

After a titan attack throws the city into chaos, you play as David, a dad who must find his daughter before it’s too late. These titans have destroyed everything you see, whether it’s crumbled buildings or streets wrapped in spider webs. While you feel insignificant, there are opportunities to manipulate giants via a new piece of Monarch tech called Orca, allowing them to assist you in a variety of ways, such as collapsing massive blocks.

Watching Kong stroll around in the background never gets old, and encountering new giants is always exciting, especially when they are attempting to kill you. It’s a wonderful game with incredibly realistic settings. Although everything around you has been destroyed, it is impossible not to be captivated by 7Levels’ sights. While it looks great, the level design adds to the spectacle, with several places that may be revisited once you’ve acquired additional tools to break through secret areas or passageways.

You’ll eventually locate a sledgehammer that can be used to blast down walls and floors, allowing you to return to discover new goods or summon titans by gathering biowaves from the environment. The map is simple to navigate, with clear markers for unknown places or roads that have not yet been visited. You can easily travel across the city, thus returning to earlier locations is never a problem. Supplies are limited, so it’s worth returning to pick up any ammunition or first aid supplies you may have overlooked.

You’ll also have to deal with various monsters and mercenaries on your journey, and battle might be difficult if you don’t time it well. You can use melee weapons to defeat adversaries, but certain soldiers can block them and swing for you. You can parry, and if you’re on the edge of a building, you can grab them and fling them over the side. You receive guns capable of causing substantial damage, but ammo are few, so making each shot count is crucial.

There are also locations where you must shoot off locks, so saving ammo is the best approach. While confronting foes up close is more difficult, it is frequently the best approach. You’ll have to tackle a variety of environmental problems, such as pushing massive blocks to reach new places or finding cogs to fix power consoles, but there are also smaller paths to find by ripping apart floor panels and shaking down doors. Every new region features many entry points and chambers, so you’ll have enough to discover and explore.

While playing is a lot of fun, I really enjoyed the tale. Not just the big story, but also the tiny personal ones you come across. In a world destroyed by titans, the survivors you meet add a human touch to David’s journey. At the heart of Kong: Survivor Instinct, you are a father searching for his daughter, and the survivors you meet are all suffering with the death of a loved one or the possibility that they are still alive. The voice acting is quite strong, and it helps to convey personality to a city ruled by monstrous animals.

Kong: Survivor Instinct is an enormous adventure with some fantastic platforming. The locations are masterfully designed, and the intricate and stunning design reflects the developers’ hard effort. Some of the encounters are difficult, and although some up-close combat is difficult owing to tight parry windows, I still enjoyed it. I was astonished by how much I loved playing through David’s journey, and as far as unexpected hits go, this is near the top of the list for the year.

Review Overview

Gameplay: 88%

Controls: 85%

Aesthetics: 90%

Content: 83%

Accessibility: 87%

Value: 84%

Overall: 86%

VERY GOOD!

Summary:

Kong: Survivor Instinct portrays the renowned gigantic ape’s raw power in an exciting action-adventure setting. Players take control of Kong as he navigates perilous terrain, fighting foes and overcoming obstacles on his quest for survival. The game’s visuals are stunning, with lush, well-designed settings and a striking Kong model that brings the character to life. Though some missions can feel repetitive, the combat and exploration are rewarding, making it a fun experience for both casual and series enthusiasts. It’s a solid, if not groundbreaking, introduction into the action genre.