What is it about the idea of TV shows where the goal is to survive an onslaught of killers? Not that we have anything like that in real life, mind you. But we’ve seen stuff like The Running Man and Smash TV that represents such an idea. And now we have Kiborg, the latest from Sobaka Studio, the team that brought us Redeemer and 9 Monkeys of Shaolin.
You play Morgan Lee, a mustached madman who has signed on for a game show hosted by a sadistic blob. No, really, he’s a blob – and could easily be confused for a TV executive. Anyway, Morgan has to clear room by room of dangerous killers. He starts with his fists, but as he goes along, he can unlock new weapons and mods.
Like any roguelike, Kiborg puts you in a grind to unlock stuff. The problem is that it’s excruciatingly difficult. You likely won’t make any true progress until about, say, the tenth run-through in. That will no doubt test the patience levels of many of you, and make you wonder if the run is even worth it.
But there is some ingenuity here, particularly with the brutal combat. Some of the finishers are excellent, along with the mods. And the presentation, while dark and decadent, is fitting for the theme. Obviously this won’t win over the entire playing audience. But those that know Sobaka and its slap-happy approach probably won’t mind Kiborg in the least.
Kiborg Brings the Pain – Again and Again
Morgan has it in for himself this time. He signs on for a dangerous game show where the name of the game is survival. That means going room to room with killers, robots and other dangerous types. At first, he’s just using fisticuffs and combos, all nicely executed. (Mind the pun.) But then he unlocks some real goods. This includes creatively named firearms, along with mods. Yes, the ones that go stabby-stab.
I will say this – the combat is inspired. Think Batman: Arkham, but taken to a much more extreme level where enemies go boom and splat. The visceral energy Kiborg brings is undeniable for those that accept it. Plus you can use tactics in some situations, like nearby explosives. They come in real handy.
The problem, however, is that it can be unbalanced at times. That means you’re overwhelmed or some counters and parries don’t work. As a result, you could very well be handed a cheap death. And while your blob-like host insults you all the same. You can always train to be better, but, sadly, the odds always seem against you, even with the biggest of firearms.
Fortunately, mods help. Temporary ones are nice and all, but, like all roguelikes, it’s the permanent add-ons that make a difference. This can turn Morgan into a truly twisted warrior, provided you can stomach the journey. Some are definitely worthwhile, however, and spruce up the combat beautifully.
I guess the bottom line is how much of Kiborg you can stomach to make true progress. As I mentioned, the gameplay is great, but also incredibly brutal when it comes to difficulty. And I wish more precision came with the shooting, as most of the time it can be hit or miss. If you’re someone that prefers an easygoing experience, maybe Kiborg isn’t for you. For those that don’t mind a dose of hard-boiled goodness, however, this may just be your speed.
How Does This Kiborg Hold Up In Performance?
I will say that Kiborg represents a fine layer of polish from the team at Sobaka. This is easily their most concentrated work, with dark, brutal 3D level design. Granted, most of the rooms look the same, but the enemy variety is very cool. Plus, watching Morgan slowly transform himself into an ultimate bad-ass is quite a sight. I wish I could say the same for the host, though. He looks like the offspring to Spaceballs’ Pizza the Hutt.
The frame rate is also mostly solid, though there are some dips with the Steam Deck performance. Fortunately, the PS5 version we did the review on handled just fine.
As for the audio, there’s some good voicework here. Of course, your boss sounds like a complete dick, but that’s the point. The computer voicework is also great. All the other grunts and sound effects hold up very well. And the in-game music, while minimal, fits the gritty theme of the show.
So, yeah, not bad overall. I prefer the console versions for the moment, though.
The (Real) Killing Floor
Kiborg is a divine taste. It delivers the brutality where needed, coming through with mostly solid gameplay and involvement. However, it’s a true grind to get the really good stuff, and the lack of immediate rewards may turn some off.
If you can stomach it, however, there’s plenty to indulge in here. Plus the presentation is amongst the studio’s best work yet. It all depends what kind of attention you want to give this show. And I feel that some of you might just want to tune in.
GAMERHUB RATING: 3.5 (out of 5) JOYSTICKS
Thanks to Sobaka Studio for providing a review code! Kiborg is available now for Xbox, PlayStation and PC/Steam!
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