Introduction

Way back on the PS1, I loved games that put you in control of a giant mechanized robot and let you unleash absolute havoc on everything that crossed your path. Yeah, those games were often incredibly simple, frequently just mindless explosion fests, but they were fun in their own right. MechAssault, Future Cop: LAPD, and G-Police were among my absolute favorites, even if they haven’t aged especially gracefully. That’s exactly why I was looking forward to Brigador Killers from developers Stellar Jockeys and Gausswerks. This top-down action title reminded me so strongly of those past games that I had to jump in and see if it would carry me back to my childhood. Is Brigador Killers a mech game worth climbing into, or should you be like Shinji from Evangelion and just run away? We find out in our Brigador Killers early access review for PC! Big thanks to the developers for the early copy and for the bonus extras including the OST and audiobook!

Gameplay

In Brigador Killers, players assume the role of a member of Team Anchor. The goal is straightforward: take revenge on those who have wronged you. How do you accomplish that when your enemy has money, power, and weapons? Simple — you bring your own arsenal of destruction.

As an isometric title, you control your warrior from a top-down perspective and lay waste to whatever stands in front of you. Brigador Killers gives you a wide assortment of tools for causing chaos: mini mechs, full-sized mechs, various guns, and even vehicles that can be used to just slam directly into enemies. Missions typically involve killing or destroying specific objectives, and how you get there is largely up to you.

I often went in guns blazing, happily reliving my childhood with games just like this one. There’s something genuinely rewarding about unloading bullets and rockets into an enemy and watching them scatter across a freshly devastated piece of terrain. Blowing up enemy buildings never got old either, and I found myself laughing a little too much each time the “find the exit” objective appeared after I had turned an entire zone into fire and rubble.

The controls work well, though there is a learning curve depending on your input preference. I personally prefer a controller, but there were moments where I had to genuinely learn how to best navigate things before it clicked. It never felt bad, just different.

My one minor gripe is what happens when Brigador Killers shifts gears from destruction to narrative. This doesn’t come up immediately, but when it does, the game slows noticeably and I felt my interest dip alongside it. I understand what the developer is trying to do by building out the world beyond just explosions, and I respect that ambition. But Brigador Killers is at its absolute best when I’m piloting a mechanized suit through chaos with guns at the ready.

Graphics

Those who dislike retro-style visuals may take one look at Brigador Killers and want to walk away, and that would be doing the game a real disservice. Despite the pulled-back perspective and simple background designs, Brigador Killers feels like booting up a beloved PS1 or late-90s PC game, and I genuinely dig it. Menu designs and weapon models carry that authentic late-90s gaming energy, and as someone who grew up with those games, I can fully stand behind that creative direction.

The one area that looks poor even by retro standards is the character models. They’re used sparingly (mostly just as talking heads during brief dialogue scenes), but they look noticeably cheap and don’t match the rest of the game’s aesthetic. I’d honestly prefer no character models over what’s currently here, though their limited screen time keeps it from being a dealbreaker.

Sound

The sound in Brigador Killers is similarly rooted in nostalgia. The OST by Makeup and Vanity Set is solid, giving every battle and tense moment the kind of electronic, hard-driving energy that makes you want to blow something up immediately. As with everything else about this package, your mileage will vary based on your feelings about old-school synth and techno-action soundscapes. My take: Brigador Killers‘ soundtrack is as killer as its mercenaries, but music is personal and I won’t fault anyone who feels differently.

Story

Without the audiobook, I’m honestly not sure how much I would have cared about the story of Brigador Killers. Assuming most players won’t listen to it (though it’s genuinely enjoyable), the in-game story can feel like little more than “go here, kill that, for reasons.” The world of Brigador Killers is actually quite deep, with themes of corruption, revenge, and sci-fi violence woven throughout, but within the game itself that depth isn’t always communicated clearly. I do recommend the audiobook by Brad Buckmaster for those who want to dig into the lore — it’s a fun listen and adds real context to what you’re experiencing on screen.

Overall Impression

Brigador Killers is good fun, and that’s genuinely all it needs to be. This isn’t a dense isometric action title that demands you learn complex systems or meticulously plan every loadout. It gives you tools and asks one thing of you: kill your enemy. Plain and simple. That approach won’t win over every type of gamer, but I deeply appreciate the retro design philosophy and the unashamed simplicity it leans into.

Conclusion

Brigador Killers is fun, and that’s all it really needs to be. This is not an Armored Core or Gundam title where you sweat over loadouts or mission planning. Brigador Killers gives you the means and gets out of your way, letting you handle every mission however feels right and unleash hellfire on anything that shoots back (or doesn’t, your call). Those who grew up on the simpler PS1 and early PC era of isometric games will appreciate what this delivers and find it an easy recommendation. Those who need more substance in their action games should check out the demo before committing. And keep your eyes here at SunsetNerdVerse for a possible full game review when the complete release arrives!