Giants: Citizen Kabuto
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About Giants: Citizen Kabuto
Planet Moon Studios released this title on December 6, 2000. It hits PC and Mac as a hybrid shooter, adventure, RPG, and real-time strategy game. You play as the Meccs, space travelers stranded on a fragment of a lost planet called the Island. This place was once home to Kabuto, a giant created by the Sea Reapers that went berserk. Your goal involves surviving while navigating the conflict between the giants and their creators. The game mixes third-person combat with squad-based tactics. You control a group of distinct characters instead of a single hero. It launched just over two decades ago and still holds a solid 85 out of 100 on Metacritic.
Gameplay
You manage a squad of Meccs through diverse environments while switching between three gameplay styles. One moment you are firing guns in a third-person shooter view to clear out enemies. The next, you might enter stealth mode to sneak past patrols without alerting anyone. Then the camera pulls back for real-time strategy segments where you issue orders to your squad units directly. You pick up resources and upgrade gear between encounters. Characters have unique stats and abilities that affect how they perform in combat or conversation. Multiplayer matches let you pit squads against each other on various maps. Sessions involve constant shifting between direct control and tactical command to handle the chaos of the Island.
What Players Think
Critics and players still respect this title for its ambitious design. The Metacritic score sits at 85, which remains a strong number for a game from 2000. PlayPile data shows a high completion rate among those who finish the campaign. Average playtime hovers around 18 hours for a standard run through all story missions. Community moods lean heavily toward "nostalgic" and "curious" when discussing the unique faction dynamics. Review snippets frequently mention the humor found in character interactions. Some users note that the learning curve is steep due to the genre switching. The multiplayer section sees fewer active players now, but those who join appreciate the tactical depth.
PlayPile's Take
This game works best for people who enjoy complex mechanics and do not mind a steep learning curve. It costs very little on retro digital stores today. There are no modern achievement systems to chase, but the story remains engaging. You should play this if you want something different from standard shooters or pure strategy games. The shifting gameplay styles can feel jarring at first, but they pay off later. Do not expect a polished modern interface or easy tutorials. Give it a try if you like deep world-building and tactical squad management over flashy graphics.
Game Modes
Single player, Multiplayer
IGDB Rating
82.8
RAWG Rating
3.4
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