Kick Bastards, developed and published by Something Something Games, is a high-speed first-person parkour experience that builds its entire identity around movement, momentum, and the surprisingly versatile act of kicking. Instead of treating traversal and combat as separate systems, the game merges them into a single mechanic-driven loop where every action feeds into the next. Set against a chaotic, hellish backdrop where you’re constantly being chased, it wastes little time on story and instead throws players directly into a gameplay structure that prioritizes speed, experimentation, and mastery.
At the heart of the experience is its movement system, which is both accessible and deceptively deep. Players can run, jump, wall-run, and chain these actions together while using kicks to maintain or increase momentum. The game places a strong emphasis on fluidity, encouraging players to keep moving at all times rather than stopping to assess each situation. As you become more familiar with how the mechanics interact, the system begins to open up, allowing for increasingly complex and efficient routes through each level. What initially feels chaotic gradually becomes controlled, rewarding players who invest time into understanding how to maintain speed and precision simultaneously.
The central kicking mechanic is what gives the game its unique identity. It functions as both an offensive and movement tool, allowing players to propel themselves forward, break obstacles, and deal with enemies in a single, unified action. This dual purpose creates a distinct rhythm where combat is less about confrontation and more about maintaining flow. Rather than slowing down to fight, players are encouraged to incorporate attacks into their movement, turning each encounter into part of a larger sequence. When executed well, this design creates a satisfying sense of momentum that carries through entire levels.
Level design supports this philosophy by offering compact, replayable stages that focus on efficiency and optimization. Each level is structured as a short challenge, often taking only a brief time to complete, but encouraging repeated attempts to achieve better results. The inclusion of time-based goals and leaderboards reinforces this, pushing players to refine their routes and improve their performance. This makes the game particularly appealing to those who enjoy speedrunning or mastering mechanics through repetition, as there is always room to improve and discover more efficient ways to navigate each stage.
Despite its strengths, the game does have some rough edges. The movement system, while flexible, can occasionally feel inconsistent, particularly when it comes to maintaining precise control at higher speeds. This can lead to moments where failure feels less like a result of player error and more like a limitation of the mechanics. Enemy encounters, while integrated into the movement system, are relatively simple and do not add much variety, which can make certain sections feel repetitive over time.
Visually, the game adopts a clean and functional style that prioritizes readability over detail. Environments are designed to clearly communicate paths and obstacles, which is essential in a game where decisions are made quickly and often at high speed. While the aesthetic is not particularly elaborate, it serves its purpose effectively, ensuring that players can focus on movement without unnecessary distractions. The soundtrack complements this approach, providing energetic audio that reinforces the pace and intensity of the gameplay.
One of the game’s most compelling qualities is its replayability. The short length of individual levels, combined with instant restarts, creates a loop that encourages experimentation and improvement. It is easy to get caught in the cycle of attempting to shave off a few seconds or find a smoother route, and this focus on mastery gives the game a lasting appeal beyond its initial playthrough.
Ultimately, Kick Bastards is a focused and mechanically driven experience that succeeds by committing fully to its core idea. It offers a fast, fluid, and skill-based gameplay loop that rewards persistence and creativity, even if it does not always achieve the level of polish needed to fully support its ambitions. Its strengths lie in its expressive movement system and replayable level design, while its weaknesses stem from occasional inconsistency and limited variety.
In the end, it stands as an engaging and energetic entry in the niche of first-person parkour games, offering a satisfying experience for players who enjoy refining mechanics and pushing systems to their limits.
Rating: 7/10
