KICK Review – A Ball, a Walk to School, and Plenty of Little Adventures

Sometimes, all we need for a good time are the simplest things. A ball, a few friends, and the walk to school could turn an ordinary morning into a little adventure. That's exactly the feeling KICK tries to capture, a charming indie game that transforms an everyday journey to school into an unusual mix of football, platforming challenges, and nostalgic anime-inspired aesthetics. Instead of simply walking down the street, our task is to keep the ball moving, overcome various obstacles, and reach our destination while enjoying plenty of little challenges along the way.

Playing as a young boy known as The Kid, we set off on a journey through Japanese streets, parks, beaches, and different parts of the city. At first glance, everything seems fairly straightforward, but getting to school isn't quite so easy when we're bringing a football along for the ride. Railings, benches, pedestrians, animals, and various objects become part of an unusual obstacle course where every kick can make a difference. The concept is simple, but different enough to grab your attention right away.

Football With a Different Twist

KICK isn't a traditional football game, so you shouldn't expect matches, teams, or attempts to score as many goals as possible. Here, the ball is practically our main companion, and the goal is to guide it safely through each level using different kicks, passes, and aerial moves. That's where most of the fun comes from, as every obstacle requires a slightly different approach and a good sense of timing.

We have several ways to control the ball, so we need to learn when it's best to send it over an obstacle, guide it through a narrow opening, or simply let it roll. The game uses physics to make the ball's movement feel more natural, which means we can't just press a button and expect it to always go exactly where we want. We need to understand how it behaves, judge the angle of each kick, and adapt to the space around us.

Everything feels fairly simple at first, but as we progress, the levels become more demanding and start combining different obstacles and objectives. One thing I particularly like is that the game doesn't stick to a single formula. Alongside the traditional obstacle courses, we encounter races, coin-collecting challenges, and situations that require us to use the ball in different ways. This creates a welcome sense of variety, with every new level introducing something that encourages us to change our approach.

The game features a total of 23 levels, and as we progress, we can collect coins and unlock different football designs and flags. These aren't just cosmetic additions without any purpose, as the flags can also be used to decorate our room. It's a charming little detail that reinforces the feeling that we're not simply moving from one obstacle to another, but taking part in a small adventure filled with its own little rewards.

Of course, this system has its flaws. Ball control isn't always as precise as we'd like, and its movement can sometimes feel unpredictable. In a game where timing is so important, these moments can become frustrating. The ball occasionally heads in an unwanted direction, or a move doesn't come out quite as we intended. Still, this never managed to ruin my overall experience, although there's no denying that some additional polish to the controls would make the game considerably more enjoyable.

A Small World Full of Charm

One of the main reasons I enjoyed KICK is its atmosphere. Its visual style, inspired by anime aesthetics and everyday Japanese surroundings, gives the game a distinct identity. The streets, pedestrians, parks, beaches, and all the little details we encounter along the way create the feeling that we're taking part in a small everyday adventure.

I particularly like that the game doesn't try to turn everything into something grand. Its world is relatively simple, but there's a certain warmth to it. Instead of saving the world or fighting some enormous evil, our biggest task here is simply getting to school while having fun with a football along the way. This approach gives the game a relaxed personality and makes it stand out from so many titles that constantly try to raise the stakes.

The visual identity complements this idea nicely. The environments have a colourful, hand-crafted appearance, and certain scenes genuinely resemble moments from an older anime about growing up, friendship, and everyday adventures. Don't expect an enormous amount of detail or technically spectacular visuals, but what's most important is that the game manages to establish a distinctive atmosphere.

The music fits the overall concept just as well. Its pleasant melodies contribute to the relaxed tone and further emphasize the nostalgic feeling the game tries to convey. It's not necessarily a soundtrack that will go down as one of the best of the year, but the music complements what's happening on screen and helps create the feeling of a carefree journey through familiar, everyday surroundings.

KICK also has that kind of endearing imperfection we often encounter in smaller indie projects. Not everything is executed perfectly, but you can feel the desire to create something different behind its central idea. That's precisely why I was able to overlook some of its shortcomings and enjoy what the game has to offer.

A Challenge That Sometimes Disrupts the Rhythm

Still, there's no denying that KICK can be more demanding than its appearance might suggest. Some levels require very precise movements, while the combination of obstacles and limited room for mistakes can lead to repeating the same sections several times. The foul system further emphasizes the importance of careful play, as hitting certain objects or disturbing pedestrians can make it harder to complete a level successfully.

This is where the game's biggest problem becomes apparent. When everything works as intended, making your way through a level can be genuinely satisfying. However, when the ball doesn't react the way we expect, it's easy to lose our rhythm and find ourselves replaying sections we've already mastered. This is particularly noticeable in challenges that demand quick reactions and precise timing.

I would have liked the controls to feel a little more refined and the ball's movement to be more predictable. These improvements wouldn't take anything away from the central idea. Instead, they would allow us to focus more on the fun itself and finding the best way to overcome each obstacle.

One positive aspect is that KICK doesn't insist that every player must approach the game with the same level of challenge. Time limits can be disabled in certain levels, allowing players who prefer a more relaxed experience to enjoy the journey without constantly watching the clock. On the other hand, those who enjoy perfecting their moves and finding the fastest routes can keep that additional pressure and try to get the most out of every attempt.

As for its length, KICK is a smaller, focused adventure featuring 23 levels rather than a game that tries to keep us occupied for dozens of hours. How much time you'll spend with it depends on how quickly you overcome the obstacles, how often you replay certain sections, and whether you want to collect every additional item and unlock all the cosmetic extras. This format actually suits the game quite well: it's short enough to enjoy across a few shorter sessions, but there's still a reason to return to levels you want to master.

Final Verdict

KICK is a charming and unusual indie game that manages to turn a simple idea into an enjoyable experience. Its combination of football-inspired mechanics, platforming challenges, and anime aesthetics gives it a distinct personality, while its relaxed atmosphere, pleasant music, and nostalgic depiction of everyday life are among its biggest strengths.

Not every element is equally well executed. The controls can feel imprecise, the ball's movement is occasionally unpredictable, and some challenges can become frustrating. Nevertheless, despite these shortcomings, KICK provided enough entertainment for me to honestly say that I enjoyed my time with it.

This isn't a game for everyone, particularly if you're looking for perfectly polished platforming mechanics or completely precise controls. However, if you enjoy smaller, unusual indie projects, charming anime-inspired visuals, and more relaxed adventures that don't take themselves too seriously, KICK is certainly worth your attention.

Sometimes, all you need for a good little adventure is a ball and a walk to school.

Platform: PC (Steam)

Reviewed on: PC

Developer: nospacelost