I know what you’re thinking. Oh, great. Another pixel platformer. I actually like pixel platformers, so I may have had the same thought, but with a different inflection. Kick Bot is a pixel platformer by a two-person indie developer studio Two Scoop Games, and while it may be chock full of punishing and precise platforming, it’s also full of character and charm.

I did my first promotional stream for Two Scoop Games to play the demo of
Kick Bot, give some first impressions, and showcase what they have to offer. You can find me at RedriaPlays on Twitch if you want to see more indie content.

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Q: What stands out most about
Kick Bot?

A: The thing that sets Kick Bot apart from other games in the genre is the control scheme. Most traditional platformers involve multiple buttons – moving, jumping, dashing, double jumping, climbing – and getting inputs correct can be frustrating. Kick Bot is a two button game – pressing “left” has you jump left, and pressing “right” has you jump right. Pressing both buttons simultaneously has you ground pound straight down.

That’s it.

This leads the player to have to time wall jumps specifically to narrowly avoid hazards,  and be conscious of Kick Bot’s momentum as they soar across the level. The game has also introduced a plethora of mechanics to keep each level fresh, such as ice physics, a mid-air double jump recharge, timed geysers of fire, level collectibles, and more.

Q: What was the difficulty level?

A: I’d say the difficulty was medium. Granted, I gravitate toward a lot of platformers. I’m no professional Celeste speed-runner or anything, but I’m familiar with the genre. The simplification of the control scheme allowed for difficulty in other ways than precise control input. Wall jumps had to be repeated and controlled in such a manner to allow the player to jump in specific positions to navigate hazards. Timed obstacles also proved to be a challenge, as well as some segments of tight platforming.

Because Kick Bot cannot grip the walls or stay still, the game is very fast-paced; you are constantly mid-air, or jumping along the walls to position yourself for your next jump. The death cutscene is very short, and you either start again at the beginning of the level, or at reasonably-spaced checkpoint flags throughout the level. 

There were also collectibles within the demo (and presumably in the final game). These were merely for clout and served no purpose whatsoever, which is always a fun mechanic within an already-difficult game. In Kick Bot, these collectibles were well-placed and clever; they required consistency to collect them, often making players to play through a section of the game twice in order to achieve it, instead of only requiring precision.

Q: What other side-scrolling platformers have you played?

A: I’m a huge stan of Ori and the Blind Forest and Ori and the Will of the Wisps. Celeste holds a special place in my heart because it was my first ever precision platforming game. And I have an extensive history, growing up with Mario games and other Nintendo platformers.

Q: Does this game draw influence from any other platformers?

A: I’ll preface this by saying, to an extent, all games draw influence from other games. It’s not an inherently negative thing. In merely existing as a pixel precision platformer, it’s inevitable for the game to be likened to a title such as Celeste. The fast-paced levels and frequent checkpoints make it an easy comparison in gameplay, even if the control schemes are completely different.

There was also inspiration from games like Donkey Kong Country. The game had some levels with a barrel mechanic, where Kick Bot would be launched from a barrel, and you’d have to time the jump based on the position of another barrel, or the position of a hazard. There were also sliding ice platforming segments and timed jets of fire, which are common hazards within Mario side scrolling platformer games.

I had viewers during my first impression stream also say the game’s pixelated art style and environment reminded them of Sonic, and I can see it. The zones within the Giga Leg are so pop-colorful, with a little bit of sci-fi mechanical parts mixed in. The demo version of the game did a great job showcasing a variety of mechanics and gimmicks, as well as different level designs. And the high-energy chiptune music gets you so pumped up that you’re ready to keep trying a level, regardless of how many deaths you may have racked up.

The game is set to release on Steam and on consoles in 2022. The demo is currently available for download on Steam, if you’d like to give it a try yourself – and wishlist the game while you’re at it. And you should. For a usually frustrating game genre that is precision pixel platforming, Kick Bot adds in charm and wit. The evil AI G.I.G.A will often show up on-screen and snicker at your deaths, and will also throw a tantrum when you beat a level.

Oh – and Kick Bot dabs when left idle. I should have led with that, because really, that’s the only reason you need to check out this game.

I plan on streaming the entirety of the game when it releases because the developers of Two Scoop Games are sending me a key to the game. And if side-scrolling platformers are something you enjoy, I highly recommend checking it out for yourself. Based on the demo alone, this would be a day-one purchase from me. Hell, I enjoyed the game so much that I wrote a rap to advertise it – I mean, I am a nerd, but that should tell you how much I want to see the game succeed.