KungFu Kickball | Switch Review
Crouching Tiger, Hidden…Pufferfish?? WhaleFood Games, who brought us Too Many Snakes, pits you and your friends against other combatants in the zany, action packed experience that is KungFu Kickball. Local multiplayer games, both co-op and competitive, have been a favorite in my house for as long as I can remember. KungFu Kickball appeared at first glance to fit that niche, so I couldn’t wait to dive in fists first with my friends and family. What ensued was a lesson I never thought a video game would push me towards: I need to soundproof my game room.
Jab, Jab, Spinny Kickball
Let’s cut to the chase here. KungFu Kickball is simply about jumping into a 2D arena with one to three of your buddies locally, or strangers in online play. Just like every competition in the history of the world, the objective is to be better than the other team. Here, each side must ring a bell hung on the opponent’s side of the arena by kicking or punching the ball into it. Whichever side scores the most points, of course, wins. There is no story whatsoever; KungFu Kickball is simply about the competition.
Kick Ball, Punch Friends
What makes KungFu Kickball so much fun is the melee combat that WhaleFood Games injected into an otherwise primarily innocent pastime. As you maneuver the arena, you advance the ball by assaulting it using your Kung Fu skills. The ball, however, is not the only object in the arena to punish as a means to victory. You can also attack your opponents! The entire experience of almost every match I took part in was an over the top, zany “Oh, no you didn’t! Take that!” screaming match with my opponents and teammates. Because yes, friendly fire does exist.
The controls are simple to the extreme, so literally anybody and their mother can pick this game up and feel comfortable almost immediately. While there are a handful of different characters to choose from, the differences are largely cosmetic. There is some mild platforming involved, but it only amplifies the excitement, even for unseasoned players. As a character takes damage, there is no damage meter, or any aspect that takes them out of the game. They will simply be knocked down for a brief time, hence unable to participate, after taking too much damage from friend and foe. I have a very strong urge to compare KungFu Kickball to the likes of a Smash Bros. meets Rocket League in a 2D climate. Everybody just has crazy fun.
Final Verdict
KungFu Kickball is an absolutely smashing experience with a group of friends. Anybody can jump in, regardless of how much experience they’ve had with a controller in their hands and get to the fun almost instantly. This makes it an excellent choice for some on-screen fun with all friends and family, not just gamers. While there is a competitive online aspect to the game (and it feels like it’s trying to be geared towards that), I really felt like where KungFu Kickball shined was on the couch with my friends and family screaming at each other and myself.
This review is based on a Nintendo Switch copy of KungFu Kickball provided by Stride PR for coverage purposes. It is also available on PlayStation, Xbox, and PC via Steam.
KungFu Kickball
$19.99
Pros
- Extremely Fun, Wacky Gameplay
- Family Friendly
- Simple Controls - Anyone Can Play
Cons
- Gets Stale In Single Player Mode
