Sometimes I feel like playing a simple game without main characters, plot or anything interesting, especially after a long game with a complex story. Kinetic Edge came just after I understood Control’s dizzying (but awesome) story. It’s a game where you control a morphing polygon, and all you have to do is reach a goal at the end of the level. It’s simple, straightforward, and asks no questions. A game like this can be a success or a disaster, depending on how well the mechanics and levels are thought out.
In the case of Kinetic Edge, I can almost say it’s a success. There is much good to say about the film, but it suffers a bit from its obviously low budget and some design decisions. Let’s take a look at this bad boy.
Being a literal die in the game can actually be quite fun.
In Kinetic Edge, you choose a mode, a map, and then find a way to reach the end of the route by using (or in some cases, having to support) the different shapes your polygon takes along the way. Think of the game as Marble Madness on steroids, with a marble that transforms and is free to jump whenever it wants. Oh, and with an unhealthy amount of neon around it.
The main game mode of Kinetic Edge is racing, which can be explained quite well. The first mutant polygon to cross the finish line wins. In addition to the (admittedly strange and flawed) jumping and turning mechanisms, your polygon can also perform a small impulse attack that works wonders when an opponent is close. Even more fun is when you drop your opponent from a high platform. Other game modes include the standard arena fight, a procedurally-generated maze time trial that is perhaps the highlight of the game, mini golf, and an ultra-difficult race called The Gauntlet.
Terrible acid trip in a nightclub.
I have to hand it to the developers for adding as much content as possible. There are tons of different modes and tons of different well designed (though sometimes frustrating) maps. That said, this game is not very exciting. I liked playing it in short bursts, not only because of its simplistic nature, but also because the presentation was too taxing on the senses.
While I love the Tron-like aesthetic and the neon colors, the amount of light in Kinetic Edge is one hell of a shock to the retina. You are constantly bombarded by stupidly powerful flashes of light coming from all directions. I even managed to irritate my vision despite wearing blue light glasses. And then there’s the problem of the soundtrack, which consists of very short electronic beats looped to the hilt. As for the gameplay of Kinetic Edge, the presentation does everything in such a way that I have no desire to play it.
It pushes the boundaries, but still, it’s an excellent level of design.
I loved the simple principle of Kinetic Edge, the amount of content, and the game play, but I was more annoyed than not by its presentation. However, it is the perfect game to spend a few dozen minutes at a time. Pick a mode, play a few levels, try to improve your score or beat other players, and then give your damaged eyes a well-deserved rest. I also look forward to a possible switch port; this game will fit like a glove on that system.
| While I love the aesthetic of the Tron style and the neon colors, the amount of light in Kinetic Edge is a real aggression to the look. | It is based entirely on physics. I liked the variety of shapes and the overall design of the levels for the most part, but I didn’t like the way the jumping and sprinting mechanics were wobbly. |
| The soundtrack consists of short, nonsensical electronic tunes that loop every two or three seconds. It is better to play this game without sound. | Kinetic Edge has a neat concept, a good physique at times, and a lot of different modes. It’s a pretty repetitive experience, but it’s actually pretty fun in small doses. |
| Final Verdict: 7.0 | |
Kinetic Edge is now available on PC.
Viewed on PC.
A copy of Kinetic Edge was provided by the publisher.
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