Kick bastards in the grappling foot-equipped Mirror’s Edge successor we deserve: Kick Bastards

“All your kicking fantasies will be satisfied”

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There’s a slick new parkouring platformer getting positive reviews onSteam. It’s called Kick Bastards, and from what I’ve seen of it, you’re getting pretty much exactly what it says on the tin.

Well, to be fair to the enemies in the game, I can’t actually verify whether they’re really bastards or instead, upstanding denizens of hell undeserving of being kicked, but I’d be lying if I said it doesn’t look damn fun dropkicking them into oblivion regardless.

Kick Bastards is described as a “fast-paced parkour game with a deep movement system,” and looking at the release trailer, it looks like you use kicks not only to yeet your enemies down the lava-filled trenches of hell, but also to traverse environments. The trailer shows the player character kick-launching from platform to platform, wall-running, swinging from floating objects, and avoiding enemy projectiles.

Gameplay-wise, it definitely seems inspired by Mirror’s Edge’s acrobatic maneuvering, but stylistically the acclaimed 2022 FPS platformerNeon Whitemight be a more apt comparison - not to mention the focus on speedrunning. Still, it could just be the closest thing to an unofficial Mirror’s Edge successor, especially notable sincewe’ll probably never actually get another official follow-up from DICE.

The story is pretty simple; you did a naughty thing and landed yourself in hell for your sins, and now you have to find your way out as the devil chases you through dimensions. Thankfully, the devil’s number one nemesis seems to have bestowed you with some truly earth-shattering thumpers to give you a leg up in your quest for redemption.

Developer Something Something Games says you’ll be able to reach a “crazy speed” by stringing together combo moves as you navigate various pathways, of which there are “loads,” through 48 levels across four distinct stages. “Every level is built so that you can find loads of different lines through them, including ones we don’t even know about!” the developer teases.

For everything on the horizon, check out our guide toupcoming indie gamesfor 2024 and beyond.

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After scoring a degree in English from ASU, I worked as a copy editor while freelancing for places like SFX Magazine, Screen Rant, Game Revolution, and MMORPG on the side. Now, as GamesRadar’s west coast Staff Writer, I’m responsible for managing the site’s western regional executive branch, AKA my apartment, and writing about whatever horror game I’m too afraid to finish.

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