Kick'n It (XBLIG): "Hacky Sack Avatar Style!!!"

Kick'n It! Is a score based hacky sack game that uses the gamers Xbox Live avatars. It was created, and developed by Brent Kollmansberger of K-dog Games. You might recognize some of Brent's contributions to the gaming communtiy through titles he worked on such as Klingon Academy,  Ultimate Spiderman, 007 Quantum of Solace, and Transformers Revenge of the Fallen. He previously worked for Activision's Luxoflux studios, but started K-dog Studio after it's closure. His debut XBLIG title Kick'n It! takes everything about hacky sack, and makes a fun game that a gamer can enjoy alone or with friends/family. This trick based game features several modes of play in both single, and 2 player modes. The score based gameplay adds a competitive edge that will make for some decent competition between players. You'll also find that the game is accented by beautifully rendered, photo-realistic landscapes and monuments. This game offers a solid package of fun with a high replay value.

For those of you who have no clue of what hacky sack is it's a game where a person takes a footbag (round cloth filled ball) and performs tricks only using their feet. That's the simplest way to put it. I used to play hacky sack years ago, so I'm familiar with the rules. In hacky sack you can use your feet, and legs to bounce/launch the ball into the air. Stalls (holding the ball stationary on foot) can be performed to setup tricks, or gain control of the hacky sack. With that little hacky sack intro out of the way I'll get into the review.

Kick'n It! takes everything from the real game of hacky sack, and turns it into a highscore based game. This game is comparable to games like those of the Tony Hawk video game franchise, because you get points based on tricks. Like the previously mentioned game the tricks are also given visual screen names. When you first play Kick'n It! you will be able to play through a 'Tutorial Challenge' mode that will get you familiar with the game's mechanics. In the game you will use a specific button to perform the hand toss (R.Bumper) which is what sets the game in motion, and the (Y,B,A) buttons to kick with your avatar's legs/feet. For movement you will use the (L.Thumbstick). The game features a trick meter/bar that can be filled using stalls. After filling up a trick bar using the stalls (Holding R.Trigger + Y,B, or A) you can perform various/advance tricks by releasing the (R.Trigger). Combining different stalls will result in different tricks. Learning these tricks is very necessary in the single player, and multiplayer modes. You'll find that you can unlock new tricks by playing through the 'Tutorial Challenge' mode.

After making it through the challenges, and becoming familiar with the game's controls you'll have a choice of several modes in both the single player, and two player menu. In single player the game offers a 'Freestyle' mode in which the aim is to score as many points as you can with the limited number of footbags (hacky sacks) that you have. Each time one hits the ground you have to start over. Single player also features 'Tournament', and 'Pro Tournament' modes. In these modes you are given a '90' second time limit in which to do as many tricks as you can, and score as many points as you can. In 'Pro Tournament' mode the movement of the hacky sack, and your avatar are sped up to make it more challenging. When you fill your trick bar in 'Pro Tournament' mode the background will be altered by special effects.

While I didn't get to play the two player modes, I did take a look at them. In my opinion the two player modes would be the strong point of this game. In the two player menu you'll find 4 different modes that include 'Bomb Squad', 'Footbag Net', 'Head 2 Head', and 'Team Freestyle'. Bomb Squad is basically a hot potatoe style of game in which the player left with the hacky sack get's blown up. Footbag net is very similar to volleyball. You must play hacky sack across a small net, and the scoring is similar to that of volleyball. Head 2 Head is a freestyle face off between your avatar, and your friends or family member's avatar. The player with the highest trick score wins. In Team Freestyle 2 players will work together for a single co-op highscorescore.

In the end of my experience with Brent's unique avatar based game, I found that I had a good bit of fun. I could have probably played in single player 'Freestyle' for hours, but I needed to get this review out to you guys. I did regret not being able to play those very fun looking 2 player modes. Being the only Xbox 360 gamer in my house leaves me at an unfortunate disadvantage. Trust me though the 2 player modes definitely look Awesome! K-dog/Brent has developed an amazing game. Everything from the visuals to the gameplay itself is high quality. The techno style music that accents each stage/landscape also adds to the game's already solid package. For 240 msp ($3) you are getting your moneys worth, and a whole lot more. I didn't mention this earlier in the review, but Brent has also done 20 web games for FoxKids.com. In fact he was the games director for that site. I think he definitely knows how to make an excellent multiplayer, and single player experience.

CONTROLS

R.Bumper & R.Thumbstick = Hand Toss
R.Trigger = Stalls/Tricks
Y = Outside Kick
B/X = Inside Kick
A = Toe Kick
D.Pad = Change Avatar
L. Thumbstick = Avatar Movement

*OtakuDante's TIPS*

1. You can use the (X) button instead of (B) to perform Inside Kicks this helps out tremendously when trying to acheive a highscore/high trick count.

2. Releasing the stall (Y,X,B, or A & R.Trigger) when your trick meter is full will not only make it easier to perform tricks, but it's much less complicated than only releasing the (R.Trigger) between stalls. 

www.K-dogGames.com