Kickle Cubicle
System: NES
Release Date: September 1990
Developer: Irem
Publisher: Irem
Genre: Puzzle
Kick around blocks of ice as you rescue four frozen kingdoms in Kickle Cubicle! The Wicked Wizard King froze four lively kingdoms in an attempt to conquer them. The citizens have all been tied up in magic dream bags. Do you have what it takes to go through 67 levels of puzzle solving action?
As Kickle, you have the ability to blow ice breath. This turns enemies into ice cubes. You aren’t able to push them, but you can launch them in a straight line. If they hit the water, they create a new piece of land that you can walk on. The cubes can also be stopped by pillars the Kickle can create. These two mechanics are behind most of the puzzles in the game, but there are more.
Enemies spawn out of little egg thingys. Each monster generator will spawn until it reaches a certain number on screen. As you wipe them out, they infinitely respawn. Little blue blobs named Noggles are the main guys you’re going to freeze and kick around. They meander around, trying to bump into you. They aren’t alone, though, there are bigger enemies that are actively out to put you down. Max the chicken kicks any ice cubes in his way. Rocky the Squirrel(?) can be frozen, but if you try to launch him, he thaws out and goes on the attack! There’s Sparky who tries to run up to you and explode. The Equalizer that launches cannon balls at you. Spiny and Gale that move around the stage and are indestructible. And more! (vid 2; 17:30)
Later levels introduce more obstacles and gimmicks to bend your brain. Springs launch ice cubes back at you, typically into another spring to create a rebounding effect. You’re able to launch cubes in a perpendicular direction as they are hitting the spring. Hammers move in a circle when hit by a cube or breathed on. A later level has you hit a series of hammers in a row and they have to be in the correct position. I paused and mapped that boy out with my finger.
At the end of each kingdom is a giant boss. These all work the same, where they throw something at you, it breaks into pieces and you launch them back. They were not difficult to defeat. When you put an end to the Wizard King, the good king send you off on a mission to defeat an unspecified number of especially diabolical levels. I tapped out in there somewhere.
Graphics: 1.5
Graphics are kind of old school looking, but it’s pleasant enough to look at.
Sound: 1.0
It’s the same song over and over and plain sound effects.
Gameplay: 3.0
It’s easy to control Kickle and his two powers are more than enough to get you through the game.
Difficulty: 3.5
There are unlimited continues and a password system. Each level has a solution and most of them become clear very quickly, though some require some good dexterity.
Fun Factor: 3.0
I enjoyed myself a lot and wouldn’t mind going back and finishing the bonus levels.
Overall Rating: 2.4
Kickle Cubicle earns a C+. This was a game I avoided as a kid because of its name. I shouldn’t have.