Tricky Kick
System: TG-16
Release Date: January 1991
Developer: Alfa System
Publisher: IGS
Genre: Puzzle
Clear animated blocks two at time in Tricky Kick! There are six characters that have a path of levels that must be completed. Before beginning their first level, you’re given a short anime sequence giving the base of their story. Beat ten levels with each of them in order to complete their quest, but get ready for a challenge.
When a level begins, you will see a variety of animated items. These are the blocks you need to remove from the stage in order to win. In order to clear them, you have to kick a block into its match. Not next to each other, but one block has to travel at least an empty space into the other. If blocks get caught up against a wall, you better hope you have another block to kick into it or just press the RUN Button to give up.
If two blocks are next to each other, you can kick through an adjacent block. This won’t work if there are three or more blocks bunched up. There are really only a series of different possible moves available in each level. If you make a mistake, you have to start over and give your collected score up. Some levels have wrapping screens, which must be taken advantage of. There’s probably even more in later levels that I didn’t have the patience to get to…
Graphics: 1.5
Everything is colorful and pleasant, but it’s not pushing any boundaries.
Sound: 1.5
Each character has their own theme for their levels. They’re light and peppy, but not great.
Gameplay: 1.0
Kick blocks into each other. Don’t get them trapped or you will have to start again.
Difficulty: 1.0
There was something about these puzzles that I just couldn’t wrap my head around. I know each level has to have a solution, but they mostly escaped me.
Fun Factor: 0.5
I didn’t enjoy this game. It was frustrating and unfun to me.
Overall Rating: 1.1
Tricky Kick earns a D. This isn’t my style of puzzle game. I’m sure others would like it better and grade it higher than I did, but I can’t in good conscience.