DaRmaZat Kick, fall, curse, repeat.
Straight from the fiery depths of Belgium’s indie scene, Kick’n Hell by Fire Foot Studios is launching tomorrow – July 21st – on Steam, and it’s not pulling any punches. Literally. Instead of fists or guns, your only weapon is your foot—and what better place to put it to use than in the sadistic playground of Hell, where every jump is a potential disaster and every failure is met with Satan’s smug commentary?
You play as a martial artist who’s found himself imprisoned in Satan’s dungeons. Your only path out? Kicking scattered brains like psychotic trampolines until you reach the top—and ideally, plant your foot straight into the Devil’s smug face.
But not all brains are created equal. Some send you high, others far, some diagonally or just enough to mock your understanding of physics. It’s a violent, acrobatic brain-bounce of trial, error, and eventual triumph—or endless ragequits.
Dancing With the Devil in a Platformer’s Playground
Forget floaty platforming. In Kick’n Hell, precision is everything. Every kick you make determines your launch direction and speed, with momentum playing a massive role. The timing, the angle, and even when you start or stop mid-flight all decide whether you’re landing on safe ground—or sliding into a chasm.
Even the tutorial is unforgiving. The game never coddles you, instead demanding you climb higher, faster, and smarter with every attempt. And just when you think you’re getting the hang of it, Satan himself starts talking—not to encourage you, but to actively mock and manipulate. His voice lines are dynamic and responsive, evolving based on your failures. It’s a psychological edge as sharp as the platforming is brutal.
And yes, just to spice things up, wolves, snakes, and demonic freaks join the party too. They bite, shove, and mess up your jumps, sometimes sending you flying off precariously narrow platforms. But hey, what’s Hell without a little chaos?
A Masterclass in Misery Mechanics
Kick’n Hell offers two difficulty modes: Apprentice—the “easier” option complete with checkpoints—and Champion, which removes those lifelines completely. Not that it always helps. Even in Apprentice mode, a single misstep often sends you tumbling hundreds of feet down, undoing minutes—sometimes hours—of progress. When it happens (and it will happen), you can take out your frustration by kicking the nearest skeleton. Trust me, it helps.
Despite the controller being supported, this game clearly favors keyboard and mouse. The camera controls feel snappier and more responsive, making it your best shot at not plummeting into the abyss. Even with the optimal setup, though, mastering your movement is like learning a new martial art. You’re not just jumping; you’re carefully calculating every launch angle, trajectory, and mid-air adjustment like a pixelated rocket scientist.
Retro Aesthetics, Eternal Damnation
The visuals of Kick’n Hell harken back to the pixelated charm of pre-2000s games. The lighting is sparse, initially offering only glowing brains, eerie green brews, and flickering torches to guide your way. As you ascend through the infernal tower, the environments evolve into more diverse biomes, which is a blessing—because you’ll be stuck in them for quite some time thanks to the crushing difficulty.
Despite the frustration, there’s a strange beauty to the repetitive madness. You begin to memorize angles, recognize the right brains to kick, and develop a sixth sense for your trajectory. The game doesn’t just ask for skill—it demands obsessive repetition and patience.
Final Thoughts
Kick’n Hell is not for everyone. If you struggle with depth perception, trajectory estimation, or have the patience of a fruit fly, this game may chew you up and spit you out—probably into a pit full of lava and laughter from Satan.
But if you’re the kind of player who thrives on overcoming punishing mechanics, delighting in the tiniest bits of hard-won progress, this game offers an addictive, foot-fueled sense of satisfaction. It’s infuriating. It’s thrilling. It’s a math problem wrapped in a martial arts fever dream.
With no mercy, hardly any shortcuts, and no hand-holding, Kick’n Hell tests your reflexes, memory, and sheer stubbornness. And when you finally hear the sweet, sarcastic silence of Satan after a hard-earned checkpoint? That fleeting peace is your reward—alongside the throbbing in your fingers and a smug smile of satisfaction.
Additional Information
Release Date: July 21, 2025
Reviewed On: PC. Download code provided by the publisher and PR agency.
Developer: Fire Foot Studios
Publisher: Fire Foot Studios
Website: https://www.firefootstudios.com
Relevant links: Kick’n Hell on STEAM
