Developer: SCT
Publisher: SCT
Platform: PC
Tested on: PC
Kinetic Edge – Review
Get the balls rolling in the new neon-covered 3D puzzle platformer Kinetic Edge, which has recently come out of its Early Access period. Traverse through mazes, race across flashy tracks, or flow from course through course in the mini-golf maps. There are plenty of options! Whether you want to play solo or with friends, there’s always a game mode that will suit your mood.
Story
Kinetic Edge is solely a physics-based puzzle platformer where you play as a shapeshifting object, trying to get from point A to point B. There is no story to experience here. But there’s also no point in it. The absence of a story is absolutely not noticeable since you’re probably too engaged with the challenging – very neon-filled – courses.
Graphics
Neon-tastic might even be an understatement for how the visuals actually are. Kinetic Edge is very glowy, colorful, and in your face. It’s exactly how you would imagine an underground rave party would be. The scenery is dark, but it’s wildly accented with neon lights. Combined with the reflective tracks, there’s barely any darkness to spot. It can be exciting to see in the beginning, but quite eye strain-inducing after a short while. This is especially true when you have difficulty with the movement of a very stubborn camera that’s living its own life.
Sound
It’s obvious that Kinetic Edge is going for a futuristic cyber vibe and it surely achieved. The latter is notably due to the accompanying soundtrack and sound effects. The music fits perfectly to each map, giving us a nice techno/synth beat to play through, but not too overwhelming that it breaks our concentration.
Gameplay
The fun thing about Kinetic Edge is the fact that you have a handful of game mode options to choose from, and also the fact that you are able to experience the game solo or with other people. For a simple physics-based puzzle platformer, it gives us a good amount of change in gameplay.
Kinetic Edge gives us five game modes to play from: Race, Arena, Maze, Golf, and The Gauntlet. Each with different maps to choose out of. Sadly, there isn’t a lot of variation between the maps/levels but it is a start – especially when we’re promised more in future updates.
No matter what game mode you choose, the core of the game stays the same. The same can be said about the gameplay and navigation, whether you choose to play with keyboard + mouse or controller. You start off as a ball, which you successfully have to navigate through the map until you get to the finish. Along the way, you’ll find obstacles and open tracks that you can overcome by jumping or using your booster, and that’s about it. The game is easy to handle, and not that complicated. Like any racing game, you speed up, navigate and use special abilities when needed.
Race: challenging tracks where you race – alone or with others (online) – to get the best time. This mode is a nice starter to the game but it can get very frustrating when playing with others. Especially when you pass a shapeshifting checkpoint that turns you in another shape that is not meant for such movements e.g. a triangle or a cube, things get tedious quickly.
Arena: here you can knockout other players to make them lose points. Stay in the green zone for as long as you can for maximum points gain. Fun to play with friends… if you have a strong bond. This is not a team game.
Maze: a randomly generated maze that’s different every time you start one up. Not that challenging but fun to play as a small contest among other players. Currently, there are three types of maze varying in size; 10×10, 20×20, and 50×50.
Golf: a physics-crazy golf game that is meant to be played with a chill mood; which does not work, at all. Physics-crazy golf balls are definitely not chill vibes inducing. Sometimes, the physics just doesn’t make any sense whatsoever.
The Gauntlet: a super hard level that tests all your skills. This mode is not recommended if you’re not a pro in this game. You get 7 minutes, no checkpoints, 1 life. You die, you respawn at the very start. Get ready to hold tight to your controller.
Conclusion
Kinetic Edge is still quite basic but gives us more than a usual indie physics-based puzzle platformer could give. The chances for replayability are small if you played the whole game through, but luckily there are so many maps to choose from, and depending on the number of players, it feels different every time. However, the game still has its issues and shortcomings, such as the wacky camera movement and out-of-control physics. That being said, with some updates and fixes, there is good hope for this game.
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