Rage games, otherwise known as Foddian games, are popular for the distinct reason that they are designed implicitly to be difficult and, well, rage-inducing. Gamers are, apparently, masochists who will go through untold pain to achieve a goal, and Kick’n Hell is a shining example of the genre. 

Kick’n Hell has been developed by Fire Foot Studios, and as the studio’s name and the name of the game may suggest, it’s all about using your feet. There’s a lot to love about Kick’n Hell, and also a lot to hate, but only in the same way that you love to hate all Foddian games. It’s set to release on July 21.

Look behind you

The main aim in Kick’n Hell is to escape the clutches of Satan as you make your way up the circles of Hell to freedom. As if that wasn’t horrifying enough, you can only do this by kicking various exposed brains inside strategically placed skulls that will then propel you through the air, enabling you to reach higher platforms. 

Oh, and you always get flung backwards. 

Every time you kick a bouncy brain, you get thrown backwards across the cavernous depths of Hell at incredible speed, and you’ll need to aim by checking behind you at all times. This isn’t so bad when the skulls are placed on their own dedicated platforms, but eventually, you’ll need to predict your next reverse trajectory while flying through the air from a previous bounce. 

You can walk forwards, of course, which helps to get your bearings when you reach a new level of Hell, and also to take in the scenery around you. But your jumps are always backwards, which is mildly terrifying and more than a little confusing at times. It’s unforgiving, punishing, and hellish in every sense.

Kick’n Hell is undeniably frustrating, as it was designed to be, and your first few attempts at any new collection of jumps will make you want to scream. But, with that said, you’ll quickly become familiar with sections of the climb, and you’ll be able to run from jump to jump without needing to plan the route. It becomes familiar, almost second nature, in an infinitely satisfying way. 

Hell is actually quite lovely

Kick’n Hell’s art style is decidedly old-school, reminding me of games like the original DOOM and Quake, but it’s not identical to either of them. It’s pixelated while also managing to be intricately detailed, and there is an endless depth to Hell that makes you feel small down in the depths. Everything about Kick’n Hell feels retro, like stepping back into the Nintendo 64 golden era of gaming, while the mechanics feel fresh and unfamiliar in the best way. 

And it’s pretty. Like… Really pretty. There are glittering green fires, the brains that need kicking are different colors to give you an easy reference of how they’ll affect your jump, and looking around each area is enough to leave you feeling awestruck at the size of the space, even though it’s realistically just an image on the screen. 

The audio is atmospheric and absorbing, too. There’s a choral backdrop of music that feels absolutely appropriate for the setting, but that’s not what caught my ear most about Kick’n Hell: That privilege goes to Satan himself. 

Every so often, the ruling demon of the realm will pop up, almost as though he’s in your subconscious, reminding you of just how far you have to go and belittling your efforts thus far. He’s a voice of dread inside your head, an earworm who refuses to be quieted, and it’s enough to make you stop and listen.

He’s not very good at being discouraging, to be honest, and brings a strange touch of humor to proceedings at the weirdest times. But he’s still Satan, so he garners a certain amount of respect regardless.

Kick’n Hell is set to release on July 21, and it’s well worth braving the pits of hell to see how far you can get, or even if you can get on the leaderboard. The current leader has completed the demo in a minute and 30 seconds, which is… I have no idea how they did that. The demo is available to play right now if you want to get some practice in.