Alright, so either Kickback Slug: Cosmic Courier is a game about karma, or it’s a game about physics. Well, a little of both. If you fly too close to the sun (or, in this case, spikes), you’ll get your comeuppance. But really, this is a physics-based platformer from Kittens In Timespace, and it’s pretty decent.
The only thing I must stress, before you log in to the Nintendo eShop, is that it’s bloody difficult. I shouldn’t have to explain that just because something is challenging doesn’t mean you should avoid it and that it’s terrible. This game is hard-going, but it’s very good nevertheless.
You play the slug in question, Slippy, and are supported by Mr McFly. They’re both intergalactic delivery drivers, but on one of their rounds, they encounter a problem that causes their goods to scatter around the galaxy. Your job is to collect all the items, but primarily, survive some treacherous terrains, aliens, and, of course, time.
Kickback Slug: Cosmic Courier Review: Needs Less Salt
In Kickback Slug: Cosmic Courier, your task is to navigate relatively contained stages, locate a switch and exit through a portal. Sounds easy, but it’s not. This is a physics-based game where you wrestle with gravity using your jetpack and gun while battling the clock and the environment.
Holding down the B button propels Slippy around with a slight sluggish (ha!) feeling as if you’re underwater. But that’s the least of your worries: To propel forward, you must hold the left analogue stick in the opposite direction and, like Flappy Bird, ‘bounce’ around the stages to avoid all the pitfalls.
But that’s not all that helps you move around in Kickback Slug: Cosmic Courier. Slippy can take out their enemies with a blaster and interact with their surroundings. Unlike the propulsion, shooting the gun gives some kickback and sends Slippy backwards. Sure, the right stick aims correctly, but you move in the opposite direction as you fire.
Slimey Character
That’s just some of the challenges you’ll encounter, though. While there aren’t any difficulty settings, there are a variety of optional paths. From the outset, I thought you had to collect all the packages. I mean, it’s your bloody job, right? No. It’s optional.
The second option is whether you want to time your session or not. Are you quite mad? Kickback Slug: Cosmic Courier is already tricky enough; why would you restrict yourself further? Because it’s fun, and it’ll make you big and strong. Ok, I opted out of the timer for many stages and tried to survive.
There isn’t any health or lives in the game. Crash into an obstacle or run out of time, and it’s insta-death. Luckily, respawning is quick, at the sacrifice of repeating everything. You’ll have to forgive me for not selecting the time challenge, mon ami.
Slowly, Slowly, Catchy Crawly
Kickback Slug: Cosmic Courier isn’t for casuals. Sure, the presentation is decent, and the controls are initially user-friendly. After the introduction, I was immediately on board, thinking that this would be a fun ride. Little did I know that Newton really was a cock for discovering gravity. Before the apple, it didn’t exist.
You’ll undoubtedly stumble upon a boss. The game has five biomes: nine stages and one boss battle. The boss levels feel like a cheese factory, as you can exploit their attacks. That’s a naive comment and soon, their patterns change, and you’re screaming at the game even though their health stays the same (at first) after you die. Then, it restores, and you have to repeat it again. Once you beat the boss, you still have to reach the portal, so there’s room for error, if only marginal.
With plenty of stages, bonus levels, and multiple challenges for the completionist, Kickback Slug: Cosmic Courier is rewarding but demanding. It reminded me a little of My Eyes – a similar title I recommend you check out if you have time. The joy-cons weren’t ideal, but if you have an external controller, there’s a lot of fun in the game, pending you’re ready for it.
https://youtu.be/mHKc4BNcjkQ?si=BgrqDESsc4jmS8eU
