Divekick seems like it started as a parody of fighting games, but someone took the parody so seriously that the conclusion is an amazing piece of work. Divekick is a fighting game where all you can do are jump, dive, and then kick. All the combos and button mashing has been removed. It’s so minimalist that you only ever use two buttons — and its simplicity is refreshing.
The game looks like a cartoon, and it has the sensibility of one that would air on Adult Swim. Characters from all sorts of fighting genres are represented, from the unassuming kids on the street, to the extreme pro-wrestler, to a cigar-chomping skunk bear. Characters utter silly lines after they are defeated, like Dive shouting out calculus terms, and Dr. Shoals yelling out specific bodily injuries. Then there’s Uncle Sensei, who is both a playable character (and a brilliant one at that, as he wears boots on his fists, so he can kick with his arms or his legs!) and a mentor of sorts who provides post-match “advice”. His advice is nonsequiters such as “Why can’t you hate the player and the game?” or tips for what would appear to be a different game entirely (he apparently thinks there’s a meter near the top of the screen, and that there’s also a stealth mode). Divekick doesn’t just strip away the mechanics of fighting games, it also strips away the pretentiousness by making itself into a farce.
While the trappings are comedic, the game itself is anything but. Though simple, the mechanics extend beyond just diving and kicking. When standing on the ground, the kick button causes the character to leap back. Additionally, each character has different ways that they move. Jeffailey, for example, does a drop kick. So after jumping, when you kick, he will kick out straight in front of him as he falls. Kung Pao does a straight diving kick at a 45 degree angle. Doctor Shoals’ kicks are slow, almost like she’s drifting, while The Baz has an electric charge that follows behind him, so he can effectively kick opponents that happen to cross his path behind him. As with any fighting game, players will want to learn the nuances for each character.
Furthermore, there is a meter that powers up with each dive, and this meter allows characters to perform special attacks by pressing Dive and Kick at the same time. Also, players get extra credit for headshots (kicks to the head), as landing one successfully will daze your opponent at the beginning of the next round. Dazed opponents can still move, they are just slower. I’ve often found this to be a detriment, as it offsets your timing and one missed kick can leave an opening for your opponent to strike.
Before each match, you can customize your character both cosmetically (each character has four re-colored skins available) and also by choosing a gem. Gems increase your jump height by 10%, your kick by 10%, or your meter by 10%. There is also a red YOLO gem, which increases all those stats by 30%. However, the price for the YOLO gem is that your opponents start off with credit for four victories, meaning that if you lose a single round, then they win; the only way to win with the YOLO gem is to sweep your opponent.
Rounds last 20 seconds, and if time expires, whoever is closer to a line in the middle of the arena wins. As time nears zero, players will start jumping and back-flipping their way to the middle of the screen.
Of all the fighting games I can think of, Divekick reminds me of Bushido Blade. That game would often feature players staring each other down, swords at the ready, waiting for someone to flinch, as making the first move usually meant exposing yourself prematurely. Divekick requires the same sort of patience, although each round is only 20 seconds, so such luxury is not afforded. The result is a fast paced game where matches take minutes. Divekick is the type of game best enjoyed in a group where the controller can be passed around for everyone to share in the diving and kicking. Online play is available (although the time waiting for an opponent is often longer than the matches themselves will take), but like all fighting games, it’s more fun when you can talk shit to the person next to you.
