If you were to look up he word revival in Oxford's English dictionary, the word would be defined as: “A restoration to life or consciousness”. This would mean that Kick Off was once dead and now this game has brought it back to life. Having played it though, this should have been one thing that would’ve been better off dead.
Developed Dino Dini by and out now on PlayStation 4, Dino Dini's Kick Off Revival is one of the worst games I’ve played this year. Its idea is sound: Bring all the fun of football games with the simplicity of old-school top-down football games of yesteryear. The problem is that it goes too simplistic and with baffling decisions that turn it all into an exercise of patience. Everything is done with one button. Whether you want to pass, cross, shoot, head, or give a long ball, it’s all done with one button. There’s also a momentum and power meter but it never works the way that you expect it to. If the ball isn’t positioned perfectly then the player simply won’t kick the ball and you just keep running. Why not stop running and then do your desired action? Were it so simple.
Dino Dini’s Kick Off Revival decided to implement a system in where the ball doesn’t stick to the player in possession. This means a sharp turn will mean the player will go in one direction and the ball will just continue moving. It’s frustrating to say the least. There were a few occasions where I managed to string a few passes together, run down the wing, send in a cross and actually score. While normally unimpressive, it took so much effort and precision that you’d think there’d be a real sense of satisfaction when it hit the back of the net but that feeling never came. Instead of happiness it was an empty moment as the opposing team’s keeper just flailed in place.
Animation is awful as nothing looks or feels smooth. Players regularly clip through the advertisement boards on the side of the pitch and connecting which each other just doesn’t look good. Worst of all though are the keepers that either flop in place or dive to and through the posts and even into the goal itself on occasion. It just all terribly implemented.
Nothing is as frustrating as the tackling. Should you not be completely head-on with another player, and even sometimes when you are, it’ll more than likely result in a foul. You slide about a 50 feet in front of you meaning it can be pretty common to even take down a player off the ball resulting in a free kick or penalty if you’re that unlucky.
There’s no redeeming qualities. It doesn’t feel like the old-school football games it hoped to emulate and simply looks bad. There are only two modes really to speak off but honestly, there’s more than you’d want considering its lifecycle will more than likely be a match or two. It’s frustrating in every aspect and doesn’t deserve a moment of your time.
Not in anyone’s league. 1/5.
★☆☆☆☆
Jason Redmond
Dino Dini’s Kick Off Revival at CeX
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