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KickBall

TurboGrafx-16

TurboGrafx-16

Kickball is a comedic sports game exclusively for the Japanese PC Engine. It resembles baseball, complete with a diamond of bases to around, but the "batting" player is actually kicking the ball. The rest of the game plays like a normal round of baseball. It features seven characters - each of...

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Developer
Dual

Released on
1990

Size
1–2 Players

Version
TurboGrafx-16

Requirements
NEC TurboGrafx-16

Downloads
Sports

Publisher
Masaya

ESRB Rating
Not Rated

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Description

Kickball is a comedic sports game exclusively for the Japanese PC Engine. It resembles baseball, complete with a diamond of bases to around, but the “batting” player is actually kicking the ball. The rest of the game plays like a normal round of baseball.

It features seven characters – each of which represents a team of identical athletes – each with their own special pitch/kick move. These characters also include the two protagonists from the Kaizou Choujin Shubibinman series: Tasuke and Kyapiko (or Arnold and Sonia, as they’re known in Shockman). Each team also has an assigned stadium that fits their theme: the seal team, for instance, have a stadium with an ice-like floor.

KickBall

Overview & History

Released exclusively in Japan in 1990 for the PC Engine (localized abroad as the TurboGrafx-16), *KickBall* is a delightfully bizarre sports-action hybrid developed by Aicom. Breaking away from traditional, simulation-heavy soccer titles of the 16-bit era, this cult classic injects high-octane arcade fantasy into the pitch. The storyline follows a motley crew of fantastical street athletes competing in the underground "Extreme KickBall Circuit," where traditional fouls are non-existent and the only rule is absolute dominance. Though it flew under the radar in Western markets due to the TurboGrafx-16’s niche status, the game has since earned a dedicated retro following for its vibrant pixel art, whimsical character animations, and unapologetically chaotic pace that predated modern arcade sports games by decades.

Gameplay Features & Mechanics

Unlike standard soccer, *KickBall* is played on enclosed, arena-style pitches populated by hazard zones, power-ups, and destructive boundaries. Matches pit two-player teams against each other in a frantic battle of attrition. Rather than merely passing the ball, players must utilize aggressive slide tackles, stun-kicks, and signature aerial volleys to incapacitate opponents and clear a path to the goal. Each character boasts distinct stats in speed, kick power, and special meter generation. When a player's special gauge fills, they can unleash devastating elemental shots—such as the blazing fire-strike or the gravity-defying curved lightning ball—that can knock opposing goalkeepers flat on their backs. The matches are fast, punishing, and heavily reliant on mastering the game's unique rebound physics off the arena's perimeter walls.

Keyboard Controls

Arrow Keys / D-Pad: Move character and aim directional passes
Action Keys: Attack / Jump (Button I for slide tackle/jump, Button II for shoot/special kick)
Enter: Start / Pause