by PikPok’s latest Flick Kick game offers the most complete and varied experience in the series so far, with the whole gamut of basic on-field soccer situations backed by team building, a curious tale of revenge, and a multi-division league structure. But you’ll have to battle through a barrage of ads or pony up some cash to make the most of Flick Kick Football Legends’ solid gameplay.
Your job is to rebuild the team and rise from the bottom division after the squad was disbanded following the tragic death of its previous coach. To do so, you’ll assemble a team of stars by buying packs of cards with in-game currency. Full matches are compressed to just one or two minutes of battling through binary canned situations. You’ll flick the ball with your finger to pass, shoot, tackle, or intercept the ball, as well as to save the other team’s shots. Timing is key, while the length and trajectory of your flick also imparts curve and loft. Players have different skills, too, which grant them abilities such as knocking down opponents or moving quickly to receive the ball.
It feels overly repetitive at times, but Football Legends keeps you engaged through its bizarre comic book story, plus its progression systems. Assuming, that is, you can stomach its short stamina meter, which takes 30 minutes to recharge each of its five segments, and a full-on barrage of ads, both in banners atop the screen during matches and in full-screen splashes after every action. While you’re stuck with the stamina meter, the ads do thankfully disappear if you spend money on any in-app purchase.
Beyond these issues lies a fun and simple throwback to the soccer of old — replete with short shorts, bad haircuts, headbands, unprofessional conduct, inane commentator chatter, and scores of George Best and Kevin Keegan lookalikes (among other British legends). But it’s sometimes questionable whether that’s worth the trouble.
The bottom line. Despite solid controls, cool and playful presentation, and decent depth, Flick Kick Football Legends shoots itself in the foot with invasive advertisements and a too-short stamina meter.
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