(While writing the beginning of this review I was singing the Shovel Knight theme song in my brain.)
The Story:
Shovel knight, and Shield knight, were a really awesome pair of knights, who fought for right.
Then one day in the Tower of Fate Shield knight fell away, sad day. Depression, mixed with yard work, but then OH SNAP, bad guys, time to go fight.
EPIC QUEST, FUN GAME, TEN OUT OF TEN IS MY AIM: TO GIVE THIS GAME!!!!!
Gameplay:
Sorry about that. Anyway Shovel knight! Yay!
Shovel Knight is a tribute to the 8-bit classics of the 80's. It is easy to notice this because it borrows lots of elements from games like Castlevania, Duck Tales, Zelda II, and Megaman. But unlike other indie games that are just collections of references, and gameplay copied from the good old days of gaming, Shovel knight is it's own game. It stands on it's own instead of relying on the legacy of the games that give us nostalgia. There is enough gameplay here that is original that it doesn't live in the shadow of any other game.
The gameplay is solid, I have loved it every minute that I played. I feel that I am in complete control of my character when I am playing. If my finger so much as lifts from one of the controls, Shovel knight will stop what he is doing. This makes dying in this game your fault. If you miscalculated a jump, or used the wrong move on an enemy, your death is all on you.
Shovel Knight himself has a fair amount of maneuvers available to him. He can jump, attack, and downstab bounce on and off enemies, this is also used for platforming purposes. He can also gain more abilities in the form of relics which you get from the particular stages, as well as upgrades.
In each level of Shovel Knight you jump, and fight your way to the end, where you will be able to fight one of the games many bosses. All of the levels are themed to the particular boss i.e. so Spector Knight's stage is a giant graveyard. Each level also has it's own unique mechanics, and enemies that change up the gameplay. On Mole Knight's stage you will bounce of a giant beetle as it makes its way across the screen. And on Propeller Knight's stage you will have to deal with the way the wind that flings you around.
Tinker Knight's stage has conveyor belts, and a scrolling tower section.
Each boss is pretty tough, I died a lot. The reason they are tough is they don't have attack patterns. In games like Megaman it was always about memorizing the pattern of how the boss attacked, and then exploiting that pattern. In Shovel knight however this is not the case. Each boss has several attacks, and uses them depending on what is happening in the battle, rather then just in a set order.
This makes the battles WAY more challenging than in other games. Now you have to learn to recognize an attack, rather than a pattern.
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There are even traveling boss fights on the world map that change things up a bit.
Unlike the other games of it's kind Shovel Knight relies a lot on loot. Money is everywhere, and you need it all! Everything costs money, boosts to your health and magic, upgrades, and the relics that are found in chests.
But Shovel Knight does have many ways of acquiring money on his journey. He can dig in dirt piles, defeat enemies, and find chests. There are secret areas EVERYWHERE in this game, these usually have the most loot. The other thing is that the upgrades you buy are more useful, and unique than just boosting your attack damage. One makes it easier to use magic, at the cost of you taking extra damage. And another lets you have a super swing after two successful downstabs.
As I mentioned before there are numerous relics you can get from the different levels of the game, such as a Fire Rod which shoots projectiles, a Locket which makes you invincible for three seconds, and a Dagger which allows you to fly a short distance. Each of these are useful, and you will quickly find your favorites, but you will also use each throughout the game.
One of my favorite parts of the game is the way the balanced the game for newbs, and experts alike. Each level has several checkpoints making the game easier for losers. But if you are pro, (or an idiot) you can destroy the checkpoint for money. If you do that checkpoint is gone for the rest of the time playing the level. And if you die you start back farther back in the level. You also lose money when you die, which you can get back as long as you don't die again. This adds this extra dilemma to the game: more money, or restart further back.
I think that the only thing I dislike about Shovel Knight is just how hard it is. This game is frustrating, hard, and makes you want to break your computer screen some times. But I kept playing because it is really fun, and I never shy away from a challenge. Well and the music, and visuals which I haven't mentioned yet help too.
The Music and Presentation:
Visually this game looks amazing, crisp, and beautiful. This game really does look like it was from the 80's, granted it couldn't have some of the graphics that does if it was from that time. But if you sat someone down who had never heard of this game before they might mistake it for one of those games.
Each level of this game has a distinct look to it, and I really feel like I'm in these places when playing the game.
Okay now for the music. I love the music... for the most part. I feel like it either falls into one of two categories:
#1 Really smooth, epic, and immersive.
or
#2 Grating on the ears.
Don't get me wrong when it is good, it is really good. It fits well, makes you want to keep playing, and is just plain awesome. But when it doesn't I just don't like listening to it. This could really just be a matter of opinion because I know people swear by the music in this game, and I do too, just the good tracks. Take a listen and see for yourself.
The Verdict and Final thoughts:
Shovel Knight is one of the greatest Metroidvania platformers ever made. It has great gameplay, amazing visuals, and while its music isn't always the best, Shovel Knight more than makes up for it with the rest of the game. If you aren't a fan of platformers, then don't expect this to change your mind, but if you are then buy this game now. I'm giving Shovel Knight a Ten out of Ten, it is a "Masterpiece."
Shovel Knight himself has a fair amount of maneuvers available to him. He can jump, attack, and downstab bounce on and off enemies, this is also used for platforming purposes. He can also gain more abilities in the form of relics which you get from the particular stages, as well as upgrades.
In each level of Shovel Knight you jump, and fight your way to the end, where you will be able to fight one of the games many bosses. All of the levels are themed to the particular boss i.e. so Spector Knight's stage is a giant graveyard. Each level also has it's own unique mechanics, and enemies that change up the gameplay. On Mole Knight's stage you will bounce of a giant beetle as it makes its way across the screen. And on Propeller Knight's stage you will have to deal with the way the wind that flings you around.
Tinker Knight's stage has conveyor belts, and a scrolling tower section.
Each boss is pretty tough, I died a lot. The reason they are tough is they don't have attack patterns. In games like Megaman it was always about memorizing the pattern of how the boss attacked, and then exploiting that pattern. In Shovel knight however this is not the case. Each boss has several attacks, and uses them depending on what is happening in the battle, rather then just in a set order.
This makes the battles WAY more challenging than in other games. Now you have to learn to recognize an attack, rather than a pattern.
There are even traveling boss fights on the world map that change things up a bit.
Unlike the other games of it's kind Shovel Knight relies a lot on loot. Money is everywhere, and you need it all! Everything costs money, boosts to your health and magic, upgrades, and the relics that are found in chests.
But Shovel Knight does have many ways of acquiring money on his journey. He can dig in dirt piles, defeat enemies, and find chests. There are secret areas EVERYWHERE in this game, these usually have the most loot. The other thing is that the upgrades you buy are more useful, and unique than just boosting your attack damage. One makes it easier to use magic, at the cost of you taking extra damage. And another lets you have a super swing after two successful downstabs.
As I mentioned before there are numerous relics you can get from the different levels of the game, such as a Fire Rod which shoots projectiles, a Locket which makes you invincible for three seconds, and a Dagger which allows you to fly a short distance. Each of these are useful, and you will quickly find your favorites, but you will also use each throughout the game.
One of my favorite parts of the game is the way the balanced the game for newbs, and experts alike. Each level has several checkpoints making the game easier for losers. But if you are pro, (or an idiot) you can destroy the checkpoint for money. If you do that checkpoint is gone for the rest of the time playing the level. And if you die you start back farther back in the level. You also lose money when you die, which you can get back as long as you don't die again. This adds this extra dilemma to the game: more money, or restart further back.
I think that the only thing I dislike about Shovel Knight is just how hard it is. This game is frustrating, hard, and makes you want to break your computer screen some times. But I kept playing because it is really fun, and I never shy away from a challenge. Well and the music, and visuals which I haven't mentioned yet help too.
The Music and Presentation:
Visually this game looks amazing, crisp, and beautiful. This game really does look like it was from the 80's, granted it couldn't have some of the graphics that does if it was from that time. But if you sat someone down who had never heard of this game before they might mistake it for one of those games.
Each level of this game has a distinct look to it, and I really feel like I'm in these places when playing the game.
Okay now for the music. I love the music... for the most part. I feel like it either falls into one of two categories:
#1 Really smooth, epic, and immersive.
or
#2 Grating on the ears.
Don't get me wrong when it is good, it is really good. It fits well, makes you want to keep playing, and is just plain awesome. But when it doesn't I just don't like listening to it. This could really just be a matter of opinion because I know people swear by the music in this game, and I do too, just the good tracks. Take a listen and see for yourself.
The Verdict and Final thoughts:
Shovel Knight is one of the greatest Metroidvania platformers ever made. It has great gameplay, amazing visuals, and while its music isn't always the best, Shovel Knight more than makes up for it with the rest of the game. If you aren't a fan of platformers, then don't expect this to change your mind, but if you are then buy this game now. I'm giving Shovel Knight a Ten out of Ten, it is a "Masterpiece."
Shovel Justice!
