You don't have to be born in the 90's, but it helps!
Shovel Knight is a game much-touted for bringing the pixelated classics of yesteryear back into the public eye. The consensus among reviewers is that if you were a fan of Megaman or other old 2D platforming titles, this game will give you your nostalgia fix in, well, spades.
*pause for laughter*
Seriously, though, while Shovel Knight was made to play off that old nostalgia, you don't need any of it to appreciate the game. The fact is, Shovel Knight stands up on its own merit- it's a solid, fun, and appealing experience throughout.
Graphically, the game is masterful. The artists of the game took care to make each area both visually appealing and completely distinct. Foreground and background alike are carefully painted with pixels in a way that makes them gorgeous and memorable. Great amounts of work were put into sprite design, too- enemies, NPCs, and Shovel Knight himself are all animated smoothly and naturally, with crisp contrasts to help players identify locations.
Mechanically, the game is difficult, but sound. There are a few cheap falls and deaths throughout the game, but Shovel Knight controls very responsively and has a varied moveset thanks to the many items you get throughout the game, allowing a variety of different playstyles. A further concession to this is in the different equipable armors unlocked throughout the game, which can change Shovel Knight's abilities or movement. It feels good to control him, and though he does take a little adjusting to at first, you quickly pick up the feeling of distance, timing, and all the rest.
The stages themselves aren't too long or too short, and definitely provide a lot of variety in the different challenges each room presents. Platforming is rarely obnoxiously difficult, and with certain items the game provides some slightly easier solutions to some of the more egregious spike-filled corridors and the like. The checkpoints are a welcome feature, and even provide a good risk-reward setup in the way they can be destroyed for a pile of cash, at the cost of setting the player further back with each death.
The death mechanic is punishing, but not egregiously so- all collectibles, like music sheets, are kept even in death, negating the need to perform some tricky sections repeatedly. Sometimes recollecting your gold is frustrating, and other times it's impossible, so don't sweat it too much if you lose a lot of it. You can always replay any stage and earn more spoils later.
The soundtrack is also composed by the prolific Jake Kaufman, whose work in other games such as Shantae and Crypt of the NecroDancer. The tracks are memorable, catchy, and all fit the mood of their respective environments very well. If you're at all a fan of chiptunes, Shovel Knight's OST will make you feel right at home.
Lastly, while the story is nothing too groundbreaking, the world of Shovel Knight is about as immersive as it gets. Each NPC has distinct, visible personality, and even if they don't say more than a single line, usually that line is entirely worth the effort of talking to them. There's a broad array of memorable and colorful NPCs that range from the hilarious to the outlandish. The villains, too, are unique, and each has a distinct character that can be grasped in their dialogues with Shovel Knight.
To sum things up, Shovel Knight may prove a difficult game at times, but the experience of playing through a solid, fun 2-D platformer more than makes up for that and any other flaws the game might exhibit. Definitely a good buy for anyone interested in the genre, but even more so for people who want to relive the NES' glory days reimagined and improved upon with a modern take on an established formula.Read full review
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
