Style: 1 player (with local co-op)
Publisher: Yacht Club Games
Developer: Yacht Club Games
Release: June 26, 2014
PS4, Xbox One, 3DS, Wii U, PC
Shovel Knight is a shining triumph for classic gaming. In sweeping adventure filled with both action and peril, players don the armor of the eponymous Shovel Knight. With the reappearance of the ominous Tower of Fate, the horned knight clad in blue wields his shovel blade in order restore peace and save his lost beloved. The eponymous hero, though short in stature, is faced with a perilous adventure replete with challenging obstacles and a cadre of villainous foes to clash with. As the knights of The Order of No Quarter subjugate the land, and the Enchantress sits loftily in her tower, it is up to Shovel Knight to slash mercilessly and dig tirelessly. Such is the code of Shovelry.
Developed and published by Yacht Club Games, Shovel Knight is an epic drawing upon classic inspirations of the NES era, such as the Mega Man, Duck Tales, Castlevania, Super Mario Bros. 3, and Zelda II, all the while possessing enough creativity and originality to demand its own respect as a 2D platformer. Shovel Knight engages players with its personality, depth, and satisfying difficulty.
Shovel Knight concedes very little. Without a tutorial, players have to quickly master the tools available to them. Intuitive game design makes this an explorative experience. Part of the experience is mastering your abilities and attacks and, after becoming accustomed to the trial-and-error nature of Shovel Knight, progressing forward is a reward experience.
Yacht Club Games’ brilliant checkpoint system adds a nuance layer of risk and reward that allows for playthroughs of all speeds. Each level has a varied number of checkpoints within them, catching fire whenever Shovel Knight passes by. However, these checkpoints are not invulnerable to damage. With just a few horizontal swings of your shovel blade checkpoints will explode and release the treasure hidden within them. If a player should later fall in battle they will go back to the checkpoint they lit before the one shattered.
Shovel Knight will also drop a large percentage of his accumulated treasure upon death, so players have to be careful. Though one may retrieve their gold after respawning, a second death will warrant its disappearance. Even so, the flexible checkpoint system allows for players to decide how they want to play.
Some may enjoy the challenge and decide to destroy every single checkpoint, increasing both the game’s difficulty and the player’s gold count. Or, one might complete a section of a level that they found tough and decide to leave a checkpoint intact, ensuring the player that they will not have to replay that section should they perish. Though certain aspects of gameplay can seem repetitious, Shovel Knight proves to be accommodating for all sorts of players even if the going get’s tough.
With so many odds stacked against him, Shovel Knight is well equipped in his endeavor. With a menagerie of magic items and armors Shovel Knight has many options to choose from when facing new challenges. However, the shovel blade shines above the rest. As the hero’s weapon of choice it quickly dispatches foes with it’s horizontal slash while also being handy for tunneling through various obstacles. Shovel Knight’s jumping downward thrust is another great tool at removing barriers and damaging enemies while giving the player a pogo-like boost that can be utilized to get around objects or enter hidden areas.
Shovel Knight’s modern additions allow for players to uncover mounds of treasure scattered about levels, open up hidden paths, and find secrets including some of the game’s many magic relics. These 11 unique magic items are obtained through the course of Shovel Knight’s adventure and the majority of them can either be bought or found in stages where the knights of The Order of No Quarter lay claim. Each relic has different uses that add another layer to the game. From offensive to defensive capabilities, and even uses outside of combat, every relic makes a difference. But they also cost a varying amount of magic to use. Managing and utilizing one’s relic use adds new possibilities to how player’s overcome challenges.
Throughout the game players will also be amassing a hefty amount of gold. Dropped by enemies, hidden in ore deposits, and found in secret areas, gold is a resource you can never have enough of. The element of risk and reward when it comes to attaining gold is all too alluring. But, without sure-footing and skill, players may face losing more than they bargained for. When Shovel Knight falls he loses gold that could have been used to buy missed relics, health upgrades, magic upgrades, and even shovel or armor upgrades. These make all the difference as players traverse the stunning retro game world.
Shovel Knight also manages to squeeze in some notable online play options for the 3DS and Wii U. Yacht Club Games has currently implemented a “race against the clock” mini game where players are to collect bits of treasure on a far map as fast as possible in the 3DS. The Wii U version incorporates Miiverse with its “Digger’s Diary”, which is a lightweight and passive system which includes the ability for players to set messages for others that can be seen on the gamepad.
Though these are fun additions to the different platforms, the developers are also currently creating a four player battle mode for local play. Players will be able to duke it out with four friends and play mini games like: cash collecting (where you fight for treasure that appears in the level), racing (where all players race to the end of a stage), and last man standing (where only one knight comes out on top). Players also can look forward to three playable boss knights that were funded in the Kickstarter campaign—the first two being Plague Knight and Specter Knight (both of their campaigns have been released).
Achievements, called “feats,” also serve as another part of Shovel Knight. However, completing the list of 45 is no small feat. With challenges like beating the game without relics, without dying, and finishing the game within an hour and 30 minutes Shovel Knight provides challenges to those looking to extend their playtime.
Shovel Knight is a visual marvel. It is a true labor of love attesting to Yacht Club Games’ drive to immerse players in Shovel Knight’s 8-bit world. Each themed stage is painstakingly done and singular from the rest, each incorporating different elements (from waterfalls to flowing lava) that catch the eye. Even the world map, reminiscent to that of Super Mario Bros. 3, is a marvel with it’s roving events and limited non-linearity. Furthermore, each background is designed beautifully and with the Nintendo 3DS staple function (the auto-stereoscopic 3D effect) both characters and backdrops pop with the added depth.
Yacht Club Games’ character design is, without question, top-notch while its animation is smooth and pleasing to the eye. Every character is cleverly crafted, even the non-playable characters. The game’s eight knights are a perfect example of this, unique in both looks and animation. From the array of dialogue to the uniqueness of the characters, Shovel Knight offers an irresistible charm. Characters like Mary Sweets (a maiden who continually compliments you), Croaker (one of the townsfolk dedicated solely to puns), and his greatness the Troupple King (a half trout, half apple ruler that assists you) are all endearing and hilarious. Even the UI is presented in a delightfully old-school manner, with nine save files showing your complete progress coupled with all items and upgrades that one has acquired.
Shovel Knight is only deepened by the game’s magnificent audio presentation. Like the chiptune masterpieces of old, the music of Shovel Knight is as memorable and captivating as the art. Jake “Virt” Kaufman’s soundtrack provides Shovel Knight with everything from upbeat bops to climactic battle music that, when coupled with additional songs composed by Manami Matsumae, fit the atmosphere of each stage of the game flawlessly.
Shovel Knight is an unforgettably fun experience with phenomenal gameplay, vivid sound design, and 8-bit platforming action that immerses players in a groundbreaking epic they won’t forget. Above all of Shovel Knight’s old-school nostalgia and classic action is a compelling narrative that is genuinely fun and absorbing.
Concept:
A nostalgic experience that comes so naturally that it is as if the game were an unearthed classic from the age of the NES, evoking memories of a gaming age past in the best ways. Shovel Knight rises to a level of technical and artistic execution that builds an immortal legacy of 2D platforming.
Graphics:
Brilliant and beautiful, Shovel Knight’s sprite graphics are stunningly well done. Containing expertly designed characters and animations, Shovel Knight pleases on every front as even the stage backgrounds are a visual delight. Impressive 3D effects only further add to the game as player enjoy scrolling parallax layers in stereoscopic 3D.
Sound:
With 46 music sheets to collect in-game, Shovel Knight’s soundtrack is collection of chiptune compositions, with audio aesthetics perfectly devised for each individual stage, that both recalls the classics and leaves its own imprint. Jake “Virt” Kaufman, we salute you.
Playability:
Clever, fun, and filled with secrets; Shovel Knight offers both responsive controls and a deceptively profound combat system. The game’s mechanics are rewarding and complex, allowing for a variety of ways to play, yet simple enough for anyone to pick up an enjoy.
Entertainment:
As a modern cornerstone to an age that began in 1989, Yacht Club Games’ Shovel Knight is an unearthed gem that exceeds all expectations. Shovel Knight is a gaming experience filled with a new game plus mode, achievements, and an array of upcoming free downloadable content that included both modes and new playable characters.
Replay Value:
High
Rating:
10/10
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