Inspired by the likes of retro titles such as Mega Man, Zelda II, Duck Tales and more, Shovel Knight was developed to pay homage to these classics while delivering a unique retro throwback for the modern age. After a very successful Kickstarter campaign, Shovel Knight finally saw release on June 26th, 2014, to which it not only certainly achieved its goal in emulating these NES greats, but it surpasses them in every possible way. Despite its entirely silly concept behind it, there is in fact some superb writing which displays plenty of genuinely witty humor and at times stoic intrigue, such as with each conversation that proceeds an encounter with the members of the Order of No Quarter. It gives the characters and world a weight of history and considerable depth, an impressive feat for fast-paced platformer at that. Speaking of which, as great as the writing is, the wildly inventive shovel-based action gameplay is where this game truly shines. Let's dig in (pun intended).
As advertised, Shovel Knight comes equipped with a trusty shovel as his blade, to which he uses in a variety of clever means to strike foes, dig for treasure, and pogo off obstacles and enemies alike. Each level has a unique theme based upon the rival knight's persona, which puts these shovel-based tactics to the test in many a creative way. From digging through piles of sinking bones in the Lich Yard to bouncing off floating bubbles and riding flying torpedoes in the Iron Whale, every stage puts your shovelry to the test in fun and challenging ways. Another novel system that keeps this challenge in check is the death system, which costs wealth upon each death, but allows players the opportunity to retrieve that wealth if they should be able to retrace their steps back to the point of death. Checkpoints can also be broken if players should want additional rewards, but at the risk of further backtracking should they meet an ill fate. It's such a novel mechanic that allows room for great risk / reward, but is not forced upon those who prefer a little more forgiving and relaxed experience. (For more on this design process, click here for a captivating read by the developers at Yacht Club Games)
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| Shovel Knight beginning his ascent to the great Flying Machine stage, with the Tower of Fate looming in the background. |
There are also a variety of assorted abilities to be found in each stage and various armor and shovel upgrades to be obtained by means of towns and other hidden challenges. With an overworld map reminiscent of something out of Super Mario Bros. 3, players are given a degree of freedom in which order to tackle stages, explore the world, and revisit levels for hidden secrets and additional challenges. Top this off with gorgeous art direction and a stellar soundtrack, and you have a perfect gaming experience from start to finish.
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| The benevolent Troupple King bestows various gifts to Shovel Knight with his majestic dances. |
As per the many achieved stretch goals of the original Kickstarter, Shovel Knight has been continually receiving many a free update to this game since its release, with more still to come. Most notably of those have been Plague of Shadows and Specter of Torment, two expansions that are full-sized games the likes of Shovel Knight themselves. Each give players a look into additional lore in this world as they play as Plague Knight and Specter Knight of the Order of No Quarter. These fresh perspectives offer what is considerably more intriguing and captivating stories, as well as very different styles of play. Plague Knight has a challenging means of traversal, using various potion concoctions to both attack and ascend in assorted methods, while Specter Knight is about chaining combos between wall kicks, diagonal slashes, and grinding rails with his scythe. It's amazing that these additional games deliver such full and polished experiences at no extra cost, it's perhaps for this reason that Shovel Knight has been so well supported and purchased multiple times across multiple systems by many a fan alike. From design to gameplay to fan reception right back, Shovel Knight is a product of love for gaming by all. And that is justice in spades.
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BONUS: If you don't care for achievements or any sort of seriousness, then the following cheat may be right up your alley. Enter "X&BUTT" or "WSWWAEAW" in the name entry screen to enable Butt Mode, which will in turn replace all recurring names in the game with the word "butt" and induce a fit-full of uncontrollable giggles.
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