'Shovel Knight' PC review

Developer: Yacht Club Games

Publisher: Yacht Club Games

Release Date: June 26, 2014

Genre: Indie, Platformer

MSRP: $14.99

Platform: PC, Nintendo 3DS, Wii U

And they said shovelry was dead



In the days of micro-transactions, subscription paywalls, next-gen consoles and over-performing PC’s, it’s great to behold a game that opens a magic door to our youth while shrugging off high-def graphics for some old-fashioned dash-and-slash platforming fun.

That’s exactly what Shovel Knight does, and it does so with effortless grace.



Shovel Knight is a love letter to old-school gaming, and resonates with classic sentiments found in beloved platformer greats like Mega Man, Castlevania, The Legend of Zelda II: The Adventure of Link and Duck Tales.Yacht Club Games takes players on a timeless journey*back in time to the glory days of childhood gaming: brightly-lit backdrops, bit-style graphics, big boss battles and tediously timed jumps — all of which culminate in a grand adventure to the heart of nostalgia itself.

The game pulls you in and never lets go, and players find themselves whisked away to a world of infinite charm and splendor — one that brings back a host of memories in its wake. But it’s not only wistfulness that keeps us within the colorful dungeons of the game.

The mechanics, which resemble a cherry-picked selection of all the best elements from a whole generation of platformers, are extremely absorbing and easily shine as bright as those decades-old classics.





Of digging and derring-do



Gamers take on the role of the eponymous Shovel Knight, a valorous warrior who, with the aid of his companion Shield Knight, lived the life of high adventure. The duo was known for their deeds of gallantry and derring-do, but after a quest gone awry the wicked Enchantress steals away Shield Knight, leaving our hero without his beloved ally.

Our shoveling chevalier will stop at nothing to be reunited with his buckler-toting ally, but first he’ll have to conquer The Order of No Quarter, the evil Enchantress’ retinue of corrupt knights.

In sterling Mega Man fashion, every stage area has its own theme that fits right in line with the styles of its boss. *Tinker Knight, for example, rules in the cog-strewn conveyor-belt *innards of Clockwork Tower, whereas Propeller Knight reigns in the skies in his fantastic flying ship.

The game features a number of unique stages, all with their own stylish flair and end-level boss. There are also a number of randomized events that pop up which yield riches as rewards.

Every stage has its own hazards like spikes, fiery platforms, conveyor belts, pitfalls, slippery icy floors, and a smorgasbord of other dangers that match its overall theme.

Checkpoints are peppered throughout, and serve as a resurrect point when you die (and yes, you’ll be dying frequently) but if you’re feeling brave you can crack them open for some serious shiny gem-loot. The game also gives you the chance to recoup some of your lost gold after dying, but many times you’ll need to just cut your losses and move on.

The real magic of Shovel Knight surrounds its simple game mechanics, all of which mirror that of your classic platformer. Our gallant hero*borrows Scrooge Mc Duck’s cane-bouncing straight from Duck Tales by bouncing on the heads of baddies with his spade-blade, and can even flip enemies as well as smacking them with the shovel’s business end.

Each relic has its own specific uses, and can be switched at any time. Using these helpful tools in a number of combinations can lead to easy dungeon-crawling, and can give Shovel Knight an edge against tough bosses.

Emphasis on reaction skills and impulses are key, and the distinct level of challenge remains intact.*Some dungeons are downright cruel in their unrelenting nature, but thankfully our titanium troweler can pick up a variety of helpful relics straight out of any Castlevania game.

These relics are supremely useful and give players the tools to beat stages in their very own way, customizing gameplay in a delightfully unique way.*My personal favorite is the Chaos Sphere which bounces all around the level damaging enemies in is wake.

The Alchemy Coin–reduces enemies to gold–is also fantastic along with the satisfying Dust Knuckles (punching dirt was never so much fun), but one of the most useful relics has to be the Mobile Gear, a ride-able platform that zooms in a single direction. This is great fun when you need to avoid spikes, pick up those hard to reach purple gems, or just float around a bit.

Using relics depletes the magic meter, and this can be restored by drops and even raised by purchasing upgrades in towns.

Behold the mighty Troupple King! Bask in his applicious glory!

Chalices, which act like all-purpose potions, are integral to the progress of any dungeon. These enchanted cups can be refilled by visiting the legendary apple-trout known as the Troupple King, and include helpful bonuses like refilling health orbs, making Shovel Knight invincible, or even attracting nearby loot.

Be sure to stick around for the Troupple King’s dance. It’s not worth missing for the world.

Toader is always grumpy, but you can try to cheer him up with a joke or two.

Throughout their journey players will come across towns that are filled bustling, quirky NPC’s. The humor of the game shines through, with wacky characters like the deer ladies, Goaticians (a goat magician), royal peacocks, catfish knights, and a smattering of other smile-inducing denizens.

In towns players can also pick up health upgrades via meal tickets, raise their magic meter, and even snag some new fancy armor and abilities.

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