Knack Reviews

Knack is ranked in the 12th percentile of games scored on OpenCritic.
4.2 / 5.0
Nov 15, 2013

With all this said though, Knack is a game you need to have. I say "have" because you will want to keep playing Knack. Much like Jak & Daxter, which I have gone back and played numerous times since originally completing, Knack has that same allure. It is an accomplishment not many games can tout. If you picked up the PlayStation 4, you owe it to yourself to pick this game up: You owe it to the kid inside you and the friends you know who don't know how to have fun anymore. Knack may not be the most revolutionary game, but it is yet another promise from team Sony for what the company plans to achieve with the PS4. A promise I am glad I experienced. You will be too.

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7 / 10.0
Nov 25, 2013

Knack is a great game that is full of nostalgia and old school gameplay. However its mediocre story telling and main character's voice acting stop it from achieving perfection.

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3.5 / 5.0
Nov 18, 2013

Knack is a new-age throwback to a time when you could get away with telling stupid, fun stories about mascots beating up goblins in a simple, three-button brawler. It's also a fine showcase for the PS4's horsepower that doesn't paint its world primarily in grey and brown.

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3.8 / 5.0
Dec 28, 2013

Knack is definitely a walk down memory lane and ironically the old school gaming mechanics used by Japan Studio work quite well on the PS4. However for a next-gen title, there is something lacking in the game and although the graphics do look nice, I was expecting a little more "wow" when it comes to the graphical abilities of this next-gen console, including some whacky new gameplay modes. However even though Knack didn't deliver on these two categories, there is something uniquely refreshing about this game that is quite addictive and very enjoyable, provided you don't get caught in a bout of controller rage.

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7 / 10
Dec 4, 2013

A charming adventure, Knack will also push your frustrations to the limit with the occasional cheap death and discouraging checkpoints that will force you to replay sections of each chapter. Combat can be broken down into punching everything in sight, but the challenge is welcomed for those looking for a throwback to classic games that weren't afraid about being labeled as hard.

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7 / 10.0
Nov 22, 2013

While not the best in the platformer genre, and it can be very frustrating at times, Knack offers a family-friendly game that is fun, unique and lasts just long enough to keep the kids entertained until PSN offers up something better. It's certainly no Crash Bandicoot or Spyro, but it is a game you should pick up in the PS4 launch window.

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Nov 17, 2013

Knack's basic gameplay foundation is a solid one, but with extremely poor, numbingly repetitive level design and an absolutely absurd difficulty level, it is mostly an exercise in frustration, and one of the unfortunate low points of the PS4 launch lineup.

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4.5 / 10.0
Nov 28, 2013

Knack is not at all indicative of the PlayStation 4's potential. The gameplay and the storytelling are banal even by last-gen standards.

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Nov 25, 2013

It's an extremely entertaining time knocking around some goblins, and this game will even serve as a nice alternative to the typical shooters we saw at launch.

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Nov 19, 2013

Take away the expectations and graphical power, and you're left with a simple, but often charming button masher.

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EGM
Top Critic
4.5 / 10.0
Nov 17, 2013

Knack, while conceptually interesting, never rises above being an OK platformer without any real positive memorable aspects, but plenty of frustrating ones. If you've ever wondered what a tech demo turned into a full-fledged game would be like, Knack is—or very much feels—like that.

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6 / 10.0
Nov 19, 2013

Knack is technically impressive with its utilization of extreme particle physics and bringing to life what could have easily been a Dreamworks animated film, but the gameplay does little to really satisfy. Players who seek a challenge may find enjoyment in tackling the tougher difficulties, but most won't find enough satisfying game or story behind the technical demonstration to warrant classifying this as a great PS4 experience. If you simply can't wait for more PS4 releases, Knack isn't a terrible game, but it will be forgotten very quickly as more titles beyond the launch period are released.

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5 / 10.0
Nov 18, 2013

That's "Knack's" bottom line. It's a solid concept with horrible execution. I can't recommend paying $60 for this bare-boned experience, when it feels more like a $20 digital download title. If "Knack" does well enough to warrant a sequel, lets hope they rebuild him.

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5 / 10.0
Nov 25, 2013

Knack is one of the launch titles for the long-awaited PlayStation 4. Being a launch title, there's some pressure for it to perform well and become a sort of benchmark for future console-exclusive games. With Mark Cerny and SCE Japan Studios at the hem, Knack's got the kind of backing and developer pedigree that should make it a hit. But, as with Knack's size, our enjoyment proved to grow and diminish with each minute spent in the game.

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7 / 10.0
Dec 19, 2013

Though it fails to live up to the promise of its biggest ideas, Knack is a good game, a solid a challenging old-school adventure for gamers young and old.

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Ken McKown
Top Critic
5 / 10.0
Nov 18, 2013

Knack is a charming romp, but not one I could recommend shelling out full price for.

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Nov 13, 2013

Knack is a colorful, but mediocre platformer that has issues with repetitive gameplay on top of being frustratingly difficult at times.

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3.5 / 10.0
Dec 4, 2013

Knack is not only a miserably boring action game, but it features one of the worst heroes ever made. Knack is easy to kill, stupid looking and part of an adventure that will never end. This PlayStation 4 game is too difficult for kids and too generic for adults. It's a disappointing failure on just about every level.

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6 / 10.0
Nov 19, 2013

Knack desperately wants to be the 3D platformers of old, but dull combat and a half-hearted story leave it difficult to recommend.

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4 / 10.0
Nov 20, 2013

"I couldn't get through it. I wound up frustrated, bored and tired far too quickly for my own liking."

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