Shovel Knight Reviews
Shovel Knight is quite possibly the best faux-NES game I've ever played.
All in all, Shovel Knight is just plain awesome. The game aimed high and hit the mark. Yacht Club Games were obviously out to honor some of the classics, and they did a damn fine job of it.
So, the question remains – was Shovel Knight worth the time and the hype? The answer is a resounding yes! The game not only lived up to my expectations, it exceeded them in many respects. From my experience with it at PAX Prime last year, I had no inkling of how challenging the final version would be. That said, it is not the longest experience. I managed to beat the story mode in a little less than four hours. I still have more items to find, since I beat it with only 66% item completion, and only achieved some 24% of the various Feats. They are accomplishments awarded for various actions, and can be checked from the start screen. I’m sure they will also lend some replay value as I come back to it. Overall, though, I was well pleased with Shovel Knight. Not only was it worth my wait, I venture many who didn’t back it would do well to buy themselves a copy now. It’s only $15, and for that price is much better than the drivel put out by many larger studios. I only hope Yacht Club Games doesn’t sit on their laurels, and I anxiously anticipate a new game in the near future. Until then, I’ll be shoveling my way through New Game +. For Shovelry!
Shovel Knight is a really successful production. Especially for fans of the classics, it is simply a mandatory title. If you like challenges and a high level of difficulty, you must necessarily play the production of Yacht Club Games.
Review in Polish | Read full review
Still haven't played Shovel Knight? What are you waiting for! Shovel Knight is a great challenging game, not only for retro gamers but for anyone who loves platform games. Especially with the planned (free!) DLC that is coming soon is a no-brainer; Shovel Knight is the game to download on the eShop, without a doubt.
Review in Dutch | Read full review
Shovel Knight has all the ingredients to make a game fantastic. There is more than enough challenge present to keep your attention. In addition, all levels are unique and a joy to play. The game looks beautiful with its 8-bit jacket and knows how to make you long for the games of yesteryear.
Review in Dutch | Read full review
Shovel Knight is a nice glimpse into the past of video games, but at the same time also an example of successful modern sidescrollers. Through tight controls, fantastic style, and a level of difficulty that's just high enough, Shovel Knight can easily be mentioned in the same breath as the classics it pays tribute to.
Review in Dutch | Read full review
Shovel Knight may have a few minor issues, but it represents the epitome of 8-bit gaming.
Shovel Knight easily cements itself as one of the best titles available on the PS Vita and considering the calibre of the PS Vita's library, that is no small feat.
It's rare that a developer can not only capture the magic of 8-bit classics, but improve upon them, but Shovel Knight does exactly that. This game is a true classic, and hopefully the first of many more to come from Yacht Club Games. Bravo.
Shovel Knight: Shovel of Hope is an excellent game you have to play today on the Nintendo Switch. The fact that this is the 3rd version of the game I've played (with Wii U and 3DS before it) and that I'm still having fun and didn't stop until I beat the game speaks volumes to its quality. If you're new to Shovel Knight, you're in for a treat! Grab Shovel Knight: Treasure Trove and you'll have plenty of content to keep you busy for a while.
Shovel Knight manages to feel unique and fresh, which is a highly commendable feat indeed
There are plenty of reasons to love Shovel Knight, and I'm sure more seasoned gamers than I will relish its mechanics, tight controls, or obsessiveness with all things retro. But more importantly, it's easy to fall in love with a game that manages to breathe new life into old mechanics, without feeling like a retro-throwback that is content with playing the same hand we were dealt all those years ago. It's the perfect example of a passion project done right, one that realises that it is important to look back, in order to move forward.
A difficult, fun, and fitting tribute to a simpler time, Shovel Knight can't quite dig its way to becoming an all-time great.
For Yacht Club Games, Shovel Knight is one heck of a game to start its new studio with, so here's hoping it can keep up this high level of quality and polish with future titles!
Shovel Knight may be retro, but it's forward-thinking.
Shovel Knight is a modern classic that takes the 2-D platforming genre and modernizes it. There are minor complaints here and there, but they're easily overlooked when you're having so much fun playing the game. The PlayStation 4 version runs perfectly, and since it's a cross-buy with the Vita version, it helps to make it feel well worth the $14.99 price tag. If you're a fan of Mega Man-style platformers or are looking for something that's both challenging and fair, Shovel Knight is a worthy purchase.
[W]hatever version you have access to, I can't recommend Shovel Knight any higher.
Shovel Knight is magnificent, and even though it's technically less than a year old, it already feels like a classic.
Nostalgia is its own genre of film, TV, and music these days, which isn't necessarily a good or bad thing, with enough creativity employed. 'Shovel Knight', however, is a better kind of nostalgia, the kind that proves there's still plenty of life in a concept rather than trying to remind an audience the concept was good once. 'Shovel Knight' isn't an attempt to remind us of better games; it IS the better game.