So many action games, of all shapes and sizes, implement a parry system (it's a particularly complex business in Elden Ring). Mina the Hollower, the upcoming title from Shovel Knight's Yacht Club Games, is not going to be one of them, as the developers feel that the idea’s simply been overdone.
As reported by GamesRadar, Yacht Club’s Sean Velasco discussed the game’s combat system with Knowledge, and the reasoning behind dropping this mechanic. Velasco said:
What’s not interesting, in Yacht Club’s opinion? Parrying. “Every game has a parry now,” he went on, “even Doom [The Dark Ages] has Dark Souls stuff in it.” The idea, then, was to create a combat system that evoked titles like the Castlevanias of old, in which keeping foes a whip’s distance away and striking when an opportunity arises is key.
"Games that don’t have a block,” according to Velasco, were the inspiration for Mina the Hollower’s combat, and the team were also keen not to include another genre convention: The dodge roll.
As a result, Mina’s toolkit instead revolves around careful use of her limited moveset against her enemies. Whip attacks, of course, will feel nice and nostalgic for those who have played the...
