Though it didn't tug at my heartstrings in the way that I think it was intended to, it plays so well that I didn't care. In fact, it's a testament to how good Shovel Knight actually is that it works even when the nostalgia factor doesn't fully apply.
The game is just too nice to the player to have a genuine NES feel to it. Never once did I become angry or frustrated, despite some fairly challenging stages. Never once did I feel cheated when I failed. Too friendly, in fact, to feel anything like an NES game.Ībsent things like the random movements of the platforms in Ice Man's stage in Mega Man, or enemy shots catching me through a door in Metroid, Shovel Knight lacks any of the aggravation I associate with most NES games. Shovel Knight is all the best things about 8-bit platformers presented in a very friendly package. These classic elements are presented with all the perks of modern game design around them, such as very frequent and forgiving checkpoints, infinite lives, and controls that never once felt like they failed me. Even little things like the pogo jump from DuckTales make an appearance. The Shovel Knight's movements and abilities are reminiscent of old Castlevania games, with a melee base attack supplemented by several ranged magic powers. Shovel Knight features Mega Man-style level design in abundance, with simple obstacle and enemy combinations that get steadily more complex as the player progresses.
The story is about as 8-bit as can be-the Shovel Knight must defeat the evil Enchantress and her Knights of the Order of No Quarter to rescue the Shield Knight, his beloved companion. There is a lot of influence from classic NES platformers on display here to be sure. Indeed, the most common descriptor I've heard is that it's "just like an NES game." While artistically and musically this is certainly the case, the experience of playing it felt almost nothing like an NES game. Shovel Knight, an indie platformer from Yacht Club Games, is aimed precisely at gamers with the attachment that I lack. Obviously the NES era was extremely important for gaming as a whole, but it just doesn't hold the kind of emotional attachment for me that it does for others. Besides the Mega Man and Mario entries on the NES, my 8-bit memories mainly consist of my 7-year-old self being frustrated and not having any clue what the hell I was doing in games like the Metroid or The Legend of Zelda. I have no real affection for 8-bit games. WTF The AI companion's behavior during the final boss is hilariously videogamey. LOW Accidentally pogo jumping and destroying the floor underneath me. HIGH Clearing that part of Propeller Knight's stage.
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