Though it's a simple, intentionally melodramatic tale, the earnest hero takes his quest very seriously, lending a sweet innocence to the would-be generic setup. While taking inspiration from its ancestors, it showcases smart, modern gameplay sensibilities and feels totally fresh as a result.Īs Shovel Knight, players are tasked with defeating the Order of No Quarter, a group of Knights dead-set against him reaching and defeating the evil Sorceress so he can save his lost love. But Shovel Knight is much more than a throwback to gaming's old days.

While Mega Man is a clear source of inspiration - each level is styled and themed around bosses with 'Knight' names and can be completed in a semi-nonlinear fashion - there are callbacks to Castlevania, The Legend of Zelda and other genre-defining franchises.

Shovel Knight is a retro-styled platformer that intentionally recalls character-based franchises of old. A charming slice of pure, fun gaming, Shovel Knight combines a retro aesthetic with modern gameplay ideas to create something utterly satisfying and wonderful. Yacht Club Games, a developer made up of former WayForward employees, has more than fulfilled its promise to create compelling new content. It's frightening to think that Shovel Knight might not have come to fruition without Yacht Club Games' highly successful Kickstarter campaign - games like this don't come around often. Yacht Club Games' faux-retro platformer Shovel Knight has become one of the most anticipated titles to come out of the crowdfunding craze.

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