Tag: Shovel Knight

Game of the Year 2014: #5 – Shovel Knight

Shovel Knight poses the question, “What if someone crafted an authentic NES game with 2014’s knowledge and hardware?” The answer: “Something pretty amazing, actually.”

Shovel Knight takes every good idea from NES classics, and combines them with the technology of 2014, and makes one of the greatest fake Nintendo games ever. It’s got the Duck Tales bounce, the Castlevania atmosphere and weapons, the Mega Man speed and platforming, the Super Mario Bros. 3 world map. Shovel Knight is a child of everything special that came from the NES, plus enough modern sensibility to not make you waste your time with every death.

It isn’t just a retread, though, because it has enough fun new ideas to carry you to the final level. You’ll find a surprisingly heartfelt story inside Shovel Knight’s cold, metal exterior. There’s also great comic writing that pokes fun at the tropes of gaming culture from NES to now. The levels are excellently designed, and have tons of secrets to prod at and discover. Every boss is unique, and the stage fits their individual themes; Specter Knight’s spooky graveyard is a favorite of mine. With plenty of hidden bosses to find, weapons and abilities to discover, and a load of additional content on the way, Shovel Knight is a full package.

After being hyped for over a year, Shovel Knight didn’t disappoint. It brought back my fondest memories of old games, adding several great new ideas to the mix. With the promise of a sequel in the future, I’ll be glad to see a lot of Shovel Knight in the years to come.

January 12, 2015
Game of the Year 2014: Best Song

It feels like we’ve been able to say this a lot lately, but this was a great year for game music. Since Hotline Miami 2 didn’t make it’s way out the door, everyone else had to step up their game and make up for it. My favorite game music tends to be upbeat and catchy, so when you’re favorite orchestral scores aren’t mentioned here, you’ll know why.

#3 – Danganronpa: Trigger Happy Havoc – “DANGANRONPA”

The first track you’re introduced to in Danganronpa sets the tone for what’s to come. Vying for Soundtrack of the Forever, Danganronpa uses music like a central character in its stories. The intro song, appropriately titled “DANGANRONPA” hooks you in with a catchy beat, and fades in and out of wistful vocals before the tune ends. That intro beat, wind up, and release in the first 20 seconds strikes all the right musical places, and lands the track a solid spot among the year’s finest. It’s tough to pick just one song from the series though, so go listen to this, this, and this before moving on, your ears are worth it.

#2 – Bayonetta 2: “Moon River”

While the main theme “Tomorrow is Mine” isn’t as catchy or memorably as the original game’s “Fly Me To The Moon”, the re-imagining of “Moon River” brings back that personality in style. Poppy renditions of 1960’s classics seem to find a good home in the chaotic world of Bayonetta, and “Moon River” sits easily as favorite track from either game. Singer Keely Bumford‘s vocals overflow with Bayonetta‘s pep and sass, and the beat provides the rhythm of the chaos unfolding onscreen. If Bayonetta 3 ever gets made, I hope they can find a way to outdo themselves once again.

#1 – Shovel Knight: “High Above the Land (The Flying Machine)”

Propeller Man’s stage is the best level in Shovel Knight, largely because of this song. The entire Shovel Knight soundtrack is among the best video games have seen in years, but this one song along with the stage it’s on made me respect Shovel Knight even more than I already did. After bouncing through the sky on a ship flying past the setting sun, all while listening to this song, I knew Shovel Knight was a classic. The song hits every note of the upbeat Mega Man music formula, but goes beyond simple rocking beats while communicating a range of emotions in a span of less than two minutes. Shovel Knight‘s composer, Jake Kaufman, is a musical genius, deserving the top spot in 2014’s year of great tunes.

Honorable Mentions:

Hearthstone: “Two Rogues One Mark”

An impressive song in another of the year’s great soundtracks. I’ve probably heard it a few hundred times in the past year, and still enjoy it every time. Other than the title theme, this is the song I think of when remembering Hearthstone.

Dark Souls 2: “Majula”

Returning to Majula is the beginning and end of every new adventure in Dark Souls 2. Majula is your home. You’ll come back here again and again, and you’ll miss it when you’re gone. It’s the one place where you’re almost entirely safe from harm, and this track lulls you into bliss before your next inevitable, dark journey. The simple chimes are some of the only welcoming sounds you’ll hear in this overwhelmingly unwelcoming world.

January 5, 2015
Games of the Month – June 2014

So how about that Shovel Knight? Thankfully, June wasn’t a totally dry month other than our favorite Shoveler, but it sure came pretty close. I played way fewer games this month than usual, and hopefully I can dig up a bigger selection sometime this month. But, yeah, Shovel Knight is really good everybody.

Shovel Knight

It’s Shovel Knight. I’ve said more than enough about why I love the game in my review, so I’ll keep this brief. It’s an excellent platformer that feels like it jumped straight out of the late 80’s. Shovel Knight is as smart as it is cute and funny, and brings back really fond memories of blasting through robot masters and whipping walls to find secret chickens. It’s nice to have some of that back, if only briefly.

1001 Spikes

Another blast from the past, 1001 Spikes goes out of its way to be difficult. There are traps spread through each of it’s numerous levels, and your job is to somehow navigate past all of them, Indiana Jones style. You’ll die, again and again, (maybe even 1001 times) but you’ll keep coming back. Each trap has a logic behind it, and it laughs in your face as it destroys you as you run to the exit. If you’re up for some more old school action, with a few cameos from platformer heroes of yore, 1001 Spikes is the second best retro inspired indie platformer of the month. Who would have thought?

Level 2: The Virus Master

And now for something completely different. Have you ever played a music video? Maybe. But was it metal? Not like The Virus Master. It’s a shoot-em-up set to metal, and characters even animate to the music. It’s half watching some really cool stuff happen on-screen, and half trying your best to make sure it all explodes. You’ll play through it again and again to reach the highest score and the hidden level, but it’s so satisfying you won’t mind at all.

Honorable Mentions:

Coming Out Simulator 2014

Just play this.

July 10, 2014
There Are Over 300 Shovel Knight Cheat Codes, We Know Two

Remember Cheat Codes? Remember when developers put them in the game as a fun little side thing to discover and be really excited to stumble across some brand new experience in a game you love? Remember when they didn’t cost $2 a piece? Many games of late have either decided to charge the player real cash to see bits of extra content or to just forget them entirely, and the idea of an actual cheat code has become a thing of the past.

Shovel Knight, which brought NES style gameplay to modern consoles, is now bringing us back to those days of typing strings of nonsense into a a menu.

During Shovel Knight’s Kickstarter, the Yacht Club Games team promised anyone who donated $100 or more (about 350 people) a secret that only they would be told. In an interview with idigitaltimes.com, the team revealed that those secrets would come in the form of cheat codes implemented in the game. They said that over 300 codes are hidden, and each activates a unique feature when entered as your name when creating a save file. Big Head mode, Giant Character mode, and “Butt mode”, have been confirmed, but none of those codes have been discovered by the public yet.

Last month, ScrewAttack.com showed off a code that was made for their SGC tournament, which unlocks a special challenge mode for one of the game’s stages. Today, the Mighty No. 9 Kickstarter page had an announcement that the code for High Jump mode would be revealed on their forums.

The codes so far are:

IM&SGC14 – Unlocks Iron Man of Gaming mode

J&2JMP! – Unlocks High Jump mode

With about 300 codes still floating around, I’m really excited to see how they’re all discovered. I’ll keep coming back to the game to try them all out, and I’m even happier that I’m not being asked to pay a premium for each one. Shovel Knight really does feel like a relic from a different era, and it’s shaping up to be a modern classic with each new discovery. A modern classic…with Butt mode! (I just really want to know what Butt mode is all about guys.)

July 2, 2014
Shovel Knight Review: Buried Treasure

After a year of Kickstarting, developer livestreaming and delays, Shovel Knight is finally here. Its crowdfunding stage was a massive success, blowing through the team’s $75,000 goal and heading just past $300,000. If you’re a fan of classic NES games, you’ve probably been pretty pumped about Shovel Knight since last March. So, does the final game deliver on the promise of a new Mega Man game? Not only does it achieve that, it recaptures that intangible feeling of several other NES classics as well.

Not satisfied with merely crafting an excellent Mega Man game, Yacht Club Games decided to pay homage to Castlevania, Ducktales, Zelda 2, and Super Mario Bros. 3. Bits and pieces have been collected from NES’ greatest, and combined in stellar fashion in Shovel Knight. The downward slash from Zelda 2 and the pogo jump from Ducktales play a key role in combat and traversal. There’s a certain Castlevania feel, especially when you’re slashing through false walls to discover hidden passageways and cooked chickens. The world map from Super Mario Bros. 3 makes an appearance, complete with roaming enemies, secret bosses(!!!) and challenges after finishing certain levels.

Even with all of these inspirations, Shovel Knight still feels like its own game by introducing new ideas on top of the old. The checkpoint system is unique; walking past a checkpoint will confirm your respawn point rather than making you guess where you’ll come back upon death. Instead of using a lives system to slow your progress, you’re allowed to restart at your last checkpoint as many times as you’d like, BUT, each death will cost you some of your hard earned treasure. Just like Dark Souls, though, if you can reach your spot of death without dying a second time, you can grab your lost spoils back and continue your journey without punishment. If you’re feeling adventurous, each checkpoint can be destroyed to gain extra treasure, but you’ll have to start back from the last undestroyed checkpoint should you meet your end. Shovel Knight is built upon several smart systems that make it a little easier for those not looking for a punishing experience, and allows those who want the difficulty to implement it themselves.

The level designs are top notch, with each stage featuring many secrets to find, and many more difficult enemies and platforms to navigate through. Watchful eyes will notice when a piece of the environment seems out of a place, and a quick shovel blade to it will usually reveal a hidden area filled with treasure. The stages all hide an optional piece of equipment as well, rather than handing it out as a reward for defeating the boss. All of them have their own unique use, and some of the platforming oriented items have an extra stage where you’re tasked with clearing a level specifically tuned to its power.

Each level is smartly themed around its boss, with Treasure Knight’s flooded ship featuring giant fish and heaps of gold, and Specter Knight’s cemetery making smart use of gravestone platforms and a dark atmosphere. The remarkable soundtrack by Jake Kaufman pushes each level even further, and I’ve caught myself humming level themes since I finished the game a week ago. The coherence of the levels and the soundtrack brings back memories of jumping through Bubble Man’s waterfalls in Mega Man 2, which I can’t say many “new retro” games ever accomplish.

Shovel Knight is extremely charming in how far it goes to be authentic. It never solely relies on jokes about how funny old games were, Shovel Knight is just happy being an old game with modern sensibilities. It’s funny without ever being grossly referential, and feels like it would have belonged perfectly on Nintendo’s first console those few short decades ago. You’ll jaunt through towns and meet some great characters with clever dialogue, jump through castles and bounce off of frogs, and you’ll climb towers to save your best friend, all in the name of Shovel Justice™.

As wonderful as the majority of Shovel Knight is, a few issues rear their heads after the game’s first few hours. Since the level design is built around discovering secret gems and treasure, the game’s currency, you would expect that there would be a lot of meaningful ways to spend it, right? After you reach the game’s second town less than halfway through the game, you’ll soon learn that it’s the last place you’ll find to spend your money. You’ll gather much more treasure than you can ever spend, undermining some of the game’s base mechanics. Since you’re sure to have bought everything two-thirds of the way through, you’ll wonder why you’re still having treasure heaped upon you.

Some of the upgrades aren’t even worth buying. The armor upgrades can only be worn one at a time, and the most useful of the pack sadly changes Shovel Knight’s color scheme to a drab grey. After realizing this, I chose to stick with his expressive bright blue default armor, leaving me with even less to buy from the game’s already slim catalogue of purchases. I kept expecting another town or some other way to spend my mounds of cash, but it never came. I continued scouring levels for the treasure because it’s still fun to bust through secret walls, even though I knew the gems I found would never be put to any use.

The bosses’ fights themselves also lead to one of the game’s few issues. Even before upgrading your health and magic stats, the game’s bosses are pretty easy to take down. Halfway through the game when you’re health bar is tripled and you can shoot as many fireballs as you want, even the endgame bosses don’t stand a chance. I wanted a bit more of a challenge from these fights, but ended up feeling like I was toying with my food. I would let the bosses get a few hits in to make sure I had seen their whole moveset, then quickly shovel away their last measly bits of health. The bosses aren’t bad, though, as their designs and bits of dialogue are excellent, they’re fun to fight, and each of them have a surprising variety of moves and animation. The game’s optional challenges like New Game+ and low health / no item playthroughs can add a bit of difficulty to the fights, but I still wish I felt more tension during the game’s biggest battles.

Shovel Knight is such a joy to play that whatever issues I have pale in comparison to just how much fun it is. I’m gladly playing through the game a second time, and plan to complete some of the several built in optional challenges to wring more playtime out of it. Bouncing off enemies and through the environments is still exciting, and the world and characters are too charming for me to stop. I’m still finding secrets in stages I’ve played through a handful of times, and still figuring out new ways to use the weapons and magic items.

There are also several free updates still planned to be added in the next year, like gender swap mode, challenge modes, playable boss modes, and more, so if you jump in now you’ll have more than enough reason to come back later. The game is out on Wii U, 3DS, and Steam, and the content updates will be free for all versions. I played through the majority of the game on 3DS, which I stand by being the best place to play. Short bursts of levels are great for portable play, and there’s a quick select menu on the bottom screen that makes weapon swaps instantaneous. On top of that, the exclusive 3D effect is astounding in some areas, amping up the game’s already terrific atmosphere.

Shovel Knight is the real deal. It’s a brand new NES classic that seems like it was lost in time. If Yacht Club Games has more in store for the series, which they really should, the future of Shovel Knight is going to be an amazing thing to watch. Could an eventual Shovel Knight 2 be what Mega Man 2 was to its predecessor? If you’re wanting to see what an NES game made in 2014 looks and feels like, there’s hardly a better place to dig in than the delightful, charming, and nostalgic world of Shovel Knight.

June 27, 2014
It’s almost August…what’s left?

With less than half of the 2013 left, we’re rapidly approaching an onslaught of Fall game releases, alongside the launch of two new consoles. There’s going to be a lot of games coming out soon. For the sake of jogging your memory and mine, let’s take a look at what we can expect in coming seasons.

Pikmin 3 – August 04
WiiU

I’ve been a fan of this series since I tore open the Purple Lunchbox™ and dropped Pikmin in as my first game. Variety is a key factor in determining my enjoyment in a game, and both titles always had plenty to see. Tons of enemies, several levels to explore, puzzles to solve – Pikmin is always a treat. My expectations are high for this third entry, and let’s hope Nintendo finally gives us a reason to plug in our Wii Us.

Dragon’s Crown – August 06
Vita

Despite the controversy with Dragon’s Crown, it still appears that Vanillaware is bringing their A game with this beat ’em up with an eye-catching art style.

Tales of Xillia – August 06
PS3

While I’ve never been a fan of the Tales series, Xillia looks to be another hit for those looking for another fantastical adventure.

Mario & Luigi Dream: Team – August 11
3DS

My favorite Mario RPG is still Legend of the Seven Stars. I’ve enjoyed the Mario & Luigi games since, but they’ve never hit that sweet spot that even the Paper Mario series did. I still look forward to the fourth entry, and while I don’t expect it to win over any new fans, I’m sure serious devotees will enjoy this one as well.

Payday 2 – August 13
360/PS3/PC

I enjoyed the brief time I spent with the original Payday, and Payday 2 looks to be an appeal to an even wider audience, especially as it’s launching on consoles this time.

DuckTales: Remastered – August 13
PS3/PC/WiiU

The NES classic is being brought back to life by the talents at Wayforward.

Saints Row 4 – August 20
360/PS3/PC

Please be good. Please be good. Please be good. I enjoyed the juvenile, off-kilter humor of Saints Row 3, but I didn’t enjoy the majority of the gameplay, which consisted of shootshootshootcovershoot. PLEASE BE GOOD. I WANT TO LOVE YOU. This time you take on the role of the president of the United States, who also happens to have superpowers. Please don’t screw this one up.

Splinter Cell: Blacklist – August 20
360/PS3/PC/WiiU

Splinter Cell: Conviction was something I aggressively wanted to enjoy, but never quite clicked with. After finishing the game, I wished I enjoyed the gameplay as much as previous Splinter Cell games, but the amount of shooty action brought the experience down for me. From what I’ve seen, Blacklist looks like even more action than before…so we’ll see.

Divekick – August 20
PS3/Vita/PC

A fighting game with two buttons. That’s it. You can dive into the air and come flying back down with a kick. It’s the fighting game to relearn fighting games with, and it looks like just the perfect refresher for anyone even remotely interested in the genre. Even if you aren’t into fighting games, Divekick hopes you get you started with it’s ease of entry. It has plenty of extra strategy for those looking to go deeper, as each character has specific quirks to master. It looks fantastic, and I can’t wait to get my hands on it.

Killer is Dead – August 27
360/PS3

Grasshopper and Suda 51 never fail to turn some ridiculous ideas into something tremendously entertaining. No More Heroes, Shadows of the Damned, and Lollipop Chainsaw were all extreme exercises in stylistic lunacy, and I can’t imagine this story of cyborgs, executioners, and assassins being any different.

Rayman Legends – September 03
360/PS3/PC/WiiU/Vita

This beautiful looking game could be incredible. I really enjoyed Rayman Origins, but I never quite felt anything more than “this is a pretty good game.” Rayman Legends looks like it could be taking the leaps beyond good, and straight into something special.

Outlast – September 04
PC

The long awaited horror game from Red Barrels sounds terrifying from everything I’ve heard, and looks to be the best way to destroy any hope of sleep until the next Amnesia hits the market.

The Wonderful 101 – September 15
Wii U

Platinum Games makes some incredible stuff. Bayonetta is my favorite action game of all time, and Vanquish is one of the most solid third-person shooters of the generation. With The Wonderful 101, they really seem to be spreading their wings into brand new territory. As a Wii U exclusive, I really hope it turns out to be another slam dunk from an incredibly talented team.

Grand Theft Auto V – September 17
360/PS3

Where should I begin? I’ve never been the biggest proponent of most Rockstar games, and seem to be one of the few voices to consistently call their projects “just okay, at best.” Red Dead Redemption and Bully are both fine games, but I’ve never thought they were as incredible as many do. I actively disliked playing Grand Theft Auto 4, to the point that I stopped a third of the way through and didn’t pick it up again. I really want to be won over this time, so here’s hoping.

Beyond: Two Souls – October 8
PS3

Heavy Rain was one of the most interesting gambles of a game that I’ve ever played, and I enjoyed it immensely. It was thrilling, weird, sometimes kind of broken, and I loved it. Whatever happens with Beyond, I hope it can improve upon what made Heavy Rain so special.

Pokemon X and Y – October 12
3DS

The new generation of Pokemon is showing enough innovation to actually get me excited for a new Pokemon game. It’s got a completely revamped way to move around the world, all of the Pokemon are actually animated in battle, and plenty of brand new content and Pokemon. This could be the first Pokeventure in a long time to really change up a familiar formula in a great way.

Batman: Arkham Origins – October 25
360/PS3/PC

The first of the popular Batman series not being handled by Rocksteady, Origins is (who guessed it?) takes place five years before the story of Arkham Asylum. After losing a bit of interest after Arkham City, I’m much more excited to see what Rocksteady is working on next.

Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag – October 29
360/PS3/PC/WiiU/XBO/PS4

After losing me about three games ago, the annualized stabby franchise is heading into the world of pirates. Will the new setting be the one that brings back many of the fans who fell off around AC3?

Battlefield 4 – October 29
360/PS3/PC/XBO/PS4

-Shooty shoot. Bangbangbang. Kaboom.- “Look at that guy who just crashed a helicopter and jumped out and landed in another helicopter and exploded and and and…”

Call of Duty: Ghosts – November 5
360/PS3/PC/WiiU/XBO/PS4

Call of Duty is a fun ride every year. The campaign’s solid, the multiplayer is snappy and enjoyable, and whatever other modes they throw in are usually worth your time. It’s Call of Duty. You probably either know if you like it or not by now. (I still think it’s kinda rad.)

Adventure Time: Explore the Dungeon Because I Don’t Know! – November 12
360/PS3/WiiU/3DS

A Diablo style Adventure Time game developed by Wayforward? Sign me up!

Watch Dogs – November 19
360/PS3/PC/XBO/PS4

Watch Dogs was our first glimpse into the next generation, and is going to be one of the first games that will get to show off what next generation consoles are capable of.

Tearaway – November 22
Vita

Media Molecule’s back again, with what is shaping up to be a delightful reason to break out the Vita one more time before the year closes down.

Plants vs. Zombies 2: It’s About Time – Late Summer 2013
iOS

A sequel to one of the most addicting games to come to every single device you own, Plants vs Zombies 2 is launching as a free-to-play game on iOS devices sometime later this Summer.

The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker HD – October 2013
WiiU

Remastering one of the most beautiful games of all time seems like a pretty good way to sell a few Wii Us.

The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds – November 2013
3DS

A sequel to one of the most revered games ever, is there any way it could ever stand up to it’s predecessor? Probably not, but I’m still sure looking forward to whatever Nintendo’s got cooked up for the beloved franchise.

Shovel Knight – Winter 2013
WiiU/3DS/PC

If Shovel Knight isn’t my most anticipated game for the rest of the year, it’s very, very close. A wonderfully imagined throwback to Mega Man and other classics, I can’t imagine a game more tailored specifically towards my interests.

Super Mario 3D World – December 2013
WiiU

This is the first instance of a cooperative 3D Mario game, and is a follow up to the best original game on the 3DS. Platformers continue to be my favorite genre, and I’m pretty sure this one’s going allow Mario to keep the crown.

Amnesia: A Machine for Pigs – Late 2013
PC

This trailer pretty much sums up why I’ll be playing this one with the lights on.

Castlevania: Lords of Shadow 2
360/PS3/PC

While the first game was an imperfect mix of God of War and Shadow of the Colossus, it wasn’t a bad game by any stretch. It was a game that held tons of promise, but was held back by one too many bad decisions. If the sequel can capitalize on that potential, we’ll be looking at something amazing.

Hotline Miami 2: Wrong Number – Late 2013
PC

The sequel to one of the best games of last year is shaping up to be another adrenaline fueled, murderous trek through insanity.

Killzone: Shadow Fall – Late 2013
PS4

Probably one of the first things you’ll do on your hot new PS4. If you’re into shooting things, that is.

Super Time Force – Late 2013
360

Capybara games (Swords and Sworcery, Below) continues to show off their talent with a clever bullet-hell platformer.

Knack – Late 2013
PS4

Every new console needs a weird, colorful platformer, right?

Image Sources – gametrailers.com forbes.com dealspwn.com edge-online.com gameinformer.com wiiudaily.com cinemablend.com mynintendonews.com digitaltrends.com chip.de geeksofdoom.com gematsu.com pcgamer.com shopto.net justpushstart.com multiplayerblog.mtv.com neogaf.com eggplante.com indiestatik.com

July 30, 2013