Shovel Knight just received its final major update in the form of the King of Cards DLC and the Showdown game mode. The game now features four unique characters to play as, a face-to-face battle game mode, and plenty of ways to customize the gameplay experience. Now that the story of the titular Shovel Knight is now complete, it's time to take a look back and break down what made Yacht Club Games' retro-inspired platformer such a huge success.
A Blast from the Past
Part of Shovel Knight's charm comes from its heavy visual inspiration drawn from classic games from the NES era of games. The 8-bit and 16-bit designs in Shovel Knight echo that of Mega Man, Castlevania, and other games of that era. What the game lacks in realistic game design, it more than makes up for in charm and character depth. Yacht Club Games breaths life into their 2D platformer though character design thanks to a surprising amount of detail. Each character in the game oozes personality despite being confined to rather simplistic designs. The art direction in Shovel Knight is one of the many reasons why it received glowing reviews when it first launched back in 2015. Even as the game grew with the various expansions, the game stayed true to the retro-inspired design and inspiration, making it a nostalgic experience that blends together classic style with modern design.
The soundtrack also emulates retro games, but features a lot of depth that may first go unnoticed when playing the game. At first listen, the chiptune soundtrack is very upbeat and vibrant, fitting of the classic sidescroller genre that Shovel Knight takes inspiration from. However, each handcrafted song draws inspiration from the level or boss that it comes from. For example, the song for the Propeller Knight stage titled High Above the Land features a lot of inspiration based on the Propeller Knight.
While it first seems like the song features heavy (chiptune) percussion, a closer listen reveals that it's actually emulating the choppy sounds of a propeller that cuts into the music. Other stages features similar music themes, like the Explodatorium which has music that emulates the explosive science experiments that Plague Knight concocts in his castle. Since the same team is working on the upcoming Shovel Knight Dig then hopefully the soundtrack will be just as engaging.
How to Play and Play as You Like
While Shovel Knight features controls that are pretty standard for 2D platformers, what makes the game truly unique is the varied ways to play the game. Shovel Knight features four total stories that players can play through: Shovel of Hope, Plague of Shadows, Specter of Torment, and the recently released King of Cards. Each story follows a different knight (Shovel Knight, Plague Knight, Specter Knight, and King Knight respectively), and while the game does not drastically change, each story features slight gameplay differences that really make them stand out from the rest. Shovel of Hope is the standard gameplay experience, but playing as Plague Knight, Specter Knight, and King Knight means having completely different abilities and controls that force the player to approach platforming and combat in new, inventive ways.
In Plague of Shadows, players get to mix components to create new potions that change how Plague Knight moves and fights. Specter Knight can climb walls and cut through the air with his scythe, which completely changes how players approach levels. King Knight can shoulder charge through the air and spin-jump on enemies to maneuver in new, creative ways. King of Cards is perhaps the most different from the rest as it features a brand-new optional card game for players to take part in called Joustus. Players get to face off against opponents to claim cards and be the Joustus master. Every story can be played using any combination of abilities and gear, letting players truly feel their way through each level and encounter. The level of customization and freedom in Shovel Knight is why its one of the best games for Nintendo Switch right now.
Fantastic Characters and How to Fight Them
Perhaps the cherry on top of Shovel Knight is truly the roster of unique and diverse characters that players will either play as or meet along their various journeys. Each of the knights in the game feature bold personalities that are only further developed as players dive into the DLC stories. Plague Knight, Specter Knight, and King Knight are all explored more deeply in their respective episodes, but all the knights are fleshed out more with each chapter.
Plague of Shadows happens concurrently with the Shovel of Hope story while Specter of Torment and King of Cards both serve as prequels to help set up the Shovel of Hope story. Players can't help but have a growing fondness for certain characters, enemies, and NPCs in the game, and it's really a testament to both the art and the writing for Shovel Knight since they really help develop these characters. Likewise, the combat design for the various knights also helps makes them feel unique and interesting, as no two fights are even remotely alike.
Shovel Knight has dug its way into the hearts of many fans over the past five years. What first started out as a concept and a Kickstarter pitch quickly grew into a beloved 2D platformer that has refined and made an impact on the platformer genre. From a surprisingly deep soundtrack to a cast of wild and eccentric characters, Shovel Knight has continued to show how it became one of the best video game success stories of all time. Hopefully the future projects from Yacht Club Games will prove to be just as much of a hit has Shovel Knight has been.
Shovel Knight is available now for PC, PS4, Switch, and Xbox One
