What I've Been A Playin'

On 11/17/2017 at 01:11 PM by Super Step

Shovel Knight: Treasure Trove:

A week or so ago, I finally caved and bought this on PS4 for $25, despite already owning a Steam copy.

And I have to say, it was worth every penny. It's addictive and it's actually three separate games, with a fourth coming in 2018.

Shovel Knight: Shovel of Hope is the original game, with the Duck Tales mechanics and magic relics.

Plague of Shadows is you playing as Plague Knight, able to double jump and throw bombs or "bomb burst" to move higher and farther.

Specter of Torment is Specter Knight, and honestly my favorite game in the series.

I never got used to Plague Knight and even after beating the game, I'm reluctant to go back, because his movement is just too floaty/unweildy. I like the options you have as far as mixing up your bombs to create different effects (one will explode on contact, while a different one will scou out enemies, and there are variations from there), but most of my enjoyment of Shovel Knight comes from the way it controls, so Plague Knight just isn't my favorite. Honestly, I only pushed myself to finish it because I like the humor and the romance between Plague Knight and Mona (the girl who lets you shovel flasks at the wall for prizes in Shovel Knight).

With Specter of Torment, it took me a bit to get used to the controls (and the developers seem to know it would, since there are a lot of checkpoints in the game), but once I did I found them incredibly satisfying. The New Game + essentially puts you on a time limit by having your health and magic dwindle gradually as you go through levels, because the mechanics allow you to travel really quickly once you know how to use them. You can even use your scythe as a surfboard as you jump off walls and slash through objects to advance. It's really satisfying, and the tragic backstory they give Specter Knight also helps make the world of Shovel Knight feel full and connected. I'm impressed with what the team has been able to do with what were minor characters in the original game when it comes to both Plague of Shadows and Specter of Torment.

I'm looking forward to King Knight's campaign in 2018, which I guess will be the last one.

When I teach the social media class again next semester, I'm going to work this game in as many times as I possibly can as an example of how to do a Kickstarter well.

Horizon: Zero Dawn

I'm debating whether to put it back on "Story" difficulty just so I can be done with it. I'm much more satisfied playing on Normal mode, because I like thinking about how to kill enemies rather than just jumping in all the time, but I just don't have the time to be that patient these days.

I've been hopping in and out of it, and maybe I just need to start fresh, because I can barely give a shit about a lot of the NPCs at this point. I remember being so wowed when I first bought it, but I continually try and fail to jump back in. I just end up wanting something more fast-paced all the time.

Psychonauts

I finally got past the overly obtuse, tediious puzzle where you have to arrange a stage play just right to reach the boss. Now that I'm facing the boss, I need to figure out what actually hurts him. I'm sure someone out there loves this part of the game, and thinks I'm an idiot, but in my opinion this is puzzles done wrong. I got so fatigued trying to set up that stupid stage that it grinded this otherwise brilliant and fun game to a halt for me and I had trouble trying to get back into it since.

I'm hoping it'll pick back up once I get past this stupid level. The humor and story still work, but this is where the actually game started to annoy me.

I'm thinkning of picking up Uncharted Lost Legacy, Injustice 2, and one of the newer Yakuza games at one point. But maybe not soon, because I need to save money.

I never realized how much hate Uncharted got on the Internet, because of how story-focused it is and because people see the game as lacking tension because there are "no consequences" for dying. Honestly, I really don't mind respawning where I was after I die. It still means I have to actually succeed to progress, while keeping the frustration to a minimum.

I'm guessing everyone else is playing Super Mario Odyssey, and I would if I had a Switch, but I'm just not interested enough in a new console. My PS4 just has so many different options and exclusives, I'll be busy with it for a long time.

What else are you playing?

KnightDriver

11/17/2017 at 09:34 PM

I've got to keep an eye on the price of Horizon Zero Dawn. I want to play that.

Super Step Contributing Writer

11/21/2017 at 07:34 PM

I paid full price when it came out and just ... cannot get into it to save my life.

11/21/2017 at 11:38 PM

I just started it today. It seems great so far. There are a lot of buttons to press to do things, but basic moving and shooting arrows is sweet.

Cary Woodham

11/18/2017 at 12:35 AM

I love Shovel Knight, but it's so gosh darn hard. Super awesome music, though.

Psychonauts was my Game of the Year back in 2005. I wish I could help you, but I haven't played it since then and don't remember it as well.

I'm not playing Mario Odyssey because I already beat it in less than a week. So right now I'm working on playing LEGO Marvel Super Heroes 2 for my review.

11/21/2017 at 07:36 PM

I'm surprised people find Shovel Knight so hard. For me, it's definitely dwarfed in difficulty compared to something like Mega Man 3. I appreciate they didn't actually make it "NES hard" and I can get through it pretty easily ... unless it's New Game +.

I'll be interested to see how LEGO Marvel turns out.

transmet2033

11/18/2017 at 08:38 AM

I have yet to play through Spectre of Torment. Loved the other two campaigns.

I can't stand Plague Knight's controls, but Specter of Torment's Ninja Gaiden influences are great.

Machocruz

11/19/2017 at 07:56 AM

I need to get around to playing Shovel Knight. Thing is, I don't like the shovel as weapon idea. Can't explain why, I'm just finnicky that way. I'd rather he had a variety of regular weapons like swords, axes, halberds, etc.

The 2D art looks brilliant. I love NES aesthetic. It's actually prettty unique. LIke Sega Master System games don't look like NES games. Nothing really does. I also like the weird color palettes that a lot of NES games had.

11/21/2017 at 07:40 PM

He does have a variety of "relics" he can use, a la Castlevania. In fact, I think the anchor weapon basically mirrors one in the original Castlevania (I forget the name of it in that game, but the idea the weapon moves up and down in a downwards-u-shaped arc is the same). The fact he uses a shovel is part of the charm of the game to me, and an excuse to introduce DuckTales mechanics, but to each his own.

I love the look of the game as well. They definitely don't stick to the limitations of the actual NES console, so a lot of what happens really wouldn't have been doable until SNES at least, but the aesthetic is there. There are plenty of YouTube videos that go over the fact SK succeeds because it borrows where it needs to, but adds plenty of stuff to account for the fact it's technically a "modern" game.

Halochief90

11/19/2017 at 07:01 PM

I bought Shovel Knight for $10 before all the other versions came out. I liked it a lot until I made it to part where you fight all the bosses at once, which was a nightmare and I just couldn't beat it.

Horizon is game I've been thinking a lot to get. With Frozen Wilds out, I may just jump on it.

11/21/2017 at 07:41 PM

Yeah, the 8 bosses thing gets a bit overwhelming when you realize it saves right before all 8 and not after the one you beat.

I just cannot get into Horizon since its release. I think I'm just too distracted with real life to enjoy something that demanding.

Matt Snee Staff Writer

11/22/2017 at 05:14 AM

I gotta get into thos Shovel Knight games. I'm seriously slackin.

PixlBit