COMPLETE: Shovel Knight: Shovel of Hope

[kjorteo]

I'm several years late to the party on this one, I know. I purchased this game for 3DS a long time ago as something to sort of idly pick at--do one stage here, maybe do another next time if there's time--and got as far as the first stage of the final tower. Then I bought the Treasure Trove collection on Switch, idly picked my way through it again, and this time I finally reached the ending.

But hey, I somehow (amazingly, despite all expectations) managed to make it all this time without ever having the story spoiled for me, so finally getting to see how it ends was a treat.

That said, I'm not sure how much I can really add to this one? It's Shovel Knight. You know, Shovel Knight? Indie smash hit on every system ever, one of the earlier and more notable all-time Kickstarter success stories, sometimes argued as one of the best retraux throwback style games ever made? Everyone knows Shovel Knight.

But fine, just in case, Shovel Knight: Shovel of Hope (originally just Shovel Knight, but they apparently went back and gave it a subtitle to tell it apart from the play-as-Plague-Knight Plague of Shadows and play-as-Specter-Knight Specter of Torment DLC campaigns) is a retro-styled action platformer very obviously inspired by the classics. Shovel Knight's former partner and love interest, Shield Knight, disappeared a long time ago while adventuring in the Tower of Fate. Shovel Knight, haunted, went to mourn and sulk for a while, but returns when evil Order of No Quarter arises and threatens the land (and coincidentally unseals the Tower of Fate, giving Shovel Knight a belated chance to investigate and look for Shield Knight while stopping the Order.) It's not the most elaborate plot ever written, but it does its job well. Mostly you're here for for good old 8/16-bit platforming adventures with fantastic pixel graphics and chiptune music (seriously, the graphics and sound are incredible.)

Anyway, I can't make one of those "This one's kind of an esoteric oddity but hear me out" speeches this time because obviously the word is already out on this one. I will say that yes it really is that good and deserves the hype. Shovel of Hope has New Game Plus, Challenge Mode, etc. options, but ehh, I'm probably done with it. However, I absolutely will have to check out Plague of Shadows and Specter of Torment at some point, since I own them as part of the Treasure Trove.

Comments

[chalcedony_starlings]

Yay!

“Shovel of Hope”, though… I want to say more like “Shovel of Hopping” given its use in platforming. c..c

[kjorteo]

... Well played.

[xaq_the_aereon]

I need to get around to this game at some point, it seems. o_O;

[kjorteo]

I feel like this longplay of the Lich Yard (one of the somewhat earlier levels) tells you about all you need to know re:

• The graphics and music are pretty much like that, and are amazing.
  
• The gameplay is also pretty much like that, and is as authentic a love letter to the 8-bit classics as you can realistically get. It's really good!
  
• Of course, drawing from that inspiration does mean there is some tricky platforming Medusa Head bullshit and tough bosses and you'll die a lot, fair warning.

[xaq_the_aereon]

...I retract my previous statement. I can see how this would be enjoyable for some folks, but not for me. Those are the kind of games I don't go at without copious amounts of cheat codes. :[

[kjorteo]

Fair enough. I figured there was a chance of that reaction, hence the warning. :P

[dorchadas]

I'm kind of amazed at how far Shovel Knight went. Even an amiibo. Though the game absolutely deserves all the praise it got, as you say.

I feel like a lot of my enjoyment hinges on going into the boss rush with healing potions available, though. I would have been furious if I had to redo it.

[kjorteo]

I ended up hanging onto the full health restore ichor for the entire boss rush and final battle because what if I use it and then somehow mess up and die anyway and now I have to go back and do it again without having it. Oops.

To be fair, though, I only ever ate a "took too much damage and ran out of health and died" death once in that entire sequence (on the endboss's second form.) Everything else was instant death spikes in one particular boss rematch, and falling off the stage in the endboss's first form. So that ichor wouldn't really have helped anyway, I guess?

At least they give you full-restore turkeys between the boss rush bosses, else I definitely would have needed as many ichors as I could carry.