Knack
Main game
2.78 average rating based on 404 ratings
- Developers
- SCE Japan Studio
- Publishers
- Sony Computer Entertainment
- Series
- Knack
- Event
- PlayStation E3 Press Conference 2013
- Platforms
- PlayStation 4
- Genres
- Adventure, Platform
- Themes
- Action, Science fiction
Release Dates
User Stats
How Long Is Knack?
Fully Flawed Fun
This review is for the PlayStation 4 version
Knack is a game's game. It exists purely to be fun. Remember when a game did not need to pose any thought provoking questions, and you played for hours just because you enjoyed it? Knack fits the bill. There's a bit of story, nothing too inspired, but enough to give you a reason to change levels. Timing your punches just right is addicting. Growing to massive sizes and killing enemies that took 3 shots earlier by stepping on them is great. Collectibles improve the quality of life as you play more. The game has bugs and weird graphics glitches at times (on PS5) and the weird dancing at the end is reminiscent of the worst movies of the mid to late aughts. Much like Sonic Adventure 2, I don't care if the game isn't a masterpiece, I would play this a thousand times before riding a horse slowly across an open-world's tutorial.
Knack - Rating Breakdown
Gameplay: 6.5/10
Presentation: 7/10
Story: 7/10
Overall Score: 6.8/10
Gameplay= Mechanics, gameplay options (freedom), repetition, goals, difficulty
Story= plot, engagement, characters, world-building
Presentation= graphics, animation, environment/character design, Art direction, Script, music
Aside from the frustratingly restricted timing of the combat system the game was overall a fun action platformer even having played it a console gen too late. Learning that trial and error is key to the game design made it more bearable, but only so much as often times death felt out of player control without using really roundabout methods to defeat some enemies.
*3.5 - fun enough once u get the knack of it
bear with me !
Knack is all over the place. The story goes so many places (there's like approx. 5 mins total of discourse abt systemic oppression and how the marginalised should seek justice??) while simultaneously going nowhere (it's ultimately just a classic adventure story). The level design is uninspired. The characters are bordering uncanny valley. The difficulty is baby googoos first game and then suddenly it's im gonna throw this redacted piece of redacted playstation out of the redacted window.
And yet, there's a level of charm, a level of hokey pokey-ness, a level of je ne sais quoi to Knack. I grew up playing and loving crappy 3D action brawlers (usually licensed) games and Knack reminded me of those halcyon days. If I was a kid, I could have played this game multiple times trying to get every collectable, every trophy, obsessing over that little strangely wooden but still somehow charming eponymous golem,
Knack: light of my life, fire of my loins.
My sin, my soul.
Kuh-Na-cK: the tip of the tongue taking a trip of three steps down the palate to tap, at three, on the teeth.
Unfortunately im an adult and have to pick and choose …
bear with me !
Knack is all over the place. The story goes so many places (there's like approx. 5 mins total of discourse abt systemic oppression and how the marginalised should seek justice??) while simultaneously going nowhere (it's ultimately just a classic adventure story). The level design is uninspired. The characters are bordering uncanny valley. The difficulty is baby googoos first game and then suddenly it's im gonna throw this redacted piece of redacted playstation out of the redacted window.
And yet, there's a level of charm, a level of hokey pokey-ness, a level of je ne sais quoi to Knack. I grew up playing and loving crappy 3D action brawlers (usually licensed) games and Knack reminded me of those halcyon days. If I was a kid, I could have played this game multiple times trying to get every collectable, every trophy, obsessing over that little strangely wooden but still somehow charming eponymous golem,
Knack: light of my life, fire of my loins.
My sin, my soul.
Kuh-Na-cK: the tip of the tongue taking a trip of three steps down the palate to tap, at three, on the teeth.
Unfortunately im an adult and have to pick and choose my hyperfixations, and knack will not be making the cut! though I did just download the sequel so! watch this space B)
david.stewart's review of Knack
I legit think this is one of the most frustrating games I've ever played. I hate it so much.
Not great but oddly fun
This review is for the PlayStation 4 version
This game definitely had issues with the graphics and story was a little plain.
But I really liked the gameplay to this game, I wish they had different types of materials that knack could collect or give more opportunities to collect parts. I’ve already bought the 2nd one so maybe they added more, I’m not sure.
For me it was one of those games I knew had some real bad elements but couldn’t put it down. It kind of reminded me of the LEGO games which is probably why I enjoyed it because I love those games, just with different expectations.
I’ve seen a recent recovery of this game with people arguing that it’s much better than the launch reception would have us believe. Arguments that the launch reception was just poor due to thwarted expectations (wanting a platformer but getting a brawler), or initial poor performance that has since improved with the PS4 Pro and PS5. The recovery and new found fandom of the game lays out a basic idea: now that the game performs well, going into it with the right expectations that you’ll be playing a brawler instead of a platformer will lead you to a good time.
I’m not having a good time. Knack is simply not fun. It has good ideas but the execution is poor. Even if we leave the platforming out of a critique, this isn’t a stellar game. Combat is clunky and unenjoyable. It’s also limited in scope with punch and aerial attack the only thing you’ll employ for 90% of the game. Unlockables certainly make things better, but not enough to salvage the lacklustre feeling combat imparts. Checkpoints are terribly placed and with even the lowliest of enemies able to one-shot Knack at certain junctures, you spend far too much time retracing …
I’ve seen a recent recovery of this game with people arguing that it’s much better than the launch reception would have us believe. Arguments that the launch reception was just poor due to thwarted expectations (wanting a platformer but getting a brawler), or initial poor performance that has since improved with the PS4 Pro and PS5. The recovery and new found fandom of the game lays out a basic idea: now that the game performs well, going into it with the right expectations that you’ll be playing a brawler instead of a platformer will lead you to a good time.
I’m not having a good time. Knack is simply not fun. It has good ideas but the execution is poor. Even if we leave the platforming out of a critique, this isn’t a stellar game. Combat is clunky and unenjoyable. It’s also limited in scope with punch and aerial attack the only thing you’ll employ for 90% of the game. Unlockables certainly make things better, but not enough to salvage the lacklustre feeling combat imparts. Checkpoints are terribly placed and with even the lowliest of enemies able to one-shot Knack at certain junctures, you spend far too much time retracing your steps and re-fighting the same fights because you slipped up somewhere down the line.
I think the launch reception was on the money, Knack is a mediocre and largely disappointing game. The only reason I think I’m still playing is because I can’t decide what I would rather be playing right now.
It’s interesting that this game runs at 60fps on PS5 but cutscenes are capped at 30fps. This despite the fact that the cutscenes appear to be real-time. I suppose they didn’t originally anticipate patching it for higher than 30fps gameplay.
I guess I’m on some weird 3D platformer kick. So far this is fun but I will say that I was excited when the first voice I heard in game was Jennifer Hale’s but sad when I realized she voiced an NPC. It’s mean to dangle Commander Shepard in front of you only to make her unplayable.
it's still Knack baybee, im leaning towards a 10/5
on a serious note, I'm almost finished and I have to wonder why this is broadly discussed as a platformer when it's literally just a beat 'em up. as a platformer it's awful, but as a beat 'em up? okay it's still not AMAZING but like it's fun and can be challenging - it's like each enemy room is a puzzle, and u gotta work out the best way to kick all their butts without getting one shotted (it kind of reminds me of hotline miami, ghostrunner type of game in that sense - Knack wld probs be even more reminiscent of those when played on the higher difficulties)
im abt halfway through and i'm having a good time! it's knack baybee
also why is it actually difficult pls, these enemies one-shotting me more than those Nioh bosses!!
Knack is an OK platformer but it get's repetetive so quickly it's crazy, everything is repetetive, enemies, attacks etc.
Knack is OK to play mindlessy and that's what I did, it was nice to play a game that doesn't need your attention that much. I mean half of the time I just attacked the enemies before they suceed with their executions and also your checkpoints are never too far, you have infinitve lives etc.
Knack is that easy of a game, you better off playing Super Mario World from the snes era, I mean even that is a bigger challenge.
After you finish the game you can play it again to collect your collectibles, I didn't bother because I felt like it was not worth it.
I got the game free because I have PS +, let me end this review by saying DO NOT BUY KNACK!
I've played through the first few levels of Knack now. It's a beautiful looking game, but that's about the best thing I can say about it. It's an OK platformer so far, with only a couple of mechanics that get repetitive quickly. I'll keep playing it to see if it gets more interesting.
My PS4 is shipping today. I should have it by Tuesday, latest. Problem is, I don't want it. Really. I preordered the Knack/extra controller bundle from GameStop,com and, well, I've changed my mind. Nobody I know is getting one, I don't want to play any of the launch games (and Knack has been getting bad reviews), and I'm going to be moving to Austin TX from New York in January, and I really shouldn't be spending money I'll need to move with. I have a good savings from 2 years of work (and minimal expenses, I pay a really low rent for where I live) and technically I can afford it, but why? So I can play Knack? I have a gaming quality PC and, while I really prefer console gaming to PC, I should just be using that instead. I feel a little different about the Xbox One (which I have preordered from Amazon.com) because I actually want to play Zoo Tycoon, Crimson Dragon, and eventually Titanfall. Plus. 2 friends have expressed the interest in getting an Xbox One somewhere down the road so maybe it wouldn't be a bad idea to keep it. I'm trying to flip this …
Read MoreMy PS4 is shipping today. I should have it by Tuesday, latest. Problem is, I don't want it. Really. I preordered the Knack/extra controller bundle from GameStop,com and, well, I've changed my mind. Nobody I know is getting one, I don't want to play any of the launch games (and Knack has been getting bad reviews), and I'm going to be moving to Austin TX from New York in January, and I really shouldn't be spending money I'll need to move with. I have a good savings from 2 years of work (and minimal expenses, I pay a really low rent for where I live) and technically I can afford it, but why? So I can play Knack? I have a gaming quality PC and, while I really prefer console gaming to PC, I should just be using that instead. I feel a little different about the Xbox One (which I have preordered from Amazon.com) because I actually want to play Zoo Tycoon, Crimson Dragon, and eventually Titanfall. Plus. 2 friends have expressed the interest in getting an Xbox One somewhere down the road so maybe it wouldn't be a bad idea to keep it. I'm trying to flip this PS4, but I honestly I am not looking for a huge profit. I just don't want to keep it (or return it and pay shipping/lose original shipping fees).
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