Knack (2013)

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.

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)

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.