Shovel Knight

 3DS
User Score
8.3

Generally favorable reviews- based on 302 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 247 out of 302
  2. Mixed: 20 out of 302
  3. Negative: 35 out of 302
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  1. JimEarthman
    Dec 11, 2014
    6
    It is a mostly solid game and certainly welcome to any console it is on, though younger players who did not grow up with the NES or SNES will most likely find this game lacking. Though this game does know what goes into making a good platformer. There is just a few problems here and there which will likely bog down your shoveling adventures. For instance the bosses and most of your enemiesIt is a mostly solid game and certainly welcome to any console it is on, though younger players who did not grow up with the NES or SNES will most likely find this game lacking. Though this game does know what goes into making a good platformer. There is just a few problems here and there which will likely bog down your shoveling adventures. For instance the bosses and most of your enemies in general will move to fast for you to catch and destroy. The momentum system is slightly wonky and sometimes is slightly sluggish, though in regular play it is not much of a concern. It is when a boss battle is reached where it becomes a problem as many bosses move so fast there are times where you may think you can barely reach them to attack at all. But don't threat, you do have all the continues you would want at the expense of some in game currency. But the level design is solid, it succeeds in it's NES style graphics (Though not the best looking Eshop game), and you may even get some giggles from some of the dialogue. Though not the best 3DS Eshop game, it certainly holds up well for the more hardcore gamers it's targeted for, though more casual gamers may be disappointed. Its a mostly solid game, though may relay to much on nostalgia at times… Expand
  2. Akumala
    Mar 28, 2015
    6
    Terribly dated and simple plattformer in NES technique, with a frustratingly high difficulty.
    After having tried to like this game for about 20 hours, i cannot recommend this game.
  3. Sloppystarfish
    Jun 5, 2015
    7
    It's a good.
    The platforming is good
    The story is good
    The bad guys are bad,but good
    It being on the 3ds is good
    The main hero is good, but good
    The good stuff is good, the goodness shines through because it's a good.
    my ratings
    graphics: Good/10
    Story:Good/10
    controls:Good/10
    not being good: terrible/10
    all in all a solid 7/10 game
  4. zarlack
    May 5, 2016
    6
    Megaman-esque in its levels and in its boss fights. Having as many lives as you need, coupled with a generous checkpoint system, keeps even irritating levels from becoming too frustrating. Boss fights generally involve dodging attacks then squeezing in a bounce or two on their head with your shovel.

    The NPCs of the game world are charming, and a few offer the useful services of letting    Megaman-esque in its levels and in its boss fights. Having as many lives as you need, coupled with a generous checkpoint system, keeps even irritating levels from becoming too frustrating. Boss fights generally involve dodging attacks then squeezing in a bounce or two on their head with your shovel.

    The NPCs of the game world are charming, and a few offer the useful services of letting you power up your character or selling you items (which equate to new moves for your character).

    For those who've been jonesing for more Megaman, you'll probably love this game. For those who've had enough Megaman already, this will be fun but far from groundbreaking. And the last level may get annoying enough that you lose your desire to see it through.

    Finally...I think I paid about $10 for this game. My 6/10 score factors in how much it felt it was worth the money; if I'd paid more like $5-$6 for the game, I would have scored it 7/10, I think. I don't want to pay up for challenge levels, BGM collecting or for 'replayability, if you want it' (which I did not).    … Expand
  5. ZXSth
    Apr 15, 2019
    7
    Shovel Knight has received fairly universal critical acclaim, and not unduly - its mechanics are near-flawless, its music is excellent and its characters are surprisingly endearing and well-designed for a game whose focus is more on gameplay than story. Having said that...

    Repetition of perfection is not perfection. In fact, repetition dooms a game to always having to stand in the    Shovel Knight has received fairly universal critical acclaim, and not unduly - its mechanics are near-flawless, its music is excellent and its characters are surprisingly endearing and well-designed for a game whose focus is more on gameplay than story. Having said that...

    Repetition of perfection is not perfection. In fact, repetition dooms a game to always having to stand in the shadow of those that inspired it. Releasing an NES game today would be akin to trying to put out a calculator powered by air - the product could be amazing, but will seem obsolete in comparison to what is already available. And so, I believe that in refining so much of what worked about the best NES platformers of the days of yore, Shovel Knight would have been a masterpiece if it were released back then. Nowadays, it is a great platformer that is superior to most other games like it in today's day and age, but seems like a relic to me.

    Despite my view of this game as being irrelevant in the modern age of gaming, Shovel Knight's music is so catchy, so undeniably perfect not only for what it is trying to be, but as standalone compositions, that whatever criticisms I have made towards Shovel Knight have nothing to do with its music. "Strike the Earth" is to Shovel Knight what "Central Highway" is to Mega Man X - the perfect musical backdrop to a nearly flawless introductory level. Despite it using the same limited chiptune soundtrack that many games of the NES era were forced to use due to a limited amount of data available, Shovel Knight takes what some (like myself) view as a limitation, and makes something extremely special.

    Overall, Shovel Knight is an homage, not some cheap imitation - however, I think being a homage dooms it to being the best of its dated genre, rather than a game that deserves all the praise it has gotten. Admittedly, such an opinion puts me in the minority, but I believe such an opinion demands dissemination.    … Expand
  6. BrutalPlayer
    May 12, 2022
    6
    I played the game thru, it was probably most boring game i ever played. (edit: sorry just realised i played GTA 3 which is actually most boring) Thats the bad thing. That is because I am actual fan of not only retro style, but also retro difficulty. And this game definitely was NOT Ninja Gaiden. This game was made for children.

    Good things are: great retro graphics, catchy music, decent    I played the game thru, it was probably most boring game i ever played. (edit: sorry just realised i played GTA 3 which is actually most boring) Thats the bad thing. That is because I am actual fan of not only retro style, but also retro difficulty. And this game definitely was NOT Ninja Gaiden. This game was made for children.

    Good things are: great retro graphics, catchy music, decent level design.    … Expand

Awards & Rankings

1
#1 Best 3DS Game of 2014
9
#9 Most Discussed 3DS Game of 2014
5
#5 Most Shared 3DS Game of 2014

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
90

Universal acclaim - based on 9 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 9 out of 9
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 9
  3. Negative: 0 out of 9
  1. Level7.nu
    Dec 4, 2014
    80
    The portable version Shovel Knight is in any ways as good as the others, even better as the both the graphics and the mechanics works perfect on a small screen. On the negavition side there are some badly designed levels and to many trial and error moments, but for the most part Shovel Knight is a good reminder that games were a bit more rewarding back in the days.
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  2. SpazioGames
    Nov 24, 2014
    85
    Shovel Knight is a little gem of an indie game, perfectly suited for short bursts of play and extremely enjoyable for both the veterans (who will shed joy tears) and the newcomers looking for a challenge on their 3DS.
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  3. XGN
    Nov 14, 2014
    90
    Shovel Knight is the ultimate retro game. It takes all the good parts of old classics and improves on it with current technology. Truly a joy to play.
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