Knack 2

Leaving its predecessors legacy far behind, Knack has seriously grown up and become the platformer we deserved all along.

Knack 2 is an improvement on the first game in every way possible. Mark Cerny and his team have proven that they can take criticism, iterate on it, and then give players even more for their money than was expected.

If Knack’s track record has you worried, I’ll say this; Mark Cerny and company heard the complaints, and this is their response. Knack 2 is all fast-paced action and dramatic plot twists and tight, skillful platforming. It’s not perfect, but it makes a compelling case for the character platformer as a genre. In this era of first-person shooters and gritty action games, that’s a victory unto itself.

If you're looking for a great platformer to play on your own or with friends, this is the one for you. It's fun and it looks gorgeous, filled with combat that provides lots of options to defeat the goblins and the robots.

Knack II is the sequel no one expected to see, yet everyone should consider playing, especially if they are fond of Ratchet & Clank, Jak and Daxter, and Crash Bandicoot.

Knack II considerably improves the formula of its predecessor by including, among other things, a fun cooperative game system and a greater number of moves to execute with Knack. However, the story it offers is not so original and the game can be repetitive at times.

The first Knack was a laughing-stock. The sequel kept the main concept but did everything else differently and surprisingly the result is one of the most enjoyable co-op platformers I’ve ever played. [12/2017, p.44]

I got plenty of amusement from Knack 2, especially when I was hopping around and solving puzzles. That's not to say the combat system is bad- it just starts out rather bland and could've been more fleshed out. Strong production values are used in the delivery of a competent story marred by bland characters, but they also benefit the gameplay. And in what's surely a testament to smart design, I was never bored in my 14-hour story playthrough. And that's the best way to describe this package. For 40 bucks, you get many hours of solid, charming fun wrapped in a smartly-made platformer. Far from the archaic dinosaur that its predecessor was, Knack 2 is a worthwhile, modern, and entertaining game.

While Knack remains an uninspired protagonist, Knack II’s gameplay more than makes up for his bland character. Vast improvements in combat, visual fidelity, platforming, and the addition of cooperative play realize much of the potential the original Knack was meant to achieve. Knack II is a fine example of how a sequel can improve on its predecessor in nearly every way.

Knack II completely eclipses its predecessor with a revamped combat system, gorgeous visuals, and a new focus on platforming and puzzles.

Forget the previous part and give Knack 2 a chance. It proves capable of making a comeback against all odds. Although some features may remind you of the first game too much or are a little too childish, Knack 2 is a good game for both young and old.

Knack 2 makes better use of its protagonist's abilities – and like any good sequel, throws a few more into the mix – but there isn't much story to support the revamped gameplay. Even so, excellent sound and level design get Knack over the line.

The voice acting is superb, as is the dialogue. This is a well-written game about a group of heroes trying to fend off archaic robots built by goblin elders. It’s all voiced and performed well, which is important when you’re trying to hook gamers into buying the adventure you are selling. The start of the story is a bit slow moving, but by the second act you’ll find a good story waiting for you.

When you get down to brass tacks and scattered relics, Knack 2 is a nostalgic, if somewhat sterile, throwback to the happy-go-lucky titles we were getting in droves during the late ‘90s and early 2000s.

The thing that surprised me most about Knack 2 was how the experience got better as I kept going. The first few missions can be slow, but once the story and combat got their hooks in I found myself having a blast with the game.

Knack 2 is a bright and breezy action romp that keeps up its breathless pace throughout its runtime. Its well-trodden gameplay beats are far from revolutionary, but it is undoubtedly accomplished, and redeems much of what the first game managed to somehow get so wrong. A surprise and a somewhat guilty delight.

Who would have thought it? Knack 2 is a genuinely great game. The huge breadth of combat options on offer make for a far better experience than anything the initial outing could ever offer, and with a much bigger focus on platforming, the title can start to lay claim to the promises of a Crash Bandicoot successor. Even if you were completely turned off by the original adventure, make sure you give Knack 2 a fair shot because what you find may pleasantly surprise you.

While the original game was more of a showcase of what the PS4 was capable of, Knack 2 is a more thoughtful, well-rounded experience.

Knack II fixes many of the problems of its predecessor, delivering a fun action-platformer worthy of giving this series a second chance. The story is still a bit bare-boned, but the gameplay alone will be enough to keep you going until you see the end credits.

In the absence of an epic tale, a torrent of doodads to collect, or some time-devouring crafting system — all the fixtures big business gaming says you need to survive today — Knack 2 just works.

Knack 2 surpasses the original with fun puzzles, a lot of variety and decent combat. The developers clearly listened to the feedback they received and changed almost every aspect of their game for the better. Hats off.

Knack 2 is enjoyable enough, but mostly because there aren't a whole lot of 3D platform games like this, especially not ones that are playable in co-op. Knack 2 is slightly better than its predecessor with okay gameplay, but the rest is barely interesting and and very much focused on children.

In contrast to the first part, I can now recommend Knack 2 without any reservations.

Knack 2 isn't perfect but it represents a giant improvement when compared with the first entry in the series. The flexibility of the combat system and certain gameplay elements reminded us of the golden age of platformers on PS2, and that is definitely a good starting point to redeem the franchise.

Knack 2 has surprised us and entertained us for a considerable number of hours. It is a very solid platform game, with well-designed levels and a combat system. But its history and characters are not very interesting, and its phases become somewhat repetitive.

Not a lot has changed here, so if you didn’t like the first game, you’ll probably not feel any more warmth to this one. If you did like the original Knack though, then this is more of the same and chances are you’ll enjoy it. Without the pressure of being a launch title, we can see the game for what it really is: a fun platform title that does plenty of things well, if very little that’s particularly ground-breaking.

It still has a lot of miles to go -if Sony wants Knack to become something of a mascot- but we can’t deny that Knack II is a major improvement over the first game in each and every way.

Knack 2 is the proper way to do a sequel. The ideas are solid and platform games of this quality are few and far between. I really did not like the first game, and was ready to write this one off as well. After spending some time with it though, it shocked me. It is also quite lengthy. The campaign clocks in at around a meaty 12 hours with the option to return for treasures, challenge mode, and of course co-op. This game is much better than it has any right to be.

Long story short, Knack II isn’t the greatest looking game out there, but it does what it needs to and holds its own. Considering the modest $39.99 price tag and the audience it is intended for, it’s difficult not to recommend picking up Knack II for those looking for a fun and family-friendly PS4 adventure. Knack is back!

For a game in this day and age, Knack II is too linear and won't give you the freedom or the challenge you may seek, it's still a fun and varied experience though.

Knack II is a better game than its predecessor; it has improved gameplay mechanics, nice additions and some corrections that were needed from the previous game. However, it still suffers from many flaws that were present in the past - like little challenge, absurd story or linear levels - that tarnishes most of its improvements. It is fun to play but an inconsequential experience.

A really nice adventure with maybe nothing special or different but this time, nothing wrong. After the first one, we don't know what to expect. Now we want and expect Knack 3. If it will grow and upgrade like this one, it could be great.

Knack 2 does everything better than it's predecessor. We have now a deeper combat system, more variety, and a good level design. Knack 2 is now the family game that the first chapter could have been.

Knack 2 is funny, entertaining and represents a good mix between platform, action and puzzle. It's too bad that it is monotonous and too easy, even at the hardest difficulty.