Knack

 PlayStation 4
  • Publisher: SCEA
  • Release Date: Nov 15, 2013
User Score
6.5

Mixed or average reviews- based on 1369 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 666 out of 1369
  2. Mixed: 353 out of 1369
  3. Negative: 350 out of 1369
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  1. Xplocion
    Mar 13, 2021
    3
    The good:
    Many particles.

    The bad:
    Story like “I want to be Pixar” (and I can't). An entertaining debut game that soon ends the novelty of the particles. Much more emphasis on cinematics

    Meh !:
    As a technical demo it is good. As a Game that hooks you and opens the library of a new generation is painful. I personally don't know anyone who liked this game.
  2. TheCartoon77
    Mar 4, 2014
    4
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. So christmas came and gave me a PS4 and showed me Knack. I start by saying if you do get a PS4, just get it with Killzone Shadow Fall. You will probably have more fun with that than you will with this. So to start off; Knack is a action adventure kids game. Knack the character is an 'Orb' that is made of relics. He collects relics to get bigger and increase his health. The beauty of this is to appeal to kids by being a huge destructive machine. But being this comicly large takes away the challage its trying to offer. Normally I would like something like this because sometimes I like things to be easy. Aside that it does try and introduce the adventure part of the game by being open minded about what the character can do. However Knack takes it the wrong way. For example most of the game will revolve around fighting goblins. The goblins and other enemies get bigger as you progress through the game. But Knack gets bigger too so the gameplay never really changes, it only looks like it does. To make things worse the game offers a very strict route that you must take. The gameplay is just so boring, you feel after a while as though each level has been copied and pasted. But its not all bad. For example Knack offers a range of combat techniques. This can be both fun and intresting. But enemies have this advantage of hitting you repetitivly. This causes you die quite frequently. The characters are quite bland too. The scientist has lost his wife in a exploring expedition, which gets very anti-climactily resolved by her mysteriously coming back. We are supposed to care about her but we don't know anything so we can't really care. In short Knack is a predictable adventure game for next gen. Take my advice and just don't waste your time with this.… Expand
  3. elitefour
    Dec 28, 2013
    4
    Sony...do you think this is the spiritual successor of Crash Bandicoot?
    this game is bored,stupid, its not crash bandicoot,jax and dexter,little big planet
    its just another stupid playstation game. the gameplay its not impressive
    its weak and broken. Im sorry Playstation Fanboys but i hate this game
  4. Ndibu
    Nov 25, 2013
    3
    Knack is a disappointment. Lacks the charm and polish that make other games in the genre memorable. There are those that will enjoy the repetitive shallow gameplay but if you want a game with depth and a good story to boot, look elsewhere.
  5. nono5551212
    Apr 30, 2015
    4
    Wow I thought this was a new game for the PS4 that showed off the PS4. I played it for a few hours and I must say it feels like this was created using Project Spark. It's a very run of the mill game.
  6. FrozenDiablo
    Feb 2, 2014
    3
    I'm a sucker for platformers and always have been, and I can safely say that this game is a disgrace to the platformer genre. The game starts off fun in a way reminiscent of the old gems of the PS2 era, but it goes downhill very quickly. I always strive to get 100% but I very nearly gave up because this game was so mind-numbingly boring.

    The plot is simple, but ends up being    I'm a sucker for platformers and always have been, and I can safely say that this game is a disgrace to the platformer genre. The game starts off fun in a way reminiscent of the old gems of the PS2 era, but it goes downhill very quickly. I always strive to get 100% but I very nearly gave up because this game was so mind-numbingly boring.

    The plot is simple, but ends up being anticlimactic with the final boss being a complete twist, but not in a good way. Unfortunately, the story isn't the only boring element to the game. Knack is often compared to games like Mario, Crash Bandicoot or Ratchet and Clank - but this game misses out on two of the key things that make those games so enjoyable: variety and fun. I remember vividly changing into different forms in Mario by using power-ups, or riding vehicles in Crash Bandicoot - but none of that is existent in Knack. It's a simple platformer, with no variety - and gets stale very quickly.

    In an attempt to make the game more sociable, you can open secret chests and get collectibles with your friends but the mechanics behind it are flawed. Trying to get Diamond Relics leaves you grinding and becoming a repetitious waste of time. While you may need 15 of one relic to unlock a stronger version of the character, you can theoretically end up with 50 or so, while not having any of the relics you need - its completely luck-based.

    Finally, the graphics are great - but lacklustre when compared to some of the late Ps3 games. Worse still, is that when you play as different versions of Knack - you default back to the original during cut-scenes.

    Knack had so much potential but ends up leaving you wondering why it was made. Not all children are easily impressed - but the fact you can do more with the box than with the actual game speaks volumes about how bad it is.    … Expand
  7. DeadshotAce
    Jul 30, 2014
    4
    I bought this game when it became cheap in the hopes that the reviewers were just being a bit harsh. The graphics looked fine from what I saw in videos and being a ps4 game i had high hopes.

    First things first, the story. The premise of the game isn't too bad itself, it's just that it doesn't hold my interest or give me a reason to care. It's also a bit too thin for me. It just doesn't    I bought this game when it became cheap in the hopes that the reviewers were just being a bit harsh. The graphics looked fine from what I saw in videos and being a ps4 game i had high hopes.

    First things first, the story. The premise of the game isn't too bad itself, it's just that it doesn't hold my interest or give me a reason to care. It's also a bit too thin for me. It just doesn't feel like they really tried to flesh out a story that was fitting for the game.

    Then you get to the gameplay. I just can't enjoy it. I know people like to give it a break because they see it a children's game but I don't get that. Maybe because of how bright the graphics are but I could see this game as being made for a general audience and that's why I think the gameplay is a joke. It's basically just has you running from area to area, beating up a handful of enemies to advance. No real gameplay stands out. It doesn't help that your slowly collecting parts to upgrade your character. The amount of things you need to collect just make you wonder when you'll ever get to use any of them. I had to play the app just to unlock anything. Which makes it seem like that's what they wanted all along.

    Overall, I would recommend you stay away from this game unless you can find it for under $20 (which I did). Theres just too many games out there that you'd be better off spending your time and money on.    … Expand
  8. XzRecolz
    Nov 15, 2014
    0
    Could've been so much more. The gameplay is just boring. This game has way too many problems, too. It sucks when you want to hit an enemy, but instead Knack desides to hit a stupid broken wall, because it's like 'autoaim' -_-...

    It's a weak launch title. I expected a real story with some interesting gameplay. I tried to love this game, but nope. Can developers, for once, put some    Could've been so much more. The gameplay is just boring. This game has way too many problems, too. It sucks when you want to hit an enemy, but instead Knack desides to hit a stupid broken wall, because it's like 'autoaim' -_-...

    It's a weak launch title. I expected a real story with some interesting gameplay. I tried to love this game, but nope.

    Can developers, for once, put some effort in their games? Would be nice, like old times.    … Expand
  9. CyberRobotnix
    May 23, 2018
    3
    I will tell that straight up to your face, but this game is mediocre, it is not boring, it is not badly done so why is it mediocre? This game is basically what would happen if Dark Souls and Ratchet & Clank had a baby, the fact is you die way too quickly and for literal feces thrown at you, it's not even fun nor interesting unlike Dark Souls and the game is really dull, like it's a beatsI will tell that straight up to your face, but this game is mediocre, it is not boring, it is not badly done so why is it mediocre? This game is basically what would happen if Dark Souls and Ratchet & Clank had a baby, the fact is you die way too quickly and for literal feces thrown at you, it's not even fun nor interesting unlike Dark Souls and the game is really dull, like it's a beats 'em all, but like most bad beats 'em all (Sonic Boom Rise Of Lyric for instance) your character has a pretty basic moveset that will never evolve over the time which makes that it feels repetitive. Hell, go complain about Breath Of The wild, but atleast you could try every different weapons and test them on enemies and whatnot, the game might not have a lot of different enemies, but you could atleast experiment with them, in Knack you can't because not only you have a very generic moveset the likes of Crash Bandicoot and the character is not fluid unlike Meat Boy nor the heroine in Celeste, but also that same moveset doesn't evolve at all. I think I put an emphasis a bit too big on the gameplay whilst the real problem is especially the fact that it's not fun to get stuck in a level because it's borderline too hard!

    Think whatever you want, but hell this game is really not fun, if atleast growing up meant something advantageous to the gameplay, but no! You still die in a few hits if not immediately! I like the concept, but damn the game needs a fix!    … Expand
  10. DreamRavy
    Aug 14, 2023
    0
    Played it because it was free on PS Plus, but it's such a clunky game. It looked inventive at first glance, but it's underwhelming in all aspects, the visuals and art direction is so unappealing and everyone looks and act so silly, it was honestly a bit cringe. Gameplay feels like half-done and just not fun to play, it was honestly quite boring. I do not recommend it, not even as a freePlayed it because it was free on PS Plus, but it's such a clunky game. It looked inventive at first glance, but it's underwhelming in all aspects, the visuals and art direction is so unappealing and everyone looks and act so silly, it was honestly a bit cringe. Gameplay feels like half-done and just not fun to play, it was honestly quite boring. I do not recommend it, not even as a free game because it's just a waste of space in anyone's ps4.… Expand
  11. proxskullz
    Jan 13, 2014
    2
    I find it funny how even the stupidest Sony drones can find this piece of **** fun to play it's repetitive and boring if you want a good PS4 game wait until infamous or uncharted or anything but this abomination.
  12. mydinura
    Sep 21, 2016
    0
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. here comes the money uh oh its knack baby yeah you like that **** dont you yeah you like that knack
    unfortunately, knack would only sell 3 copies because it's the worst game of all time    … Expand
  13. Taka33
    Mar 18, 2014
    2
    Knack is one of the worst games I've ever played. At least Killzone was fun for the first 2 to 3 hours. Knack on the other hand was a blah-fest from the first 5 minutes. I really hope the next game by this development team is better than Knack, because it was pretty awful.
  14. Ghost_RJ
    Sep 4, 2014
    1
    Bad and boring game, the only thing that save here is the Knack itself, he is pretty cool, all other points level design, story, characters, gaming balance is bad. How can Sony launch this game for PS4?
  15. nothingbutmine
    Jan 4, 2014
    3
    Never has a game made me rage with so much... disappointment!? I can persevere through most situations in any game, and will be the first to tell someone else to take a breath if their game is getting to them. But this game. Wow. Unbalanced like nothing I've ever played before. I'm going through on normal, and I just want to restart on easy! If I'm lucky, Knack survives three hints fromNever has a game made me rage with so much... disappointment!? I can persevere through most situations in any game, and will be the first to tell someone else to take a breath if their game is getting to them. But this game. Wow. Unbalanced like nothing I've ever played before. I'm going through on normal, and I just want to restart on easy! If I'm lucky, Knack survives three hints from enemies, but with health regeneration being basically non-existent (once in a while, it tops you up, but most of the time collecting health gives say 5% health back, if you're lucky!). Knack's ability to grow bigger and stronger is swiftly negated by the enemies getting bigger and stronger. Which, sure, every game the enemies get harder, but throughout the entirety of this game so far, I have yet to survive more than 3-4 hits in succession, before scattering into a million pieces of disc-snapping frustration. To say this game is going to be the next-gen Crash-bandicoot is a joke. I don't expect a game to be easy, but if you read reviews and comments about the game, I think everyone agrees that never in the first hour of playing a game would dying near 50 times be conceivable.

    Knack's dodge, and general clumsy controls. If you're lucky, you'll have time to allow him to finish the move he's currently performing. But god forbid you have to dodge a missile (or two, which is basically insta-death), you have to wait for him to finish his current move before it even processes you are trying to dodge. And good luck dodging anything the bigger you get.

    The game is artistically childlike and whimsical, bringing a certain charm and innocence to appeal to a younger audience. I'll give it that much, I liked that. However, the story is equally as childlike, but not in a good way, and I must say it can be extremely boring. Perhaps they've gone too far in trying to be accessible to children. Who knows This part of the game I enjoyed, but felt like it lacked a depth and richness to the characters and plot.

    With fast paced enemies, slow reactions, beautiful graphics (for what it is) and a story that wafts along like a bad smell, this game has left me feeling unsatisfied with what was hyped to be more than what was delivered. Truth be told, I don't know how to feel about this game... it seems unfair to rate it so low, but it is what it is, and I won't be recommending this to my fellow gamers.    … Expand
  16. MasterChief500
    Feb 9, 2014
    2
    What can be worse that new Killzone? Only this. One big plus of the game-it's very difficult. Dark souls for children. Green goblins, heart-kind Knack-it's nice but authors doesn't know about sense of humor. That's a pity, friends
  17. Ramiro1992
    Jun 3, 2014
    4
    One of the WORST launch titles of all time! Incredible bad game, boring and repetitive gameplay, uninspired characters, you never feel good even watchinh this DISASTER of game, i really miss the old crash bandicoot games, but this? this is a launch title? please someon tell me this game is a joke.
    Too overhyped, poor game, poor graphics, poor voice acting, and poor character design.
  18. JacobMarksy
    Nov 19, 2013
    3
    Knack failed to achieve the core experience it promised, dissolving my long anticipation for the new ps4. The games only success lies within its audio and presentation unfortunately this wasn't enough justice to sweep the dirt under the carpet. Knack was meant to entertain its audience with a classic platformer experience while introducing new ideas and themes to the genre. Here it comes.Knack failed to achieve the core experience it promised, dissolving my long anticipation for the new ps4. The games only success lies within its audio and presentation unfortunately this wasn't enough justice to sweep the dirt under the carpet. Knack was meant to entertain its audience with a classic platformer experience while introducing new ideas and themes to the genre. Here it comes. Knack was bland, boring, repetitive, short and unoriginal.

    Pick up killzone and invest in the PSN titles to avoid the disappointment which knack will deliver.    … Expand
  19. Epiternal
    Jun 4, 2014
    3
    This is by far the most frustrating games I have ever played, forget Dark Souls, if you truly want that motivation to turn into the Incredible Hulk this is the game for you. Unless you're playing on easy mode, this game is far more difficult than you'd initially expect, even as early in as the first levels enemies can one hit kill you, and the sluggish moving Knack seems to only want toThis is by far the most frustrating games I have ever played, forget Dark Souls, if you truly want that motivation to turn into the Incredible Hulk this is the game for you. Unless you're playing on easy mode, this game is far more difficult than you'd initially expect, even as early in as the first levels enemies can one hit kill you, and the sluggish moving Knack seems to only want to indulge them, at first it might seem bearable, but in later levels where enemies are shooting projectiles left, right and centre it becomes a real pain, and regardless of how monstrously huge Knack grows from consuming relics, he still seems to drop faster and harder than a paper airplane. The story itself is nothing special, it basically escalates from a series of random and unconnected events that eventually become a story, despite that the main bad guy basically exudes evilness from the get go, making it quite predictable. The game is extremely linear, thus removing any, if not all replay value, which only makes getting all the items from the chests a pointless and annoying grind. The graphics are fine, no real fault with them, but as they're quite cartoony it was a bad choice of game to show off the PS4's 'amazing' graphics capabilities. The games only redeeming quality in my opinion is that you can share the pain and boredom with someone else; it has a co-op mode. I use the term 'co-op mode' loosely as it's more like one play with an annoying second person who'll sometimes help you, sometimes knock you over leaving you at the mercy of a thousand enemy arrows, or sometimes go off screen and scream at you for ditching them because of course the camera only follows player 1. If it wasn't for the co-op with my girlfriend I'd have given up on this game ages ago, which sums up my entire experience of Knack really; I played it just to get laid.… Expand
  20. NoelKreiss
    Mar 10, 2015
    0
    This game sucks... how someone can give an mixed or an positive review for this sh*t ? The graphics of this game sucks the same way the gameplay do , the game is childish , RIDICULOUS
  21. srestr3270
    May 24, 2014
    2
    The saddest part of this game is that I liked it for the wrong reasons. The only thing I like about this game was that the fun level design and quirky characters brought back memories from the time that I played Jak and Daxter, Sly Cooper, Ratchet and Clank, and even Crash Bandicoot. What is bad about that is that it caused me to see what a bad game Knack really was. After removing myselfThe saddest part of this game is that I liked it for the wrong reasons. The only thing I like about this game was that the fun level design and quirky characters brought back memories from the time that I played Jak and Daxter, Sly Cooper, Ratchet and Clank, and even Crash Bandicoot. What is bad about that is that it caused me to see what a bad game Knack really was. After removing myself from my PS4 after playing about 4 hours of the game, I sat back and realized that I had wasted those four hours on the monstrosity that is Knack. Look, I appreciate what the developers of the game were attempting to accomplish with this game, to make a game a kid could enjoy. The problem is a kid couldn't possibly enjoy this game! I handed the ps4 controller to my younger sister and she lost interest, the game is soooo repetitive (I mean there are only three, yes THREE, punches Knack executes in the game) also this game is too difficult for children. Also, this game has a huge identity problems, its trying to be too serious, once again this is a game directed towards children and children at heart. This is a game I should be able to play without having to experience a story of betrayal and loss, it is meant for kids! I thought this game would be fun, thank god I didn't pay full price on this. Knack is just a game of punch, dodge, and hook. If the game doesn't understand itself than how can I?… Expand
  22. Esfar
    Nov 28, 2013
    0
    I cant believe that this is a next generation game.Not to mention a bad platformer.They should have made jak 4 or some thing like that.Bad graphics, story game mechanics..
  23. Rubius25
    Mar 25, 2014
    1
    Knack is awful, it's seriously one of the worst platforming games that I've ever played. Stay away from Knack if you own a PS4, because it's a waste of money.
  24. hiddenpheonix
    Sep 27, 2014
    1
    The works game is the one positive. The levels and enemies are the same just with different paint which is where they spent the majority of the time. The game would work for young kids.
  25. Martinn
    Nov 15, 2013
    1
    Knack is a game that could bring much and much more than it eventually became. I don't really mind the graphics which are not really next-gen, but the overall gameplay and story. The gameplay is simple and very bland, which could have been way better. The story is boring and short, I finished the game in like 8 hours or so. Definitely not a day one buy!
  26. Hly
    Nov 18, 2013
    0
    Terrible, terrible game. The art style is beyond awful. It requires a special kind of "talent" to make a game this bad. Shallow, uninspired and monotonus gameplay. Do yourself a favor and stay away from this game.
  27. partyintheback
    Nov 24, 2013
    2
    Very repetitive. Knack is destined to be a forgotten mascot and rightfully so. There will never be a sequel to Knack and that's a good thing. Bland environments, very repetitive combat, lousy characters and storytelling, and not enough platforming, makes this one you want to avoid.
  28. fatheroftearsx
    Nov 22, 2013
    2
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. This game stinks! With graphics that make PlayStation two look like a next-gen system and the storyline so ridiculous you actually have to wonder if the developers who created this game were high! Avoid this game or Tri City And buy something better!… Expand
  29. joao1198pedro
    May 5, 2014
    4
    This game is really boring, i had fun in some of the parts but its a repetitive game with a strange and useless story, worst of all are the so so graphics in a ps4.
  30. chaosmage
    Dec 9, 2013
    3
    Really fun platformer game. Definitely not all that unique, but still a great game to play when you're bored and don't want anything too intense.

    However, this is a next gen title, and it needs to be treated like one. Compared to something like Killzone: Shadow Fall, Knack is not going to blow you away with its graphics. These graphics look like they belong on the Wii U, rather than the    Really fun platformer game. Definitely not all that unique, but still a great game to play when you're bored and don't want anything too intense.

    However, this is a next gen title, and it needs to be treated like one. Compared to something like Killzone: Shadow Fall, Knack is not going to blow you away with its graphics. These graphics look like they belong on the Wii U, rather than the PS4. I can't help but feel that, for $60, I definitely did not get a next gen title.

    Along with not being graphically next-generation, Knack also suffers from lag. A LOT of lag. This makes several of the boss battles throughout the game incredible frustrating. Button presses don't register right away (especially Knack's right-stick dash/dodge move) and this leads to a lot of one-hit kills against Knack. One boss battle was so laggy that I was only able to pass it by sheer luck, and what was probably a bug in the game.

    Overall, Knack is a fun, lazy-day type of title that you play for an hour tops, and then put down. For $60, however, you're best picking up any of the other launch titles, as this should have never been released on the PS4. If Resogun can render so many elements on the screen so effortlessly, the lag that Knack sees when there is just Knack and 3 other enemies on screen is absolutely inexcusable, and the game devs, plus their quality assurance team should be ashamed to have released this to the public.

    Wait until this becomes a Greatest Hit title, folks.    … Expand
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Awards & Rankings

26
#26 Best PS4 Game of 2013
5
#5 Most Discussed PS4 Game of 2013
5
#5 Most Shared PS4 Game of 2013

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
54

Mixed or average reviews - based on 83 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 9 out of 83
  2. Mixed: 46 out of 83
  3. Negative: 28 out of 83
  1. Pelit (Finland)
    Feb 13, 2014
    75
    Knack isn't a bad combat platformer, it's just mediocre. It's a kind of God of War for casual players and the fighting works actually quite well. Some boring factory levels should have been cut, though. [Jan 2014]
  2. GameCritics
    Jan 26, 2014
    40
    I have absolutely no idea what caused Knack to be the kind of game that is, because it just doesn't make any sense. Whether it's the case of being a a vanity project that went unchecked or just another could-have-been that lost its way while rushing to meet the PS4's launch date, the bottom line is that it's a misguided title too simple for adults and too difficult for children.
    Read full review
  3. CD-Action
    Jan 10, 2014
    25
    An awfully boring, repetitive and uninspired game that does absolutely nothing to show PS4’s capabilities but a lot to ruin your day. [01/2014, p.66]
See all critic reviews »