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. SuperkenGaming
    Jun 20, 2017
    7
    Knack
    Great Potential
    Poor Execution Knack is 9 and a half hr long a hack and slash game that can be played solo or coop where you play as a character made out of relics named knack setting out to take out a goblin threat taking over the land this game has undeservedly got tons of hate from the internet... It’s nowhere near as bad as everyone makes out it to be... but it definitely    Knack
    Great Potential
    Poor Execution
    Knack is 9 and a half hr long a hack and slash game that can be played solo or coop where you play as a character made out of relics named knack setting out to take out a goblin threat taking over the land
    this game has undeservedly got tons of hate from the internet...
    It’s nowhere near as bad as everyone makes out it to be... but it definitely does have it problems...
    Knack is a fairly simple game...
    You attack with square, and dodge with the right stick… these are the main fighting mechanics…
    There are also sunstones around the world for you to collect so you’re able to do one of 3 special attacks to take out enemies…
    However these sunstones hardly fill up your meter… so you’ll rarely get to use these moves, which can definitely have knack feeling like a drag at times…
    I had fun with Knack... its decently enjoyable and I never got bored...
    This game feels very much like a baby’s first god of war game...
    As you go through the game you’ll take different forms to spice up the gameplay just a little bit and it needs it...
    its very linear, where all you really do is go forward and defeat every enemy in your way… and occasionally fight a boss...
    Though commands to take getting used to as they feel a fraction of a second off…
    There are a few platforming sections thrown in here… but they’re all very simple... very rare… and I hardly even count them as platforming…
    Enemies here are pretty varied, and can definitely pose a bit of a threat at times.. Especially the ranged enemies...
    Thankfully for the most part, the checkpoint sections here are very forgiven, though there are a few moments where you’re set way too far back… forcing you to defeat waves of enemies all over again…
    But your health bar is essentially the relic pieces knack picks up... these pieces cause knack to become larger and losing them will cause him to become smaller…
    The larger you are the more damage you do...
    Though this mechanic is a bit of an illusion as the game basically forces you to be a certain size during certain spots of the game… so these relic pieces are your health and shouldn’t be thought of as anything more…
    the biggest disappointment from this game for me though besides the unimpactful delivery of a story that had potential to punch you in the gut all over the place.. Is the collectibles...?
    They’re a joke...
    As you play the game you’ll run into secrets rooms with chests... in these chests are pieces to an upgrade...
    you can choose to take what you found or take what a friend has found as these chests are random…
    Here’s the kicker though…
    After spending the whole game trying to unlock a knack upgrade… 20 yellow crystals to unlock a new form...
    it tells me I can’t even use this new form until I clear the game…
    So if you don’t plan on playing knack more than once... and why would you…
    The collectibles are completely useless…
    Knack overall had potential if it wasn’t so focused on holding you back and stopping the player from having fun..
    Knack upgrades are hidden behind walls, and building up sunstone attacks feel like a chore because of how slow the bar fills up…
    Knack is a good game…
    I just wish it focused more on fun than it did grind...
    I give Knack
    a 7/10    … Expand
  2. BuyukBurak
    Apr 14, 2015
    7
    Game is awesome. Story is not bad, Gameplay is awesome, Cutscenes is very very good. Knack is awesome. KNACK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
    My Score : 8/10
  3. josesueiro
    Apr 14, 2016
    7
    Knack is a platforming beat 'em up video game developed by SCE Japan Studio

    + Fun Game for Children and play in Family
    + Good Characters
    + Fun Story for Children
    + Look Like Animated Movie
    + Combat
    - It's Difficult at point to be Frustrating
    - Repetitive
    - Little Platform Sections
  4. XxJoseManuelxX
    Aug 16, 2016
    7
    Knack is a platforming beat 'em up video game developed by SCE Japan Studio

    + Fun Game for Children and play in Family
    + Good Characters
    + Fun Story for Children
    + Look Like Animated Movie
    + Combat
    - It's Difficult at point to be Frustrating
    - Repetitive
    - Little Platform Sections
  5. Untitled94
    Jul 27, 2017
    7
    When I kept hearing about this game, I was hesitant to buy it, cause everyone was saying how mediocre it is. When I finally decided to get it when it was on sale, I started to think "Why didn't I get this sooner?" cause this game is good. Don't get me wrong, it's not great, I can understand people not liking this game as much, but I thought it was going to be a lot worse. This game looksWhen I kept hearing about this game, I was hesitant to buy it, cause everyone was saying how mediocre it is. When I finally decided to get it when it was on sale, I started to think "Why didn't I get this sooner?" cause this game is good. Don't get me wrong, it's not great, I can understand people not liking this game as much, but I thought it was going to be a lot worse. This game looks like it didn't have the biggest budget and the best writers. It sort of looks like one of those games that was meant to be put on multiple systems, or at least also on PS3. It did have moments where you think something big is about to happen, but just doesn't happen. It definitely feels like a PlayStation launch title (which aren't always the best), but the game overall is a good one. The game may get a little bit repetitive, but not too much. I had a fun time, and I wish I had known that early on. I'm now excited for Knack 2.… Expand
  6. NeoconTom
    Sep 29, 2019
    7
    An entertaining action-adventure, 3D platformer brawler that suffers from inconsistent health bar and occasional cheap difficulty.
  7. AKthaBeast
    Mar 23, 2018
    7
    Got this game as it was part of the free games for PSN. Always heard mixed things about this game and wanted to see for myself. It is a very simple game and a little bit challenging as one or two hits can kill you instantly. Story is lackluster and definitely for kids but there is replay value if you are a completionist.
  8. LucaCritics
    Mar 27, 2020
    7
    Knack Review: 6.5/10
    I got Knack as a free PS Plus game.
    Knack it's not great but it isn't bad. The art style is interesting, level design is fun and the story can be very forgettable but it's there and it's normal. Knack has pretty cool abilities but there aren't many choices where to use them. The game is very straight forward and, although it tries to be a platform game, it's more of    Knack Review: 6.5/10
    I got Knack as a free PS Plus game.
    Knack it's not great but it isn't bad. The art style is interesting, level design is fun and the story can be very forgettable but it's there and it's normal.
    Knack has pretty cool abilities but there aren't many choices where to use them. The game is very straight forward and, although it tries to be a platform game, it's more of an action game.    … Expand
  9. tariq_almandhar
    Aug 16, 2020
    7
    لعبة جيدة المستوى من القصة حتى الأسلوب لا يوجد بها شيء مبهر
  10. EwokSmuggler
    Nov 10, 2020
    7
    Good platforming game. Gameplay is simple and easy to allow children to get into gaming, upgrade knack's ability and sizes, graphics are pretty good.
  11. GrumpyReviewer
    Jan 28, 2014
    6
    It's not that Knack is a bad game; by all means it is not. It's just a... "meh" kind of game. And it is embarrassing that THIS is a launch title that - supposedly - shows the power of Sony's next gen console. Knack is fun, although boring and repetitive. The story is confusing, the graphics and sound are nothing to write home about, the characters are not convincing and, to be honest, itIt's not that Knack is a bad game; by all means it is not. It's just a... "meh" kind of game. And it is embarrassing that THIS is a launch title that - supposedly - shows the power of Sony's next gen console. Knack is fun, although boring and repetitive. The story is confusing, the graphics and sound are nothing to write home about, the characters are not convincing and, to be honest, it looks like a PS3 game. I have the feeling that Knack was a late project that they decided to convert into a PS4 title - knowing that there wouldn't be many available on day 1. Like a said, not a bad game. Just very frustrating as a launch title.… Expand
  12. hogjonny
    Dec 3, 2013
    6
    The rendering, lighting and shaders looks great. The art style is quirky but somehow feels like it doesn't quite meet the mark (this is no Pixar quality aesthetics). In a new age of games, while design goals of constraining the player less this game takes a step back and is a basic platformer with no camera control and invisible walls corralling the player down a path. Thing is, itThe rendering, lighting and shaders looks great. The art style is quirky but somehow feels like it doesn't quite meet the mark (this is no Pixar quality aesthetics). In a new age of games, while design goals of constraining the player less this game takes a step back and is a basic platformer with no camera control and invisible walls corralling the player down a path. Thing is, it doesn't even do a very good job of pulling off this rather simple game design. The coolest thing here is the character Knack, but even the glitz and panache in his design is just an illusion, there really is not any extraordinary game design going on here this could have been something much better and more unique.

    This game is a PS4 rendering demo but even on that front, the art style and aesthetic misses the mark and holds even that aspect back from being anything great.    … Expand
  13. sityoazzdown
    Apr 19, 2016
    6
    This game doesn't excel at anything or is very original at all, however to me it does have semi-addictive gameplay because of a good challenge (you will die). Other than a good challenge and decent but I've seen this before platforming, the gameplay is literally the same since the first minute of the game, you advance into an insanely linear area and fight two-eight enemies at any time,This game doesn't excel at anything or is very original at all, however to me it does have semi-addictive gameplay because of a good challenge (you will die). Other than a good challenge and decent but I've seen this before platforming, the gameplay is literally the same since the first minute of the game, you advance into an insanely linear area and fight two-eight enemies at any time, defeat them, rinse and repeat. You literally learn no new moves and there is only like 5 move set the entire game. The worst part is you don't get any upgrades until the last few chapters of the game, also. Now the story for me kind of carries the game, but not really; there are parts that intrigued me, but the story is generic, especially when you finish the game. I want to point out that this game (or franchise) had or has potential, I feel like the devs of this game just got lazy and used the same formula the entire game with little or no variety in gameplay. It's supposed to be a platformer, where was the imagination and variety of obstacles? No puzzles? Can't even make it a little more open, with more collectibles/ upgrades? More variety of attacks, especially super powers? But to end, this game is a rent/ buy low, with the positives being ok platformer with an semi-addictive challenge.… Expand
  14. mose14
    Apr 14, 2014
    6
    Knack tries to bring the action-platformer back to PlayStation consoles. Knack is the story of a special relic that can control other relics around it to form the being know as Knack. Knack's story is simple like a Saturday morning cartoon. The game play is more action game than platformer, throwing a lot of enemies at you. The game is pretty difficult for a "kid's game" as Knack's healthKnack tries to bring the action-platformer back to PlayStation consoles. Knack is the story of a special relic that can control other relics around it to form the being know as Knack. Knack's story is simple like a Saturday morning cartoon. The game play is more action game than platformer, throwing a lot of enemies at you. The game is pretty difficult for a "kid's game" as Knack's health quickly goes down against a worthy opponent if you are not careful. As Knack grows in size, so does the game's fun, fighting bigger enemies and not having to worry about your health. There are a few puzzles but they are simple and do not take much effort to solve. Knack looks like a really sharp Saturday morning cartoon, colorful and full of charm. Knack might not bring the genre that inspired it back on new consoles, but it is still a fun game for all audiences.… Expand
  15. Joesatmoes
    May 10, 2014
    6
    Not as bad as people say. It's not really good a platformer as Mario, not as good combat as Dark Souls, and not as good a launch title as Killzone Shadowfall. But I still enjoyed this game. I think this game is part of an all new genre, a genre that the Lego games started- it is a lot like a Lego game, like a Lego game if it was made from Pixar-or-Dreamworks quality CGI rather than...LegoNot as bad as people say. It's not really good a platformer as Mario, not as good combat as Dark Souls, and not as good a launch title as Killzone Shadowfall. But I still enjoyed this game. I think this game is part of an all new genre, a genre that the Lego games started- it is a lot like a Lego game, like a Lego game if it was made from Pixar-or-Dreamworks quality CGI rather than...Lego (which, I guess is the whole POINT of Lego games, but whatever). But the story is nowhere near that quality.… Expand
  16. flax0174
    Feb 11, 2014
    6
    The combat is quite simple, bit to simple, the graphics resemble a pixar movie, they are simple but actually quite good. you get to control knack a creature that can grow in ability and size, the combat may be misled in this game due to the colourful graphics, but it can be quite challenging and even frustrating sometimes. It's one of the them pick me up for a hour games, then put down.The combat is quite simple, bit to simple, the graphics resemble a pixar movie, they are simple but actually quite good. you get to control knack a creature that can grow in ability and size, the combat may be misled in this game due to the colourful graphics, but it can be quite challenging and even frustrating sometimes. It's one of the them pick me up for a hour games, then put down. the level design can be diverse at times, but can get a tad stale. however this is in essense a last generation game, but a sometimes fun very simple game. it's not a game i have fallen in love with, just one of them games that fills a drought of titles.… Expand
  17. squall
    Apr 5, 2014
    6
    Knack simply isn't as bad as many "professional" reviewers make it out to be. It's not great by any means but it's not that great either. I'll start off with what it did well. It looks really nice with a wonderful art style and aesthetic. Switching from cut scene to gameplay is really smooth. I really liked Knack as a character he was pretty good unlike pretty much everyone else. ItKnack simply isn't as bad as many "professional" reviewers make it out to be. It's not great by any means but it's not that great either. I'll start off with what it did well. It looks really nice with a wonderful art style and aesthetic. Switching from cut scene to gameplay is really smooth. I really liked Knack as a character he was pretty good unlike pretty much everyone else. It didn't do anything terrible just not good enough. I'd say it's too simple for it's own good honestly. You don't have very many options when approaching situations since you only have 1 combo. I feel like if there was just more to it it would be fantastic and the game screams that there should be more but there just isn't. The story isn't all that great and the dialog is pretty crap honestly. I'd really like to see sequel honestly. There needs to be a lot of improvements though especially in the combat. They need to improve on what they have and add more to it and then i think it could be absolutely wonderful.… Expand
  18. Veggiepunch
    Nov 20, 2013
    6
    This is a game of unfulfilled potential. Almost every facet of the game is near the level of quality of modern gaming but lack the certain polish of the next generation. It seems that every good aspect of Knack is balanced with a flaw. Visually, the game can be quite impressive: the myriad of little pieces that come together to form Knack, the cartoony character design of the mainThis is a game of unfulfilled potential. Almost every facet of the game is near the level of quality of modern gaming but lack the certain polish of the next generation. It seems that every good aspect of Knack is balanced with a flaw. Visually, the game can be quite impressive: the myriad of little pieces that come together to form Knack, the cartoony character design of the main characters, the quite paced action of fighting and platforming; however, the game also lacks severely in several visual aspects: the terrible rending and detail of objects (made especially obvious when shown in cutscenes); the plain, uninspired, cookie-cutter enemies; the moments of lag and random cutscenes to show Knack jump down from a lenge which bring the game to halts. The story, too, is a bit of a mess. Cerny described the game of being of Pixar/Disney quality, but the story is cliche and quite boring in fact. Many possible conflicts are resolved in seconds; for example, Knack gets blown up and destroyed by several of the antagonists at many points in the game, causing tension and questions of what is to happen next, just to have him reform seconds later. The contrasting aspects of Knack become apparent also during gameplay. Knack's moves are very simple and intuitive his true power comes from his growth and size; however, the game makes you feel so powerful and so weak simultaneously by allowing you to grow to gargantuan sizes but having enemies still do a ton of damage per landed hit. Dodging is really your only defense which, lucky, is made quick and easily by the use of the right analog stick; there is more variety in the game place by the unlocking of equipment parts throughout the game, but unfortunately they will come to almost no use unless you place through a second time because most of the special equipment parts are only finish by the final few chapters in the game. Along with pieces of relics, Knack can grow larger with pieces of wood, ice, etc. These pieces add a bit of defense for Knack; however, they are underused and their uses for solving puzzles are obvious. Knack overall is a game lacking polish, and it is not Cerny Games they have made several great titles. It is obvious that the game was under extreme time constraints. The story is mediocre, the graphics are bad for last gen, and the combat is lacking. But it is the most unique retail game launching for the PS4; if you like difficulty and action platformers, pick this one up. If you can look over all of the flaws of Knack, it could be a good thing to waste you time on. Just skip the cut scenes.… Expand
  19. VirgilX
    Nov 22, 2013
    6
    Something in the back of my head was telling me that Knack wasn't the game it was hyped up to be. I kind of fell for the hype expecting a much more expanded game play adventure, but it's pretty much a straightforward, linear action game. The promotion of the game revolved around how big Knack can grow, and it is true that he can grow enormously huge. However, the problem with that is theSomething in the back of my head was telling me that Knack wasn't the game it was hyped up to be. I kind of fell for the hype expecting a much more expanded game play adventure, but it's pretty much a straightforward, linear action game. The promotion of the game revolved around how big Knack can grow, and it is true that he can grow enormously huge. However, the problem with that is the game decides when this happens and can take your size away from you almost as fast as achieving it. There was one part where Knack gave away all his relics, shrinking down to minimal size, to power a fan. A fan? Really?

    My major complaint with the game is that Knack relies too much on a trial-and-error gameplay. What do I mean by trial-and-error, I mean if you play on Normal or Hard difficulty, the majority of the time you will die in 1 or 2 hits. After each time, you will restart at the checkpoint. This doesn't seem too bad, but the sunstones you used to not revert back when you start again at the checkpoint. This becomes annoying because the sunstone gauge fills up very slowly. You only have three gauges and one special move uses one of those. Sometimes you might find yourself stuck in a situation that will require about 4-10 replays because you die very easily. This wouldn't be much of a problem if the enemies throw cheap shots at you.

    Last complaint, the storyline is close to non-existent. Knack is created, or discovered, to fight off Goblins, and an evil corporate millionaire wants Knack for himself. That is pretty much the storyline. You would expect a character like Knack to have some personality like Sly Cooper, Ratchet or Jak, but he is about as interesting as a basketball player pursuing an acting career. All of the other characters are stereotypical and stock. As you watch the cut-scenes, you may have trouble relating to any of the characters because each one is bland.

    The game isn't terrible, it is okay in my opinion. Is it worth $60? No, definitely not. Is it worth $30? That is probably a more reasonable price, so I would wait until it drops in price. The graphics are incredibly good and the game play can be draw you in. You may even find yourself seeking a higher difficulty, such as myself, regardless of the cheap shots.    … Expand
  20. SixThreeBC
    Mar 13, 2014
    6
    Knack came bundled with my PS4, and it took about 2 months before I finally got bored enough with my other games to dust this one off and finally give it a go. In short, this game is at the very least playable. Not terrible, but not in the Pantheon of all time greats either. Just a middle of the road, quite conservative game. It's simplistic in its concept; you begin each stage as Knack inKnack came bundled with my PS4, and it took about 2 months before I finally got bored enough with my other games to dust this one off and finally give it a go. In short, this game is at the very least playable. Not terrible, but not in the Pantheon of all time greats either. Just a middle of the road, quite conservative game. It's simplistic in its concept; you begin each stage as Knack in his base form (small and quite fragile) and as you progress you assimilate artifacts that allow Knack to grow and become more powerful. You can also harness the power of "Sun Stones" collected throughout the game to unleash special attacks every so often. Naturally, this makes stages easier as you go along instead of becoming progressively more difficult. Traditionally games go from Easy >> Hard, but in Knack you end each stage as a towering behemoth capable of crushing any enemy with absurd ease. Ironic, because in the earlier portions of each level Knack is small and easily defeated. My biggest gripe is that it's impossible to tell how powerful an enemy is until it's too late. You can get body slammed by a giant ogre and take minimal damage, but get speared by a flaming arrow and be instantly destroyed. Controls are also inconsistent, with attacks constantly missing due to Knack having the punching range of a T-Rex.

    Knack does do some things right, though. Whenever you gather artifacts or extra powers, the audio sound effect transmits through your Dualshock 4 controller which is pretty cool. There are also hidden relics scattered throughout Knack's realm that when gathered make the game more enjoyable. Aesthetically the graphics are sharp, albeit not what you would expect from a PS4 title. Knack could definitely pass as a PS2 game, with games like Jak and Ratchet producing a similar look over 10 years ago.

    Finally, the story is generic and quite unengaging. I had a difficult time connecting with any of the characters, which in turn diminished my ability to fully enjoy the game (being that gameplay and story are 2 core elements to any successful video game). Knack would have been better off as a mute; it seemed awkward every time he opened his mouth and engaged the antagonists in conversation with his deep, booming voice.

    So yeah, Knack definitely has it's ups and downs, but is absolutely a respectable title. Not worth $60 by any means, but for those seeking more of a classic game with that nostalgic feel to it, Knack might supply you with that for 10 or so hours. I would consider investing in a potential sequel, provided that it shows more innovation and plot consideration. Overall, Knack gets a 6/10 here.    … Expand
  21. Harbinger1
    Jan 21, 2014
    6
    Knack is an okay game not the worst Ive played but no where near the best Ive played. looks great but the the story is boring and repetitive. But as a launch title it was a disappointment.
  22. HaloFever
    Aug 16, 2020
    6
    A frustrating game that has positive movements. Overall, Knack is on the good side of bad, but just barely. You can tell there was an effort to make a great game. You can also tell that the effort was misguided.

    First, the bad. The gameplay is generally not fun. This is the greatest sin of any game. You should definitely play on easy mode to get through this experience. The problem is    A frustrating game that has positive movements. Overall, Knack is on the good side of bad, but just barely. You can tell there was an effort to make a great game. You can also tell that the effort was misguided.

    First, the bad. The gameplay is generally not fun. This is the greatest sin of any game. You should definitely play on easy mode to get through this experience. The problem is in the mechanics. Knack attacks by punching or jumping up and body slamming opponents. You might think the body slam would be most damaging and that you could enjoy jumping and body slamming the entire game. You’d be wrong. In opposition to physics, the body slam does does less damage than punching, and your body slamming play through will be long and tedious. You will also hit enemies during their animations and expect the hit to break the animation as in almost all other beat-em-up games. Wrong again. Unless you wait for a window in animations, the enemy will knock away half your health or even one-hit kill you. Then there are the ranged enemies. Knack has a dodge to avoid projectiles, but it is the slowest and least consistent dodge mechanic in gaming history.

    The story in the game is nice enough. If you enjoy having your story entirely in cutscenes, you’ll love Knack. At least the cutscenes are skippable.

    The graphics are an odd choice for a console launch title. Most of the world is overly bright and lacking texture. This looks great for a cartoonish platformer. The game does render shadows. If you pay enough attention you may see one. The graphical star is the player character, Knack. Rather than one character model, Knack is made of dozens of little pieces called relics. Knack grows and shrinks as he gains and loses relics. Knack explodes into a pile when he dies. The developer honestly believed that this would matter to players, as if players haven’t grown found of Mario, Ray-man, and a cube named Thomas. What this game needed for graphics was a world as detailed as Knack. If you want to see what I mean, play Unravel.

    The most wasted potential in the game is also Knack himself. Being made of dozens or hundreds of particles, Knack could take on different shapes for different gameplay. A rolling ball Knack could slip around enemies. A slingshot Knack could have a ranged attack. The possibilities are exciting and all the developers could do with it is little Knack and big Knack. Even with this, they make big Knack as weak as a little Knack. I would love a Knack that is constantly losing and gaining pieces as the mechanic instead of the one-hit kill respawn mechanic.

    Full disclosure: this was a PS+ “free” game. I have no intention of defending Knack as a purchase or a launch title. The game has to stand on its own and the developer gave it one leg and a wobbly crutch.    … Expand
  23. bbstar54
    Mar 8, 2014
    6
    This game does relate to games such as jak, daxter and Rachet and clank however it gets extremely repetitive and I found it too repetitive to complete the game. There isn't much of a change in gameplay and the difficulty just fluctuates randomly rather then actually getting harder. When you are small you have less health but the enemies are weaker as well but when you are big there areThis game does relate to games such as jak, daxter and Rachet and clank however it gets extremely repetitive and I found it too repetitive to complete the game. There isn't much of a change in gameplay and the difficulty just fluctuates randomly rather then actually getting harder. When you are small you have less health but the enemies are weaker as well but when you are big there are enemies that are just as big as you which makes sense but it seems like the just change the size of everyone with your size. I have to say that if you are getting this for a kid they might like it more but from my perspective it is better to get a game like ratchet and clank on a ps2 then get this "new and improved" game with particle effects everywhere.… Expand
  24. nerdman67
    Mar 11, 2014
    6
    Knack is definitely a game that doesnt know what it wants to be. It is beautiful, with cartoonish characters and graphics and pleasing score, making it steathily hidden as a childs game, yet the frustratingly difficult gameplay makes it something to keep out of the children's hands. On the normal difficulty, most enemies can one shot you, and on easy it is only a little better. I had noKnack is definitely a game that doesnt know what it wants to be. It is beautiful, with cartoonish characters and graphics and pleasing score, making it steathily hidden as a childs game, yet the frustratingly difficult gameplay makes it something to keep out of the children's hands. On the normal difficulty, most enemies can one shot you, and on easy it is only a little better. I had no trouble getting used to the timing based combat, but my girlfriend was not so lucky.
    Paired with constant interruptions in gameplay to show ten second scenes of knack jumping to a platform or killing a big boss lead to a good amount of down time and pulls away from the action.
    Fans of games such as crash bandicoot will find a good time here, as well as others looking for a cute challenge, but for the rest of us... There's not much else    … Expand
  25. ronald_koeman
    Mar 23, 2014
    6
    Always enjoyed platform games and this one is no different. I dont understand all the negative critic responses, what where they expecting? The best from a bunch of poor release games
  26. DaTechnoD00d
    Aug 3, 2014
    6
    Well, I have beat this game on Hard 3 times and I'm currently playing it on Very Hard and uploading these videos to my YouTube channel, which is called DaTechnoDood LevelX. Anyway, this game is pretty good.

    It has fluent controls and an interesting concept, not to mention it gives you a very good challenge; hard so that it makes you push your skills to the limit, but not too hard that    Well, I have beat this game on Hard 3 times and I'm currently playing it on Very Hard and uploading these videos to my YouTube channel, which is called DaTechnoDood LevelX. Anyway, this game is pretty good.

    It has fluent controls and an interesting concept, not to mention it gives you a very good challenge; hard so that it makes you push your skills to the limit, but not too hard that it makes you want to quit. (This is if you choose Hard or Very Hard mode. You can only unlock Very Hard once you beat the full story on Hard. You'll breeze by in Easy.) The graphics are actually very well-evolved, solid 1080p cartoon-style graphics. The animation is very fluid and amazing as well.

    However, this game does have many flaws. The story is quite bland, and it actually kind of depicts yourself as the bad guy, which in a kids game is unacceptable (except for Mario). The script writing is so cheesy and terrible. Also, after a while, you really start to get bored and just want to play something else.

    I give this game a 6/10 because it is a little mediocre, but definitely not as bad as IGN makes it out to be.    … Expand
  27. Kenophobia
    Nov 5, 2014
    6
    Knack is an exclusive launch title for the PS4 from SCE Japan Studio, the studio who developed such series as Ape Escape, LocoRoco, and Patapon. Does this launch title warrant purchase, or should you just forget about it and wait until something else comes along?

    While not one of my most played games, Knack has been one of my more played platform games in recent memory. Knack enlists a    Knack is an exclusive launch title for the PS4 from SCE Japan Studio, the studio who developed such series as Ape Escape, LocoRoco, and Patapon. Does this launch title warrant purchase, or should you just forget about it and wait until something else comes along?

    While not one of my most played games, Knack has been one of my more played platform games in recent memory. Knack enlists a charming cast of cartoony characters, of which the most notable is Knack, who is developed to save humanity from impending doom. Players will battle through a linear, easy to follow campaign and collect a variety of collectibles while solving puzzles and smashing enemies into bits. While comedic in appearance, Knack will provide a challenging experience for all skill levels and ages, and has quite the learning curve as players will quickly find themselves repeating areas over and over to master their strategy. While Knack surely will not be crowned this year for any breakthroughs in gaming, it does provide a refreshing experience filled with outstanding visuals and a high level of replayability for a platformer, easily warranting the purchase price for this unique title. Knack is the perfect addition to any collection and will provide a fun experience for any level of skill or age.    … Expand
  28. ZackTheGamer
    Nov 16, 2014
    6
    Knack is a 3D platformer developed by Japan Studio. Many people consider this game to be trash and well it isn't the best game ever made it isn't awful. You need to go into this game knowing that you aren't going to get, incredibly graphics, a wonderful story, or anything like that. But it is a fun light-hearted game that is appropriate for the whole family. The music is great and whenKnack is a 3D platformer developed by Japan Studio. Many people consider this game to be trash and well it isn't the best game ever made it isn't awful. You need to go into this game knowing that you aren't going to get, incredibly graphics, a wonderful story, or anything like that. But it is a fun light-hearted game that is appropriate for the whole family. The music is great and when Knack turns big you truly feel powerful. All in all, well not the best game on the PS4 it is a good game to buy on sale or if you have children.… Expand
  29. EKDiamond
    Jul 26, 2015
    6
    Knack is a cartoon game exclusive for ps4 where you play knack, a being made from old relics created by a doctor in the attempt to thwart the attacks of goblins. Firstly, anyone who thinks Knack is a kids game is very much mistaken because, even though it's cartoon style and initial visual appearance may not attract everyone, it is certainly a game that can be played and thoroughly enjoyedKnack is a cartoon game exclusive for ps4 where you play knack, a being made from old relics created by a doctor in the attempt to thwart the attacks of goblins. Firstly, anyone who thinks Knack is a kids game is very much mistaken because, even though it's cartoon style and initial visual appearance may not attract everyone, it is certainly a game that can be played and thoroughly enjoyed by many. I took a risk when I bought Knack and had heard some bad reviews yet I was pleasantly surprised by the simple, yet enjoyable storyline and the initial first chapters where you fight through hordes of goblins. But that's probably the limit of its good qualities. The fighting in the game is way too simple: one move. Or three if you count the dash and jump attacks but they are all very similar where you punch each enemy countless times just to move on to the next part of the chapter where you, once again, punch your enemies to move on. It's just way too repetitive, and the boss battles are a complete let down, essentially they're just bigger versions of normal enemies with more health and have the ability to run away to a different part of the map once you punch them a few times. It was fun in parts but also incredibly frustrating in others, the checkpoints in Knack are horrendous and if you die, you will have to grind through the same parts as you did a few minutes ago just to get back to where you were, also the camera angles in some parts of the game are awful, causing you to misjudge an enemies attack or fall off a ledge. Despite all of this though, there was still something that drew me back to the game, it was incredibly enjoyable oddly enough and the storyline was something that surprised me the most. The developers entwined three groups of enemies, Viktor's robots, the goblins and, towards the end of the game, some kind of ancient creatures. The cut scenes were short and not very plentiful but they managed to tell the story and the backgrounds of the characters very well. Furthermore, they explained why you were doing what you were doing and the purpose of your mission. The end boss battle was, unusual. I won't spoil it but it wasn't what I expected to be doing at the end of this game. After the final boss battle the cut scenes that followed wrapped up the game nicely and left me feeling satisfied without any unanswered questions. As far as re-playability goes, I have yet to decide. The only thing that kept me continuing through the endless waves of enemies and repetitive fighting was the storyline and now that I know it, I doubt I'll enjoy it enough to finish a second play through. The only extras in the game are collectibles, which are parts to build gadgets to help you or even unlock new Knacks such as diamond Knack or dark Knack, these add an interesting twist to the game but still don't really contribute much to the main game. In conclusion, this game was very fun and good to play as a casual game or 'cool down' game however it might not be for everyone so I would recommend either getting it cheap on a sale or borrowing it from a friend first to see if it's for you. I have given Knack a rating of 60 because of the following reasons:

    Strengths:
    - Simple, yet interesting storyline
    - Explains the purpose of each mission
    - Gives just enough background to the characters

    Weaknesses:
    - Repetitive, boring combat
    - Awful boss battles
    - Annoying camera angles
    - Bad checkpoints    … Expand
  30. AMMANN7
    Sep 7, 2015
    6
    6/10

    Knack had to much potential and it went all down the toilet

    + Story
    + Knack
    + Great graphics and design

    - Bad controls
    - Awful camera
    - Too repetitive
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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

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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.
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  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]
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