Summary

Release Year: 2014
Genres: Adventure, Indie, Platform
Platforms: Linux, Mac, Nintendo 3DS, Nintendo Switch, PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, PlayStation Vita, Wii U, Xbox One
Developers: Yacht Club Games
Publishers: Yacht Club Games

Shovel Knight: A Shovelry Masterpiece

Introduction

Shovel Knight is a 2D side-scrolling action-adventure game developed and published by Yacht Club Games. It was released in 2014 for Microsoft Windows, Nintendo 3DS, Wii U, and PlayStation 3, and has since been ported to PlayStation 4, PlayStation Vita, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and Amazon Luna.

The game follows the titular Shovel Knight, a small knight with a big shovel, as he journeys to defeat the Enchantress and rescue his lost beloved. Along the way, he must battle through a variety of levels, each with its own unique enemies and challenges.

Shovel Knight is a critically acclaimed game, praised for its tight controls, beautiful art, and infectious music. It has won numerous awards, including Game of the Year from multiple publications.

Gameplay

Shovel Knight is a classic 2D side-scroller in the vein of Mega Man and Castlevania. The player controls Shovel Knight as he jumps, slashes, and shovels his way through a variety of levels.

Shovel Knight’s shovel is his primary weapon. He can use it to attack enemies, dig through dirt, and activate switches. He can also use his shovel to perform a variety of special moves, such as the Shovel Drop and the Propeller Dagger.

In addition to his shovel, Shovel Knight can also collect a variety of items and power-ups. These items can give him new abilities, such as the ability to double jump or shoot projectiles.

Levels

Shovel Knight features a total of eight levels, each with its own unique theme and challenges. The levels are:

The Plains of Passage: A lush green field with rolling hills and sparkling waterfalls.
The Tower of Fate: A tall, imposing tower filled with traps and puzzles.
The Ruins of Decadence: A crumbling ancient city filled with dangerous enemies and hidden treasures.
The Lich Yard: A dark and gloomy graveyard filled with undead creatures.
The Lost City: A hidden city deep underground, filled with lost souls and forgotten secrets.
The Flying Machine: A giant flying machine piloted by the evil Enchantress.
The Battle for Shovelry: A final showdown between Shovel Knight and the Enchantress.
New Game +: A new game mode that is unlocked after beating the game once. New Game + features new challenges and enemies.

Characters

Shovel Knight is the main protagonist of the game. He is a small knight with a big heart and a strong sense of justice. He is on a quest to defeat the Enchantress and rescue his lost beloved.

The Enchantress is the main antagonist of the game. She is a powerful sorceress who has cursed Shovel Knight’s beloved and turned her into a stone statue. She is determined to prevent Shovel Knight from reaching her and will stop at nothing to destroy him.

In addition to Shovel Knight and the Enchantress, there are a number of other characters in the game, including:

Shield Knight: Shovel Knight’s lost beloved. She is a powerful warrior who was turned into a stone statue by the Enchantress.
Black Knight: A mysterious knight who is after Shovel Knight’s shovel. He is a skilled swordsman and a powerful foe.
Polar Knight: A giant polar bear who is a member of the Order of No Quarter. He is a powerful fighter and a skilled ice mage.
Tinker Knight: A brilliant inventor who is a member of the Order of No Quarter. He is a master of gadgets and traps.
Specter Knight: A ghostly knight who is a member of the Order of No Quarter. He is a skilled assassin and a master of stealth.
King Knight: A pompous and arrogant knight who is a member of the Order of No Quarter. He is a powerful fighter and a skilled tactician.

Story

The story of Shovel Knight begins in the peaceful village of Shovelry. Shovel Knight is a young knight who is training to become a member of the Order of No Quarter. One day, the Enchantress attacks the village and turns Shovel Knight’s beloved, Shield Knight, into a stone statue.

Shovel Knight sets out on a quest to defeat the Enchantress and rescue Shield Knight. Along the way, he must battle through a variety of levels and defeat the members of the Order of No Quarter.

In the end, Shovel Knight reaches the Enchantress’s castle and confronts her in a final showdown. Shovel Knight defeats the Enchantress and rescues Shield Knight. The two knights are reunited and return to Shovelry as heroes.

Development

Shovel Knight was developed by Yacht Club Games, a small independent studio founded in 2011. The game was funded through a successful Kickstarter campaign in 2013.

Yacht Club Games set out to create a game that was both a love letter to the classic 2D side-scrollers of the past and a fresh and innovative take on the genre. The team drew inspiration from games such as Mega Man, Castlevania, and DuckTales.

Shovel Knight was developed over the course of two years. The game was released in 2014 to critical acclaim.

Reception

Shovel Knight was a critical and commercial success. The game received perfect scores from multiple publications, and it was named Game of the Year by several outlets.

Shovel Knight has sold over 2 million copies worldwide. It has been praised for its tight controls, beautiful art, and infectious music.

Legacy

Shovel Knight is considered to be one of the best 2D side-scrollers ever made. The game has inspired a number of other indie games, and it has helped to revitalize the genre.

Yacht Club Games has continued to support Shovel Knight with new content and updates. In 2019, the game received a major expansion called Shovel Knight: King of Cards. The expansion added a new playable character, new levels, and a new story.

Shovel Knight is a timeless classic that will continue to be enjoyed by gamers for years to come.