Info about Shovel Knight Showdown:

Official game description:
_**Disclaimer: If you own Shovel Knight: Treasure Trove, you will NOT need to purchase Shovel Knight Showdown separately. This title is included with all versions of Shovel Knight: Treasure Trove.**_  
Shovel Knight Showdown is the ultimate platform fighting experience, where you can duel with up to 4 players and scramble after gems as your favorite heroic or villainous knight from the Shovel Knight: Treasure Trove saga. Gather your pals for endless multiplayer clashes, or choose from more than 16 playable characters in Story Mode, each with their own unique story to tell. Master every move, explore a vast array of items and locales, and discover new revelations in Shovel Knight Showdown!  
When a magical catastrophe creates a world of never-ending battle, the heroes and villains of the Shovel Knight saga must discover the source of the disaster and fight to set things right! Play as your favorite character (alone or with a friend in co-op battles), face off against powerful rivals, and perfect your platform fighting skills in full-featured practice and target modes on your way to an all-new final encounter. Unlock new content and revisit Shovel Knight Showdown again and again as you dig into an immense variety of single-player and local multiplayer modes, features, and customizations.
Features:
---------
*   Play as all the key heroes and villains from Shovel Knight, many for the first time ever! Master over 16 playable characters including Shovel Knight, Shield Knight, Black Knight, The Enchantress, and all of the Knights of the Order of No Quarter!  
*   Compete in one-on-one duels and frantic 4 player free-for-alls against local challengers in modes like Gem Clash, Showdown, and more!  
*   Join your friends in cooperative team battles against AI opponents (or each other), and create your dream duos from the sprawling cast of characters!  
*   Battle through Story Mode, a multistage journey customized for each character! Your chosen hero will face a rival, defeat scores of opponents, relax with a minigame or two, and hopefully see their tale completed after an all-new final encounter!  
*   Explore myriad stages inspired by famous characters and locales in Shovel Knight, as well as a plethora of all-new locations.  
*   Prepare and perfect your moves in practice mode, play to your heart’s content with tons of battle customization options, and hone your skills with treacherous feats and the chaotic Target mode.  
*   New songs complement an award-winning soundtrack composed by Jake “Virt” Kaufman.

Release date: Dec 10, 2019

Categories: Platform Fighter, Local Multiplayer, Cooperative Multiplayer, Character Customization, Story Mode, Unlockable Content, Retro Aesthetics


- Hardware Profile: No data
Feature extractions:
- Community Price: No data
- Playtime Metrics: No data
- Time-to-fun: No data
- Player Archetypes: No data


Below are summaries of things people say about the game per category.
Each point is assigned a weight that represents how often it is mentioned across all reviews.
What players like:
- Great for co-op and social gatherings (weight 0.81): The game is praised for its great couch co-op experience and is considered good for social gatherings.
- Many unlockables (weight 0.81): The game offers many unlockable characters, maps, items, and achievements.
- Enjoyable and simple gameplay (weight 0.73): Players find the game very fun and enjoyable due to its simplicity and engaging mechanics.
- Diverse and unique characters (weight 0.71): The game offers a variety of characters, each with unique and well-crafted designs.
- Character progression and customization (weight 0.68): Players enjoy the customization options for fights and the ability to carry over skills with characters.
- Impressive visuals and audio (weight 0.6): The game has great graphics, impressive visuals, and a superb 8-bit soundtrack.
- Beginner-friendly and accessible (weight 0.36): The game is noted for being easy for beginners to pick up and play, with easy server access.
- Interesting game mechanics (weight 0.34): The game features interesting and engaging mechanics that keep players entertained.
- Fluid movement mechanics (weight 0.34): The game is praised for its very fluid and fun movement mechanics.
- Retro-style appeal (weight 0.33): The game has a retro-style appeal with its visuals and music.
- Strategic depth for experienced players (weight 0.2): The game offers strategic depth that experienced players can enjoy.
- Enjoyable single-player experience (weight 0.2): The game is great even when played alone, without other people.
- Balanced focus on multiplayer and story (weight 0.2): The game focuses on both multiplayer and story mode, providing a balanced experience.
- High-quality production (weight 0.2): The game is noted for the time and effort put into its development, resulting in a great game.
- Well-designed interface (weight 0.18): The game features a well-designed interface that enhances the gameplay experience.

Common complaints:
- Poor game balance (weight 0.95): The game suffers from balancing issues, making it either too easy or too difficult in various aspects.
- No online multiplayer mode (weight 0.86): Players are frustrated by the lack of an online multiplayer mode, which limits the game's multiplayer experience.
- Minigame design flaws (weight 0.51): The mandatory minigame is poorly designed, adding to player frustration rather than enjoyment.
- Controls don't work (weight 0.36): Many players report that the controls are either non-functional or poorly implemented, leading to a lackluster gaming experience.
- Boring gameplay and story (weight 0.34): The gameplay and story mode are described as uninteresting and dull, failing to engage players effectively.
- Problematic character AI (weight 0.2): The AI controlling characters is reported to be problematic, affecting the overall gameplay experience.
- Nonsensical game design (weight 0.19): The game design is criticized as nonsensical, affecting the overall enjoyment and coherence of the game.
- Confusing menu design (weight 0.18): Players find the menu system confusing, which hinders navigation and accessibility within the game.
- Inevitable loss scenarios (weight 0.18): There are scenarios in the game where loss seems inevitable, leading to player frustration.
- Poor story mode design (weight 0.18): The story mode is criticized for being poorly designed, affecting the overall narrative experience.
- Final boss difficulty imbalance (weight 0.18): The final boss is perceived as being stacked against the player, creating an unfair and frustrating experience.
- Enemies block all attacks (weight 0.18): Players report that enemies block all attacks, making combat situations unfair and difficult.
- Infinite lives for enemies (weight 0.18): Enemies having infinite lives is seen as an unfair mechanic, making certain parts of the game overly difficult.
- Enemies collect all gems (weight 0.17): A specific issue where enemies collect all gems, which can be frustrating for players trying to gather resources.
- Missing Plague Knight game (weight 0.17): Players are disappointed that the game does not come with the Plague Knight game included.
- Characterized as cheap Smash Bros (weight 0.17): The game is criticized as being a cheap imitation of Super Smash Bros, lacking originality.
- Fairy stage modifier issue (weight 0.16): A specific stage modifier that turns characters into fairies with limited movement is highly criticized as a poor experience.

Gameplay feedback:
- Couch co-op mode (weight 0.5): The game features a cooperative mode that allows up to four players to play together on one computer, enhancing the multiplayer experience.
- Variety of characters (weight 0.48): The game offers a diverse roster of characters, with 20 characters available for players to choose from.
- Shovel Knight style and universe (weight 0.47): The game is set in the Shovel Knight universe and features characters and a style reminiscent of the Shovel Knight series.
- Fighting game mechanics (weight 0.45): The game is primarily a fighting game, with mechanics and gameplay that focus on combat and competition.
- Story mode with cutscenes (weight 0.36): The game features a story mode with unique cutscenes and rival characters, enhancing the single-player experience.
- Target and practice modes (weight 0.29): The game includes various modes such as Target modes and practice modes, providing different gameplay experiences.
- Infinite lives enemies and challenging boss (weight 0.29): Some stages feature enemies with infinite lives, and the final boss has multiple phases and can take gems from the player, adding to the game's challenge.
- Similar to Super Smash Bros (weight 0.2): The game is compared to Super Smash Bros, suggesting similar gameplay mechanics and multiplayer-focused content.
- Unique character campaigns (weight 0.2): Each character in the game could have their own unique campaign, adding depth and replayability.
- Retro-style design (weight 0.18): The game has a retro-style design, appealing to fans of classic and older gaming aesthetics.
- Various game subgenres (weight 0.18): The game includes various subgenres such as Treasure Clash, Showdown, and Chester's Choice, offering a variety of gameplay styles.
- Mandatory minigame for progression (weight 0.16): The game includes a minigame that is mandatory for progression, adding a unique challenge to the gameplay.

Performance notes:
No performancepoints

Recommendations:
- Recommended as first buy (weight 0.21): The game is often recommended as the first purchase in the series, suggesting it is a strong starting point for new players.
- Buy regardless of version (weight 0.21): The game is highly recommended regardless of the version, emphasizing its overall quality and appeal.
- Complements Shovel Knight series (weight 0.2): It is seen as a valuable addition to the Shovel Knight series, enhancing the overall experience for fans.
- Unique gameplay and character mechanics (weight 0.2): The game is praised for its unique gameplay modes and character mechanics, making it stand out in its genre.
- Treasure Trove version recommended (weight 0.2): Many recommend the Treasure Trove version specifically, indicating it might offer additional value or content.
- Not recommended due to poor design (weight 0.17): Some reviews criticize the game for poor design and execution, suggesting it may not meet everyone's expectations.

Other player notes:
No miscpoints

Emotions:
- Happy (weight 0.36): Players are happy due to the game's engaging features and stylistic elements. The multiplayer experience and reliable server availability also contribute significantly to their positive emotions.
- Angry (weight 0.18): Players express anger primarily due to issues with game controls, AI behavior, and menu navigation. Additionally, frustration stems from perceived imbalances in game difficulty and overall game balance.
- Disappointment (weight 0.09): Long-time fans of the series feel disappointed as the game's quality and design did not meet their expectations.
- Enjoyment (weight 0.09): Players enjoy the game's interface, music, and visuals. The overall fun-factor of the game also contributes to their enjoyment.
- Frustration (weight 0.09): Players are frustrated with the poorly designed minigame and the mechanics of the final boss.
- Excitement (weight 0.09): The detailed and varied gameplay modes, along with intricate character mechanics, generate excitement among players.}