
What players like:
Common complaints:
Gameplay feedback:
Performance notes:
Recommendations:
Other player notes:
Review evidence
Charming style and music: The game's style, charm, and music are highlighted as standout features. Players enjoy the animations, presentation, and overall aesthetic.
Beautiful and polished graphics: The game's graphics are frequently praised as beautiful, top-notch, and stunning. Players appreciate the pixel art and visual aesthetic.
Highly enjoyable game: Players consistently describe the game as very enjoyable, fun, and addicting. Many recommend it highly, indicating a positive reception.
Fun and well-made roguelike: The game is praised as a very fun and well-made roguelike. Players enjoy the challenge and mechanics, making it a favorite among fans of the genre.
Fun and challenging bosses: Boss fights are highlighted as fun, intense, and epic. Players enjoy the challenge and variety offered by the bosses.
High difficulty and unfair mechanics: The game is criticized for its high difficulty, unfair enemy patterns, and mechanics that cause frustration. Off-screen enemy hits and unclear rules add to the difficulty.
Repetitive gameplay mechanics: The game quickly becomes repetitive due to lack of variety in gameplay and limited replayability. Players find the experience monotonous after a short period.
High price, low content: Many players feel the game is overpriced for the amount of content it offers. The game is perceived as too short and lacking in variety to justify its cost.
Limited progression and rewards: There is little to no permanent progression or meaningful rewards. Unlocking new items feels grindy and upgrades are unsubstantial, leading to a lack of motivation to replay.
Poor level and control design: The level design is frustrating and the controls feel clunky. The small viewing area and linear gameplay further limit the enjoyment and complexity of the levels.
Roguelike mechanics and structure: The game features a variety of roguelike elements, including roguelite dungeons, progression systems, and upgrade mechanics. Players appreciate the roguelike structure and gameplay.
Procedural level generation: The game includes room generation, randomized levels, and procedural generation, creating unique and varied gameplay experiences. This feature enhances replayability and exploration.
Retro-inspired platforming: The game is a retro-inspired roguelite platformer with tight controls and a focus on platforming mechanics. It combines classic style with modern gameplay elements.
Difficulty adjustments and variations: The game offers various difficulty adjustments and modifiers, catering to different player skill levels. This includes hardcore difficulty and permanent death mechanics.
Challenging boss fights: The game features challenging boss fights with different layouts, providing a significant test of player skills. Some players note there are few bosses but find them engaging.
Camera and screen issues: There are notable problems with the camera and screen panning, which affect the gameplay experience negatively.
Smooth performance and optimization: The game is praised for its smooth performance and great optimization, leading to a positive player experience.
Steam Deck compatibility praised: Players highlight that the game works well on Steam Deck, providing a good experience for users of this device.
Minor bugs reported: While the game is generally stable, there are a few bugs reported by players, though they are not widespread.
Recommended for Shovel Knight fans: This game is highly recommended for fans of the original Shovel Knight, especially those who enjoy challenging games and are looking for more content similar to the original.
Recommended for roguelite fans: The game is suggested for players who enjoy roguelite elements, whether they are newcomers or veterans of the genre. It is compared favorably to other popular roguelites like Spelunky.
Wait for a sale: Some reviewers recommend the game but suggest waiting for a sale to get it at a better price, indicating that the current price might be a bit high for some players.
Recommended for challenge seekers: The game is recommended for those who enjoy challenging gameplay and replayability, making it a good fit for players who like to test their skills.
Worth the price: Some reviewers believe the game is worth its current price, suggesting that the content and enjoyment justify the cost.
Steam Deck: The overall user feedback for the Steam Deck experience with the game is highly positive. Users appreciate the precise controls, smooth performance, and compatibility with Linux. The gameplay is enjoyable and provides significant entertainment value, making it a great experience for Steam Deck owners.
Upgrade visibility in shop: Players want the shop to display their currently equipped upgrades for easier comparison and management.
Animation bug in Smeltworks: There is a reported error with animations in the Smeltworks area that needs fixing.
Skip cutscenes option: Players have requested the ability to skip cutscenes, likely for replayability or time-saving purposes.
Unique boss theme requested: Players want a distinct musical theme for the Black Knight boss to enhance the battle experience.
No DRM appreciated: Players are positively noting the lack of Digital Rights Management, which is seen as a benefit.