Shovel Knight: Treasure Trove Review Summary

This delightful platformer shines with tight mechanics, a captivating chiptune soundtrack, and nostalgic pixel art, though uneven difficulty and the divisive Plague of Shadows DLC hold it back from true greatness.

Fun and enjoyable gameplay: Players consistently describe the game as fun and enjoyable, with many highlighting the entertaining platforming experience. The game offers hours of fun, especially in co-op mode, and is praised for its polished and engaging gameplay.

Strong platforming mechanics: The game is lauded for its strong platforming elements, with many considering it one of the best platformers ever made. It refines elements of old platforming games and offers tight controls and pure platforming bliss.

Exceptional soundtrack and music: The game's music is widely praised for being exceptional, fantastic, and memorable. Players appreciate the well-written and outstanding soundtrack, which enhances the overall gaming experience.

Charming pixel art style: The game features charming and beautiful pixel art that players find visually appealing. The pixel art style, along with lively character expressions and animations, contributes to the game's aesthetic appeal.

Excellent level design: The game is praised for its excellent and intricate level design, with a variety of well-designed levels. Players appreciate the unique layouts and the overall quality of the map design.

Game difficulty issues: The game has a mix of overly easy bosses and very difficult level design, leading to a frustrating experience. Some challenges and moments are particularly hard, causing stress.

Plague of Shadows criticized: Players find Plague of Shadows to have frustrating complexity, poor controls, and a steep learning curve. It is often considered the least favorite due to its demanding mechanics and floaty controls.

Instant death traps frustrating: Players find the instant death pitfalls and traps particularly frustrating. These traps cause frequent deaths and are seen as repetitive.

Poor controls and level design: Players report bad controls and poor level design, which contribute to a frustrating gameplay experience. The user interface is also criticized.

Showdown mode disliked: Showdown mode is widely criticized for being boring, poorly executed, and not enjoyable without a friend. Many players find it dispensable and annoying.

Classic retro platformer style: The game is a retro-style 2D platformer with tight platforming mechanics and pixelated graphics, reminiscent of classic games like Mega Man and Castlevania.

Four unique campaigns: The game includes four distinct campaigns, each with unique stories, abilities, and gameplay mechanics, offering a variety of experiences.

Challenging platforming gameplay: The game features challenging platforming with precise controls, difficult mechanics, and a well-balanced difficulty curve.

Character-specific mechanics: Each playable character has unique mechanics and combat styles, affecting movement and gameplay, providing diverse experiences.

Showdown multiplayer mode: Showdown is a multiplayer platform fighter similar to Super Smash Bros., offering a separate combat experience.

Optimized performance on various hardware: The game runs well on a variety of equipment, including high performance on the Steam Deck with high refresh rates and low battery drain.

Controller recognition issue: Some players have experienced problems with the game recognizing controllers, which can affect gameplay.

Eye strain from visuals: The brightness and visual effects in the game can cause eye strain for some players.

Vertical sync option needed: Players have requested the addition of a vertical sync option to improve the gaming experience.

Remote play connectivity issues: Steam remote play has been reported to have awkward internet connectivity issues, affecting the remote play experience.

Retro platformer fans must play: This game is highly recommended for fans of retro and classic 2D platformers, especially those who enjoy games like Mega Man and DuckTales.

Consider buying on sale: Some players recommend waiting for a sale or discount before purchasing the game.

Retro and metroidvania fans: The game is recommended for fans of retro games, especially those who enjoy action platformers and metroidvania-style games.

Recommended for co-op fans: The game is recommended for fans of cooperative games and those who enjoy the genre.

Treasure Trove package recommended: Players recommend getting the full Treasure Trove package for the complete experience.

Community fair range: $10.00 - $40.00.

Game completion: 12.0h.

Story completion: 7.0h.

Endgame: 10.0h.

Shovel Knight's fun begins once players adapt to its difficulty and level design, with progression and multiplayer modes enhancing the experience.

Reported time to anchor: 30m.

Friction: Steep learning curve for some characters; Repetitive level design initially; Lack of online multiplayer options.

Completionist Explorer: Thorough and methodical, aiming to complete all aspects of the game. Motivation: Mastery and completion of all game content. Stance: buy.

Retro Enthusiast: Enjoys classic gameplay mechanics and the challenge of retro games. Motivation: Nostalgia and appreciation for retro-style gameplay. Stance: buy.

Value-Conscious Gamer: Casual, enjoys the game but is mindful of spending. Motivation: Getting the best value for their money. Stance: sale.

Steam Deck: The game has received praise for its controller support and overall gameplay experience. However, there are notable performance issues on the Steam Deck, particularly with high refresh rates. Some users also reported needing to use Big Picture mode to configure their controllers properly.

Linux and Proton: The game has notable performance issues on the Steam Deck, where it runs at an unusually high speed, making it difficult to play. These issues are significant enough to warrant attention, but the game is otherwise functional.

Monetization: The game receives mixed reviews regarding its pricing and DLC value. While some users find the game to be a masterpiece and a great buy, especially on sale, others feel it is overpriced. There are also concerns about 'pay-to-win' elements, which can detract from the overall experience. The recommendation to buy all DLC is also a point of contention, with some users advocating for it and others suggesting a more cautious approach.