Info about Shovel Knight: Treasure Trove:

Official game description:
  
Shovel Knight: Treasure Trove is the full and complete edition of Shovel Knight, a sweeping classic action-adventure game series with awesome gameplay, memorable characters, and an 8-bit retro aesthetic! Run, jump, and battle as Shovel Knight, wielder of the Shovel Blade, in a quest for his lost beloved. Take down the nefarious knights of the Order of No Quarter and confront their menacing leader, The Enchantress.  
But that’s not everything! Shovel Knight: Treasure Trove also features four additional games all unto themselves! Take control of Plague Knight, Specter Knight, and King Knight on adventures of their own or battle each other in a local four player Showdown. Together, they form a grand and sweeping saga!  
With Shovel Knight: Treasure Trove, you get it all. Play with a friend in Shovel of Hope's cooperative campaign, test your mettle in full-featured challenge modes, battle together in Showdown, and change the game with Body Swap mode. Uphold the virtues of Shovelry, earn relics and riches, and discover the true meaning of shovel justice!
Includes:
---------
**Shovel Knight: Shovel of Hope** – Steel your Shovel Blade and start digging through the adventure that started it all! Jump, battle foes, and discover treasures as you quest to defeat the Order of No Quarter and their vile leader, The Enchantress.  
**Shovel Knight: Plague of Shadows** – Prime your potions and become the maniacal alchemist Plague Knight in his adventure to brew the ultimate potion! Combine bomb parts to create custom loadouts. Discover new items, areas, bosses, and maybe even a bubbling romance.  
**Shovel Knight: Specter of Torment** – Summon your scythe in the prequel to Shovel Knight! Take control of Specter Knight to dash through levels completely redesigned around his unique style of play. Climb walls, master a new arsenal of weapons, and slash your foes to ribbons with deathly precision. Become the reaper, discover your tragic past, and recruit the Order of No Quarter!  
**Shovel Knight: King of Cards** - Step into the gilded boots of King Knight in the biggest and most regal Shovel Knight game of them all! Leap, Shoulder Bash, gather new subjects, and strategize your way through this prequel in your quest to become King of Cards!  
**Shovel Knight Showdown** - Duel with up to 4 players locally and scramble after gems, or take control of your favorite character and dig into Story Mode! Master every move, explore a vast array of items and locales, and discover new revelations in this platform fighting game.
Features:
---------
*   Yacht Club Games' beautifully authentic style bridges the gap between yesterday and today. Design, art, and audio hearken back to the days of 8-bit.  
*   The systems of today also give Shovel Knight modern touches: detailed animation, multilayered parallax backgrounds, and novel game design.  
*   Leap over gaps! Duel with foes! Uncover treasure! Find Secrets! Upgrade! Shovel Knight is simple to learn and play, but the challenge lies everywhere.  
*   Multiple awesome soundtracks by Jake "Virt" Kaufman with additional songs by Manami Matsumae!  
*   Amass riches to upgrade your armor and weapons.  
*   Detailed, living background art and animation! Big, beautiful pixels!  
*   Lovable characters and treacherous bosses!  
    Balanced gameplay is a warm welcome to newcomers, and an old embrace for experts.  
*   A light touch to narrative with humor, levity, and heart.  
*   Relive the adventure and uncover all of the world's secrets with New Game+!  
*   Challenge Mode - Up the ante in every imaginable way with over 100 full-featured challenges.  
*   Body Swap - Did you ever wish Shovel Knight was a lady, or Shield Knight was a guy? Well, now you can designate character genders however you like, with brand new designs for all of the main characters in Shovel of Hope!  
*   Co-op! – Grab a friend and play through Shovel of Hope as a fully cooperative adventure! Or uncover Story Mode together in Showdown!

Release date: Jun 26, 2014

Categories: 2D Platformer, Action-Adventure, Retro, Cooperative Multiplayer, Character Customization, Local Multiplayer, Precision Platforming, Boss Fights

Feature scans:
- MTX: score 30; verdict: Mixed Monetization; summary: 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.
- Proton/Linux: score 30; verdict: Minor Tweaks Needed; summary: 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.
- Steam Deck: score 40; verdict: Tinkering Required; summary: 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.

- Hardware Profile: No data
Feature extractions:
- Community Price:
  - Community fair range: $10.00 - $40.00
  - Reasoning: The evidence shows that users find the game to be of great value at around $10, with some even considering the full price of $40 to be fair. The repeated mention of the game being worth the price at $10 suggests a strong consensus around this price point. Additionally, the sentiment that the game is reasonably priced and offers a lot of content supports the higher end of the price range.
- Playtime Metrics:
  - Game completion: 12.0h
  - Story completion: 7.0h
  - Session length: N/A
  - Endgame: 10.0h
  - Reasoning: The evidence provides several direct references to playtime metrics. The first quote mentions that each campaign can take anywhere from 6 to 12 hours, which gives a range for both game completion and story completion. The second quote specifies that it took roughly 9 hours to complete Shovel Knight's adventure, supporting the story completion time. The third quote indicates that completing the main campaign took about 7 hours, further supporting the story completion time. The fourth quote mentions the main game plus additional content, suggesting significant endgame content.
- Time-to-fun:
  - Summary: Shovel Knight's fun begins once players adapt to its difficulty and level design, with progression and multiplayer modes enhancing the experience.
  - Stance: Fun after adaptation
  - Anchor: Adapting to the difficulty and level design
  - Time to anchor: 0h 30m
  - Friction: Steep learning curve for some characters; Repetitive level design initially; Lack of online multiplayer options
  - Unlock drivers: Intuitive level design; Satisfying progression system; Addictive treasure collection
  - Conditions: Playing with friends in multiplayer mode; Appreciation for retro-style platformers; Enjoyment of challenging gameplay
- Player Archetypes:
  - Completionist Explorer (buy)
    - Motivation: Mastery and completion of all game content.
    - Playstyle: Thorough and methodical, aiming to complete all aspects of the game.
    - Experience: veteran
    - Purchase stance: buy
    - Labels: completionist; hardcore player
    - Reference games: Mega Man; Castlevania
  - Retro Enthusiast (buy)
    - Motivation: Nostalgia and appreciation for retro-style gameplay.
    - Playstyle: Enjoys classic gameplay mechanics and the challenge of retro games.
    - Experience: familiar
    - Purchase stance: buy
    - Labels: retro gamer; old-school player
    - Reference games: Zelda II; Mega Man; Castlevania
  - Value-Conscious Gamer (sale)
    - Motivation: Getting the best value for their money.
    - Playstyle: Casual, enjoys the game but is mindful of spending.
    - Experience: mixed
    - Purchase stance: sale
    - Labels: casual gamer; budget-conscious
    - Reference games: Super Meat Boy; Limbo


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:
- Fun and enjoyable gameplay (weight 0.31): 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 (weight 0.26): 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 (weight 0.26): 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 (weight 0.2): 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 (weight 0.19): 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.
- Specter of Torment campaign (weight 0.17): The Specter of Torment campaign is highlighted as the best, with players loving its combat, story, and movement. It is praised for its amazing backstory and touching narrative.
- Homage to classic 2D platformers (weight 0.16): The game is seen as an exceptional 2D platformer that pays homage to classic NES-era games. It captures the essence of old-school platformers and is compared favorably to iconic titles like Super Mario World and Donkey Kong Country.
- Engaging and interesting plot (weight 0.14): The game's plot is described as great, simple yet engaging, and surprisingly good. Players find the storylines interesting and cool.
- Varied gameplay for different characters (weight 0.13): The game offers varied gameplay experiences with different characters, each with unique playstyles. Players appreciate the diversity in gameplay mechanics and character abilities.
- Challenging but fair difficulty (weight 0.13): The game is challenging but never unfair, offering a rewarding experience. Players find the difficulty enjoyable and not frustrating.
- Reminiscent of Mega Man (weight 0.13): The game is reminiscent of Mega Man and other classic 8-bit action platformers. It draws positive comparisons to Mega Man and captures the style of those games.
- Great value with five games (weight 0.11): The game is praised for offering great value with five games in one collection. Players consider it one of the best collections of games available.
- Well-developed characters (weight 0.11): The game features great character designs and well-developed characters. Players find the characters interesting and well-made.
- Worth the money (weight 0.11): Players feel the game is worth the money and offers good value for its price. It is considered well worth the time and investment.

Common complaints:
- Game difficulty issues (weight 0.27): 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 (weight 0.26): 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 (weight 0.17): 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 (weight 0.15): Players report bad controls and poor level design, which contribute to a frustrating gameplay experience. The user interface is also criticized.
- Showdown mode disliked (weight 0.12): Showdown mode is widely criticized for being boring, poorly executed, and not enjoyable without a friend. Many players find it dispensable and annoying.
- Movement and attack issues (weight 0.1): Players report that attacks cause the character to retreat, and jumping mechanics are poor. The controls feel awkward, especially without a controller.
- King of Cards RNG criticism (weight 0.09): The King of Cards DLC is criticized for being too heavily based on RNG, making the card game elements frustrating and hit or miss.
- Lack of substantial content (weight 0.07): The game is criticized for having almost no story and lacking substantial content, making it feel shallow and uninteresting.
- No save feature (weight 0.05): The lack of a save and quit feature is criticized, making the game less enjoyable and more frustrating.
- Enemies spawn off-screen (weight 0.05): Enemies spawning off-screen and instantly knocking the player off the edge is a common complaint.
- King Knight disliked (weight 0.05): Players express a strong dislike for King Knight, including his personality and gameplay mechanics.
- Achievements are time-consuming (weight 0.05): Players find the achievements to be hellish and time-consuming, adding to the frustration of the game.
- Money loss frustration (weight 0.05): Players are frustrated by losing money and not being able to retrieve it, especially when falling into pits.
- Contact damage issues (weight 0.05): Contact damage from enemies is criticized as being awful and frustrating.
- Music criticized (weight 0.05): The music in the game is found to be annoying and repetitive, detracting from the overall experience.
- Highly repetitive levels (weight 0.05): The game is criticized for having highly repetitive levels and unreasonable difficulty design.
- Game is forgotten (weight 0.04): The game is seen as somewhat forgotten over time, indicating a lack of lasting appeal.
- Joustus minigame disliked (weight 0.04): There is a strong dislike for the Joustus minigame, with players finding it unenjoyable.

Gameplay feedback:
- Classic retro platformer style (weight 0.44): 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 (weight 0.3): The game includes four distinct campaigns, each with unique stories, abilities, and gameplay mechanics, offering a variety of experiences.
- Challenging platforming gameplay (weight 0.26): The game features challenging platforming with precise controls, difficult mechanics, and a well-balanced difficulty curve.
- Character-specific mechanics (weight 0.23): Each playable character has unique mechanics and combat styles, affecting movement and gameplay, providing diverse experiences.
- Showdown multiplayer mode (weight 0.16): Showdown is a multiplayer platform fighter similar to Super Smash Bros., offering a separate combat experience.
- Card minigame in King of Cards (weight 0.16): The King of Cards DLC includes a card-battling mini-game called Joustus, adding a turn-based card game element to the platforming challenges.
- Unique level design (weight 0.13): The game features stellar level design with unique mechanics and intricacies, offering varied gameplay experiences.
- High difficulty and traps (weight 0.11): The game is known for its high difficulty, challenging levels, and instant death traps, providing a tough but rewarding experience.
- Specter of Torment mechanics (weight 0.08): Specter of Torment features unique mechanics such as homing, grinding, fast-paced scythe-slashing, and wall-running.
- Cooperative and versus modes (weight 0.07): The game offers couch co-op and versus modes, allowing for cooperative and competitive multiplayer experiences.
- Boss fights and designs (weight 0.06): The game includes unique boss designs and a boss rush section, adding to the challenge and variety.
- Four games in one (weight 0.06): The game effectively offers four different games in one, with additional side content and connected stories.

Performance notes:
- Optimized performance on various hardware (weight 0.14): 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 (weight 0.03): Some players have experienced problems with the game recognizing controllers, which can affect gameplay.
- Eye strain from visuals (weight 0.03): The brightness and visual effects in the game can cause eye strain for some players.
- Vertical sync option needed (weight 0.03): Players have requested the addition of a vertical sync option to improve the gaming experience.
- Remote play connectivity issues (weight 0.03): Steam remote play has been reported to have awkward internet connectivity issues, affecting the remote play experience.
- No bugs encountered (weight 0.02): Some players reported a smooth experience with no bugs encountered during gameplay.

Recommendations:
- Retro platformer fans must play (weight 0.4): 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 (weight 0.17): Some players recommend waiting for a sale or discount before purchasing the game.
- Retro and metroidvania fans (weight 0.16): The game is recommended for fans of retro games, especially those who enjoy action platformers and metroidvania-style games.
- Recommended for co-op fans (weight 0.05): The game is recommended for fans of cooperative games and those who enjoy the genre.
- Treasure Trove package recommended (weight 0.04): Players recommend getting the full Treasure Trove package for the complete experience.
- Play all Shovel Knight games (weight 0.04): It is highly recommended to play all Shovel Knight games, especially for those who haven't played them yet.
- Unique gaming experience (weight 0.04): The game is recommended for those seeking a truly exceptional and unique gaming experience without comparing it to other games.

Other player notes:
No miscpoints

Emotions:
- Joy (weight 0.25): Players express joy due to the game's engaging gameplay mechanics, charming retro aesthetics, and memorable soundtrack. The variety of campaigns, well-designed levels, and nostalgic elements reminiscent of classic platformers contribute significantly to this positive experience.
- Excitement (weight 0.16): The excitement stems from the game's diverse campaigns, unique character mechanics, and the anticipation of future content. Players are particularly thrilled by the challenging yet rewarding gameplay, innovative mechanics in later campaigns, and the high replayability factor.
- Frustration (weight 0.14): Frustration is primarily caused by the game's high difficulty, including instant death traps, challenging level design, and punishing mechanics. Players also struggle with control issues, repetitive content, and the loss of progress upon death.
- Enjoyment (weight 0.1): Enjoyment is derived from the game's tight controls, fluid movement, and satisfying gameplay mechanics. The variety of campaigns, engaging storylines, and the nostalgic retro feel contribute to a highly enjoyable experience.
- Disappointment (weight 0.06): Disappointment arises from certain campaigns feeling lackluster or poorly executed, such as the King of Cards and Plague of Shadows campaigns. Players also express dissatisfaction with repetitive gameplay, lack of innovation, and some mechanics not living up to expectations.
- Satisfaction (weight 0.06): Satisfaction comes from the game's precise controls, unique character mechanics, and the overall high-quality content. Players appreciate the challenging yet fair gameplay, the variety of characters, and the value offered by the Treasure Trove collection.
- Appreciation (weight 0.06): Appreciation is felt for the game's detailed sprite work, vibrant environments, and iconic soundtrack. Players also value the game's family-friendly content, cooperative play, and the developer's generosity in providing free updates and DLCs.
- Nostalgia (weight 0.05): Nostalgia is evoked by the game's faithful retro design, reminiscent of classic NES and SNES era games. The chiptune melodies, pixel graphics, and gameplay elements bring back memories of older platformers like Mega Man and DuckTales.
- Challenge (weight 0.02): The game offers a challenging experience with its balanced difficulty and unique platforming elements. The New Game+ mode and rewarding gameplay mechanics add to the replayability and challenge.
- Contentment (weight 0.02): Contentment is derived from the game's rich content, including a good amount of enemy variety, engaging storylines, and a catchy soundtrack. The unique character mechanics and skills also contribute to a fulfilling experience.
- Value (weight 0.02): Players feel they receive good value due to the game's affordable price, especially on platforms like Steam. The extensive content and high-quality gameplay justify the cost.
- Surprise (weight 0.02): Surprise comes from unexpected elements like the Body Swap feature, the variety of characters and their stories, and the enjoyment of Jousting despite not being a puzzle game fan. The depth and variety of the game exceed initial expectations.
- Curiosity (weight 0.02): Curiosity is piqued by the game's hidden rooms, collectibles, and diverse levels with unique features. The variety of playable characters with unique abilities also draws players in.
- Admiration (weight 0.02): Admiration is felt for the game's high-quality design, charismatic characters, and engaging narrative. The game is seen as a masterpiece and a love letter to the SNES era of gaming, setting a high bar for indie games.
- Engagement (weight 0.02): Engagement is driven by the game's high replayability, interesting storylines, and vibrant gameplay. The emotional and interconnected narrative, along with memorable characters, keeps players invested.
- Enthusiasm (weight 0.01): Enthusiasm is expressed through detailed praise for the game's quality, content, and mechanics. Players are eager to recommend the game to fans of pixel-style platform games and highlight the Spectre Knight campaign as a standout.
- Anger (weight 0.01): Anger is triggered by frustrating mechanics such as instant kill traps and death penalties. Specific challenges and parkour elements also contribute to this emotion.
- Gratitude (weight 0.01): Gratitude is felt towards the developers for their support and generosity, as well as for creating a game with a good soundtrack and pixel graphics. Players are thankful for the excellent collection of the Shovel Knight saga.
- Amusement (weight 0.01): Amusement comes from the humorous characters and events, as well as the catchy and popular music. The variety added by cheats also contributes to the fun experience.
- Fear (weight 0.01): Fear is evoked by certain elements in the game, such as small spikes and unexpected scares. Some players find specific mechanics or enemies frightening.}