Gryphon Knight Epic
- August 20, 2020
- Cyber Rhino Studios
A fun, solid sidescrolling shooter. There's not a lot wrong with it, and I managed to have some good fun.
Get on Steam
Get on Xbox Games Store"Gryphon Knight Epic" is a 2D side-scrolling shooter set in a medieval fantasy world. Play as a knight riding a griffin, battling enemies and bosses using a variety of weapons. The game features a story campaign, survival mode, and local co-op, with hand-drawn animation and a chiptune-inspired soundtrack.
Mac OS
PC
Playstation 4
Playstation 5
Windows
Xbox One
Linux
PlayStation
Xbox
Reviews
- The game features beautiful pixel art and well-crafted environments that evoke nostalgia for classic arcade shooters.
- Gameplay is engaging with a variety of weapons, upgrades, and unique boss battles that provide a satisfying challenge.
- The story offers a fresh take on the classic knight-rescues-princess trope, adding depth to the gameplay experience.
- Movement feels slow and janky, making maneuvering difficult and detracting from the overall experience.
- The game suffers from some bugs and issues with hitboxes, which can lead to frustrating gameplay moments.
- The overall length of the game is short, and some players may find the replay value lacking after completing it.
- story15 mentions
- 27 % positive mentions
- 53 % neutral mentions
- 20 % negative mentions
The story of "Gryphon Knight Epic" is a straightforward yet engaging narrative centered on a knight's quest to rescue his wife from a sorceress, with a twist that subverts traditional tropes by starting after the typical hero's journey. While the narrative lacks depth and character development, it is complemented by humorous elements and enjoyable gameplay, making it appealing to fans of the genre despite its simplicity. Overall, the presentation and pixel art enhance the experience, though the story remains a secondary focus to the action.
“The narrative in 'Gryphon Knight Epic' is minimal, focusing on the knight's quest to rescue his wife from a powerful sorceress.”
“It could be another classic story of a knight who rescues the princess in the castle, kills the dragon and takes the treasure, but the story of the game begins after these events, which totally changes an already explored narrative.”
“There is also a story in this game that is far more enjoyable than your average schmup.”
“While the story serves as a basic premise for the action, it lacks depth and character development, with the primary focus on the shooting gameplay.”
“It was actually pretty fun (can't understand the 55 of Metacritic though), story was pretty simple but also nothing special.”
“Yoy play as the titular knight riding on his mighty gryphon fighting against your former allies who because of certain story related reasons have gone bad.”
- graphics15 mentions
- 47 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 20 % negative mentions
The game's graphics are characterized by beautiful pixel art that evokes nostalgia for classic arcade shooters, effectively capturing a retro aesthetic. While they do not push modern boundaries, the visuals are complemented by a fitting soundtrack and showcase impressive sprite work across various settings. Overall, the graphics contribute significantly to the game's charm and appeal.
“The graphics in this game are wonderful, featuring beautiful sprite work that covers a variety of historical and fictional settings.”
“While the graphics don't push modern boundaries, they effectively capture the retro aesthetic the game aims for.”
“The game adopts a pixel art style that evokes nostalgia for classic arcade shooters.”
“With its retro-inspired visuals, challenging gameplay, and a touch of fantasy, the game aims to capture the spirit of old-school arcade shooters.”
- gameplay13 mentions
- 62 % positive mentions
- 23 % neutral mentions
- 15 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "Gryphon Knight Epic" is a nostalgic homage to classic shoot 'em up titles, featuring engaging mechanics that allow players to control a knight on a gryphon through challenging levels filled with intense boss fights and enemy swarms. The game offers a variety of weapons and power-ups, adding strategic depth, though it may not satisfy hardcore bullet hell fans. While the story is minimal, the overall experience is fun and addictive, appealing to casual players who appreciate retro-inspired arcade gameplay.
“With its retro-inspired visuals, challenging gameplay, and a touch of fantasy, the game aims to capture the spirit of old-school arcade shooters.”
“The variety of weapons and power-ups adds strategic depth to the gameplay, allowing players to adapt to different challenges.”
“This game is, above all, a very fun game; it's that kind of gameplay that makes us play more and more.”
“While the story serves as a basic premise for the action, it lacks depth and character development, with the primary focus on the shooting gameplay.”
“The only thing that troubled me is that sometimes the feature of swapping sides kind of messes up the gameplay.”
- music4 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The music in the game is praised for its retro-inspired soundtrack that effectively complements the pixel art visuals, with reviewers noting its solid quality and variety. While acknowledging the limitations of 2D games in terms of musical options, the soundtrack is generally considered quite good.
“Solid soundtrack.”
“They have very varied levels, like enemies, art, soundtrack, and yeah... I guess 2D games don't have many options here.”
“The sound design features a fitting retro-inspired soundtrack that complements the game's pixel art visuals.”
- replayability4 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The game has moderate replayability, especially appealing to fans of the shoot 'em up genre; however, players may find little incentive to replay it after completing the epic difficulty.
“The game offers moderate replayability, particularly for fans of the shoot 'em up genre.”
“There is no replay value once beaten on epic difficulty.”
- humor2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game's humor is characterized by a charming and simple storyline, effectively conveyed through short, skippable cutscenes that enhance the overall experience. The pixel art complements this lighthearted tone, adding to the game's appeal.
“The pixel art is really nice, and the sense of humor brought out through the short, skippable cutscenes was charming.”
“A simple, humorous story.”
- atmosphere1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -500 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The atmosphere is enhanced by effective audio elements, though it is not considered groundbreaking.
“The audio elements effectively enhance the overall atmosphere, creating an immersive experience.”
“The game's atmosphere is rich and engaging, drawing players into its world.”
“The combination of visuals and sound design creates a hauntingly beautiful atmosphere that lingers long after playing.”
“While not groundbreaking, the audio elements effectively enhance the overall atmosphere.”
“The game fails to create a truly immersive environment, leaving players feeling disconnected.”
“The visuals are lackluster and do little to contribute to a compelling atmosphere.”
- character development1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Reviews indicate that character development is minimal, with the narrative primarily serving as a backdrop for action rather than offering depth or growth for the characters. The emphasis is largely on gameplay mechanics, particularly shooting, rather than on enriching the characters' arcs.
“While the story serves as a basic premise for the action, it lacks depth and character development, with the primary focus on the shooting gameplay.”
“The characters feel one-dimensional and their arcs are predictable, making it hard to invest in their journeys.”
“There is little to no growth for the characters throughout the game, leaving them feeling static and uninteresting.”
Critic Reviews
Gryphon Knight Epic Review – Epic Shooting
A fun, solid sidescrolling shooter. There's not a lot wrong with it, and I managed to have some good fun.
75%Gryphon Knight Epic Review
This shmup is slick and pretty. A job well done.
70%Gryphon Knight Epic (PC) Review
Gryphon Knight Epic is a challenging and enjoyable—if forgettable—little shoot-‘em-up with plenty of nostalgia to offer the 25 to 35-year-old crowd.
70%
