Gryphon Knight Epic

A fun, solid sidescrolling shooter. There's not a lot wrong with it, and I managed to have some good fun.

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"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.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Local Multi-Player Play with friends in the same physical space using split-screen or multiple screens
2-Players Play with one other player, either online or locally, in a cooperative or competitive game mode
Multi-Player Compete or cooperate with other players online
Co-Op Team up with friends to complete levels or missions together
Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo
Split Screen Play with multiple players on the same screen, often with divided or shared screen real estate

Reviews

78%

Audience ScoreBased on 83 reviews

graphics15 positive mentions

music3 negative mentions

The game features beautiful pixel art and engaging graphics that evoke nostalgia for classic arcade shooters.
Gryphon Knight Epic offers a variety of weapons, upgrades, and unique level designs, providing a fun and strategic gameplay experience.
The game has a charming story and humorous elements that enhance the overall enjoyment, making it appealing to fans of the genre.

Movement feels slow and janky, which can hinder gameplay and make maneuvering difficult.
The game is relatively short, with some players feeling it lacks depth and replayability after completion.
There are issues with hitboxes and unresponsive controls, particularly when using a controller, which can lead to frustrating gameplay experiences.

graphics
31 mentions
48 % positive mentions
42 % neutral mentions
10 % negative mentions
The graphics of "Gryphon Knight Epic" are characterized by beautiful pixel art that evokes nostalgia for classic arcade shooters, effectively capturing the retro aesthetic the game aims for. While the visuals do not push modern boundaries, they are praised for their charming sprite work and animations, contributing to an engaging overall presentation. The game's retro-inspired graphics are complemented by a fitting soundtrack, enhancing the nostalgic experience.
- “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.”
story
30 mentions
27 % positive mentions
63 % neutral mentions
10 % negative mentions
The story of "Gryphon Knight Epic" revolves around a knight's quest to rescue his wife from a sorceress, presenting a familiar narrative that shifts after typical fantasy tropes, introducing a curse that must be broken. While the plot is described as simple and lacking depth, it is complemented by humorous elements and engaging gameplay, making it enjoyable for fans despite its minimal character development. Overall, the presentation and pixel art are praised, but the story remains a secondary focus to the action-oriented gameplay.
- “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.”
- “Great pixel art, good levels, great boss battles, humorous story yet engaging.”
- “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), the story was pretty simple but also nothing special.”
- “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.”
gameplay
27 mentions
63 % positive mentions
26 % neutral mentions
11 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "Gryphon Knight Epic" is characterized by its retro-inspired visuals and classic shoot 'em up mechanics, offering engaging level design filled with intense boss fights and swarms of enemies. Players can enjoy a variety of weapons and power-ups that add strategic depth, making it accessible for casual fans while providing a fun experience reminiscent of old-school arcade shooters. However, some players noted that the side-swapping feature can occasionally disrupt the flow of 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.”
- “"Gryphon Knight Epic" features classic shoot 'em up mechanics, with players controlling a knight mounted on a gryphon.”
- “The variety of weapons and power-ups adds strategic depth to the gameplay, allowing players to adapt to different challenges.”
- “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.”
- “The mechanics of weapons, potions, and squires give a very interesting strategic dynamic.”
music
8 mentions
25 % positive mentions
38 % neutral mentions
38 % negative mentions
The music in the game is characterized by a solid, retro-inspired soundtrack that effectively complements its pixel art visuals. Reviewers appreciate the variety within the soundtrack, noting that it enhances the overall experience despite the limitations often found in 2D games.
- “Solid soundtrack.”
- “They have very varied levels, like enemies, art, and 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.”
- “[*] solid soundtrack”
replayability
8 mentions
0 % positive mentions
75 % neutral mentions
25 % 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 once they have completed it on epic difficulty.
- “No replay value once beaten on epic difficulty.”
- “The game offers moderate replayability, particularly for fans of the shoot 'em up genre.”
humor
4 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. Players appreciate the lightheartedness and wit, which complements the appealing pixel art style.
- “The pixel art is really nice, and the sense of humor brought out through the short skippable cutscenes was charming.”
- “Simple, humorous story.”
atmosphere
2 mentions
50 % positive mentions
50 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is enhanced by effective audio elements, though they are not considered groundbreaking. Overall, the sound design contributes positively to the immersive experience.
- “While not groundbreaking, the audio elements effectively enhance the overall atmosphere.”
character development
2 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is notably shallow, with reviews highlighting that the narrative serves merely as a backdrop for the action rather than providing meaningful growth or depth to the characters. The primary emphasis on shooting gameplay detracts from any potential for character exploration.
- “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.”
grinding
1 mentions
0 % positive mentions
-200 % neutral mentions
300 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious at times, with some noting that the auto-scrolling feature can hinder the experience.
- “Grinding can be tedious at times, and the auto-scrolling feature can be a hindrance.”
- “The grinding aspect feels overly repetitive and lacks variety.”
- “I find the grinding to be a chore rather than an engaging part of the game.”