Kneedle Knight
- February 21, 2024
- SMU Guildhall
Kneedle Knight is a third-person, puzzle platformer game developed by students at SMU Guildhall Cohort 32. In Kneedle Knight, the player controls a mouse knight that uses his magical needle to sew fabric which he can merge into, moving back and forth between 3D and 2D. Sir Lukoss the Small was a noble knight sent on a quest to defeat the evil Witch of Fabric. The Witch, using her enchanted fabri…
Reviews
- The game features a unique fabric creation mechanic that allows for creative problem-solving and enhances speedrunning potential.
- The artwork and sound design are charming, contributing to an enjoyable atmosphere and immersive experience.
- The gameplay is fun and forgiving, making it accessible for players who enjoy puzzle platformers, despite its short length.
- Controls can feel inconsistent and clunky, leading to frustrating gameplay experiences, especially in a platformer.
- The game is very short, with only three levels, which may leave players wanting more content and challenge.
- Performance issues, including crashes and high resource demands, detract from the overall experience.
- gameplay40 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 68 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The gameplay is characterized by innovative mechanics, particularly the fabric creation and needle threading, which offer players significant freedom and creativity in solving puzzles and navigating levels. While many players find the mechanics enjoyable and addictive, there are calls for more depth, polish, and additional gameplay elements to maintain engagement beyond the initial levels. Overall, the game combines charming visuals and sound design with a solid, albeit sometimes repetitive, puzzle platforming experience.
“I'd love to see a full game with these mechanics, more depth and more polish. The fabric creation mechanic is so fun and gives you so much freedom and creativity on how to beat the levels or solve puzzles your way. It's also amazing for speedrunning, which I did for the achievements, and was the most fun way to play the game.”
“The game's unique hook lies in its innovative gameplay mechanics centered around needle threading.”
“The character feels snappy and responsive, and the cloth mechanic was used in a lot of interesting ways.”
“The concept is cool and level design is decent, but the actual mechanics and the movement need some polish.”
“Without introducing any new gameplay mechanics and with no story to keep me motivated, I began getting bored.”
“Yes, the second level emphasizes 'double jumping' but, after you master it and use it excessively, that seemed to be it for new gameplay mechanics.”
- graphics16 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 31 % neutral mentions
- 19 % negative mentions
The game's graphics are widely praised for their charming pixel art style and vibrant colors, creating an engaging atmosphere that complements the gameplay. While many players appreciate the cute and artistic visuals, some have noted performance issues at maximum settings, suggesting that medium to high settings still deliver an enjoyable experience without lag. Overall, the graphics effectively enhance the game's narrative and mechanics, making it a visually appealing title.
“The charming pixel art style is bursting with personality, drawing players into a vibrant world brimming with color and detail.”
“With its inventive gameplay, stunning visuals, and touching narrative, it's a must-play for anyone seeking a truly unforgettable gaming experience.”
“Charming graphics, good music and sound design, and enjoyable game mechanics.”
“I have a great laptop and it still feels laggy at maximum graphic settings, while the fans are running non-stop.”
“I think the devs shouldn't have let graphic settings set to maximum by default.”
“Fortunately, the medium/high graphic setting also looks okay.”
- story13 mentions
- 31 % positive mentions
- 38 % neutral mentions
- 31 % negative mentions
The game's story is praised for its unique and fun initial setup, featuring themes of perseverance, friendship, and hope, but many players feel it lacks depth and progression beyond the opening narrative. While the environmental design is appealing, the absence of ongoing storytelling and new gameplay mechanics leads to a sense of boredom as players advance. Overall, the story is seen as a strong start that fails to sustain engagement throughout the game.
“Through subtle storytelling and memorable characters, the game explores themes of perseverance, friendship, and the power of hope.”
“But the story at the beginning is fun and unique, and the design otherwise is very nice looking.”
“I think that the initial set-up storyline fit the main gameplay mechanic well.”
“And this game seems to have no story beyond the last clearance; it is very strange, as there is a story that should be explored.”
“In fact, one of the game's deficiencies is that there is no story beyond the initial set-up.”
“Without introducing any new gameplay mechanics and with no story to keep me motivated, I began getting bored.”
- music5 mentions
- 60 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 40 % negative mentions
The game's music and sound design receive positive feedback for creating an immersive atmosphere that enhances the overall experience. Reviewers appreciate the charming soundtrack, noting it complements the visuals and gameplay effectively, while also being pleasant without being overly catchy or distracting.
“Accompanied by a mesmerizing soundtrack that perfectly complements the on-screen action, the game creates an immersive atmosphere that's impossible to resist.”
“Charming graphics, good music and sound design, and enjoyable game mechanics.”
“The art style and the music are cute and fit the gameplay well; you'll love it.”
“The music and sound effects were also completely sufficient; neither catchy nor annoying.”
“The art style and the music are cute and fit the gameplay well, you'll love it.”
- emotional4 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
"Kneedle Knight" is praised for its heartfelt narrative that deeply engages players emotionally, making them invested in the journey of the titular character and their companions. The combination of inventive gameplay, stunning visuals, and a touching story contributes to an unforgettable gaming experience that resonates strongly with players, often evoking tears.
“Beyond its gameplay and presentation, 'Kneedle Knight' also boasts a heartfelt narrative that tugs at the heartstrings.”
“By the time the credits roll, you'll find yourself emotionally invested in the journey of the titular Kneedle Knight and their companions.”
“With its inventive gameplay, stunning visuals, and touching narrative, it's a must-play for anyone seeking a truly unforgettable gaming experience.”
- atmosphere3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is highly praised for its captivating cartoonish style and immersive aesthetic, enhanced by a mesmerizing soundtrack that complements the gameplay. Reviewers express a strong appreciation for the overall ambiance, rating it exceptionally high.
“Accompanied by a mesmerizing soundtrack that perfectly complements the on-screen action, the game creates an immersive atmosphere that's impossible to resist.”
“I really love the whole atmosphere and aesthetic of the game, and the gameplay is pretty good.”
“Huge fan of atmospheric cartoonish adventures, 11/10.”
- optimization1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The primary concern regarding optimization is performance, with users frequently reporting issues that hinder smooth gameplay.
“The main complaint is performance.”
“The game struggles to maintain a stable frame rate, even on high-end systems.”
“Frequent stuttering and long loading times make the experience frustrating.”