Knight Eternal
- November 5, 2019
- Joshua Keith
- 9h median play time
Get on Steam
Get on itch.io StoreIn "Knight Eternal," players control a legendary knight protecting a fantasy world from darkness. Combining real-time strategy and RPG elements, players command armies, upgrade abilities, and make moral choices influencing the story and ending. Unique among indie games, its immersive world and rich narrative offer challenging battles and engaging lore.
PC
Phone
Windows
Android
Mobile Platform
Tablet
Reviews
- The game offers a nostalgic experience reminiscent of classic JRPGs, with enjoyable turn-based combat and a variety of customization options for characters.
- The skill tree system allows for strategic character development, enabling players to tailor their party to their preferred playstyle.
- The graphics and custom sprites are appealing, contributing to a charming retro aesthetic that many players appreciate.
- The story and dialogue are often criticized for being dull, unengaging, and filled with cringe-worthy humor, leading to a lack of emotional investment in the characters.
- Gameplay mechanics, such as the skill tree and status effects, can be confusing and poorly explained, detracting from the overall experience.
- The music quality is inconsistent, with some tracks being repetitive or unappealing, which may lead players to turn off the sound during gameplay.
- story24 mentions
- 13 % positive mentions
- 75 % neutral mentions
- 13 % negative mentions
The story has received mixed reviews, with some players finding it underdeveloped and lacking stakes, as the presence of more powerful NPC heroes diminishes the sense of danger. While certain plot elements, like the use of amnesia, are executed better than in many RPGs, overall, the narrative is described as boring and lacking engagement, leading some to skip text. Despite these criticisms, a few players appreciated the improvements in writing and found the story enjoyable, though not exceptional.
“The game has two main plot threads, with the first being the tension between Zamaste and Halonia and the second being Astraea's lost memories.”
“Our hero's story is actually very good and surprisingly well written.”
“The game plays quite well, the theme is enjoyable and the story is well-explained in-game.”
“You will not care about anyone in the story.”
“Nothing takes the wind faster out of a story's sails as revealing that there are no stakes.”
“Essentially, the story is just flat out boring to the point that you will find yourself skipping over text just to get through it.”
- gameplay13 mentions
- 23 % positive mentions
- 54 % neutral mentions
- 23 % negative mentions
The gameplay is generally well-received, with improvements noted in mechanics and resolution compared to previous titles. While some reviewers find the combat system competent and reminiscent of classic games like Final Fantasy, others criticize it for lacking originality and depth in storyline. Overall, the combination of modern skill trees and nostalgic graphics enhances the experience, making it enjoyable despite some concerns about creativity.
“The game is mechanically similar to the previous one, but there are some improvements, such as the wider resolution.”
“The graphics and gameplay are great and there are very few problems overall with the game.”
“This one in particular combines a fairly modern skill tree setup with the graphical style of a Game Boy Color and the combat mechanics from the other games.”
“It's just sad that, after all the work someone put in to make these sprites, there was little effort put into gameplay and storyline.”
“The presumption would be that most of the people who would buy this game could care less about the graphics, and care more about the gameplay and story, so again, how this game got a high rating, I simply cannot understand.”
“The core system is competent, and the FF7 inspiration is undeniable, to the point that I would call it uncreative, but it's executed well, and the encounter design is good, so it earns a pass.”
- graphics10 mentions
- 30 % positive mentions
- 40 % neutral mentions
- 30 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game have received mixed reviews, with many praising its departure from the typical RPG Maker art style and its nostalgic pixel/8-bit aesthetics. Players appreciate the blend of modern features with classic visuals, creating an engaging world to explore. However, some critics feel the graphics are merely "okay" and do not significantly enhance the overall experience.
“The game above all I was excited for was Knight Eternal because I am obsessed with pixel/8-bit graphics, and as soon as I saw a turn-based pixel graphics JRPG, I was pumped.”
“A nice world to explore and great old school graphics.”
“It has just the right amount of modern features mixed with nostalgic graphics.”
“The presumption would be that most of the people who would buy this game could care less about the graphics, and care more about the gameplay and story, so again, how this game got a high rating, I simply cannot understand.”
“The graphics lacked that 'RPG Maker' style that tends to turn me off of most RPG Maker games.”
“As for the graphics, they're 'okay'.”
- music9 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- 11 % neutral mentions
- 22 % negative mentions
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some praising the impressive soundtrack and classic feel, while others find it mediocre or unenjoyable, particularly the overworld theme. Overall, many players appreciate the chiptune/8-bit style, noting that it enhances the gaming experience, especially during battles and with certain transportation changes.
“The soundtrack is amazing! I was impressed that a $2 game has such a classic-esque soundtrack; really well done there.”
“The soundtrack and battle system are awesome, which is a big plus.”
“Eventually, you get a form of transportation that changes the music to a really nice tune in the overworld as well.”
“The music ranges from mediocre to bad.”
“Even though the third one is my favorite, this improves on all aspects except writing, which has always ranged between tolerable and terrible, and music, which to be fair I muted 10 seconds into the game.”
- humor3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is polarizing; while some players appreciate the occasional funny dialogue and fourth-wall breaks, others find the writing to be cringeworthy and inconsistent, with a mix of hilarious and stale moments throughout the cutscenes and conversations.
“I was even able to jump ahead once I got the ship, and the game rewarded me with some funny dialogue about 'the person in the sky leading me here!' I found the occasional fourth wall breaks pretty funny.”
“Some cutscenes and conversations are hilarious while others might feel a bit stale or unpolished.”
- atmosphere1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere falls short of effectively conveying a post-apocalyptic setting, as the sprites and backgrounds do not reflect the intended tone. Reviewers express a desire for a more serious portrayal, suggesting that NPCs should exhibit less cheerfulness to enhance the overall ambiance.
“None of the sprites or backgrounds convey a post-apocalyptic atmosphere, which is a missed opportunity. I would have liked it if the game had leaned into the setting a little more, with NPCs not being quite so cheerful or unserious.”
- character development1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Character development is generally well-received, with side characters being particularly engaging and likable, contributing positively to the overall experience.
“The side characters are engaging and likable; the character development is generally pretty good.”
“The depth of each character's backstory adds layers to the overall narrative, making their growth feel authentic.”
“I love how the characters evolve throughout the game, facing challenges that truly shape their personalities.”
- emotional1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is negatively impacted by a lack of guidance and clarity in the story, leading to frustration and disengagement for players who may feel lost and disconnected from the narrative.
“The emotional depth of the characters is overshadowed by a lackluster storyline that fails to engage.”
“I felt no connection to the characters, as their emotional arcs were poorly developed and unconvincing.”
“The game tries to evoke emotions, but the execution is so flat that it leaves you feeling indifferent.”
- grinding1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Players find that grinding in the game is manageable and enjoyable, as even on hard difficulty, random encounters are quick and do not feel tedious, often taking less than 20 seconds to complete.
“Grinding feels repetitive and tedious, making it hard to stay engaged with the game.”
“The grind is excessive and takes away from the overall enjoyment of the gameplay.”
“I found myself spending hours on grinding without any real sense of progress or reward.”
