Knight Eternal
- November 5, 2019
- Joshua Keith
- 10h median play time
In "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.
Reviews
- The game features a nostalgic retro aesthetic reminiscent of classic JRPGs, with enjoyable customization options for characters.
- The combat system is engaging and fast-paced, allowing for quick battles and strategic gameplay.
- The story, while having some loose ends, offers interesting plot threads and character development that keeps players invested.
- The writing and dialogue are often criticized for being cringe-worthy and uninteresting, leading to a lack of emotional investment in the characters.
- The skill tree system can be confusing and limiting, as players may struggle to make meaningful choices without clear guidance.
- There are technical issues, including bugs that can disrupt gameplay, such as getting stuck in endless battle loops.
- story44 mentions
- 9 % positive mentions
- 82 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The story has received mixed reviews, with many players finding it underwhelming and lacking stakes, as the presence of more powerful NPC heroes diminishes the player's sense of urgency. While some appreciate the writing and the execution of certain plot points, such as the amnesia trope, others describe the narrative as boring and poorly developed, leading to a lack of emotional investment in the characters. Overall, the story is seen as decent but not compelling enough to elevate the gameplay experience significantly.
“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.”
“Story is fine, writing is getting better and better.”
“Nothing takes the wind faster out of a story's sails as revealing that there are no stakes.”
“The world is not in any danger if you fail in your mission, since it's evident that these NPC heroes are far more powerful than you and could stop any threat at any point.”
“Essentially, the story is just flat out boring to the point that you will find yourself skipping over text just to get through it.”
- gameplay16 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 56 % neutral mentions
- 19 % negative mentions
The gameplay is generally well-received, with improvements noted over previous titles, such as enhanced resolution and solid encounter design. However, some critics argue that while the mechanics are competent and reminiscent of classic games like Final Fantasy, they lack originality and depth in both gameplay and storyline. Overall, the game offers a nostalgic experience, but opinions vary on its creativity and execution.
“The game is mechanically similar to the previous one, but there are some improvements, such as the wider resolution.”
“Gameplay is good, just like the other nostalgic retro games.”
“- Combat/gameplay: 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.”
“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.”
“-combat/gameplay: 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.”
- graphics12 mentions
- 17 % positive mentions
- 58 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game have been praised for their departure from the typical RPG Maker style, showcasing appealing pixel/8-bit visuals that resonate well with fans of retro aesthetics. Many players appreciate the game's artistic choices, noting that it creates an engaging world to explore, although some feel that graphics may not be the primary focus for all players. Overall, the visuals are considered a standout feature, elevating the game's appeal within the RPG Maker genre.
“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.”
“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.”
“By Steam RPG Maker game standards, this is a masterpiece, especially since it didn't use the frankly obnoxious default art style.”
- music10 mentions
- 60 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 40 % negative mentions
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some praising the impressive soundtrack and its classic feel, especially for a low-cost title, while others find it mediocre or even unlistenable, leading them to mute it early on. Overall, the soundtrack is highlighted as a strong point by some players, contrasting sharply with negative opinions from others.
“The soundtrack is amazing! I was impressed that a $2 game has a more classic-esque soundtrack; really well done there.”
“The soundtrack and battle system are awesome, which is a plus.”
“Music is awesome, love it.”
“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.”
- humor4 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is polarizing, with some players finding the fourth-wall breaking jokes amusing, while others criticize the dialogue as cringeworthy and poorly written. Despite the mixed reception, there are moments that some players appreciate, particularly when the game rewards exploration with humorous lines.
“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.”
- atmosphere2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere fails to effectively convey a post-apocalyptic setting, with sprites and backgrounds lacking the necessary tone, resulting in a missed opportunity for deeper immersion. Reviewers express a desire for a more serious portrayal, particularly in the demeanor of NPCs, which currently feel overly cheerful and unserious.
“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 development2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Character development is generally well-received, with players noting that both the main and side characters are engaging and likable, contributing positively to the overall experience.
“The side characters are engaging and likable; the character development is generally pretty good.”
- emotional2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is largely criticized, with users finding the story to be boring and lacking engagement, which detracts from the overall experience. The absence of a map or guidance further exacerbates feelings of frustration and disconnection from the narrative.
- grinding2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players generally find the grinding aspect of the game to be manageable and enjoyable, as even on hard difficulty, random encounters are quick, often taking less than 20 seconds to complete, preventing the experience from feeling tedious.