KnightShift

About

KnightShift is a single player and multiplayer role playing game with fantasy, comedy and historical themes. It was developed by Reality Pump and was released on September 27, 2013. It received mostly positive reviews from players.

"KnightShift is a historical real-time strategy and role-playing game hybrid, offering both modes separately or combined. The RPG portion features eight chapters of dungeon exploration, treasure hunting, and character development, while the RTS section supports up to eight players in multiplayer battles or single-player skirmishes to save the kingdom from evil. With a compelling storyline and living world of fantasy, KnightShift provides an engaging and immersive gaming experience."

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64%

Audience ScoreBased on 399 reviews

story12 positive mentions

graphics15 negative mentions

Unique blend of RPG and RTS elements, providing a different gameplay experience.
Nostalgic charm for players who enjoyed it in their childhood, with humorous dialogue and quirky mechanics.
Offers a variety of game modes, including RPG campaigns and RTS skirmishes, allowing for diverse gameplay.

Dated graphics and clunky controls make the game feel outdated and less enjoyable for modern players.
Frequent technical issues, including crashes and difficulty running on newer systems, detract from the overall experience.
Repetitive gameplay and lack of depth in both RPG and RTS modes lead to a tedious experience.

story
73 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
16%
70%
14%
The game's story is a mix of a classic medieval fantasy narrative centered around a hero's quest to reclaim a throne, infused with humor and elements of Slavic mythology. While some players appreciate the engaging hero-centric campaign and quirky dialogue, many criticize the overall plot for being basic, repetitive, and lacking depth, with missions that often feel monotonous. Despite its charm and potential for varied gameplay, the story is generally viewed as average and somewhat uninspired.
- “Set in a medieval fantasy world, the game combines base-building, resource management, and hero-driven storytelling.”
- “The RPG elements shine through as you navigate through an engaging storyline, interact with non-playable characters, and make impactful choices that shape your journey.”
- “The story is based on Slavic mythology, with action taking place in Polish territory.”
- “The story is just very basic and bland, and the quests are very repetitive.”
- “Unfortunately, the world stage, lore, and plot are all pretty boring and delivered in an old English medieval style that is very easy to mentally tune out, especially since it sounds like a caricature and does not have any genuine feel to it.”
- “I'm not against older games, and graphics aren't my top issue, but there is also no storyline to mention.”
gameplay
66 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
30%
56%
14%
The gameplay of Knightshift is a unique blend of real-time strategy (RTS) and role-playing game (RPG) elements, offering a hybrid experience that appeals to various playstyles. However, many players find the gameplay repetitive and shallow, with clunky controls and dated graphics detracting from the overall experience. While the game provides hours of entertainment and whimsical charm, it may primarily resonate with nostalgic fans rather than modern gamers seeking depth and fluidity.
- “Knightshift is what happens when classic RTS gameplay meets lighthearted RPG mechanics—with a dose of medieval humor.”
- “Players control a hero unit while also managing armies and building structures, creating a hybrid gameplay experience that stands out from traditional RTS games.”
- “The blend of RPG and real-time strategy elements provides a refreshing and dynamic gameplay experience, catering to different playstyles and preferences.”
- “The gameplay can also get pretty repetitive and grindy when you're farming monsters.”
- “While its hybrid gameplay and hero-centric story are commendable, the game is held back by dated graphics, clunky controls, and repetitive missions.”
- “The gameplay is boring and tedious, with no real choice or consequence.”
graphics
56 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
18%
55%
27%
The graphics of the game are widely criticized as outdated and underwhelming, even for its 2003 release, with many reviewers describing them as poor, ugly, and lacking detail. While some players appreciate the nostalgic charm and quirky design, the consensus is that the visuals significantly detract from the overall experience, making it difficult for modern audiences to fully enjoy the game. Despite its engaging gameplay and story, the dated graphics remain a major drawback.
- “From lush landscapes to intricate castle structures, the game's visuals transport you to a realm of knights, magic, and mythical creatures.”
- “But my neighbor eats bugs and it is pretty weird, anyway, the graphics are really beautiful and probably the best I have ever seen in a video game.”
- “Also great graphics and the game aged quite well.”
- “The graphics were outdated even in 2003, and not in a charming way.”
- “The graphics are poor and ugly, with no real detail or realism.”
- “This game is an eyesore; its graphics are horrible and the gameplay is... compared to new games, extremely lame.”
humor
26 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in Knightshift is characterized by its whimsical and medieval themes, featuring quirky elements like cows and a milk economy, which some players find charming and funny. However, the game's lack of memorable characters and occasionally odd dialogue detracts from its comedic potential, leading to mixed feelings about its humor. Overall, while it offers a lighthearted experience with humorous voice acting and a unique story, it is best appreciated by those who enjoy its nostalgic and quirky style.
- “Knightshift is what happens when classic RTS gameplay meets lighthearted RPG mechanics—with a dose of medieval humor.”
- “Funny, charming, and full of surprises.”
- “Great medieval music, simplicity, a little bit of silly humor, and diversity of game modes.”
music
24 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
38%
49%
13%
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with many praising the soundtrack for its fitting quirky tone and atmospheric qualities, contributing to enjoyable gameplay. However, some users express disappointment over the absence of the original soundtrack in newer versions, noting that the current music can be repetitive and lacks variety. Overall, while the soundtrack is often described as epic and engaging, opinions vary on its execution and availability across different game versions.
- “The game's atmosphere, storyline, and music all add up and provide hours of enjoyable gameplay.”
- “The most epic soundtrack I've ever heard in video games!”
- “The sound design for me is just superb... I could listen to that classic medieval soundtrack for days and it really gets you in the mood for some old-fashioned sword fighting.”
- “The sound is annoying and repetitive, with no real voice acting or music.”
- “Unfortunately the Steam version has a different soundtrack (only RTS music is right); the original is so much better.”
- “Avoid like the plague unless you're looking for that 90's vibe and perhaps want to sing the song of your people while using the unfriendly configuration screen (which just seems to loop when it crashes).”
stability
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
17%
83%
The game's stability is a mixed bag; while some players report that it runs well despite its age, others encounter significant bugs and glitches, particularly with visuals and voice acting. Overall, the experience can be inconsistent, with some users finding it playable while others face frustrating issues.
- “The game is super old, yet it still runs great.”
- “Even the screen for the serial key input is buggy.”
- “Maybe good but really old and pretty buggy.”
- “Voice acting is crazy bad, visuals are buggy and glitchy, all hilarious.”
grinding
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be repetitive and tedious, often leading to boredom. While random encounters offer some challenge and contribute to experience farming, the overall experience is described as annoying and lacking meaningful choices or consequences. Additionally, performance issues on modern systems further detract from the enjoyment of grinding.
- “The gameplay can also get pretty repetitive and grindy when you're farming monsters.”
- “The gameplay is boring and tedious, with no real choice or consequence.”
- “The thing I remember most is that it felt grindy and a bit annoying in the long run.”
replayability
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
17%
50%
Overall, the game's replayability is considered limited after completing the campaign, with many players noting a lack of incentive to return. However, those who enjoy the genre may find value in the various game styles, character upgrades, and online features, which contribute to a more engaging experience. Ratings for replayability vary, with some players giving it a score of 6/10.
- “Good replay value for money if you like Warcraft-stylized strategy games that don’t take themselves too seriously.”
- “It does a great job in its presentation, gameplay options, and the fact that it offers a ton of replayability thanks not only to the multiple game styles, but the different characters, being able to upgrade them, and the online element of it.”
- “Limited replayability: once the campaign is completed, there’s little incentive to revisit the game.”
- “Replayability: 6/10”
- “Replayability is limited once the campaign is completed.”
atmosphere
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
75%
25%
The game's atmosphere is highly praised for its enchanting and idyllic qualities, enhanced by a captivating storyline and atmospheric music, which together create an immersive experience that players continue to appreciate long after completion.
- “The game's atmosphere, storyline, and music all add up to provide hours of enjoyable gameplay.”
- “I highly enjoyed the idyllic, fairy-tale atmosphere in the campaign.”
- “And now, after around 15 years, I still feel this great atmosphere.”
character development
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
100%
Character development in the game is noted for its depth and authenticity, with memorable dialogue and responsive controls enhancing the experience. However, some users feel that the overall character development is lacking, describing it as "paper-thin and campy."
- “The attention to detail in the environments and character designs adds depth and authenticity to the game's setting.”
- “Very responsive controls, dialogue is memorable and moving, character development at its best; you really want to help your main character find his armor.”
- “Character development – paper-thin and campy.”
- “The characters lack meaningful growth and feel more like caricatures than real individuals.”
- “The dialogue is often shallow, making it hard to connect with the characters on any emotional level.”
emotional
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game is lacking, as players find the customizable heroes devoid of meaningful personality or emotional arcs, resulting in a gameplay experience that fails to evoke any strong feelings or lasting engagement.