Shady Knight
- October 9, 2024
- Alexey 'cptnsigh'
- 5h median play time
Get on Steam
Get on itch.io StoreShady Knight is a 7DFPS jam prototype featuring fast-paced sword-fighting action. Fight enemies with stylish combos, dodge their attacks, and climb the castle tower to defeat the boss. The game uses sound effects from zapsplat.com and is in development with updates shared on the developer's Twitter account.
PC
Steam Deck
Windows
Reviews
- Incredible movement mechanics that allow for fluid and creative combat, making players feel like a skilled knight.
- The game offers a high skill ceiling with a variety of combos and interactions, encouraging experimentation and replayability.
- Visually appealing with a unique art style and engaging soundtrack that enhances the overall experience.
- Some levels can be confusing and lack clear direction, leading to frustration when trying to progress.
- Certain enemy mechanics, like shields and teleportation, can disrupt the flow of combat and feel overly punishing.
- The game can be challenging to newcomers, with a steep learning curve and a lack of comprehensive tutorials for advanced mechanics.
- gameplay105 mentions
- 39 % positive mentions
- 58 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The gameplay of this game is widely praised for its mechanical depth, fluidity, and engaging combat and parkour systems, offering a satisfying blend of action and exploration. Players appreciate the variety of mechanics introduced throughout the game, although some express frustration over the lack of clear tutorials for certain features. Overall, the gameplay is described as addictive, challenging, and rewarding, making it appealing to both casual players and those seeking to master its complexities.
“Probably the most polished and mechanically in-depth action game I've ever played.”
“Gameplay is immaculate, a perfect blend of combat and parkour.”
“The gameplay is amazing, the maps are beautiful and despite not understanding or knowing most of the lore, the little I do know kept me wanting more!”
“A bunch of mechanics appear once and then never again.”
“Only complaint is there are a lot of mechanics / special moves that are only explained in tips in the levels or in secret levels, like the bow does a homing shot while sliding.”
“However, some of the mechanics are tough to figure out, with fewer hints than one would expect of a puzzle type that's just been introduced.”
- music27 mentions
- 52 % positive mentions
- 37 % neutral mentions
- 11 % negative mentions
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some praising its dynamic integration and atmospheric qualities that enhance the gameplay experience, while others find it repetitive and lacking in memorable hooks. Many players appreciate the heavy, grungy tracks that complement the action, but some suggest that the ambient soundtrack can become grating over time. Overall, while the music contributes positively to the game's atmosphere, it may not satisfy those seeking a standout soundtrack.
“Also, Jesus Christ, the art direction and soundtracks are also freaking incredible.”
“If you're looking for any of that, I highly recommend picking this game up. This is a game I would recommend at full price in a heartbeat, incredibly fun, and the music slaps. The better the score, the heavier the music plays, rewarding the butt kicking you show your foes with a heavy grungy mix that makes you feel cool as hell.”
“Fluid combat, stellar levels, excellent soundtrack.”
“The music is also a weak point; it fails to capture the moment of the heat battle.”
“My advice personally is to mute the ambient soundtrack the game offers and plug in your own flowstate music.”
“The single music is repetitive too.”
- story25 mentions
- 36 % positive mentions
- 52 % neutral mentions
- 12 % negative mentions
The game's story is generally viewed as brief and somewhat lacking in depth, with many players finding it either difficult to follow or not particularly compelling. While some appreciate the atmospheric elements and world-building, others feel that the narrative is too simplistic or vague, suggesting that it could be removed without impacting the overall experience. Overall, the focus seems to be more on gameplay mechanics and level design rather than a rich storytelling experience.
“Overall, I had fun and the story, while brief, was an enjoyable experience.”
“Love it, epic soundtrack, atmospheric environment, and bonus points for having a story.”
“Really well polished, with a pretty intriguing story and world-building.”
“There *is* a story...? I think?”
“I found the story unnecessarily obtuse given how simple and predictable it is.”
“There's also not much of it which is fine, but if the story were removed entirely, nothing would change.”
- graphics19 mentions
- 58 % positive mentions
- 26 % neutral mentions
- 16 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game have received widespread acclaim for their vibrant and unique art style, which enhances the overall gameplay experience. Players appreciate the fluid movement mechanics and the visually engaging environments, describing the visuals as both beautiful and immersive. While some critiques mention minor gameplay issues, the overall aesthetic and presentation are considered standout features that contribute to the game's charm and appeal.
“The game's art style looks awesome, the weapons feel so good to use, and the enemies are really fun to style on as you pogo off their heads with spears, drop from hundreds of feet in the air right on their face with a sword, or Captain America's shield them and ping-pong it back and forth through a crowd of enemies.”
“It's got great graphics, amazing performance, at least 20 hours of content, secrets, an amazingly fast and stylish gameplay loop, and a ton of speedrunning and combat tech that is both complex and concise.”
“Deep game mechanics, fluid movement, beautiful colorful art style, very satisfying to play, and it's overall just fun.”
“Visuals and music are serviceable.”
“As much as I love the visuals and presentations of the game, gameplay could be better. The game feels like it wasn't playtested enough; some things aren't explained or are easily missable (I missed an entire tutorial world because of the lack of direction).”
“No complaints with the art style, visual quality, and designs of the game.”
- replayability11 mentions
- 55 % positive mentions
- 18 % neutral mentions
- 27 % negative mentions
The game boasts high replayability, with players enjoying the challenge of mastering levels and achieving high ranks, despite a relatively short overall content length. Many users appreciate the variety of goals available, such as speed runs and flawless completions, alongside additional modes like arena challenges. While some feel the rewards for high achievements could be more engaging, the game's fun and challenging nature keeps players coming back for more.
“I can't recommend this game enough, it's well worth the price for its replayability and easy to learn, very hard to master gameplay.”
“While there are 40 or so stages in the game and they can be beaten pretty quickly, they are also insanely replayable - I've played some of my favorite stages dozens of times, trying to do better than before or kill enemies in different ways.”
“The replay value of each level is great and there are many different goals you can reach for, whether it is pure speed, a flawless run, or a high score.”
“I'd say it's too overpriced for the amount of content on offer, but it's just so damn replayable that I feel satisfied with how much I paid vs. how much I received.”
“A bit short, but the ranking system and the ways you can absolutely break the hell out of this game with movement provide enough replayability for my taste.”
“But the replay value I had trying to SSS rank every level was incredibly fun, and there is an arena mode that you can unlock as well to have fun in and goof around to your heart's content.”
- atmosphere5 mentions
- 60 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 40 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is praised for its cohesive design, featuring a dark tone enhanced by a fitting soundtrack that, while lacking catchy hooks, contributes to an immersive experience. The art direction and limited color scheme evoke nostalgia, reminiscent of classic PSX level hubs, and the inclusion of a story adds depth to the overall ambiance.
“Love it! Epic soundtrack, atmospheric environment, and bonus points for having a story.”
“The limited color scheme with the atmospheric soundtrack sets a dark tone, like an interactive metal album.”
“The atmosphere is neat, and I think the soundtrack fits really nicely, even if it isn't filled with cool catchy hooks and beats.”
“Same textures - same atmosphere.”
- humor4 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is highlighted by its absurd premise of parkour knights and the amusingly unconventional weapons, creating a lighthearted and entertaining experience. Players find the comedic elements engaging enough to motivate them to skip ahead in the game for more laughs. Overall, the humor is a significant draw, enhancing the enjoyment of gameplay.
“The premise is hilarious: you're some sort of parkour knight, and that's totally normal because so are all your friends.”
“Funny weapons go brrr.”
“Maybe it's because the demo had already gotten me pretty familiar with the game, but I skipped to the fourth hub area after finishing the first hub for the funny (and I would've skipped more hub areas if I could've).”
- optimization2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game is praised for its exceptional optimization, delivering smooth performance and impressive graphics while offering a rich gameplay experience. Players appreciate the seamless integration of demanding parkour mechanics and combat, alongside a substantial amount of content and a fast-paced gameplay loop.
“The parkour mechanics in the game are many times more demanding than the combat itself (unless the player is chasing the best rating on each map), but at the same time everything works smoothly and with amazing optimization of the game.”
“It's got great graphics, amazing performance, at least 20 hours of content, secrets, an amazingly fast and stylish gameplay loop, and a ton of speedrunning and combat tech that is both complex and concise.”
- grinding2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -50 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be enjoyable and fast-paced, though some note that it can become tedious when progress is obscured or difficult to locate. Overall, while the grind can interrupt the flow, it is generally seen as a fun part of the experience.
“I periodically found the flow of the game grinding to a halt when progress was awkwardly hidden underneath planks or around an unassuming corner.”
“It feels like the game is more focused on grinding for resources than on actual gameplay, which can be frustrating.”
“The constant need to grind for upgrades makes the experience feel tedious rather than enjoyable.”
- emotional1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players express a strong emotional connection to the experience of soaring through the air, highlighting a sense of freedom and exhilaration that comes from the gameplay. This feeling of weightlessness and liberation resonates deeply, enhancing the overall emotional impact of the game.
