The backlash against the generic, sarcastic, handsome, brown-haired white guys must be why Mario isn't selling.
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In defence of KNACK, the review-proof game
- Thread starter Bundy
- Start date
The backlash against the generic, sarcastic, handsome, brown-haired white guys must be why Mario isn't selling.
Especially one geared towards the brains of children, which are very different than adult brains.
What about it is geared towards kids?
The whole game.
BruiserBear
Banned
Playing the kid's game angle as an insult? That's rather childish.
Using the word "mad" was probably silly, but it's almost disrespectful to amazing classic games when people compare modern generic crap to them. It's also just kinda sad because people are trying to re-frame the past in an attempt to prop up something new.
The comparisons to classics is what sets me off a bit. I loved those classic platformers, and I'd love to see an amazing new one show up, but Knack is not it.
This reminds me of when Wonderbook: book of spells refused to leave the UK charts for quite some time. A lot of people here seemed to dismiss or dislike the game ( and not just because of that horrible E3 stage bit) and while I imagine it was still an overall failure there were clearly plenty of people who were interested in it. For some people reviews and general perception of a product mean nothing compared to the enjoyment they get when playing.
More precisely? Share some details on what you know.
Is it really a platformer?
What about the game do you think is designed with children in mind?
Iorv3th
Member
Opinions man. There a bitch aren't they?
The game isn't the best platformer in the world nobody is saying that. But it is a fun game, at least it was for me and my wife and several other people in this thread.
I'm sure when better platformers come out for the system we will be saying that those are better. What does it matter if people like knack know though?
Maybe some kids today will feel the same about knack when they are your age. The guy who wrote the article basically said his kids loved the game, and that is wrong for some reason?
And I wasn't being insulting. I just don't get it when people have an emotional reaction to an opinion on a game.
NTIETS13A_Superiority
Banned
Simple game mechanics and art are most clear " aimed at kids" things
Apophis2036
Banned
I will check it out when it comes to PS+. I think Knack and Killzone will be the year round free PS+ games announced at E3. Will be good for marketing aswell "buy a PS4 and a three month sub and get two retail games for free !".
Corronchilejano
Member
Kids play games that score horribly on reviews.
Coming up: Twelve year olds enjoy gritty shooters.
It is a blow for Nintendo, sure. The rest of the world knows how launches work.
If we are still talking about Knack in six months, I'll be surprised.
Coming up: Twelve year olds enjoy gritty shooters.
It is a blow for Nintendo, sure. The rest of the world knows how launches work.
If we are still talking about Knack in six months, I'll be surprised.
Perhaps Zombi U ought to have been a worse game then. It might not have bombed so spectacularly
What does this have anything to do with anything? Is this an attempt to steer things into console wars nonsense?
Thats who Cerny said he made the game for, although he hoped adults could enjoy it as well. As for specifics, dunno.
nelsonroyale
Member
I enjoyed Knack well enough, solid fun and I am hoping for a sequel. Knack actually looked quite cool when he had all his knick knacks in place and was fully grown. Game had nice clean visuals, in many ways nicer than the cross gen ports such as AC IV (which still looks good).
It was a poignant reminder that launch games can, and do, bomb. You make it sound like success is assured if you release a title at launch. As we've seen before, that isn't the case.
As for 'console wars', well, you did describe the PS4 launch lineup as 'garbage', which strikes me as a somewhat tainted assessment.
You'd hope that a ps4 1st party game would look better than cross gen games?
AbortedWalrusFetus
Member
Knack had a lot of problems with repetition and lack of diversity, but it didn't matter to me because the combat was always challenging enough to keep it interesting. In the parts in which it felt like it was dragging I was good enough at the game by that point to get through them quickly (unless I rushed TOO much, and subsequently died). But at some points, like when Knack grew large, I couldn't help but grin. It felt so good to just crush everything in my path.
And then the last level? Man, the whole game should have been like that! It was incredible.
And then the last level? Man, the whole game should have been like that! It was incredible.
Ps4 launch was garbage outside of some 3rd party stuff.
With respect, I think you're probably having one of the strongest reactions in this thread. You're seeing a number of different people explaining why the article doesn't have a positive position, or suggesting that selling (particularly in a launch setting) isn't the same thing as enjoyment, or that design shortcomings theoretically being overlooked by children isn't the same as those shortcomings not being present.
When asked why you thought the game was particularly good for children, you simply ignored the question. You aren't even sharing a personal experience at this point. You're reacting to reactions and griping that people are reacting. No one has said Knack can't be enjoyed.
So, it wasn't garbage then. We are in agreement. It wasn't stellar, but it wasn't garbage either. It was... distinctly average.
Maybe- I dunno, as someone who jumped in buying 6 games, I was super disappointed.
PS4 had a lot of momentum before launch and Knack was a first party game heavily advertised and with little competition on that machine. It had a huge chance of doing well regardless of quality and it did..
PS4's launch line up IS garbage. So was Wii U's, if that matters. Thats why I waited nearly a year to get one.
My buddies? What?
This is a silly "article/thingy" to do about any game, even more in Knack's case.
GoodCoffeeJoey
Banned
Kids will play anything you put in front of them. Previously: 'Bubsy 3D, the Review-Proof Game.'
Corronchilejano
Member
Wooooaaaah, don't push it.
Comparing anything to the wii u is kind of odd as that's a very weird case in general. It had a great attach with NSMBU and left everything else to flounder, and since then nothing on the console has done well.
I haven't played Knack but looking at it as an aimed for children game seems odd considering practically every review and video I saw coined it as shockingly difficult despite the few amount of moves. Meanwhile Skylanders seems more clearly aimed at the market due to a general ease of use and being a potential moneymaker with the whole toy market that's crucial to the gameplay.
I haven't played Knack but looking at it as an aimed for children game seems odd considering practically every review and video I saw coined it as shockingly difficult despite the few amount of moves. Meanwhile Skylanders seems more clearly aimed at the market due to a general ease of use and being a potential moneymaker with the whole toy market that's crucial to the gameplay.
You are not alone. But launches are rarely stellar.
I've been pretty happy, to be honest. I think the standout for me has been AC4, but there are a handful of other titles across retail and PSN that have kept me entertained. I certainly haven't felt the effects of a post-launch drought yet. Plus, I still have Knack (GotY runner-up 2013 & Platformer of the Year 2013) to buy at some point.
It still could've bombed. Better games have, and better games will. It's not as if the PS4 launched without any big hitters, NFS, AC, BF, CoD & FIFA pretty much make up half of the games purchased in the UK. Please note, that might be a slight exaggeration.
I didn't think the PS4 or the Wii U had garbage launch lineups. Neither were great, but neither were terrible and both had a good handful of games I wanted to play at launch.
sankt-Antonio
Banned
"I used to do this back in the day, when I bought games based purely on the cover art. Now I have zero tolerance for it."
I did that too, and that's how i got to play zero tolerance on the megadrive. lol.
I did that too, and that's how i got to play zero tolerance on the megadrive. lol.
This is why I'm hoping we see more talented people take a stab at family friendly games on these more popular consoles.
Fuck if Nintendo has the chops to get what are fantastic examples of these types of games into peoples hands, may as well have that same quality on PS4 and Xbone.
Being a kid or a young first-time gamer shouldn't mean being stuck with a "6/10" game just because many of us did during the infancy of the genre. Its been pushed forward in many ways and yet still remains just as accessible today as it was with the shittier stuff from yesterday.
Fuck if Nintendo has the chops to get what are fantastic examples of these types of games into peoples hands, may as well have that same quality on PS4 and Xbone.
Being a kid or a young first-time gamer shouldn't mean being stuck with a "6/10" game just because many of us did during the infancy of the genre. Its been pushed forward in many ways and yet still remains just as accessible today as it was with the shittier stuff from yesterday.
Haunted
Member
It's definitely a flawed game that can be easily dismantled when you take a closer look at its mechanics and design.
And yet... it's the kind of game a launch lineup needs. I know the release timing didn't allow for it, but I think the better comparison would be NSMBU instead of 3D World.
And yet... it's the kind of game a launch lineup needs. I know the release timing didn't allow for it, but I think the better comparison would be NSMBU instead of 3D World.
taizuke
Member
I wonder if parents are buying Knack because it looks like a good game or is it because it looks like a kids game. It's like parents taking their kids to see the latest animated movie. I think most of the time is just another movie for their kids to see. Whether is a good movie or bad doesn't matter what matters is kids are entertained and i think that's exactly what Knack is to kids.
NTIETS13A_Superiority
Banned
you just had to highlight the part where its outselling mario right
knack compared to mario 3d world is garbage. no matter how good it sells.
Mario games are garbage. But why even compare, they are totally different games.
megabytecr
Member
Nah thanks, with limited time for playing games I can't waste it in mediocre titles.
I am better of even replaying SM64 or playing Sunshine for the first time (I missed it).
Thinking about it I could have a list of games to play before even thinking of playing Knack. But I understand, people need their games for their new shiny toy.
Klonoa
Ratchet and Clank ToD, ACiT and Into the Nexus
Jak & Daxter Collection
Super Mario Sunshine
DKCR
Rayman Origins/Legends
Replay SMG/SMG2
SM3DW
At least it is not everywhere that SM3DW is being outsold, there is hope in humanity.
But c'mon Wii U GAF, don't bite on the trolls, it is amazing how invested people get in this. Yes, Nintendo in the UK is not popular, Wii U is dead there, all this obviously makes sense.
I am better of even replaying SM64 or playing Sunshine for the first time (I missed it).
Thinking about it I could have a list of games to play before even thinking of playing Knack. But I understand, people need their games for their new shiny toy.
Klonoa
Ratchet and Clank ToD, ACiT and Into the Nexus
Jak & Daxter Collection
Super Mario Sunshine
DKCR
Rayman Origins/Legends
Replay SMG/SMG2
SM3DW
At least it is not everywhere that SM3DW is being outsold, there is hope in humanity.
But c'mon Wii U GAF, don't bite on the trolls, it is amazing how invested people get in this. Yes, Nintendo in the UK is not popular, Wii U is dead there, all this obviously makes sense.
axisofweevils
Holy crap! Today's real megaton is that more than two people can have the same first name.
you just had to highlight the part where its outselling mario right
knack compared to mario 3d world is garbage. no matter how good it sells.
The one thing I don't understand is why people use Knack outselling Mario in UK as a barometer for the rest of the world. We all know UK is one of the markets most hostile to Nintendo games this gen - Iwata has repeatedly said as much.
Or to put it another way, it is inevitable that the Xbox One will do mediocre in Japan, but I wouldn't dream of using that to indicate performance for the rest of the world.
I like Knack, my 7 year old kid like's it too and we have a lot of fun playing it coop.
I think the game is too long tho, they should've kept it at around 8-9 hours and then it would feel more varied and that would probably give them time to implement more mechanics. The game is still competent as it is and if they ever release a sequel i'm sure it will be an awesome game bases on the foundation they have already.
I think the game is too long tho, they should've kept it at around 8-9 hours and then it would feel more varied and that would probably give them time to implement more mechanics. The game is still competent as it is and if they ever release a sequel i'm sure it will be an awesome game bases on the foundation they have already.
Can Crusher
Banned
Bad movies make huge bank if they have the right ingredients. Bad books too. It only makes sense that bad games can do the same.
partyphone
Banned
Not having played Knack it doesn't seem like a bad game at all. It just looks like a run of the mill action game. The quintessential launch title that only stands out by virtue of being a launch title. see also: Kameo.
THIS is the kind of response I want to see more of. THIS should be the whole conversation for "in defense of Knack": Saying things you like about it.
It wasn't competent. There are egregious framerate drops- which I never notice- but here made the game unplayable.
goombatommy
Member
I seriously do not understand the hate for this game. My son and I have played this from start to finish in Co-Op, and playing through AGAIN to collect all devices, stones, relics, etc. Game is pretty fun.