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[sploatee]

Knack's just not a very good game, in my opinion. It's hugely repetitive, visually and sonically uninspired and lacks any real kind of creative spark. At least to me (a human adult)

Kids enjoying it is cool, I suppose. Kids might be approaching it with more of an open mind and might not notice how derivative it is. There's nothing wrong with that, though. Let them have fun!

I do think the sales talk is bonkers though. It's bundled, people. And there's both little competition in that genre and there's a huge wave of PS4 hype.

Even so, I hope there's a sequel. The big/small idea is interesting. This first instalment just feels a bit bland.

 

[Warm Machine]

Any game could be a persons first game. Knack isn't trying to be Mario. It seems to simply be trying to be its own game, and not a good one at that. But it is simple and understandable, like Keith Courage in Alpha Zones.

Gamers love to take for granted the decades of gameplay evolution they have been a part of where experience builds on experience. Knack is a game that only has a few core mechanics so it is pretty accessible for the young or as someone's first game.

 

[Kai Dracon]

Saying it's good enough if you're too young to care is pretty damning.

I think he's saying adult experienced reviewers, and by implicit association hardcore gamers, are too insulated against the simple appeal of the game to be able to enjoy it. It's not new enough, sexy enough, and doesn't hide its familiarity behind whatever works to sell to the adult enthusiast gaming audience.

Knack's real problem remains that it was priced too high, and presented as a banner launch game for a powerful new console. The early adopter audience and enthusiast press are going to expect any such game must be a world beater to justify the existence of the platform.

People keep saying if Knack wasn't a launch title it would be quickly forgotten. I have a suspicion if Knack was released at $30, wasn't hyped up as Sony's kickstarter for the next generation, it would instead be accumulating a cult following without ten tons of bitterness directed at it for failing to "move gaming forward" or whatever.

 

[Gestault]

For the record, I expect to see some spirited defense by more than a few names here of the next Call of Duty game on behalf of younger gamers who just became old enough for their parents to let them play. To them, it'll be the most revolutionary action game they've ever played. Really, any bad game could be justified and defended using the logic that a person without experience in gaming could experience and enjoy it, even in spite of widely recognized shortcomings and easily available, higher quality alternative games.

 

[Speevy]

AGDQ Knack block.

 

[Tookay]

I played the demo at Best Buy. I regret not getting it at launch its a fun game. It's no Crash Bandicoot but its a great game better than Mario 3D World.

I'm not crazy about Mario 3D World... but... this opinion makes me feel queasy.

 

[Breemin]

I have this game still in its plastic unopened...

Maybe I will open it up today and play a little with my daughter. I hope she can play this game ok.

 

[Rushersauce]

I played the demo at Best Buy. I regret not getting it at launch its a fun game. It's no Crash Bandicoot but its a great game better than Mario 3D World.

joke post?

 

[R0ckman]

He's right of course, kids eat slop up because they don't know better. This is why there's a market for cheap, poorly made kids movies/games.

I bet you get bugged out of your damn mind if I spun this exact same thing on what the common western AAA trend is today, which is mostly slop as well.

 

[Neff]

And what was it that created that much larger install base?

Vapourware.

 

[madmad90]

The only reason it sold was because there wasn't too many games to choose from.

And it didn't even sell that much, it only sold like 500k, which is ok I guess.

 

[BadAss2961]

More here

lol.

But to be captain obvious, it's only outselling Mario because the PS4 is popular and the Wii U is not.

 

[Arkam]

I played a few hours of Knack a couple weeks ago. First time I got to really sink my hands into the title. Yep, the game was pretty shallow and repetitive, BUT it was also fun to play.

It was a rinse and repeat of combat, "exploration" and "secret" gathering once I figured out all I had to do was double jump and attack for the most part. I only deviated from this proven tactic when forced. Never touched the dodge except by accident, as it never felt needed or natural. And yet I did want to keep on playing, using my double jump spam as far as it would take me. Also I enjoyed how the game rewards better players and the game actually get easier. Definitely keeps you playing longer.

All in all i thought it was fun game for sure in the vain of old PSX games. Far from a gamechanger or goty, but it is pretty fun.

 

[Jonathan28]

Are people taking the Knack thing seriously now? It was better when it was just fun and games in the PAL Charts thread, don't destroy that man.

 

[SturokBGD]

"People like what they like suck it down loser" is a terrible defense of anything.

 

[RM8]

I can't judge it properly but what little I played of it wasn't too fun. I personally can't see it being considered a PS4 classic down the road.

 

[EBreda]

I have this game still in its plastic unopened...

Maybe I will open it up today and play a little with my daughter. I hope she can play this game ok.

It's not an easy game, that's for sure.

And it's excruciatingly boring.

 

[Host Samurai]

I think Tearaway on PS4 & Puppeteer would have been fantastic launch titles for the PS4 and would have gotten lots of recognition.

 

[panda-zebra]

There have been few days since I showed the game to my son without him begging for Knack. He sits and watches me play through time after time and sometimes uses "his red controller" to help out as Knack's little friend. I'm not allowed to collect sunstones or open chests anymore, he has to reach over and do those on my pad. He runs around the house being "BIG KNACK" pushing things over and does some fairly odd moves when he's being little green Knack (no idea!)... hmmm, he's also got a song that goes "I like station four, Station Four, STATION FOUR!"... it's not so musical but funny as fuck, especially when he's got an audience who don't have a clue what he's going on about. My little fanboi.

 

[Breemin]

It's not an easy game, that's for sure.

And it's excruciatingly boring.

Would you say Mario 3D World is easy?

She beat that game and loved it. Its her most favorite game ever. I hope she can play and enjoy Knack. She is almost 8.

 

[Gestault]

I hope she can play and enjoy Knack. She is almost 8.

Do (often cheaply landed) one-hit-kills sound fun? Do you like game design where you build up how powerful your character is, then have it arbitrarily taken away because of an area change?

 

[Version 3.0]

My girlfriend, who is 38, absolutely loved Knack. She played through it in a couple of days and demanded more games like it. I have a hard time finding games she's interested in, so Knack was a nice surprise.

Then I beat it quickly, to avoid the shame of her having beaten a game that I haven't.

 

[Breemin]

Do (often cheaply landed) one-hit-kills sound fun? Do you like game design where you build up how powerful your character is, then have it arbitrarily taken away because of an area change?

This game is for an almost 8 year old, not me.
What she likes baffles me. And you would understand if you had kids that age. They can watch the same cartoon on Netflix 20x and still enjoy it... Any game which she can play and she feels like she is winning.. is a good game.

 

[Kssio_Aug]

I think its a shame how those so called critics were so harsh with Knacks review! The game is awesome! It is my 1st PS4 platinum trophy and my 4th ever done. The game is for sure tons of fun!
Hope we can have Knack 2 in the future! I would buy it at day 1.

 

[PBY]

I think its a shame how those so called critics were so harsh with Knacks review! The game is awesome! It is my 1st PS4 platinum trophy and my 4th ever done. The game is for sure tons of fun!
Hope we can have Knack 2 in the future! I would buy it at day 1.

"So called critics?"

Their opinion is just as valid as yours man.

 

[Gestault]

This game is for an almost 8 year old, not me.
What she likes baffles me. And you would understand if you had kids that age. They can watch the same cartoon on Netflix 20x and still enjoy it... Any game which she can play and she feels like she is winning.. is a good game.

My point was that unless she's demonstrated that she liked a combat-centric game with one-hit kills, I wouldn't assume she'll appreciate it in the same way she has something like a Mario game.

 

[Breemin]

My point was that unless she's demonstrated that she liked a combat-centric game with one-hit kills, I wouldn't assume she'll appreciate it in the same way she has something like a Mario game.

Depends on what you mean by one hit kills. Do you get killed with one hit or do you kill things with one hit? If it is the latter I think she will like.

 

[PBY]

Depends on what you mean by one hit kills. Do you get killed with one hit or do you kill things with one hit? If it is the latter I think she will like.

the former

 

[Breemin]

the former

Ouch!

I can see how that can be frustrating, especially for little kids. Not very friendly...
Well we already have the game so we will give it a shot and I will post my experience later tonight... The article linked in the OP says his kids liked it, I will see if its a fluke.

 

[Gestault]

Depends on what you mean by one hit kills. Do you get killed with one hit or do you kill things with one hit? If it is the latter I think she will like.

The player dies in one hit against most enemies :/

 

[Kssio_Aug]

"So called critics?"

Their opinion is just as valid as yours man.

Opinion is different from critic. You can criticise what you want, but please, be reasonable at the explanatoon of why is that! No one have to like Knack, thats a matter of opinion, but the critics HAVE to understand and point the game qualities! And I can assure you that Knack have plenty enough to be better (in quality, not in someone opinion that is completely subjetive) than 90% of the games with the same overall score.

 

[3rdamention]

He's right of course, kids eat slop up because they don't know better. This is why there's a market for cheap, poorly made kids movies/games.

I wish you would play the game first, then share your uninformed opinions about the game.



Knack is a really fun game. I have only played the first couple of levels, but it is definitely fun and looks great. Funny thing is, I have played it with my two daughters less than I have played it by myself. You know why? Cause the game is fun, and not some poorly made kids game as you have stated without playing it.



Nobody said it was going to be a AAA title, nobody said it was made for Dudebros, nobody said it would be the best selling title on PS4, even Cerny said it should be a second game you buy for PS4.


Knack succeeded in what it was trying to be, a fun game, you could play with your family, you could play cooperatively locally on the same TV, with some interesting social features thrown in.

 

[Breemin]

Opinion is different from critic. You can criticise what you want, but please, be reasonable at the explanatoon of why is that! No one have to like Knack, thats a matter of opinion, but the critics HAVE to understand and point the game qualities! And I can assure you that Knack have plenty enough to be better (in quality, not in someone opinion that is completely subjetive) than 90% of the games with the same overall score.

Now your asking a lot.. Your asking for unbiased game critics. Do they even exist anymore?

 

[Coconut]

Didn't Bubsy do well in the UK?

 

[jblank83]

Hey guys, one time I enjoyed a game that had less than a 70% on metacritic.

Am I, you know... weird?

Also, that game > everything else, including Super Mario Galaxy and Ocarina of Time, because I liked it. Prove me wrong. You can't. Case closed. Winner. Next topic.

 

[Coconut]

Hey guys, one time I enjoyed a game that had less than a 70% on metacritic.

Am I, you know... weird?

Also, that game > everything else, including Super Mario Galaxy and Ocarina of Time, because I liked it. Prove me wrong. You can't. Case closed. Winner. Next topic.

I think it has a 70% meta critic because people were being nice to it since it was a launch title. If it released as a PS3 exclusive it wouldn't even be given half a shit. So really you enjoyed like a 60% meta critic game. So yes you are indeed weird.

 

[Kssio_Aug]

Now your asking a lot.. Your asking for unbiased game critics. Do they even exist anymore?

Thats how it should be, but its not what I am asking. Its normal to be biased with your opinion, if you dont like you certainly will not give it any special score. However Knack have decent graphics with some really pretty scenarios (and sure better graphics than DR3); have a great gameplay that flows pretty well; have a nice enemy AI; have a nice replayability; nice difficult (you will find challange at hard and very hard, and finish it with no problems at easy); and... its a nice game from a scarse genre. Im SURE that you dont need to appeal to it to recognise that these factors elevate it from a mediocre game to a at least decent good quality game!

 

[halfbeast]

big whoop.

you know how I had fun playing as a 5 year old? with dirt. I put dirt in a kid-wheel barrow and put sticks in it. that's it. that's the fun I had.

you don't see me play with dirt anymore. but you'll catch me play super mario bros every now and then.

most mario games will survive the test of time. knack is dirt in a wheel barrow.

 

[travisbickle]

People comparing knack to a movie tie-in kids game are crazy! Or haven't played any movie tie-in kids games!

I have a nephew so I've played a load of trashy games. He usually asks me to play when he gets stuck, then after I play for a few minutes I have to try and explain to him he's stuck because the game was produced very cheaply and it is an incomplete piece of shit.

 

[Breemin]

Thats how it should be, but its not what I am asking. Its normal to be biased with your opinion, if you dont like you certainly will not give it any special score. However Knack have decent graphics with some really pretty scenarios (and sure better graphics than DR3); have a great gameplay that flows pretty well; have a nice enemy AI; have a nice replayability; nice difficult (you will find challange at hard and very hard, and finish it with no problems at easy); and... its a nice game from a scarse genre. Im SURE that you dont need to appeal to it to recognise that these factors elevate it from a mediocre game to a at least decent good quality game!

All of you points are valid. I never base my purchases solely on critic or user reviews. Some critics are too critical, and some users are plain dumb... Same goes for movies and electronics...
I base my purchases off of what I think about it or from peoples opinions that I know and trust. With games, I like to try it out myself (if possible) to see if I like it or not. For example I tried the beta of ESO.. And I decided that game is total and utter shit and would be a total waste of my time to play...

 

[Breemin]

big whoop.

you know how I had fun playing as a 5 year old? with dirt. I put dirt in a kid-wheel barrow and put sticks in it. that's it. that's the fun I had.

you don't see me play with dirt anymore. but you'll catch me play super mario bros every now and then.

most mario games will survive the test of time. knack is dirt in a wheel barrow.

Kids that age these days prefer Ipads and smart phones to dirt...

 

[Gestault]

I think it has a 70% meta critic because people were being nice to it since it was a launch title. If it released as a PS3 exclusive it wouldn't even be given half a shit. So really you enjoyed like a 60% meta critic game. So yes you are indeed weird.

Woosh.

 

[Jailer of Hope]

*huff* *huff*

Sorry I'm late! Is this where I downplay (Nintendo game) to validate my game?

 

[Kssio_Aug]

All of you points are valid. I never base my purchases solely on critic or user reviews. Some critics are too critical, and some users are plain dumb... Same goes for movies and electronics...
I base my purchases off of what I think about it or from peoples opinions that I know and trust. With games, I like to try it out myself (if possible) to see if I like it or not. For example I tried the beta of ESO.. And I decided that game is total and utter shit and would be a total waste of my time to play...

Nice that you understood! I also do not take critics review to consideration all the time, but I usually check my favorites to see their points. However with Knack I wasnt convinced by some harsh critcs, and bought it to see by myself. Thank God I did this, no regrets here!
But its sad... it feels like a nice job from a developer team has not received its trully value, while a bunch of generic and recycled shooters with tons of problems are just overrated and gets special attention.

 

[QaaQer]

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.

what does '6/10' even mean? Metacritic as the ultimate cultural arbiter.

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.

You know there are people that hate those games and would rather play candy crush or a facebook game. Point is, this it is all subjective.

Anyway, I've gotta leave this thread because it is irritating reading stuff written by people who are convinced of their own rectitude.

 

[Gestault]

Nice that you understood! I also do not take critics review to consideration all the time, but I usually check my favorites to see their points. However with Knack I wasnt convinced by some harsh critcs, and bought it to see by myself. Thank God I did this, no regrets here!

Oh sweet, I can totally relate to that.

But its sad... it feels like a nice job from a developer team has not received its trully value, while a bunch of generic and recycled shooters with tons of problems are just overrated and gets special attention.

Wow, is the seriously the second half of your post? I don't think I've ever seen cognitive dissonance so painfully illustrated in one post.

 

[Rogue_Ledr]

I would give it a shot, but not at 60 bucks.

Thats way too high for this. Sony should discount it already.

When it gets down to like 30, THEN I'll give it a shot.

 

[Dreams-Visions]

What can we say.. Rihanna sells albums more than Beethoven.
Mediocrity rules the world.

Beethoven didn't make the ass clap.

 

[Kssio_Aug]

Oh sweet, I can totally relate to that.



Wow, is the seriously the second half of your post? I don't think I've ever seen cognitive dissonance so painfully illustrated in one post.

Battlefield 4 have a big score and its a game with SO MANY problems (to not say its still almost broken) and COD was reviewed like it was at 1080p when it even wasnt yet... the reviewers were reviewing high those games without even knowing what they were doing. Then, we have a pretty solid adventure game being kicked by the reviwers with no plausible critics. Would you tell me that this is fair?

 

[RibMan]

It's outselling Mario 3D world b/c of the install base.

The other (very important) reason Knack is outperforming Mario in the UK is because Mario fatigue might be a reality among kids. If this is true, then Nintendo are in big trouble. Big big trouble.

They can afford to have their hardware underperform, but once their AAA software isn't selling due to a 'been there, done that' effect, then they might need to have a meeting or two about the future of the company.