Shovel Knight: Spectre of Torment (Switch)

The Phantom of Shovels

So concluding the marathon of Shovel Knights game and the wait for the fourth and last part, I played through Spectre of Torment, Spectre Knights game. This one is a prequel. While Plauge of Shadows was played during Shovel Knights quest, this one take place before and also explains where the enchantress came from. It starts with Spectre knight doing the Enchantress bidding in finding eight knights for her Order of No Quarter and finishing his task, the locket he have would grant him life again. After making a couple of knights join you get some back story. Spectre knights original name was Donovan and he was an adventurer together with Luan. As they traveled to the Tower of Fate they climbed it and found the gem that contained the soul of the Enchantress, but Shield Knight arrived and tried to stop them, but Donovan wins the battle, but the power of the gem takes Shield knight while Donovan and Luan is thrown to their deaths. The Enchantress makes a deal with Donovan and turns him into Spectre Knight. Also, the locket he gathers the powers of the knight was given to him by Luan as a keepsake and promise to protect Luan's son.

Luan's son is Riez, a wandering adventurer that appeared in all the other Shovel Knight games, but in this game he busts into the Tower trying to fight the evil within, but the Enchantress kills him and turn him into her slave and replaces the Dark Accolayte that she inprisons. After getting all but one knight, since the knight in the graveyard was another wandering knight that appeared in earlier games, but this time is shown as the protector of the people. Black Knight tells Spectre knight that the Enchantress is Shield Knight and for some reason he hates her (I guess since he sees her interference causing all this) so he decides to attack her, At the battle she turns Riez into a monster that he fights and defeats and triggers the eight knight, but since Spectre knight knows Riez is Luan's son, he gives Riez his life back, and takes his place as the eight knight in the Order of No Quarters. The ending shows how the Enchantress armies takes over the world and also things like Plauge knight and Mona meeting and falling in love as well as Spectre knight hiding away the locket. The locket Plauge knight steals and gives to Chester that sells it to Shovel Knight, the Phase locket. That is a cool twist. Also the Dark Accolyte turns into the herald of the Trouple King which also is interesting.

Gameplay wise there is much more new content here than Plauge of Shadows. The levels are all new since Spectre knight plays completely differently since he can crawl on the walls for a bit and wall jump. He can also skate on his scythe so I guess that the old levels where a no go. Also the overworld have disappeared and instead you choose the level from a magical mirror. Also you gather red skulls to buy relics to use and in the end get Donovans costume and special weapon. Nice touch. More music and there seems to be variations on the other themes of the original game. Overall a fun game, sad there is only one part left. Especially since I would like to know more about the other knights. For example Polar Knight seems to have a deep relationship with Black knight and Shovel knight, and a Shield Knight standalone adventure would be nice to play through. Especially since the story of how she became the Enchantress doesn't match completely in this game and the original. Still, it's a good game that I bought three times.

Shovel Knight: Plauge of Shadows (Switch)

Blasting some music

Continued my Shovel Knight-marathon and played through the Plauge Knight version again. Still as cute a story I remembered. Plauge knight on his hunt to gather the essence of the knights and enchantress in order to create the ultimate potion. For what end goal seems to shift during the play through. I gathered first it was for Magicant, the woman who gives Shovel Knight the magic upgrade. It shifts later to Mona, his assistent that also have the mini-game with Shovel Knight. Maybe it always was Mona? 

Anyway, the second time around I seemed to actually use the different combinations for the bombs that greatly helped against flying enemies and such. The jump mechanics with blasting off to get across holes and such still feels very unfamiliar. More than once I've felt that the game requiries very fine-tuned plattforming and the blast mechanic just throws me into the maws of a bottomless pit. Still, I was able to get all cipher coins and music sheet for this game. Stages are pretty much the same from the first Shovel Knight, but with some extra corridors thrown in, often harder than the original to find some special item... that you sell to get one suited for you. I like how Plauge knight is the source for Shovel Knights relic arsenal. The new music is pretty much only variations of the boss themes and nothing special. Overall, the gameplay takes some time to get used to, but the sweet story gets me playing to the end screen and watch them dance.

Shovel Knight: Shovel of Hope (Switch)

DA DA DA DADA DA DA DADA

So I've been replaying the Shovel knight games on the switch and it have been an interesting play. For the first time I got all the music sheets and some of them were hidden in places I never knew was possible. I think it was the first time I also discovered the button to check the status on those things. So I've learned a lot this time around. 

Story is the same. Shovel Knight gives up adventuring when Shield knight is taken by the Tower of Fate and he is unable to save her, but when the Tower appears again he sets out once more to fight the evil. Or rather She sets out. I used the body-swap function so all major characters have changed gender. Only time it actually affected the dialog was Queen Knight and the Enchanter. But I gotta say, the design of the new sprites for each knight was really good. 

I actually started the playthrough when I got the game, but didn't finish it until now. It feels like as long as everything works smoothly I have no problem playing it, but after missing one or two jumps that worked without problem before the frustration gets the better of me and I rage quit and then restarts the whole level. But we all know I'm a bad player. Then there is the music. I liked the music , but there is really a handful of tracks that are really good. The first track for the Plains stage, a killer. Proudmoore decent enough, but then music drowns out until the Tower Levels. The other tracks are just decent.

Shovel Knight: Plauge of Shadows

Dark side of the Shovel

Got the update for Shovel Knight and I gotta say it is rather fun although the gameplay is much harder. You play as Plague Knight in search for ingredients to the ultimate potion. The ingredients are the essence of the other knights meaning you have to defeat the other knights and the enchantress. The knight maps all have a secret area where you can find the relic of the stages, but since you are an almighty Alchemist you sell it to Chester who then will sell it to Shovel Knight. And the reason why you make this potion so you can be together with Mona... or was it the Magicant? Doesn't matter, it is a cute story where Plague Knight learns how to dance from the fish king and still is to embarrassed to dance in front of her. And then Shovel Knight, he's awesome. First he storms Plague Knights castle and you have to defeat him, but as he is the hero, he makes one final attack and strike you down. Of course you still need his essence so you sneak up on him when he sleeps and take it. And then again when you break up the feast before the enchantress stage he's such a dick. I saved them all when I played as Shovel Knight, this Shovel Knight just leaves. And of course due to every relationship cliche Mona saves you from your dangerous experiment cause she loves you, but in turn is turned into a dangerous version of you and you have to save her... by defeating her.

UNLIMITED ALCHEMICAL POWER

Basically the same game, but with another character. Plague Knight I feel is a bit harder to control due to the explosive jumps and powers makes me fly all over the screen and a such platforming important game makes it difficult as hell. Although defeating the final boss feels so satisfying. It's a free update if you get the original game so play on. Also, there is some new areas in most stages and the first town is completely different due to not be able to enter it since you are a bad guy. Continuity!

Shovel Knight

 

I wasn't gonna buy this game when I first heard of it. Looked fine, but I'm not that good at platforms so I shoved it aside. That was until the reviews came from America. It intrigued me, the music enchanted me and suddenly I craved it so I awaited the release... and waited... and waited... 3-4 months later we finally got it in Europe. About time. And I had fun while playing it. The music was pumping, the levels challenging in a fair way... most of the time, the damn airship level can crash and burn for all I care. The story then. You are Shovel Knight, adventure extraordinaire who lost your best friend Shield Knight years ago and constantly have nightmares as she plunges toward the earth and you desperately try to catch her. You fight the Order of No Quarters to reach the Tower of Fate and confront the Enchantress who *SPOILERS* is Shield Knight, really as soon I saw the intro I knew she was it *END SPOILERS*. Awesome final battle and an emotional roller coaster for the good. 

The only bad thing I can think of is it's to short. Apparently they are gonna prolong it in the future with DLC. Hopefully we don't have to wait 3-4 months after America. Fun thing is that after playing the classic Mega Man Games I constantly tried to save state, but at the last second I remember that there ain't no such function here. I really am caught in the save state sickness, but I will not give that up due to be still quite bad at such games. What makes me not care that much in this game is the save mechanic with save points that you can destroy for easy money if you are good enough, but are forced to the beginning if you die. Also unlimited lives. In Mega man tough luck if your ammo goes out cause then the only way is to restart the level by dying all spare lives. Also, nearly no cheap deaths which make it, as I stated, more fair and therefore less frustrating.