My friends said this was a step up from Shovel of Hope and Plague of Shadows but holy shit. A step up is an understatement. Sure the campaign is a lot easier than the others, but it makes up for it by having the sickest movement in a platformer to date. It's absolutely insane the shit that you can do in this game. Plus, every single level is completely redesigned from the ground up to accommodate Specter Knight, rather than running through the same game like Plague of Shadows. It's incredible and I think anyone that likes platformers should play this. Also NEW MUSIC!!!

I really think they're barking up the wrong tree here. Not once playing the original Shovel Knight did I wish he had more movement. All I ever wanted in this world was to walk forward and jump, and that game made those starry-eyed dreams a reality. Yet in all three expansions, it's the thing Yacht Club feels they must iterate on. I just don't get it! Was the tight level design built around the limited movement/boss fights tailored to the primal thrill of bouncing not the whole appeal?

Whatever, I can read, I'm clearly on a lonely island when it comes to this one. I might find this moveset frustrating and limiting. I might feel constantly confined to overdesigned isolated movement options at any given point. I might say the combat feels unsatisfying and reduces bosses to APM tests. But tons of people say it feels great, and I can't do anything about it! The beauty of free will.

And you know what? I'm about to say it. I don't care that you sold your soul to The Enchantress.

I'm happy people dig this, but I honestly cannot tell why. Apart from the admittedly gorgeous gothic aesthetic spinoff, its light years away from what I'm looking for in a platformer of any kind, especially one in this series.

The best entry in the series. It's the easiest one but also the most fun. Specter Knight feels amazing to control, and while the customization is not as in depth as Plague Knight's, it still has a big impact on the game. All the stage remixes are awesome, and the new music helps re-contextualize each stage in this new light. The rail grinding mechanic is so badass and I think made for the best levels. This game also has the first good water level in a 2D platformer (can't discount my goat Buoy Base Galaxy). Specter Knight's story is also really compelling, and it gives his character new meaning in the context of the series. This game is peak Shovel Knight and I enjoyed it a ton