I love Shovel Knight, but I'm really not into rougelikes as much as I used to be. That being said, Shovel Knight Dig feels like something in the middle between good and terrible.
It definitely has that Shovel Knight charm, but the gameplay loop is dull, especially when you can spend hours not progressing, barely having enough money for a new set of armor or an upgrade. And there's nothing more frustrating than losing a key from a hit that gives you a lot more knockback than you're expecting, enough to throw you deeper down the pit. Or that "You're taking too long" Drill that Drill Knight deploys when the game decides you've had enough time exploring a specific area for secrets and gems. That can fuck right off.
And one more disjointed thought, why wasn't this a co-op game? In Shovel of Hope you get a hint of the chemistry that Shovel Knight and Shield Knight have as a duo. And while you see that in the dialogue here, i feel like a co-op roguelike, or even a co-op mode could've fully explored the chemistry they have in combat together, but no. Every time she shows up she just suggests that they split up and she's off again. Shield Knight may as well not have shown up until the ending.
And as someone who really enjoyed Shovel Knight's trip through 6 games and countless cameos, and hearing that Yacht Club Games is gonna be retiring Shovel Knight; as far as a last hurrah is concerned: this feels more like a whimper than a cheer.
It definitely has that Shovel Knight charm, but the gameplay loop is dull, especially when you can spend hours not progressing, barely having enough money for a new set of armor or an upgrade. And there's nothing more frustrating than losing a key from a hit that gives you a lot more knockback than you're expecting, enough to throw you deeper down the pit. Or that "You're taking too long" Drill that Drill Knight deploys when the game decides you've had enough time exploring a specific area for secrets and gems. That can fuck right off.
And one more disjointed thought, why wasn't this a co-op game? In Shovel of Hope you get a hint of the chemistry that Shovel Knight and Shield Knight have as a duo. And while you see that in the dialogue here, i feel like a co-op roguelike, or even a co-op mode could've fully explored the chemistry they have in combat together, but no. Every time she shows up she just suggests that they split up and she's off again. Shield Knight may as well not have shown up until the ending.
And as someone who really enjoyed Shovel Knight's trip through 6 games and countless cameos, and hearing that Yacht Club Games is gonna be retiring Shovel Knight; as far as a last hurrah is concerned: this feels more like a whimper than a cheer.