Knightin’+
Release 21/02/2020
Switch version tested
Review code provided
Let’s do some Knightin’!
Ratalaika Games is at it again! This time with a Zelda-inspired retro dungeon crawler in Knightin’+! Being that I am a massive Zelda fan, this title quickly piqued my interest. Did it live up to the standards set by the Zelda series? Of course not. Nothing ever can or will. BUT did it create a fun experience similar to the Zelda series? Read on and find out!
You are Sir Lootalot! A knight in search for… well… loot (treasures and such). And that’s about the gist of the story. The game, obviously, doesn’t take itself too seriously. Instead of going for a “fight the bad guy and rescue the damsel in distress” story, Knightin’+ sticks to a more tongue-in-cheek, fourth wall breaking narration. More of a “non-story” really. And honestly, I prefer it that way. It adds a unique flair all it’s own to the genre.
The gameplay is pretty much exactly what you’d expect. Make your way through the dungeon, unlock chests, collect items, defeat boss, repeat. All of the gameplay takes place in dungeons. While there technically is an overworld, it’s only a menu that allows you to select the next dungeon. There are four dungeons total, each one longer and more difficult than the last.
The majority of the gameplay is defeating monsters to open doors to adjacent rooms. There are puzzles and while some are pretty involved, most of them revolve around simply pushing blocks or hitting switches to open new areas. As with Zelda titles, you do gain new items and abilities from treasure chests and the game does a very good job of implementing them into the dungeons. The abilities are very simple to use and the controls never feel too complicated.
The high-point for me would have to be the music. The soundtrack is top-notch! Mrs. Punk was humming along the entire time she was in the room while I was playing. Every track is suited to the different dungeons (more spooky sounding in the deserted temple, etc). I definitely can’t praise this soundtrack enough!
Final Words:
While the gameplay is nothing new and won’t exactly blow you away, Knightin’+ is a decently fun title. The controls are perfect. The soundtrack is stellar. The bosses can be punishing, but are never unfair. It may not be the next Zelda game, but it’ll scratch that dungeon crawling itch for sure. At only $5.99/£5.99, you’d be hard-pressed to find a better Zelda clone for the price.
TBG Score: 8/10
Platform: Steam, PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch
Release Date: 21/02/2020
No. of Players: 1
Category: Adventure, RPG, Action
Developer: Undefined
Publisher: Ratalaika Games
Website: www.ratalaikagames.com
Twitter: @RatalaikaGames
Download link: eShop
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