PlayStation 4 Review: KNACK

 

When KNACK was first revealed at the Sony PlayStation "See The Future First" Event earlier this year, many had hoped the game would be a cute, light-hearted, colorful return to Sony's platforming prime such as the Jak & Daxter, Ratchet and Clank, Sly Cooper, and Crash Bandicoot days.
KNACK promised a colorful world with the unique gameplay advantage of a character that morphs and grows as he absorbs more "relics" to power him, while also acting as a tech-demo of the PlayStation 4's processing power, able to manage all of Knack's thousands of moving pieces in real time.

The actual game, however, delivers a colorful, bright, and aesthetically detailed finished product; but lacks any depth and real heart to it.
To put it simply, KNACK is beautiful little mess that never really lives up to it's own potential, or the high standard Sony's previous platformers have been held up to.

Knack's story takes place in a world where Goblins and Humans have had an uneasy truce after the humans discovered the Sun-Stones and "ancient relics" from Goblin mines, which have become the new energy source for our cities and industry. When the Goblins start attacking human settlements with more advanced weaponry than just bows and catapults, the Governments of the world seek the aid of a billionare industrialist, a renowned explorer and Goblin expert, a lab assistant, and his professor who holds the key to it all, a cute little creature named Knack.

 

While the plot is somewhat unique and isn't actually as predictable as one would think initially, sans the painfully obvious "secret badguy", the writing is very bland and while the game is light-hearted, it is almost devoid of humor entirley.

KNACK's gameplay is a platformer beat-em-up which never truly succeeds at being either until very late in the game when the platforming segment becomes an actual challenge, and while the combat is fun, there are never any new ways to play it, despite having a character that could be used in countless fun gameplay types.
Knack realizes later in the game that he can absorb other elements other than the relics which power him, which leads to Wooden Knack, Ice Knack, and Metal Knack, which do absolutley nothing to the gameplay other than give Knack a new color-scheme depending on which of the three he absorbs, which is sad because it chalks up to the game's "Wasted Potential" category, aside from one high-light moment where KNACK takes after a giant rampaging monster film, tearing through the city fighting tanks and jets from the Goblin army, and then at the game's climax when all hell breaks lose and you find yourself fighting monstrous gollems and creatures unleashed from an ancient world.

 

The levels are very pretty to look at, all look lush and vivid, but sadly lack any great design to them.

The game does actually become a challenge, and for a single-player game that clocks in at around 10 hours, the challenge is nice both to keep you on your toes, as well as to remind you games can still be "hard on Normal Difficulty in a world of regenarting health and hand-holding.

KNACK also features a Co-Op style similar to the Lego games of drop-in/drop-out gameplay, which comes in handy as the character is faced with some truly challenging odds and enemy types as the game progress. The game is also good for trophy hunters seeking an "easy Platinum" if you're a skilled gamer who doesn't mind honing his skills for the game's speed-runs.

The PlayStation 4's library is small now, with only shooters, sports games, and a racing game; but KNACK is worth a purchase for those who want a comfy little mindless action; but don't mind the fact KNACK really ever brings anything unique or innovative to it's genre.  

All things considered, KNACK is a beautifully made mess that doesn't live up to the high standards Sony platformers are known for; but it does give a nice glimpse into future installments of Ratchet & Clank, Jak and Daxter, and Sly Cooper as well as showing off that there are still adventures that can be shared between all ages, with enough challenges for all parties to enjoy.