Shovel Knight and Nailing Nostalgia 

I always wondered about this, thanks!

I was just about to ask exactly that

Me too!

Same. I usually don't care about "nes inspired" indie games, but shovel knight is something MUCH greater than a simple little ""inspired"" indie game...it's a goddamn masterpiece!! And I haven't even completed Spector or Torment and King of Cards yet! Only Shovel of Hope and Plague of Shadows, only 1/2 of the campaigns!!

Agreed

wtf

...what This comment is meant to be read piece by piece but forces you to the end at it's own pace.

I genuinely hate this comment.

@@robuxyyyyyyyyyy4708 I genuinely love this comment, but only at arm's length.

This comment is bone hurting juice

I'll note some retro games do manage this nice bit of design. Mario 3 does, for instance. It's quick, but when bosses are injured for several frames they can't hurt you. But, Nintendo was almost always ahead of the curve on core design stuff, so probably not surprising.

(Three years after this comment) Great comment! Sonic Mania is also what you just described, Sonic but what if they didn't stop the 2D ways yet and instead evolved it.

I think the closest right now to such SDKs would be PICO-8. It combines retro-ish limitations with modern conveniences such as IDE, high-level scripting language executed by fast modern processors(while also being reverse-engineerable without struggling with disassembly), graphical sprite editor, digital standalone game program, and online cartridge sharing

love your account name and ur comment i love splat toon

I literally thought shovel knight was supposed to be reminiscent of SNES games not NES games.

@@nutcase6443 it has game design elements of nes games but it looks like snes

Yeah I mean nes Graphics were what they were because of the limitations of the time SNES really is the Pinnacle of pixel graphics although the system still couldn't handle more intense moments with tons stuff going on at once. That said there are some PlayStation games with really good pixel Graphics to but most games had left it behind at that point

@@adeibmuthanna7936 what's a splatty toon Tbh never played Splatoon seems like another shooter but better

3 years later. But yeah, graphic designers are usually the ones in charge of typography, logo design, icons etc.

4 years later, but yes, If you mean intro to his own logo, Yes, that's really powerful. Graphic designers are actually in the most common sense explained as 'Emotionally intellectual'. I actually kinda felt this intro, because it was ended so pure, humorous and even in style of the game you're starting like "ready for a new adventure!". If you look at this game closely it really has those pure, humorous ways with not too much fictional designs (pure) and some nice wordplay with a tiny wink for physical humor. And yes, graphic designer have actually a really broad function, but this function is most of the cases something like brand designs, big artifarti projects, or someone with a big role in game design. Ik think RU-vid also added the "graphic editor", which is actually quite nice. ...I myself find the term Graphic design too broad if you ask my opinion.

I honestly have no clue but I want to say you did an amazing job on that intro ✌️😄

Waiiiit.... no What where they?

Nostalgia = Rockman 6

Massive Updates = Super Contra

"Nostalgia" made me think of UN Squadron, but I don't think that's right. "Good Old Days" is...Ninja Gaiden? "Military Shooters" makes me think of Ikari Warriors. The rest would be wild guesses. You did a fantastic job on that prelude, though! LOVE it.

I think I am in love with Light's voice

It’s great

Heard it as "Wowee!"

W… mega man!

UwU

Did you find docta wowie?!

That wasn't a cartoon, that was a cutscene ... unless you knew it was a cutscene and we're just calling it a cartoon because it is designed like a cartoon

Noventia almost fell asleep there

Dr Wowee

--You must, recover all the energy imMEdiately, w--Megaman.

This man is just quality.

Hahahaha good one.

Shove-l it

:o Hey Dusty!

or... get this we don't

Big Oof

there is something in common with the two. Shovel Knight is in both

And frankly, those Rare "collectathons" had extremely questionable design to begin with.

Quality of life improvements to me seems to be the name of the game when updating games, remakes, spiritual successors and the like. Mainly because certain holdovers are kind of pointless and meant as padding rather than improve the gaming experience. Disgaea to me is the best example of this, giving you a billion ways to munchkin everything to bits while also making all of its mechanics incredibly flexible to avoid making the grinding experience tedious.

Hey, I know you, I watch your delightful videos

***** As do I.

Oh my gooooosh I love hyper light drifter!

goty

Highly recommended.

I probably just suck but i started the game and got completely lost after about half an hour

Thomas Home I did the same thing, but then i started it again after aimlessly wandering, and my god it's so much fun and very challenging.

I'm glad more people are talking about Hyper Light Drifter, I don't think it gets enough credit or attention

You literally just took a line from the video.

U must recovuh al thi energy immedeataly, mega man(dont get a stroke)

Grand Theft Auto?

In real life it'd do the opposite. ;)

so progressive!

I remember two throwbacks to Zelda 2: Elliot Quest and Super Win the Game (I prefer Elliot Quest among those).

Turbo Button Wait what?

It was a good game but it doesn't feel like a game I can connect to. The game feels more like a cheap SNES game rather than a NES game. that's not to say it's bad but still.

Yes. But this video as well as this whole channel is exploring and trying to figure out WHY it was a good game. Yes this video focused more on how it nailed nostalgia. But some of his other videos (specifically the Mario level design ones) focus on why it was a good game. Because to people like me, it's not satisfying enough to stop at, "Because it was a good game".

Oliver Misbach Same here but that's really all I have to say. I can normally be very critical towards the complexities of something, why something is important or harms, what fits and what doesn't and so on. But Shovel Knight borrows from an era when games could only be simple, leaving me critically speechless on everything else.

JRPGs and Adventure games from the NES era would like to talk to you about how 'Simple' they are. See to me a good game is based on how the actual gameplay flows with the controls and how that works with the level design. I've written this down elsewhere but simplicity in the controls is usually one button -> one function. And if you're talking story... well here's an original thought, you make the story yourself through gameplay. It's your own experiences within the game that make the story more expansive, not the cutscenes.

tcrpgfan Shovel Knight is trying to be a platformer for a simple era. Simplicity is the definition. Also, making my own story? The heck are you talking about? Like I said, the games are from an era of simplicity. You think I back in time to make a story? No.

***** yeah

clearly in every way.

Wednesday's Serial definitely

though I think Metagal is a better way of doing even that. and it's like a quarter during steam sales.

Wednesday's Serial i agree

sirsnow This is a good design ideal for games. It always feels right, and never truly frustrating when done well.

Yes! I was thinking of including Stranger Things for this exact reason but I wasn't sure what people would think of a non-gaming example.

We'd be fine with it! The same principles apply, regardless of media-type! Loved this vid, man! Definitely supporting you in the near future!! :)

I can't speak for the rest of the internet, but I love your work and think bringing in other media types to support your thesis would be perfectly acceptable. Thanks for the reply!

So you're just uncomfortable with calling it "sexist" instead of "not progressive"? I mean Mark basically called "rescuing your princess" (like in Mario?) not progressive.

TheWischmop I actually think calling it sexist is fucking stupid. How does rescuing a woman, or even just portraying them as weak, mean you hate them? And I'm not politically progressive at all, I just didn't find what he said all that inflammatory.

The problem isn't when women are in games, it's when women are literally men with tits. It feels so forced and unnatural that you don't even care for the story. Alien isolation is a great game with an awesome story because while Ripley did end up overcoming her obstacles, the devs weren't afraid to show her weak side as well. That's the main problem, when devs make women, they're to scared to show any weakness because some land whale will end up calling it sexist. That's why I hate this whole progressive movement, why not just let the writers tell the story that they want and that they're comfortable with?

TopHatPangolin If you have to resort to thinking there's some hidden expectation of sex going on in Mario's mind to call it sexist, you're kind of stretching your argument. Especially since the games are meant for children.

A thousand times this, holy shit women were fucking useless in practical matters (to a very lesser extent still are) and it's not fucking sexist to mention a fact

we will find docta wowie!

Doctor wallwy

W-Megaman.

Docter Wowie!

Lol saw a review of that Skateboard movie with him, so bad :P

+openquin1 I've got a video on adaptive soundtracks on my channel, if that's any interest to ya?

+Mark Brown (Game Maker's Toolkit) Missed that and yes, will check it out

But who's the one to decide if it's being done properly or not? I mean, Beam Dog wanted to add in a trans character to Baulder's Gate (I think), because they wanted to (And the studio knows how to do it well), and gamers lost their minds because it wasn't done 'properly', which is really to say, they didn't want it done at all.

Iliya Moroumetz If it fits with world and story, for starters, which it didn't with Baldur's Gate - that one was shoehorned in and generally awful.

But it did fit. The writers made it fit. It was others who declared that trans people have no place in the world, despite the fact they were not the ones who made the decision. By your line of logic, technology should never, ever appear in a fantasy story, because it wouldn't fit with the world and story, yet, we have thousands upon thousands of stories where that happens. It's almost as absurd as those who use 'historical accuracy' whenever the non-white people in the Witcher 3 is brought up, despite the fact it's a fictional world that can be edited, revised, and updated. The bottom line; something done 'properly' is a matter of personal opinion, and not as concrete as you'd like to think it is.

Iliya Moroumetz And what logic is that? You can't try to reframe "my logic" if you don't even know what it is. You know, it would be pretty crap if in The Lord of the Rings, Aragorn suddenly got out a phone and called up the Dúnedain, because it wasn't established before and would seem random and pointless. Similar case: The "trans" character from Baldur's Gate. Hoo boy, you cited Witcher 3. It's been said before and I'll say it again: Eastern European cultures are extremely poorly represented in games. Witcher 3 is extremely important in that respect, but you don't even see it because in your eyes, it's just white people, right? Hypocrisy, thy name is Iliya Moroumetz. Historical accuracy makes perfect sense as an argument. Witcher 3 is based entirely on Polish folklore, and it sticks close to that. You're demeaning the concept of fiction and fantasy by ignoring the value of consistency. How about listening to an actual Polish person on the topic instead of pushing your own culture and cultural biases on people: medium.com/@adrianchm/on-the-witcher-3-and-racial-quotas-in-art-e6a9f594439#.34tulh3k4

Not really... Gandalf used a 'cell phone' of sorts to escape Isengard. A trans character can exist in a D&D world, hell, the Pathfinder (A D&D spinoff) game has a trans character in it, a dwarf named Paizo. So, if anything, to say something can't exist in a FICTIONAL world is pretty telling what your biases. creative limits, and prejudices are. And again, historical accuracy has no grounds in a FICTIONAL world. Want to know why? It's dependent upon the person writing the FICTION in the first place! If a person wants to be more thoughtful and add tons of PoC in relevant and important roles, fantastic. If a writer wants to be a douche and only make token black guys to kill off, well fuck that guy and his garbage writing. Ever heard about the musical Hamilton by Lin-Manuel Miranda? Where the cast is comprised of black and latino performers? By your logic, that should not have happened at all. But it has and you're just gonna have to deal with the fact that rules for fiction are not as set in stone as you'd like to think they are.

MBisonYes this is 2 years late but rip

Yes there is a free version online. However I really think you should just by it to support the devs but if you really want to play the game get the free version

Maybe not, but it's the one you can name that the most amount people can go "Oh, yeah, like that!" to.

Youa Numbah Oneah Racist That's just more reason to mention the games that did it beforehand, and help them get the credit for it. It was actually pretty common in early MMOs; forgetting them is doing gaming history a disservice.

Wasn't this even a Diablo II thing? Yes, that far. (Might have something to do with its proto-MMO parts that weren't that "massive", but were there)

This was also a thing in Digimon World 4, obscure as that is, nowadays.

Sonic?

its also sad when you expect backlash for not being as "progressive" as other developers,its like its a goddamn contest to see who can kiss the most ass, or lose the most self respect.

+Vrenna When the opposition of progressives are often literal neonazis with racist, sexist, bigoted views that shout and shut down people for even acknowledging these topics, you have no excuse.

+Hung Tang it's kind of ironic that you say that when most progressive m ovements are just as bigoted racist and sexist, but Its different because they're punching up at abusive power structures.Because we all know that being progressive is just repackaging racism and sexism and sending it to someone with "privilege", rather than end it for everyone.

Vrenna- "As long as you call something progressive, the opposition must shut up because they must totally be barbarians." Hung Tang- "When the opposition of progressives are often literal neonazis with racist, sexist, bigoted views that shout and shut down people for even acknowledging these topics, you have no excuse." Case and point. By the way have you ever seen a Trump rally during the primaries, the savages known as Bernie supporters were hammering down on Trump supporters like there's no tomorrow. While the Trump supporters who did attack others were very rare (I could probably count the amount on my fingers). You call the opposition sexist, racist and bigoted even though your side clearly shows more hatred. While right wingers condemn actual neo-nazis (which are a very small group), liberals actively support and promote the hatred and beating of anyone who dares question any of their actions(such as BLM and the MSM).

The problem is how color blind our brains, just because there are idiots who are liberals, mostly radical feminists complaining about objectification or some other bull, people group all liberals together as complete idiots. I agree that there should be more female characters in video games, and to some people, that makes me a brainless SJW, while my thoughts on the black lives matters movement makes me a racist in other people's eyes.

Shut up !

Not the respawn system; it took the 'Lose your Souls/Gold if you die' as a method of punishing the player.

+Revolsin Yes, and that's exactly what I meant by that as well. There were already games that punished you like that.

I never heard from any game that used that mechanic before Dark Souls. I am curious - can you name some?

Same complaint, lots of game did that way before Dark Souls. The most well-known example that I can remember is Runescape in the wilderness.

+Wolfaron As the sole method? I can't think of many. Either way, the game that popularizes the concept is one it's usually taken from, which I imagine is what he meant.

+Mastu Denton Well, Shield Knight is taken over by a spell, rather than captured by a male (the usual trope), she's powerful like Shovel Knight, and they work together like equals to win. Yes, Wind Waker is a good example of Nintendo subverting the damsel trope.

As is Ocarina, depending on the interpretation of Sheik. If we assume it's canon that she retains her consciousness and is merely wearing a disguise, that Zelda does a tremendous job thwarting Ganondorf using her intelligence, resources, and training. For the bulk of the game, she doesn't need to be rescued, and she is never really presented as a reward for Link. As shame, really, that the non-game adaptations go out of their way to dilute Zelda's accomplishments. In particular, the manga states that Impa seals away her conciousness, essentially making Sheik and Zelda different people of different genders.

I can't wait for Shovel Knight 2 with a disabled transgender black woman that kills every single male she comes across.

Progressive for an NES game, not progressive in general. Sure, Wind Waker does this too, but it isn't from the NES era, which is what he's talking about.

Neither is Shovel Knight

I know this comment is two years old, but I'd like to point out that Yacht Club also added the option of changing the gender of just about every character in the game if you wish, so they clearly went to great lenghts to subvert "save the princess" tropes.

problem with the "progressive" mind set right now is that they imply you are sexis No, that's just you being defensive and projecting insecurities on an argument that was never said. If someone says a movie has stupid elements, or is stupid because of X element (such as a bad ending, nonsensical plot, or massive plotholes five year olds can see through), this does not magically say that everyone who likes such movies is stupid, and nobody would be so insecure to go into a frothing rage whenever someone calls a movie stupid. This is not magically different when we replace "stupid" with sexist. The difference isn't the criticism, the criticism is your defensiveness. Case in point, I like several Metroids quite well. OtherM's still sexist as hell, though. And if you think this implies anything about you, then that's your issue, and your projection. The problem with gamers these days is that they cannot handle any criticism, really. I mean, gamers even freak out utterly when someone reports a game like FFXV or No Man's Sky get delayed. Gamers freaking out over feminism doesn't seem that different there. It's the same thing really, a complete failure to understand that criticism of something one likes doesn't imply criticism of you.

Fen Y Seems you are projecting quite a bit there. By the way, you've never had someone imply yoiu are stupid for watching stuff like Jackass, or Jersey Shore or heck entire mediums like anime or video games? It's a common thing for ignorant people to say. I was referring to quotes from progressives (by their own admission) like: "In other words, viewing media that frames women as objects or sexual playthings, profoundly impacts how real life women are perceived and treated in the world around us. And that is all without even taking into account how video games allow for the more participatory form of objectification that we’ve been discussing in this episode." So yeah, I think that is implying that damsels in distress for example are promoting sexist attitudes. Yet you react defensively and imply I am being defensive. I only said I had problems with it, I might agree with it partially or completely for instance but dislike the way it is being said, but you assumed I was being defensive. Hell you implied I had the same attitude as the dipshits who sent death threats to journalists over delay and paint.

Yeah, the thing is, Shovel Knight never rubbed in our faces how competent and progressive and empowered Shield Knight is. The game just told us "Hey, there was also this Knight who was Shovel Knight's companion and they were like the most awesome team ever." And so we know that she was a competent knight from that, and the game then never insists on pushing it in our faces. Quite the opposite, the game allows her to be a strong person but have Shovel Knight still have his protective feelings about her (as evidenced by the dream sequences in which you try to catch her), which seems kind of ironic considering she is the one carrying the shield. I guess it is just supposed to display how they both share this attitude towards each other. It was pretty obvious that Shovel Knight is really into Shield Knight, from the very start. The thing is, the game actually does something that is *very* progressive, but not just for sake of being progressive: It's final boss battle. I love it. It is a pretty progressive thing to do, because it shows Shield Knight as a strong partner to Shovel Knight instead of this poor damsel in distress. And that is totally fine. The thing that makes it great though (imo) is how it is done in a way that actually makes the whole game better. Seeing Shield Knight and Shovel Knight fight together to overcome the greatest threat of the game that none of them could overcome on their own (which is even communicated to us by making the boss literally unbeatable without Shield Knight) was what changed her position from the girl I was rescuing that was supposedly a great knight of her own, into a great ally of Shovel Knight, and the companion that she was supposed to be. And the way you are required to bounce of her shield is awesome because up to now you as Shovel Knight were the one taking on the world to save *her* but now that she males herself the one thing elevating you towards your goal, you are now relying on *her* to help *you* out, and the way she without hesitation makes herself the only thing between your and the abyss below, she is now the one who will keep you from falling (stark juxtaposition to the chatch-her-dreams) I saw a feeling of mutual unbreakable trust expressed in that. Shovel Knight would without a second thought rely on Shield Knight completely, because showing how she is as determined to not let Shovel Knight down as he is to be relyable to her. And instead of a Kiss on the cheek or a "Congratz you're the hero of Hyrule!" I as the player get a display of the friendship and touching connection that was the driving force behind this whole adventure, and I feel like all the effort Shovel Knight went through to save Shield Knight was 200% worth it, and I'm willing to bet that Shoeld Knight would have done the same for him if any harm were to come his way. It gives me as a player way more satisfaction from a story perspective than old rescue-the-princess-games do. Because Shield Knight is not simply a mcguffin, but she contributes and males me apprechiate her and Shovel Knight more, making the victory feel more meaningful than it would otherwise have. I don't think every game has to be ultra progressive, but if you can pull of such a great thing with a little spin on an established story *and* make it a bit more progressive in the process, sure! Go right ahead! I'm all for that.

ZenoDovahkiin Yeah, I think it was a well realized character, I also liked they ever went for explicitly telling us if they were in a romantic relationship, mostly that SK was pretty defensive and saddened by him not being able to be with her partner. Plus the final Boss battle does help to see the relationship instead of just telling us about it and like you mentioned, it's almost a co-op battle because both characters pull their weight in it. I think it's better done than something like Cave Story and the more recent Zelda games where sure, Curly and Zelda help you, but they are less involved overall.

ew275x Yeah, involving Zelda a little more would be nice. I'd also love Zelda to get her own game for once.

actually, calling this game progressive for having the shield knight be this or that is straight up stupid. Let's take a look at the NES: You saved a princess. A role that rarely went into war (unlike a prince who was trained in the art of war) and was brought up to be diplomatic. Thus, it's more a matter of position (how often do you save a girl that's not a princess? Double dragon, 2 heavily trained martial artists, and they kidnap the GF because that's how the gang is getting back at the bros). Not many. Then, look at metroid. Samus Aran, a badass space pirate hunter, amazing skilled and talented bounty hunter. But, we hated women back then, right? Look at your progressive shovel knight....trained, skilled female warrior goes off without her man at her side and gets into trouble, and requires her man to come and save her. At the end, she was nothing but a shield (which is as much a vagina as a shovel is a penis). In the end, shovel knight saves her, and what role does she play? 'Healer'. She keeps him from dying, and plays the support role. Her life is worth less then his, so she sacrafices herself for his sake. So progressive.

Look, I'm with you. This progressive bs is getting outta hand now a days and I don't like it as much as the next guy. Metroid is my favourite game series by leagues. But let's be honest for a second, In the past, durring the NES era, the amount of games where you're a strong male hero saving a damsel in distress i much much MUCH higher than any other hero->reward trope. Whether it's metroid's case with samus and the reward being stopping the space pirates, or it being a male hero protagonist saving/gaining/winning something that doesn't have to do with a damsel or love interest. It's just documented fact and there's nothing inherently wrong with it. Super hero comics were like that for a time too way back in time. what's important is that we still use that trope, but not to the extent that we once did. Because it is a fine trope, there's nothing inherently wrong with it, it just gets repetitive and stale, and laughable once you see it so much. So thankfully we're progressive people, and have adapted and implemented different tropes, and ones sport females as the hero too, or both. It's nice to have a change of pace.

PROGRESSIVE DOESN'T HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH NEW-WAVE FEMINISM, FOR FUCK'S SAKE. (Also, let's not forget that in Metroid you are rewarded with Samus taking off her suit and revealing herself in various states of undress depending on your score).

Darc Gibson They tout themselves as progressive, and a lot of people call it "being progressive" and "PC", but really they're just regressive assholes.

Arexsis men saved girls most likely because boys were targeted to buy these games and did.

Actually throughout history there have been many stories told by humans about heroism. One of the most iconic being the prince saving the princess from the dragon in a cave or some shit like that. Throughout history we have told men, if they want to be popular and be liked by girls, then they would have to be heroic. Girls in average are weaker than men, so it makes sense for people to put women at the end of the cave, for some guy to save them. Why do you think superhero shit is so popular amongst men?

lol, pls that's not a very nuanced view of the game at all

Er, why?

Care to elaborate?

Undertale didn't use memes (AKA groan-worthy references) for the dialogue, the dialogue created the memes.

It's also ironic that right as he's saying that, the dialogue box reads "I'm not a witch!!!" which is a reference to The Princess Bride

Gray Sloth I see what you did there XD

*triggering intensifies*

So you need more powerful machines to be progressit ? Okay

You are familiar with Shovel Knight's Body Swap update, right? Goes to show that a good game gives two damns about prejudice. Also, You do know that Yatch Club Games wanted a game that felt like a NES title if it was released on 2014, right? Goes to show that a good game can be built upon basic stories and tropes, and doesn't need stupid gimmicks or a AAA budget spent on non-game aspects. By the way, you do own Steam's Shovel Knight, right? Goes to show, well, the obvious (besides getting free DLCs that console players have to pay for).

Horus SC Reading TheNejD's comment and your reply to him... I cant' understand where you're coming from. NejD's comment, in no stance, denies what you wrote. He's merely saying giving the "damsel in distress" a personality and some weight to the narrative doesn't necessarily make the game progressive. I don't know where your prejudice comment came from. The second paragraph is 100% true, but comes out of the left field on this conversation, since it doesn't connect to anything he said. And so what if he owns SK on Steam? What is that supposed to prove?

maybe shield knight was just a cool side character and you dont have to find problems with everything

As he predicted! That opinion would cause the comments to run rampant!

I really loved playing as Plague Knight. It's a little hard to get used to in the beginning, but it gets really intuitive as the game opens up. I'm honestly amazed they managed to make the game flow so well despite all his different abilities.

The movement is some of the most fun I've ever had in platforming.

I hope so because I bought Shovel Knight treasure trove for the Swith which contains all the Shovel Knight games and I was disappointed with the first game. 6.5 of 10 is my rating it just isn't fun and the level design is not great. It's a mediocre clone of classic games that are way better. Modern gamers have low standards apparently.

GrankFarrett nice bait

GrankFarrett Try harder