Knack’s unashamedly the most basic title announced for the PlayStation 4 – but that’s clearly by design. Worldwide Studios president Shuhei Yoshida has frequently compared the release to Crash Bandicoot in various interviews, and that’s a trait that game director Mark Cerny echoes in this lengthy interview about the exclusive.
In addition to showing the title’s full E3 demo – which spans a variety of environments – the PS4 system architect explains that the release is a “platform action title set in a fantasy world” that draws inspiration from PlayStation classics such as Katamari Damacy, God of War, and, of course, Naughty Dog’s breakout hit.
While the gameplay does look simple – mostly focusing on straightforward combat sequences – Cerny promises that the challenge comes from the multiple enemies that you’ll encounter. You’ll face over a hundred different foes in the full game, and each will require unique tactics to beat. Knack will also be able to adopt various forms, which will augment the title with unique strategies.
Throughout the adventure, you’ll be able to collect hundreds of hidden items. Some of these you’ll be able to trade with the folks on your friends list. Others – known as Crystal Relics – will allow you to replay the game as an alternative version of the titular hero. One form that the game director explicitly references in the video is ‘Vampire Knack’. Sounds fun, doesn’t it?
Despite the game looking very simple – and clearly still quite early in production – it’s definitely growing on us. While we adore mature experiences such as The Last of Us, sometimes it’s just fun to bounce around in a colourful world. With a slightly lower price point, we reckon that this could prove a very attractive option at launch.
[source youtube.com]
Comments 21
Mark Cerny — the nicest, coolest, and tallest man in video games?
@get2sammyb Easily. He just seems so incredibly sincere.
"While we mature experiences like The Last of Us" I think there's a typo here.
@Jaz007 Darn, I thought I'd caught that before anyone would notice. Thanks for the heads up!
@ShogunRok One of GAF's finest!
Vampire Knack and item trades? I'm definitely picking this up. I was planning on getting it anyway, but those 2 additions have placed an airtight seal on that decision.
hmm...i m actually very interested in this game
I think this is going to surprise a lot of folks. And I think I'll have no problem paying $59.99 for it.
@lvnlavitaloca While I agree that $59.99's probably going to be a fair price, I reckon it would fly off the shelves at $39.99. A lot of people picking up the console that didn't originally intend to buy it would probably choose to pick it up for that price. I think it's a tougher sell at full price.
The words "compared to Crash Bandicoot" have put me off
In all serious, Knack could do very well. Sony has no real bright colourful platform game and look at how much money Nintendo brings in with the 3D Mario series. Super Mario Galaxy 2 is the best game not only this generation, but ever (for me). If Knack can capture even half of that game then it will be great, attracting all ages to it.
I'd love Sony to go one step further though and get somebody like Studio Japan to create an old-school 2D platformer. It's something missing from their PlayStation catalogue completely. Those games are still craved - look at how much money the New Super Mario Bros. games bring in! Even the inferior Rayman Origins has sold tremendously and I imagine the next entry will too. Would be good to see Sony just make a game like that for pure fun, no moody or annoying characters (looking at you Sly, Jak, Ratchet, etc) or try and make it dark and serious to (wrongly) make it appeal to certain age groups. Just a happy go lucky someone who wants to run and jump.
@rastamadeus - I can see your point about the moody and annoying characters in that platforming trilogy, those games aren't straight forward platformers, there's guns and story and violence, but everybody just refers to them as platformers - but did you really dislike the first Jak and Daxter that much? It's my all time favorite game so I always feel a need to defend it, usually against the 2nd two games, which were abominations of the first. The 3rd game was really just more of the 2nd, my family refers to it as Jak 2 1/2. The 2nd game did have the best ever cardboard figure shooting gallery though. They should sell that as a Move game for $2.99. (Like Nintendo did w/ Link's Crossbow Training.)
I think Knack could sell at $60 ($59.99 whatever) based on Sony's E3 showing. How many games will the PS4 have at launch that people won't buy this? Now if I'm wrong and there are a bunch of other PS4 games out there, then yes, this might get overlooked, but running over the PS4 holiday line-up in my head I don't see this needing a discounted price at launch. They can always drop it later if need be. I will play this someday.
Is there a lot of info available on this? It seems very story driven and linear, I'm wondering if there is open world exploration or side quests? Seems like a cool character to just take exploring off the reservation.
@rjejr The first JaD is a good game. Closest anyone (apart from '90s Rare) have come to touching a 3D Mario for me. But I just don't like either of the characters personally.
On a different note, sack Manchester off and take your kids to Windsor. Was fantastic! Got myself a Minecraft set which is lovely. Dunno why enjoyed the place more, me or my nephew, haha. Saying that, the Manc one is also really good for kids, being more of a play and learning centre. And you get to have your photos taken with a Storm Trooper, which makes you go all kiddy inside.
ugh, typing a new post while I'm watching the video (I really need to learn to watch before posting) and I've lost a lot of enthusiasm for this game. I can't believe it's 2013, Sony has a new powerful console coming out, and this cartoonish looking game has A FIXED CAMERA. I think the game looks good, but not fixed camera good. When the video first started I thought I was watching Darksiders - which nobody will ever compare this to since that's a GoW clone type game so everybody just says GoW - but I liked looking around in Darksiders. And in many other games I play.
Really doesn't look like it what I thought it was going to be, which was much more of a Spiderman run around the city type of thing. Oh well, maybe these are just the hallway areas and it will open up. Even Sonic Adventure - which had a fixed camera - had larger open world areas than this. I already play Skylanders (my kid buys it, I play it b/c it's in the house) for my linear progression kids game fix.
The longer I watch the video, the more it becomes a toys free Skylanders. And I only play Skylanders co-op w/ my wife - she isn't much of a video-gamer - or kids.
It also looks a bit like When Vikings Attack - which I bought for $10 - so I was wrong before, this should be $30.
I'm sure I'll feel good about this game again once all this thinks in, it's my fault for thinking it was something it isn't.
@rastamadeus - Jak was my first 3D platforming game as my adult console progression was PS1, Dreamcast, PS2, Gamecube, Wii, PS3. Actually Sonic Adventure was first, but Jak was more realistic.
I live in NY, can't take my kids to Windsor or Manchester, just Westchester. Though my wife would fly to England for a photo w/ a Cylon and Dirk Benedict's Starbuck (she is such a geek).
The fixed camera doesn't bother me as long as it doesn't intrude with the game. The two Mario Galaxy games have fixed camera for large portions of the games but you genuinely don't notice you have no control because it is perfectly made. Hopefully they have studied the camera in those games.
@rjejr I recommend Sonic Adventure 2 Battle (or the PSN HD version) if you like that era of platforming, and havent played it. Hugely underrated platformer. True, large parts of it are dreadful but when it gets it right (Metal Harbor, for example) it's superb.
And I forgot you're American. Still think you should take them to Windsor though Sure you can all cope without food and games for a few months, haha.
@rastamadeus - I played SA2 on the Dreamcast but all I can really remember are those dreadful levels. Whoever decided to put scavenger levels in a game based on speed - floating/crawling around in a big empty room looking for places to dig? - needed to find a new profession.
@rjejr Yeah, that was ridiculous. At least the Eggman and Tails levels were fun bit those treasure hunting bits still make me aggressive when I play the game. Hopefully whoever made them were fired.
@rastamadeus Puppeteer 2.5 d sidescrolling platformer:) You're welcome
"[youtube:0tlMJTe3-NE]"
@Sanquine Puppeteer looks fabulous but not really the sort of old school 2D platformer I crave.
@rastamadeus Oke, didnt know that. But i know what you mean:)
@rastamadeus - You inspired me into action, my copy of the Jak collection is ready for pick-up at Gamestop. I figured if I was willing to pay $2.99 for a shooting gallery mini-game I might as well buy all 3 games for $9.99 new. I actually already own all 3 games on disc but I don't have anything to play those discs on and probably never will at this point I was unrealistically hopeing for PS4 BC w/ PS2 discs.
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