Knack News
March2022
News Sony Files New Trademark for the One and Only Knack
Back in Knack
Is Knack coming back?! PlayStation's most prodigious platforming hero hasn't been seen since the (honestly, rather good) Knack 2, which released back in 2017 — so we're coming up on five whole Knack-less years, if you can believe it. Anyway, Sony's filed a new Knack trademark in Japan, which has all of us Knackers on the edge of our...
September2017
Feature How to Prepare for the Second Coming of Knack
The Knackening is upon us
The glorious return of our PlayStation Lord and Saviour Knack is almost upon us. If you have not yet welcomed the greatest hero of our age into your life, then worry not, as you still have time to atone for your ignorance. How, you ask? Well for starters, you can follow the instructions that we've laid bare below. Complete...
August2017
Push Rewind Was Knack Really That Bad?
The right to exist
The week that was is no more. We're bringing back the Push Rewind name after nearly a year of dormancy, but with a brand new meaning. Instead of a round-up of the previous week's news, we'll be taking a deep dive into games that are about to receive a sequel. This will exclude reboots, spiritual successors, side stories,...
October2016
News Game of the Year Knack Will Be Enhanced by PS4 Pro
But what about Bloodborne?
Knack may not be a bad game, but it's certainly become a laughing stock over the years. That's not stopping Sony from pouring even more effort into the outing, however, as Mark Cerny has quietly announced that the Japan Studio developed platformer will be upgraded to take advantage of the manufacturer's new PlayStation 4...
October2015
Weirdness Of Course Mark Cerny Platinumed PS4 Launch Title Knack
Someone had to
Mark Cerny is a busy man, but it seems that he still finds time to play the odd game. The new follow feature on the PlayStation 4 has proven a godsend for those who like to stalk their favourite gaming executives and have a nosy at their Trophies. And our very own Ben Potter noticed one pleasing tidbit while perusing the...
November2014
News There Are Only Ten of These Knack Statues in the World
Cerny you want one
Incredibly, it’s been a year since Knack first attacked the PlayStation 4 as a launch title – and in order to commemorate the occasion, Japan Studio has prepared ten ultra-rare statues, which will be given away at Sony’s forthcoming PlayStation Experience event. The trophy itself shows the titular hero standing alongside...
Weirdness What if PS4 Launch Hero Knack Was a Character in Killzone?
Stahl-wart
It’s been ten years since this fresh faced editor first read about PlayStation 2’s supposed ‘Halo killer’ Killzone in one of the many gaming magazines around at the time. The series hasn’t gone on to become quite the commercial juggernaut that many predicted, but it’s still carved out a sizeable fanbase for itself, with each...
July2014
News Could Knack Possibly Make a Comeback? PS4 Architect Mark Cerny Would Like It To
Indie-esque project next on the agenda
PlayStation 4 exclusive Knack was easily the worst received of the next-gen console’s launch titles, securing a string of low scores around the web. However, it also attained a lot of press in the build up to release, primarily due to its ties to hardware architect – and industry legend – Mark Cerny...
May2014
News PS4 Exclusives Discounted on European PlayStation Store
Knack punches Killzone's price
The price of PlayStation 4 games have been nothing short of extortionate in the UK since launch, with some titles retailing at up to £64.99 ($110) depending on where you shop. Fortunately, the figures are slowly starting to come down, with both Watch Dogs and Wolfenstein: The New Order commanding much more manageable...
February2014
News Japanese Sales Charts: PS4 Sprints Out of the Blocks, Knack Thumps the Summit
Yakuza Ishin performs better on PS3
With popular publication Famitsu already releasing its own PlayStation 4 sales figures for Japan, this week’s Media Create chart isn’t as interesting as it perhaps could be. Nevertheless, the research firm reports that the next-gen system sold 309,154 units during its first two days on the market – a figure...
News Not Even Japanese Magazine Famitsu Likes PS4 Exclusive Knack
Yakuza Ishin restores enthusiasm in PS4
Japan may be receiving a free copy of Knack in order to compensate for the PlayStation 4’s meagre delay, but it can’t seem to buy a good review score at the minute. Fresh from being stomped by much of the Western media,
January2014
News Do You Want a PS4? Amazon UK Has Knack Packs In Stock
Bundles back on digital store shelves
It may have been the worst reviewed PlayStation 4 exclusive at launch, but Knack has actually been something of a success – perhaps partly due to it being sold alongside the sought after next generation system since launch. And in an effort to keep the divisive debut above the critically acclaimed Super Mario...
News UK PS4 Stock Sneaks into the Spotlight at Amazon
Lightning strikes
Despite some meaty shipments all over the globe, it’s amazing that the PlayStation 4 remains a real challenge to track down. Granted, it may be a bit easier to skewer a system this side of Christmas, but any available stock is still getting snapped up within hours of it becoming available. If you’re stil
News Hideo Kojima Took a Break from Metal Gear Solid 5 to Give Knack a Try
Don't Knack it till you try it
When he's not busy reminding us that he gets to play Metal Gear Solid 5 and we don't, it seems that Hideo Kojima, the director of the acclaimed stealth series, spends his precious spare moments testing out the competition. The professional provocateur recently took critical
December2013
News Amazon UK Offers One Last Chance to Snag PS4 Stock Before Christmas
Last minute miracle
If you’re in the UK, there’s still time to secure a PlayStation 4 before Christmas. Mega-retailer Amazon.co.uk has updated its product pages for the next generation console, indicating that it will have fresh supply of the sought-after system before Santa slips down your chimney. You’re going t
Video Will PS4 Launch Title Knack Grow on Gamers Like Uncharted?
Secret relic
Ever since the PlayStation 4’s launch last month, we’ve been spending a lot of time with Japan Studio’s throwback platformer Knack. Over on Family Gamer TV, we recently asked two brothers to review the title, and take a deeper look at the co-op aspects of the ga
Video How Fun Is Knack in a Family Environment?
Playing together
PlayStation 4 launch title Knack hasn’t exactly proven the gem in the system’s software selection that some gaming relics had hoped – but is it any more successful at entertaining a younger audience? Legendary director Mark Cerny famously produced an enormous DualShock 4 controller in order to better understand how the
News UK Sales Charts: Knack Thumps Super Mario 3D World on the Nose
Mamma mia
Japan Studio’s enjoyable (but not outstanding) PlayStation 4 launch title Knack landed a heavy blow on the critically acclaimed Super Mario 3D World this week, finishing above the Wii U exclusive in the UK sales charts. Mark Cerny’s throwback platformer punched its way into 13th in the multiformat best-sellers list, while the bruised...
November2013
News Knack Rattles and Rolls in Cinematic Launch Trailer
Remember, red is bad
Japan Studio’s family-friendly PlayStation 4 launch title Knack may have lacked strong review scores – but it looks excellent once again in this cinematic launch trailer. Alright, we’re still not sold on the eponymous hero's Barry White-esque baritone vocals, but the visuals have come a long way since the title was...
Round Up Knack Reviews Punch PS4 Exclusive Down to Size
Cerny's sobbing
Sony’s just lifted the embargo on its next generation console, meaning that a flood of PlayStation 4 review scores are starting to hit the online airwaves. While you’ll have to sit tight for a few more days while we ready our opinion, we’ve compiled some of the key verdicts for Japan Studio’s platforming throwback Knack in...
News Knack's PS4 Trophies Will Challenge Your Old-School Abilities
Brace yourself
We’ve said the following before, but we’ll happily say it again: Knack is not an easy game. The Japan Studio developed PlayStation 4 launch title may look cute and cuddly, but the throwback mascot platformer is ferocious even on its standard difficulty tier. That’s because director Mark Cerny wanted to create an adventure that...
News Knack Proves That a Problem Shared Is a Problem Halved
Just the two of us
Marble Madness creator Mark Cerny’s impending PlayStation 4 launch title Knack is making a play for your nostalgic side – and it aims to further that by bringing back couch co-op. Earlier in the year, developer Japan Studio confirmed that yo
News Knack's Quest Has Already Started on iOS Handsets
Rummage up some relics
If you absolutely can’t wait for the PlayStation 4, then free-to-play iOS spin-off Knack’s Quest should help you to pass the minutes until next week’s release. The puzzle title – which was officially acknowledged earlier in the year – sees you matching jewels in order to help the eponymous hero grow. There’s both a...
News Mark Cerny Has a Knack for Answering Your PS4 Questions
Words of wisdom
Ever since the PlayStation 4's big reveal back in February, Mark Cerny has become one of the most prominent figures in the gaming industry. Despite being both the chief architect of Sony's next generation console, and lead director on launch title Knack, the bright-eyed genius still manages to find the time to answer questions asked...
October2013
News You'll Be Able to Play Co-Op Knack on PS4 and Vita
Redefining rules
There’s no doubt that Remote Play is one of the selling points of the PlayStation 4. The Gaikai-powered functionality will allow you to stream virtually all of your next generation titles directly to the PlayStation Vita, and play them in bed, on the toilet, or anywhere else that you desire. But the functionality is capable of...
News You Should Probably Expect to Die a Lot in Knack on PS4
Game over
One thing that we’ve noticed when playing Knack in the past is that the game’s hard. We don’t just mean tricky, but full-on rage-inducing, stamp on the DualShock 4 difficult. That’s because, despite its cuddly appearance, the title is designed to take you back to the days of PSone favourites such as Crash Bandicoot and
News Did You Know Knack Can Also Absorb Metal?
Man of steel
Knack may not be the most tantalising launch title ever crafted, but it’s got some pretty neat ideas. Arguably its greatest hook is the way in which the eponymous hero can absorb and discard different materials in order to grow and shrink to various sizes. We’ve already seen a couple of these elements in action, including fire and...
Store Update 15th October 2013 (North America)
Knack attack
This week’s North American PlayStation Store update isn’t the biggest from a new content perspective, but there are still a few noteworthy additions. As pointed out earlier, you can now pre-order both Knack and Warframe for the PlayStation 4 via your current generation console. Other highlights include the digital version of God of...
News You Can Already Pre-Order PS4 Games on Your PS3
Looking to the future
This may be the first generation ever where you can purchase games for an unreleased system on its predecessor. Sony kickstarted digital PlayStation 4 pre-orders in North America overnight – and you can fulfil the required transactions via your existing PlayStation 3. That’s a pretty novel feature, isn’t it? Current...
Hands On PS4 Launch Title Knack Is Gradually Gathering Steam
Bigger and better
We’ve had a more turbulent relationship with Knack than the scorned lovers from Wuthering Heights. The throwback platformer in production at Sony’s recently rejuvenated Japan Studio disappointed us earlier in the year, prompting us to ponder the platform holder’s decision to put it at the forefront of the PlayStation 4’s...
News Absorb Additional Items for PS4 with Knack's Free Smartphone Companion
Never stop playing
You won’t just be playing PlayStation 4 platformer Knack on Sony’s next generation system this year, as Worldwide Studios president Shuhei Yoshida has revealed that the launch title is netting a smartphone application, too. The iOS and Android extra will be available for free, and will allow you to unlock additional items in...
September2013
Weirdness Mark Cerny Comes Face-to-Face with Knack
Master's apprentice
Mark Cerny may be the tallest man in gaming – but he still needs to look up to Knack. Sony Worldwide Studios president Shuhei Yoshida snapped this adorable image of the game’s creative director posing with the shapeshifting protagonist at the Tokyo Game Show last week, and the duo seemed perfectly comfortable in each...
TGS 2013 Knack Sounds Much More Natural in Japanese
Native tongue
Knack’s subwoofer shaking speech hasn’t exactly sold us on the character in the West, but he sounds much more natural in this Japanese trailer for the PlayStation 4 exclusive. The clip goes heavy on the game’s cinematic sequences, and continues to look more and more appealing the closer that it gets to release. Let’s hope that...
TGS 2013 PS4 Games Sure Look Slick When Played on Vita
Killer app
It looks like cloud streaming company Gaikai was worth every cent of the $380 million that Sony paid for it, as the PlayStation 4’s hotly anticipated Remote Play functionality appears to work like a dream. The technology, which allows you to stream most next generation titles directly to your PlayStation Vita, was on display at the...
News Knack Has the, Er, Knack to Appeal to a Global Audience
The protagonist took around 18 months to create
While the game has improved visually since its initial unveiling, Knack has been criticised for looking a little, well, bland. Despite being pitched as the PlayStation 4’s answer to Crash Bandicoot, the next generation exclusive lacks the personality that made the Naughty Dog developed favourite an...
News Watch Mark Cerny Have a Natter About Knack in Japanese
Smash and crash
Sony’s ongoing ‘Conversations with Creators’ video series is back – but this time with a bit of a twist. For the latest instalment, Mark Cerny has decided to adopt his Japanese tongue to talk a little bit about Knack. The lead architect of the PlayStation 4 has also served as the creative director on the upcoming launch...
August2013
GamesCom 2013 Absorb 15 Minutes of New Knack Gameplay
Growing in stature
Without ever really doing anything wrong, Knack has struggled to impress us. When we got our hands on the upcoming Japan Studio platformer earlier in the year, we enjoyed the overarching premise, but didn’t feel that it was doing enough to deserve its status at the forefront of the PlayStation 4’s launch lineup
GamesCom 2013 Are You Stuck in Knack? Sounds Like a Job for Robo-Knack
Co-op component will get you through the challenging stages
Knack probably shouldn’t be leading the PlayStation 4’s lineup, but as a title that adds variety to the next generation console’s offering, it definitely deserves its place among the roster of launch software. While it may look simple from the outside, though, the Japan Studio...
GamesCom 2013 Crash Around with Knack in this Cinematic Trailer
A knack for storytelling
PlayStation 4 launch title Knack's newest trailer focuses on the story and Pixar-like cinematics of the game, as we get our most in-depth look yet at the characters and events involved. Knack's deep voice is certainly something that we'll have to get used to, but it does look like the release will attempt to tell a charming...
July2013
Opinion The Problem with Knack, the PS4 Title That's Punching Above Its Weight
Monster problems
After somewhat slipping into irrelevancy throughout much of the PlayStation 3 era, Sony’s own Japan Studio is enjoying something of a renaissance at the minute. The first-party workshop – previously responsible for classics such as Ape Escape and Shadow of the Colossus – is
News Cerny Simulated Gameplay as an Eight-Year-Old to Aid Knack
Nutty professor
Everything that industry legend Mark Cerny has described about the PlayStation 4’s production process has been relatively orthodox thus far. The company maintained close contact with its first-party teams throughout production, collaborated with third-parties to properly understand their requirements, and kept the system’s...
June2013
First Impressions Stomping Around with Knack on PS4
Hands-on gameplay reveals PS4 processing power
With the number of games slated for the PS4 launch Knack may have slipped under the radar somewhat. However, PS4 System Architect Mark Cerny saw fit to take on the role of game designer and we think for good reason. The main character in the game is a Robot that attracts and controls a variety of relic...
News Jimmy Fallon Has a Knack for Playing, Er, Knack
Mark Cerny pops up on television
Late night TV host Jimmy Fallon may have struggled to get to grips with Killzone: Shadow Fall earlier in the year, but he definitely put in a much better performance with Knack overnight. As part of an ongoing video game week, Fallon invited PlayStation 4 system architect Mark Cerny onto the show to talk hardware and...
E3 2013 You'll Be Able to Replay Knack as a Vampire and More
Mark Cerny talks mascot characters
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...
E3 2013 This Secret Relic Resembles a Knack Trailer
Friendly giant
We’re still not sure about Knack. While it’s the product of platformer guru Mark Cerny – who’s worked on everything from Sonic the Hedgehog to Ratchet & Clank – something about the art style puts us off. Worse still, the gameplay appears to resemble those awful werehog segments from Sonic Unleashed that everyone seemed...
May2013
News Knack Will Be Hopping onto the PlayStation 4 in Time for Launch
Diamond in the rough
Knack’s struggled to garner the same post-announcement press as its blockbuster peers over the past couple of months. The throwback PlayStation 4 platformer directed by system architect Mark Cerny aims to occupy a similar space to first-party classics such as Crash Bandicoot and Spyro the Dragon. There’s some debate over...
April2013
News Shuhei Yoshida Doesn't Want All PS4 Games to be First-Person Shooters
Sony executive gunning for variety on manufacturer's next system
While fans and parts of the media criticised Sony’s decision to lead with Knack when it announced the PlayStation 4 earlier in the year, Worldwide Studios president Shuhei Yoshida has told EDGE magazine that the emphasis on the somewhat cutesy platformer was entirely intentional –...
February2013
News PlayStation 4 Has Got the Knack for Charming Trailers
Growing pains
Mark Cerny is a busy man. When he’s not being inducted into the AIAS Hall of Fame, he’s busy architecting hardware and creating new games. Knack was the first PlayStation 4 title announced during Sony’s next generation bonanza last night, and centres on a pint-sized protagonist who possesses the ability to transform into a...
