Why Shovel Knight is Nostalgia Done Right

Watch KZbinr Game Maker's Toolkit expertly explain how Shovel Knight got everything so, so right.
Special thanks to Game Maker's Toolkit for sharing this video.
Check out more of Game Maker's Toolkit here!scaq
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[@asunayuuki8710]

Shovel Knight is amazing. Definitely one of my favorite games to come out of 2014. I especially like the retro style and callbacks other classic games.

[@verysmolgunnernozomi6082]

True.

[@Mariujana90]

Asuna Yuuki You might love Ni No Kuni 2 (it's coming out this year). NNK 1 played just like a snes jrpg

[@asunayuuki8710]

+Nikola Predovan Oh, for sure. I loved the first Ni No Kuni.

[@snoweyscape]

Asuna Yuuki A great game indeed!

[@michaelpatton3477]

I dare say Shovel Knight is one of the best games I've ever played.

[@user-lt3op3uy1w]

Shovel Knight is definitely one of my favorite games of all time

[@aaronmoore773]

shovel knight is such a good game

[@staticshock4248]

It still disappoints me that Shovel Knight is a better Mega Man successor than the game that should've been a great Mega Man successor with all of the money it made from kickstarter.

[@Blanks8]

StaticShock42 imaging if sk had mighty no nines budget?

[@thenerdyanarchist3492]

Mega man doesn’t need a successor

[@lauson1ex]

I mean, who cannot forget all those sprite scaling and rotations, pixel blending and truecolor color palettes in our old 8-bit games?!

[@MrDarkmario777]

"By making Shield Knight strong and capable." Have you played Spectre of Torment yet?

[@JDST]

Ikr lmao

[@MyDecade]

I didn't go into Shovel Knight thinking ""yeah nostalgia!!" it was just another game to me

[@mosshivenetwork117]

Same.

[@mrroachclip8444]

never played this game...so i think im goin to get it for the switch...looks awesome

[@Geeksquad59]

Danny Morales same except i had it on wiiu 3ds

[@mrroachclip8444]

ExKorpio lol u know it manee

[@mrroachclip8444]

Geeksquad59 nicee

[@JuanFranco-mq7js]

JUST DO IT!!! DOOO IITTT!!

[@hect_ez]

Danny Morales you won't regret it, buy it.

[@Collin255]

I grew up with an NES, It was the first video game console I ever owned. So many good games that I played as a kid and continued to play for years to come. But I can honestly say that Shovel Knight is a better game than every single NES game I've ever played besides probably Super Mario Bros 3.

[@nucleor7268]

Why is this on the Ign channel? I saw the exact same video a long time ago.

[@IGN]

We're big fans of Gamer Maker's Toolkit and want to surface more awesome content like this to our 8 million+ subscribers. With Shovel Knight's new DLC on the horizon and more retro styled games getting crowdfunded every day, we thought this was something you all might enjoy. Definitely let us know if you want to see more like this on IGN!

[@riddlesmk]

lets just hope you're not another machinima

[@DaltonGoesSlow]

IGN superbunnyhop, Ragnar rox, and shammy!

[@Chris-Moore501]

IGN Games deserve to be scrutinized with advanced game literacy like Mark Brown's approach, not with graphical comparisons between systems. As a news media, it's your responsibility to reveal truth behind what makes games great, and I hope you will follow his lead.

[@SystemBD]

IGN Well... As video games matures as a medium and as an art form, these kind of (almost) academic studies provide a better perspective to understand the underlying mechanisms and help to broad the discussion around games (beyond marketing campaigns and clickbait videos). In fact, these videos can even enable developers to introduce more depth and meaning into their games, since they prove that there is a part of the audience that appreciates more complex and layered exploration of their worlds. Nevertheless, I hope media companies like IGN take care of these creators and do not force them to follow a schedule detrimental to the research that these analysis entail. tl;dr Yes, please. Bring more of these kind of shows to the forefront.

[@caioatila669]

This game is AMAZING, everyone should play it.

[@hect_ez]

Shovel Knight is a phenomenal game, I'm glad I played it. can't wait to get treasure trove for the switch.

[@AwesomeNick94]

Excellent video! Looking forward to more from Game Maker's Toolkit.

[@AwesomeNick94]

Yeah I've probably watched about 80% of his videos by now. Planning on watching the rest today :p

[@mistergremm735]

Shovel Knight Is Not Good Bcuz it's Nostalgia to era where Devs can get away With Cheap Tactics and design, Shovel Knight is Good Bcuz it's Well crafted, nice looking Game by People who Actually want to make Art

[@rubberman305]

《X-RAGENATOR》 rogue legacy is better

[@JM-us3fr]

GAPPY《X-RAGENATOR》 Uh a game can be good for multiple reasons

[@MrDarkmario777]

Agreed, but they are merely talking about the nostalgic part of it, and the term "cheat" is meant loosely. However, the commentator can seem a bit rude about the subject and perhaps casts the game in a less shining light then he means to.

[@frogmouth2]

Once you notice this, you can’t unnotice it. All the characters use only 2 colours and black in their designs, alike the limitations of classic NES sprites. Of course there are shades of the colours but it’s a nice detail.

[@verysmolgunnernozomi6082]

Shovel Knight is one of my favorite games this gen.

[@VGMusicExplorers]

Hadn't seen this video before. Awesome analysis. Can't wait for the Spectre Knight DLC. :)

[@Gryzeus]

Hey, thanks for sharing this, IGN. I hadn't seen any Game Maker's Toolkit before.

[@shezmu24]

One of the first games I played when I got a 3ds recently and I was instantly in love. Everyone should try this game.

[@MD_Hollywood.]

Great video, now I know what game I DEFINITELY want to get on the Switch on launch day!

[@millieman76]

Shovel Knight is not an ounce of nostalgia. Its just a damn good game.

[@roberthornibrook6344]

This game is an absolute blast. No doubt about it, this is what retro gaming is all about.

[@Cesarbrito999]

I was on the fence about shovel knight but that just changed. Very informative video.

[@Dahkeus3]

Wow, great vid! Very insightful critique and while I knew Shovel Knight was a good game, this finally sold me to the point where I'm going to finally go out and buy it. Thanks!

[@benjamer200]

I literally just got shovel knight on Christmas, it feels like it's suddenly come back with the treasure trove dlc

[@AdrianPerez-dt1hm]

game looks great ! can't wait to play

[@jrbrinso]

Well done video. I want to see more like it.

[@davidlane1248]

this is just the feel good kind of video I needed to self-justify my purchasing of Shovel Knight 5, soon to be 6(Switch), times since it's release

[@DarkShadow45MetaKnight345]

I love this game! Even more so in how it handles DLC right! SPECTER KNIGHT HYPE!

[@Supercomet13A]

Yes shield knight is a great character. Does it matter they are female? No. A good character is a good character. Progressive ideology leads to an affirmative action in forcing characters to be something to click the check box off on the diversity list. I would rather a company make a great character, that happens to be a minority or female, then a company that makes a token character. Shield knight sticks with the placement of the hero goes to save the girl but evolves it to make the girl not be a weak character. Samus worked because it was a great character that you identified with, oh and they happen to be female. A good character is a good character. A sloppy character that had to be *Blank* minority to make the diversity police happy just gives people leverage to say "all *blanks* and terrible in this form of media". Have the people represent the area and if you make a good character that doesn't fit the established people of the area then congratulations you made a good minority character.

[@NEROBAT1]

They need to do more games like this in the future!

[@SuperFuturama]

Excellent video!

[@ozjthomas]

Good post! Thanks!

[@AcridDread]

Not kidding ive been on the fence on this game since its launch. I have a switch and both versions of the new 3ds, honestly gonna pick this up for my 3ds' now cuz of this great review.

[@manuelcardenas8101]

Decided to randomly purchase this game on the psn for the Vita and let me tell you.. Such such a great game!!!

[@simtopia2334]

D1 on the Switch!

[@JosephEMercado]

I like this kind of content. More please.

[@logannobles]

Shovel knight was a fantastic game. Period. Especially on 3DS, the controls and 3D made the game perfect.

[@klouddsurferful]

Cool vid, thanks for sharing IGN, and thanks for the PSVita that I won in the fall of 2011 at a Hollywood GameStop. 👍

[@redcobra9588]

i just buy the game last week and im almost cry because the game is soo good, the feels you get the game that exactly you really wanted long long time ago, this game remind me the old time playing castlevania simphony of the night mix of megaman and the other 2d side scroll game that almost hard to find today.

[@joshuakaufman6787]

8:15 Dr. Light is doing his best Elmer Fudd impression.

[@chasingtwos]

Getting this on the Switch!

[@CCzarMasta56]

I found Mark Brown a few weeks ago with his Zelda dungeon series on Twilight Princess. He has some very interesting videos. I hope IGN asked to upload this one and not just took it to ride the Specter of Torment/Switch hype.

[@hugopinai2005]

This video is amazing! Made want to buy the game

[@ColinPatrickWeiss]

if you can beat "berder herder" in the challenge mode, you are a true gamer. i've beat it 3 times now. brilliant amazingly simple design and one room stage that is so good. i love berder herder.

[@jahsreaper9257]

this was a great review. MORE VIDEOS LIKE THIS PLEASE. BACK TO THE ROOTS.

[@arthurfricogrillo7412]

there is a chanel full of then IGN is just reposting it

[@Yaeven]

Search Game Maker's Toolkit. That's his channel.

[@jahsreaper9257]

thanks!

[@rubybirdy]

I like how the thumbnail has the other two gold amiibo

[@clockworkrazor]

Shovel Knight is my favorite game of the last 10 years.

[@tlebron8426]

1:11 He fires oranges. Rest In Peace Lemons. 😔

[@Evenmoresteven]

Great job Yacht Club! One of the best games I've ever played. If you haven't played this yet, you're missing out big time.

[@codekhalil6437]

This was a great review. Clicked like not even a few minutes through. Shovel Knight is quite simply one of the most important games to come out in the last decade. Period.

[@whatsforsupa]

One of my favorite soundtracks in any game, rivaling FF6 and Ni No Kuni. The gameplay was pretty great too.

[@guerdic5735]

It’s great to see Mark Brown get some more exposure, his videos are some of the best on this site.

[@dragonusmolamola4140]

I have so much fun playing Shovel Knight I don't even realize it's supposed to be like the classics except for the super mario bros 3 and megaman parts

[@fivemeomedia]

congrats mark you finally made it

[@JoshForeman]

Glad to see GMTK on IGN where it can get some of the exposure it deserves!

[@jeremybowers3181]

I want this game right now in my life.

[@17R3W]

To the point about being Progressive, I don't believe most gamers have a problem with "strong female characters" and we certainly don't have with old concepts being turned on their head (expectations being inverted). Nothing wrong with strong female characters, and nothing wrong with indicating that the main character's loved one is a partner and just a prize.

[@SuperBearPoo]

Exactly, it just goes to show you how disconnected people in video game media are from the average gamer.

[@geraq0]

I think the point is that Shield Knight actually gets developed into her own character instead of being just a damsel in distress. The final twist is also very sweet in this story about loss and acceptance.

[@merchantxix]

mark brown getting some love!

[@intel386DX]

5:23 Dude check out more carefully the Sword Master . The parallax scrolling is beyond the NES limitations , they use some very clever trickery .

[@aiden2734]

you forgot how the yellow dragon is like crocamire in metriod

[@666FUNBOY666]

Is it wrong i love these old style games the most?

[@Lordran__]

666FUNBOY666 Not at all

[@chokoreetokun8083]

4:34 What was this game called again? I used to play this!

[@samuelmorojacques752]

Such a great video. I am not expecting something like this from you, IGN

[@paulterrele6781]

SamSolider Contato this is not a video from Ign the original is from a channel called gamemakers toolkit

[@mrcokez1]

Shovel Knight is such a brilliant game in many more ways than 1

[@natekahlil5659]

more videos like this please!

[@arthurfricogrillo7412]

there is a chanel full of then IGN is just reposting it

[@Armm8991]

Then go to Game Maker's toolkit

[@andrewcrossman2165]

Reminds me of wizards and warriors a little bit

[@markogolem9537]

Who is the voice actor for the doctor guy at about 8:15 he awfully sounds like the guy who voiced uncle Iroh in Avatar?

[@madcat4563]

I've plaid it before and never once thought it was a megaman inspired game.

[@JDST]

Oh, the pain of the Clockwork Tower.

[@thejeidi7228]

I never played Shovel knight but looking at it it is the best retro esque game i have seen that try and do retro but IMOP fail like Broforce (id say more but they really don't grab mu attention for me even to remember them). I'm prepping to get Shovel knight for the switch because i feel its the cleanest looking game of this genre. No trying to do to do any thing fancy with 8/16 bit style graphics,

[@ObiTrev]

8:06 It's Perfect Hair Forever!

[@mauryj.3415]

best game of 2014, shovel knight.

[@thatsupersamoan41]

Love this game

[@skygodmike100]

This is a little off topic but can anyone tell what game is being shown at 2:08?

[@user-nb5dl3iu3c]

+IGN Does the owner of this video know of you uploading his video on your channel?

[@OniCamoGaming]

I'm curious how a GMTK episode came to be on the IGN channel.

[@JohnnyFromVirginia]

NAILED IT.

[@jaimemarrero3982]

I find it cool that you are providing exposure to a content creator that really deserves it, but shouldn't this video have included an end-card that points people that want more of content like this to the appropriate channel? At least on the description you should point at Mark's channel, or at least write that this video was copied with permission.

[@tepbo2930]

when black knight use his down attack is just look like meta knight attack in kirby super star ultra ... and his final battle to his wing k=like metaknight

[@saskiaviking9447]

Hey it's Mark Brown. :)

[@Aquason]

Did you get permission to re-upload this and are you giving Mark Brown the ad revenue from this?

[@theSato]

Obviously they have permission from Mark Brown to upload this. Even if he gets exactly 0% of the ad revenue, it's still worth it for him because IGN has 8 million subscribers, he'll most definitely get a fair amount of cross-subscribers, grow his channel and in-turn make more ad revenue on his own videos in the future. Win-win.

[@mcdonkey500]

the checkpoint thing is actually pretty similar to warioland

[@DarthPferd]

Ahh... The Pogojump😊

[@paulohenriquelima4761]

I bought it on PS4, played it, loved it, and I'm buying it again on the switch. Is the switch going to have a physical version of this game?

[@anime4everjapan848]

Paulo Henrique Lima nintendo switch better it got co-op

[@lordpetroollo6979]

@@anime4everjapan848 Every version have coop but only for Shovel of hope.

[@albert0606]

OMG pls tell me what is the name of the game at 2:07 ? I remember playing it when I was little. Oh my god the nostalgia 😌😌😌

[@maraudershields116]

This was actually a fantastic video. Good on you, IGN!

[@user-xi6go8py6m]

This video was done by a guy called Mark Brown. You should check his .channel

[@boomtown8881]

What your favorite song mines shovel of hope king knight and shovel of hope trouple kings dance song

[@aamassy]

what's the name of the game at 2:45?

[@omar._.2117]

When I saw shovel knight in the Eshop I was like "WTF why a game like this is 20$?" and when I bought it I realised it deserve more than 20$...

[@nkyfong]

What is the game at 2:06?

[@kescaremon2531]

What's a game at 2:50?

[@sonofdirt]

Metal Storm

[@hexaphone9417]

3:49 *Cough Cough*, **_“Minecraft”_** , *Cough Cough*

[@SoulZERO15]

We will never get a shovel knight 2 but luckily we have dlc stuff

[@abstractfacts]

what game is @2:46?

[@Panthis]

Ah ok... it's Mark Brown ^^

[@KTSpeedruns]

I think IGN needs to make some sort of disclaimer opening or outro before blatantly uploading someone else's video without any edits. Seriously, it shouldn't matter if they have permission, there should be a huge disclaimer IN THE VIDEO, not just the description.

[@Pichipieify]

Ow god, i missed this IGN

[@michalstrba5928]

This is surprisingly high quality content for IGN.

[@alexgeorge3068]

It's not IGN's content. It's Game Makers Toolkit by Mark Brown.