VideoMan
30% Failure Rate
IGN - 9
I absolutely love Shovel Knight. It doesn't only understand what retro gamers want; it also understands exactly what it is, copping plentiful inspiration from the past while forming it all into its own game. At seven or eight hours long your first time through (and a New Game+ mode once you beat it), it lasts longer than your typical throwback, and all of that time is well-spent, whether you're getting through a new stage, going back to an old one to grind for money to buy upgrades, or exploring its many secrets. It plays brilliantly, looks stunning, and sounds great.
Shovel Knight is my favorite game of 2014 so far, and a true testament to the power of the old-school. Whether you were weaned on an NES like I was, or don't yet know what you missed in a time before you were born, Shovel Knight is an absolute must-play.
Polygon - 9
There is a reason we can all remember so much from games that are almost 30-years-old, and Shovel Knight has tapped into that reason in a profound way. We don't love the brands of our youth, we love the characters, the settings, the way actually playing those games made us feel. Shovel Knight doesn't settle for acknowledging those aspects; it includes them around every single corner. Shovel Knight is so much more than a love letter to the genre it is, in fact, the kind of game people write love letters about.
US Gamer - 10
Shovel Knight is a loving homage to an era we left behind long ago. The graphics, gameplay, and soundtrack are all pitch-perfect for an NES game... all you're missing is the original cartridge. Yacht Club Games has crafted an amazing experience from beginning to end.
Game Informer - 8.75
Indie throwbacks to video games of the early 80s are a dime a dozen, but Yacht Club Games successfully rises to the top. The tried-and-true game design principles and elegant checkpoint system make Shovel Knight worth a try no matter which era of gaming you prefer.
Destructoid - 9.5
Shovel Knight is one of the best platformers I've ever played, period. As I sit here with the theme song stuck in my head, I'm realizing that Yacht Club Games has created something truly special, and it was absolutely worth the risk to start their own studio. In addition to a potential Shovel Knight 2, I can't wait to see what they have in store for us down the road.
Eurogamer - 7
If the continuing appropriation of 2D pixel-art sprites and game styles from yesteryear was nothing more than an exercise in aesthetic nostalgia, then Shovel Knight would be difficult to recommend. But the game offers another demonstration of the enduring power and appeal of this form of play - even if it was forged within a set of technical boundaries that are no longer relevant. The game has a light, fresh appeal, even for those who never played 16-bit platform games the first time around, skewering the old publisher lie that only the latest, loudest, most technologically accomplished video games are worthwhile. There is gold in these old genres, and Shovel Knight is a successful dig.
GameTrailers - 9.3
Kotaku - YES
Joystiq - 4.5/5
GamesRadar - 4.5/5
Nintendo Life - 9
Nintendo World Report - 10
Gamespot - 7
GameSided.com - 9.5
ZoKnowsGaming.com - 9
Saving Content - 4/5
Niche Gamer - 6.5
EngineeringLikesDesign.com - 9.5
Invisible Gamer - A+
4 Color Rebellion - positive (no score)
The following statement will sound a bit like hyperbolic rubbish, but it could serve as a good lesson to developers that want to stand out from their indie contemporaries. Dont just build a homage, dont just copy from the games you liked as a kid. Build something new. Take those conventions as a challenge as a starting point and create something wholly new from the cloth of the old. Shovel Knight did that, and feels like both a wonderful throwback and a breath of fresh air all at the same time.
The Escapist - 3.5/5
The Outer Haven - 5/5