Knack is a video
game developed by and published by for the video game console. The
game was released in November 2013 and in Japan in February 2014, where
it was available as a with the console.
The player navigates the titular character Knack through a series of
levels viewed in a fixed camera, -style view. Knack is a living humanoid
organism that consists of Relics; a large central Relic is always
surrounded by a varying number of smaller Relics. Knack utilizes
jumping, dodging, punching, and using enhanced energy-based powers, in
order to progress through the colourful environments, which are
populated with enemies. The story follows Knack and his creator on a
journey to save humankind from a species known as the Goblins. However,
one of Knack's creator's former friends goes rogue, and Knack and his
allies must stop the antagonist's evil plans.
Upon release, Knack was met with a mixed critical response;
reviewers praised the game's original concept and ideas, but criticized
the gameplay, level of difficulty, and story. A sequel, , was announced at the 2016 , and was released on September 5, 2017.
Knack is a game in which players control the title character, Knack. Game director describes the gameplay as "a little bit like , and a little bit like ", with "a touch of in
there". Players control Knack through a series of long, linear levels,
journeying from start to finish, while battling enemies, such as humans,
robots, and vehicles, finding secret hidden objects that give Knack
upgrades, climbing, destroying objects, and completing jumping and
switch-based puzzles. The perspective in which the game is played is
similar to that in the games. Players only control Knack and do not control the camera. The camera follows Knack in a combination of and angles.
Players guide Knack through many levels in many different locations.
Each location is different and players follow the objectives played out
in the story. The environments are brightly coloured, consisting of
bright and vibrant greens, oranges, blues, and greys. Locations visited
in the game include mineshafts, forests, factories, mansions, gardens,
mountains, cities, laboratories, castles, rock formations, and caves.
Gameplay is focused on brawling fighting combat and platforming.