I found this video after searching up Shovel Knight on UA-cam to see if anyone remembered this game and wanted to rant a little about that notion. This game is absolutely fantastic, a masterpiece even. It's got incredible music, refined game mechanics that ooze with retro goodness, a touching story & invigorating world, and just so many aspects that made me fall in love with it, and yet it feels like its prime has long been chauffeured off into forgottenland. So many indie games like Undertale and Hollow Knight teem with life and a large following but this one, arguably the one title that revolutionized the indie scene, just isn't cared for anymore like it once was. Back then I feel tons of people sunk their teeth into this game and that popularity sadly waned over time. I'm glad there's still at least a small following, and people like yourself are giving it the love and attention it needs.
The fact that Yacht Club Games gave us a ton more content (3 more campaigns and a platform fighter) entirely for free is insane. The fact that they're doing it again for Shovel Knight Dig and Shovel Knight Pocket Dungeon, neither of which had a Kickstarter (and by extension, Kickstarter promises) is even more insane. They're the top spot in my video game developer hall of fame.
Shovel Knight as a series is odd, because feels like we both acknowledge how great it is, but at the same time, we barely talk about all those small things and details that make it a masterpiece. It's sorta like with the Half Life series, it's in that middle between being overrated and underrated, mainstream yet a bit niche. If there will even be a Shovel Knight 2, man i can't wait to play it, in the meantime, i really gotta get around to finish Dig and maybe pick up Pocket Dungeon. Great work on the video as well, a game like Shovel Knight deserves videos like that.
Oh, and fun fact about the trouple dance bit: if you're playing on ps4 (and probably ps5, but I can't confirm that) the backlight on the controller will fade in and out with the music during that bit!
I love Shovel Knight. It takes how we remember the classic NES games played and gives it to us. Which is fantastic because our memories, much like those old CRT TVs, tend to smooth over those rough edges. Games don't earn the moniker NES Hard because it gives you something more challenging than a Kirby game. Some of those games were real brutal with difficulty. It's like they told the devs that if any game tester beat the game within the first hour, their lives would be forfeited.
47:43 I have a theory that the second frog was actually a spy on the Village working for The Order. I know his motto is to just loathe every joke we say at him, but come on, denying as the Tower of Fate crumbles? Yeah, I'm calling treason.
As of late, I’ve noticed a criminally low amount of Shovel Knight videos on UA-cam. It’s really sad, especially comparing it to Undertale, which, as you said, was also a kickstarter game from 2013. No shade to Undertale, I think it’s a good game, but my god, SK is such a masterclass in gaming and it’s really sad that there isn’t a lot of content being made about it in the modern year. Great video. Phenomenal work. The end of this video genuinely had me choking up. This game is so dear to me and holds a really special place in my heart, and this video was just impeccable.
To be fair Undertale is a literal force of nature, there's honestly seldom few games as popular as that game was at its peak. But it's still kinda sad, Shovel Knight is just a goat
@@brogoyle I never really understood why Undertale was as big as it was. Don’t get me wrong, it’s good and I think it’s good that a lot of people like it, but man, you could not escape it certain years, and even now to some extent. It’s kinda sad that Shovel Knight isn’t as popular, but man, I’ll be meatriding yacht club games until I die.
@@FilthyTeait did the meta stuff REALLY well, to the point that none of the characters are fully aware of the 4th wall, but rather the video game stuff (battle ui, saving and loading, etc.) is just a part of their world. also the worst ending turns the game into a creepypasta before those went out of fashion. on top of that deltarune is pretty much an arg now.
I got into video games kinda late, sure I played a few but I never was really into them. That was until Shovel Knight came along. Then I never looked back
Just finished all four campaigns in treasure trove and i must say this game is perfect in like, every way. I'm definetly getting dig and pocket dungeon when i 100% the campaigns.
i remember when shovel knight dropped, shortly before i was due to take a family trip with limited cell signal. a youtuber whose opinion i really respected gave the game a perfect score in his review of it, which wasn't something he did often, so i figured for just 15 bucks i'd pick it up on 3ds so i'd have something to play in the evenings. shovel knight is now the only thing i remember about that trip and i was honestly obsessed with the game for years after. absolutely phenomenal game tbh
i recently played through all of treasure trove (like. i finished king of cards a week ago) and this is probably one of my favorite indie games now. EASILY breaking my top 5 everything about it is just perfect for me and putting together its story has been more satisfying than any other.
This was a great video overall, but I want to say that I was really struck by the quality of your narration. It's actually great, in a way I was really not expecting at all. Will definitely be tuning in for more in the future
I remember buying this game a few months ago and thinking it would be an average 2d platformer but oh boy, was I so happy to be wrong. This game became my favorite game of all time I even 100%ed 2 of the 4 campaigns and got every character in the platform fighter mode. This game is truly one of the games of all time
Funny story I have with Shovel Knight. When I first bought the game on a Macbook using Crossver fot controller support, the game had a glitch where the first stage was sped up by 2x speed. That meant I had to go through the plains while having the least amount of control on my movements. Yeah, I just fixed the Vsync and it went back to normal, but not before having my ass handed to me by Black Knight NINETEEN DIFFERENT TIMES.
I was kinda surprised that you didn't mention that ACKK Studio (the creators of YIIK, that indie game everybody loves to shit on) helped making Yacht Club in making of Shovel Knight, in fact, they we're listed in the Shovel Knight's credits.
Shovel Knight is THAT GAME for me as well. Although I played it for 600+ hours (Shovel of Hope only), I was still able to enjoy your video as if I experienced it for the first time.
I’ve played all kinds of games of all sorts of scales, indie to AAA, roguelike to MMOs. Plague Knight’s campaign is still, hands down, some of the most stupid fun I’ve ever had in a video game. Once you calibrate yourself to his floaty controls and movement, it’s absolutely incredible with such a high skill ceiling. Being able to reconfigure your bombs and powers on the fly however you need gives you so much choice and you can be responsive to challenges in your own ways. You could go for brute force with big spammy bombs or play more tactically with creeping flames and life leech. It’s just fantastic. Simple and restrained but engaging.
I don't have time to watch this yet, but I swear to god I will when I can because a retrospective of Shovel Knight is something I need in my life right now.
Less than a thousand views is an absolute injustice and may whom who control this unholy algorithm burn in the hottest pits of eternal suffering, great video ITOI, keep it up
I think it’s interesting that the videos I love the most are usually about someone being very passionate about some type of game or show. These types of videos are ones I don’t see often, maybe it’s because I don’t look for them but it’s always a great feeling to find a video so captivating. Edit: also I had bought shovel knight years ago and only played 3 levels, checked out the cheats, and then never played it again, this video made me come back to it
Honestly I love shovel knight, I didnt start on shovel of hope but rather specter of torment, and to this day everytime I finish specter of torments campaign I cry and just think, how grateful I am discovered this series
I just finished the Shovel of Hope campaign yesterday and I've never been more invested in the emotional journey of Shovel Knight and Shield Knight. I gave my live commentary to my friend who'd played this game back when it was released on the 3DS and I _guessed the plot twist but dismissed it because I thought it was a silly plot twist,_ much to my friend's tense amusement. Still, it was _beautiful,_ I _love_ Shovel Knight and Shield Knight and I want them to live happily ever after. Can't wait to start up Plague of Shadows in a few days!
Bravo! One of my favorite games of all time, and you addressed just about everything that makes Shovel of Hope a genuine-bonafide-electrified-six-car masterpiece. 4:42 was a highlight, that was funny as hell. You’ve just earned yourself a new fan, dude. Awesome work.
I haven't played this game but it's effected my life for as long as it's existed always in the background but still effecting of what I love and what I like and how I perceive myself
This video was incredible!! I’ve known about Shovel Knight since it came out but tbh I never understood why it was so loved among the community but now I know. Time to play it lol. Great work man.
Hey there! I'm not sure if you'll ever end up seeing this comment, but I want you to know that this may just be the most pleasant and beautifully composed retrospective I've ever seen. Shovel of Hope is a game that is incredibly dear to me, and credit where credit is due, your 'retrospection' on it for lack of a better term is nothing short of perfect. I aspire to have the same level of eloquence that you maintain with every word spoken in this video, and I can tell it all comes from the heart. The bit near the end thanking me (Or, the average viewer) got me to start crying last night, and ever since then I've been like "Man I wanna be ITOI's friend, they seem so nice". Such a wonderful analysis on one of the greatest indies out there, and I hope that we get to see more from you
Speaking of fighting games... Did you know that shovel knight has a smash bros clone? The showdown thing below the "start game" option in the title screen is another game interelly. It's actually a mix of smash bros and a minigame collection AND you can play as Goldarmor.
Also the Armor of Chaos is OP, but DAMN the Toad Gear is funny as heck. Like it's the only armor in Shovel of Hope that changes the crouching animation.
Finally figuried out! The hidden gems on Specter Knights screen! So, the previous screen has this breakable wall that leads to 50 gems, pogo over that and itll take ya to the cubby
There’s almost no good Shovel Knight analysis vids on YT so thank you… also the Ori games could use some nice long-form content (just a lil suggestion) keep it up man!
Beautiful video on a truly beautiful work of art in video game form. The magic of this game is incredible. I was 15 when it came out and while I didn't give any money for the kickstarter (not that I really could at that age) I still got this game as soon as it released. Now, a fact you have to know about me is that I'm very careful when it comes to trying out new games. I grew up with Mario and Kirby and never strayed too far from these series. Hell, I played my first Zelda and Metroid games _after_ I played Shovel Knight. I was right nervous when I downloaded this game, fearing I'd wasted my money on something I might not enjoy. And yet, just like the idea of this game convinced so many people to back this project on kickstarter, it compelled me to give it a spin because even teenage me could see the potential that lay within. Shovel Knight taught me an important lesson that day: To try out more games outside of my comfort zone, because I just might end up loving them to bits.
ive been waiting for one of these kinds of videos on shovel knight for fucking ever. one of my favourite games of all time and easily the best platforming game of all time in my opinion. high. class. kino.
This is the second time I remember this channel exists, rewatch your videos, and then become sad their hasnt been and upload in almost year and then a upload magically appears
I have no joke beaten tbe original shovel knight campaign about 30 times and most of the others at least 10 or so. But this video was awesome, you deserve all the views you get as well as many more.
I wanted to wait until I was finished watching this video to leave a comment, but I had to stop in the middle of the final Black Knight fight to say this: your writing is absolutely remarkable. I studied Creative Writing at university for 5 years and the level of articulation, description, vocabulary, and prose flow you demonstrate is absolutely top notch. As a writer it was a bit cloying when I noticed you were doing it so often, but I heavily suspect this level of raw skill on display is what nets you a good chunk of your viewerbase. Beyond that, this video is amazingly well-made and articulates a great deal about the series that I love. I am curious on one point, however; how did you miss the influence of NES Ducktales? I'm not asking in a negative way, somehow after replaying this game 3 times I only just realized it now, but it's arguably the second biggest if not first biggest influence on the game in regards to level design and sheer mechanical handling. Got a subscribe from me and looking forward to watching the rest of this series.
Thank you! I try to keep the twee to a minimum but you know how it goes. Sadly, I have so little experience with the NES catalog that most pioneers of great games like this are only vaguely known to me. I am happy to say I have played Ducktails since this release and I give it a little more due in my Zelda II video.
Bless you papa, for this video truly brings us joy and comfort on our adventures through life, and it has been a long while since you blessed us, so this is even more welcome.... Just like Da-
Omg! I thought I was the only one who thought the fairies in Plague Knight’s stage looked like Totoro! Seriously, when I first played this game, I said something to the tune of; Totoro!! Why did you betray my LOVE?!
As much as I loved the Kratos Boss fight and the Armor of Chaos...ngl once I got my hands on the Xbox version and battled the Battletoads and got the Toad gear, I never looked back 🐸🐸🐸
Interestingly, my first playthrough of Shovel Knight was miserable. I really didn't like the controls and the spikes and the bottomless pits. The game was challenging, and I don't really like hard or challenging games unless it hits a perfect sweet spot. This game, alas, did not hit that. I slogged through the game, and then went on to Plague of Shadows. That was much more fun for me. Specter of Torment was okay, but the story was too edgy for my liking, and it ended up hurting my experience of the game. The gameplay was fine, but not super impressive. And then came King of Cards. I hated King of Cards. The controls were hard to get used to and I thought Joustus was required to get to the credits. I was so bad at deck building and playing the game that any good card I got was immediately lost. I despised Joustus so strongly that I quit the game altogether and never returned to Shovel Knight... until I lost a bet and was bound by word to never play another video game until I got every single achievement for all of the campaigns in Shovel Knight Treasure Trove on Steam. This time, I had a guide that would tell me how to get all the achievements and find the missing items and whatnot. Thanks to having most of the gear unlocked from my first playthrough, Shovel of Hope was actually pretty fun! I was better at the game than my first time playing, and jetting around with the propeller dagger was a blast. Within a couple weeks, all 45 Shovel of Hope achievements were acquired. Plague Knight was also really fun to do, save for beating the final boss with no upgrades (and then I realized I could break the cauldron thing and create and opening that way). I knocked out Specter of Torment in about a week or two, and I think I played too much as by the end of the achievements for that I was pretty burnt out. I wasn't having much fun. Finally, I was left with King of Cards (after knocking out all but one Showdown achievement in a few hours). And with all this new Shovel Knight experience, mostly positive at that, I was ready to give King of Cards another go... and I still didn't like it. This time I avoided doing any of the Joustus encounters and just played the main game. I aimed for the Beeline achievement, so I followed a predetermined route and only got one or two heirlooms. I didn't like the levels and getting the secret exits often involved a lot of frustration with bottomless pits. I trudged through the game and made it to the credits, on call with a friend as I did the final level. But then, something changed. After beating the game, I was able to relax a bit, or something like that. I started having fun clearing out all the levels I skipped. I loved the ghost slap heirloom, and I was having fun knocking out the achievements. I even had enough decent Joustus cards to win! I'm still in the process of clearing this campaign, but I only have 9 achievements left and then the 1 for Showdown. I am glad I never have to play Shovel Knight for the first time again, but I may very well end up coming back to blaze through the levels some day (skipping the story, because it didn't resonate with me much at all).
I just finished King of Cards, meaning I have gotten every achievement in every campaign! It was a fun journey, and I've come to really appreciate the game. Once I had good cards and knew how to play, Joustus was fairly enjoyable! I think all in all, my campaign preference goes Plague Knight > Shovel Knight > King Knight > Specter Knight. I'm glad I was able to push myself to beat all of these!
My experience with Shovel of Hope was great, but nowhere near as impactful as yours. Although, a game that has had a big impact on me is Everhood. So maybe check that game out if you haven’t already 😉
It's funny how you keep mentioning how easy the game is, when it kicked kid me's ass on so many levels. On some of the bosses you complain about, I was stuck for ages! Frankly, I think that Shovel Knight strikes the right balance in difficulty. If it was as hard as you seem to want it to be, I think it would be prohibitively difficult for many people. And that's why the hard mode exists. (But yeah, great video otherwise.)
the best thing about seeing the Trouple King's dance again is being able to skip right over it. I hate when devs make you watch crap like that. Love Shovel Knight. Hate the dance.
for a retrospective you dont seem to be very knowledgeable about the game at times... but you acknowledged that tinker knight doesnt know he's a bad guy so i can give it a pass
For those who do not know, the Kratos fight is canon in both shovel knight and god of war series
My theory of every single game being interconnected is all coming together (pun not intended)
I remember crying in specter of torment trying to 100% the game on ng+. That's when I grasped the full meaning of the game title.
Damn... I know how ya feel
Gotta be honest chief, if a game causes you to cry due to sheer pain, i think it's better to Just rest
@@Crayoneater96 THE COMPLETION THOUGH YOU KNOW
@@Crayoneater96good lord you’re boring
80+ deaths on the final boss
The gems you couldn't figure out how to get are another one of Shovel Knight's classic "enter from the top of the previous screen" moments
one thing I love about Shovel Knights design is that is breastplate looks like a shield. As in a shield is close to his heart, Shield Knight
I found this video after searching up Shovel Knight on UA-cam to see if anyone remembered this game and wanted to rant a little about that notion. This game is absolutely fantastic, a masterpiece even. It's got incredible music, refined game mechanics that ooze with retro goodness, a touching story & invigorating world, and just so many aspects that made me fall in love with it, and yet it feels like its prime has long been chauffeured off into forgottenland. So many indie games like Undertale and Hollow Knight teem with life and a large following but this one, arguably the one title that revolutionized the indie scene, just isn't cared for anymore like it once was. Back then I feel tons of people sunk their teeth into this game and that popularity sadly waned over time. I'm glad there's still at least a small following, and people like yourself are giving it the love and attention it needs.
All Mona appreciators, unite here!
YES! Plague Knight Has One of The Best Girls!
The fact that Yacht Club Games gave us a ton more content (3 more campaigns and a platform fighter) entirely for free is insane.
The fact that they're doing it again for Shovel Knight Dig and Shovel Knight Pocket Dungeon, neither of which had a Kickstarter (and by extension, Kickstarter promises) is even more insane.
They're the top spot in my video game developer hall of fame.
Who up shoveling they knight?
Me
Shovel Knight as a series is odd, because feels like we both acknowledge how great it is, but at the same time, we barely talk about all those small things and details that make it a masterpiece. It's sorta like with the Half Life series, it's in that middle between being overrated and underrated, mainstream yet a bit niche. If there will even be a Shovel Knight 2, man i can't wait to play it, in the meantime, i really gotta get around to finish Dig and maybe pick up Pocket Dungeon.
Great work on the video as well, a game like Shovel Knight deserves videos like that.
that's exactly it
everyone's heard of shovel knight
but few know shovel knight
22:48 I've spent well over 100 hours in this game across my many replays, so I'm shocked to be learning something new here lol
Oh, and fun fact about the trouple dance bit: if you're playing on ps4 (and probably ps5, but I can't confirm that) the backlight on the controller will fade in and out with the music during that bit!
I tried it it works on ps5
Now I need to buy my 4th copy of shovel knight to see that....
Is it the same effect that shows up on the character select screen and the Explodatorium's flask room shown at 27:56?
PLEASE DONT LEAVE FOR 10 MONTHS AGAIN ILY
I love Shovel Knight. It takes how we remember the classic NES games played and gives it to us. Which is fantastic because our memories, much like those old CRT TVs, tend to smooth over those rough edges. Games don't earn the moniker NES Hard because it gives you something more challenging than a Kirby game. Some of those games were real brutal with difficulty. It's like they told the devs that if any game tester beat the game within the first hour, their lives would be forfeited.
Calling King Knight “as regal as he is deadly” is the funniest shit I’ve ever heard lmao
47:43
I have a theory that the second frog was actually a spy on the Village working for The Order. I know his motto is to just loathe every joke we say at him, but come on, denying as the Tower of Fate crumbles? Yeah, I'm calling treason.
As of late, I’ve noticed a criminally low amount of Shovel Knight videos on UA-cam. It’s really sad, especially comparing it to Undertale, which, as you said, was also a kickstarter game from 2013. No shade to Undertale, I think it’s a good game, but my god, SK is such a masterclass in gaming and it’s really sad that there isn’t a lot of content being made about it in the modern year. Great video. Phenomenal work. The end of this video genuinely had me choking up. This game is so dear to me and holds a really special place in my heart, and this video was just impeccable.
To be fair Undertale is a literal force of nature, there's honestly seldom few games as popular as that game was at its peak. But it's still kinda sad, Shovel Knight is just a goat
@@brogoyle I never really understood why Undertale was as big as it was. Don’t get me wrong, it’s good and I think it’s good that a lot of people like it, but man, you could not escape it certain years, and even now to some extent. It’s kinda sad that Shovel Knight isn’t as popular, but man, I’ll be meatriding yacht club games until I die.
@@FilthyTeait did the meta stuff REALLY well, to the point that none of the characters are fully aware of the 4th wall, but rather the video game stuff (battle ui, saving and loading, etc.) is just a part of their world. also the worst ending turns the game into a creepypasta before those went out of fashion. on top of that deltarune is pretty much an arg now.
I got into video games kinda late, sure I played a few but I never was really into them. That was until Shovel Knight came along. Then I never looked back
00:50 hollow knight: OH COME ON
Just finished all four campaigns in treasure trove and i must say this game is perfect in like, every way. I'm definetly getting dig and pocket dungeon when i 100% the campaigns.
i remember when shovel knight dropped, shortly before i was due to take a family trip with limited cell signal. a youtuber whose opinion i really respected gave the game a perfect score in his review of it, which wasn't something he did often, so i figured for just 15 bucks i'd pick it up on 3ds so i'd have something to play in the evenings. shovel knight is now the only thing i remember about that trip and i was honestly obsessed with the game for years after. absolutely phenomenal game tbh
i recently played through all of treasure trove (like. i finished king of cards a week ago) and this is probably one of my favorite indie games now. EASILY breaking my top 5
everything about it is just perfect for me and putting together its story has been more satisfying than any other.
This was a great video overall, but I want to say that I was really struck by the quality of your narration. It's actually great, in a way I was really not expecting at all. Will definitely be tuning in for more in the future
I remember buying this game a few months ago and thinking it would be an average 2d platformer but oh boy, was I so happy to be wrong. This game became my favorite game of all time I even 100%ed 2 of the 4 campaigns and got every character in the platform fighter mode.
This game is truly one of the games of all time
Funny story I have with Shovel Knight.
When I first bought the game on a Macbook using Crossver fot controller support, the game had a glitch where the first stage was sped up by 2x speed. That meant I had to go through the plains while having the least amount of control on my movements. Yeah, I just fixed the Vsync and it went back to normal, but not before having my ass handed to me by Black Knight NINETEEN DIFFERENT TIMES.
I can never forget how much this game caught my eye, I only wish to sing it's praises every time it's mentioned.
Oh awesome, I just gave you your 1,000th thumbs up for this video.
14:25
You can get to those gems by jumping onto the ledge in the room before and jumping onto the roof to the right.
I was kinda surprised that you didn't mention that ACKK Studio (the creators of YIIK, that indie game everybody loves to shit on) helped making Yacht Club in making of Shovel Knight, in fact, they we're listed in the Shovel Knight's credits.
yiiking out rn
Nice
Yeah, I wouldn't mention that either. No need to stain the name of an otherwise good game.
I am so ready for your King of Cards vid
Shovel Knight is THAT GAME for me as well. Although I played it for 600+ hours (Shovel of Hope only), I was still able to enjoy your video as if I experienced it for the first time.
I’ve played all kinds of games of all sorts of scales, indie to AAA, roguelike to MMOs. Plague Knight’s campaign is still, hands down, some of the most stupid fun I’ve ever had in a video game.
Once you calibrate yourself to his floaty controls and movement, it’s absolutely incredible with such a high skill ceiling. Being able to reconfigure your bombs and powers on the fly however you need gives you so much choice and you can be responsive to challenges in your own ways. You could go for brute force with big spammy bombs or play more tactically with creeping flames and life leech. It’s just fantastic. Simple and restrained but engaging.
I don't have time to watch this yet, but I swear to god I will when I can because a retrospective of Shovel Knight is something I need in my life right now.
Less than a thousand views is an absolute injustice and may whom who control this unholy algorithm burn in the hottest pits of eternal suffering, great video ITOI, keep it up
ITOI ITS BEEN SO LONG I MISSED U BBG
I think it’s interesting that the videos I love the most are usually about someone being very passionate about some type of game or show. These types of videos are ones I don’t see often, maybe it’s because I don’t look for them but it’s always a great feeling to find a video so captivating.
Edit: also I had bought shovel knight years ago and only played 3 levels, checked out the cheats, and then never played it again, this video made me come back to it
Honestly I love shovel knight, I didnt start on shovel of hope but rather specter of torment, and to this day everytime I finish specter of torments campaign I cry and just think, how grateful I am discovered this series
I just finished the Shovel of Hope campaign yesterday and I've never been more invested in the emotional journey of Shovel Knight and Shield Knight. I gave my live commentary to my friend who'd played this game back when it was released on the 3DS and I _guessed the plot twist but dismissed it because I thought it was a silly plot twist,_ much to my friend's tense amusement. Still, it was _beautiful,_ I _love_ Shovel Knight and Shield Knight and I want them to live happily ever after.
Can't wait to start up Plague of Shadows in a few days!
Bravo! One of my favorite games of all time, and you addressed just about everything that makes Shovel of Hope a genuine-bonafide-electrified-six-car masterpiece. 4:42 was a highlight, that was funny as hell. You’ve just earned yourself a new fan, dude. Awesome work.
I love the random animal people like the horses and deer
I haven't played this game but it's effected my life for as long as it's existed always in the background but still effecting of what I love and what I like and how I perceive myself
14:25 so you get the three gems in the top left corner by jumping off the tombstone in the previous screen
This video was incredible!! I’ve known about Shovel Knight since it came out but tbh I never understood why it was so loved among the community but now I know. Time to play it lol. Great work man.
Hey there! I'm not sure if you'll ever end up seeing this comment, but I want you to know that this may just be the most pleasant and beautifully composed retrospective I've ever seen. Shovel of Hope is a game that is incredibly dear to me, and credit where credit is due, your 'retrospection' on it for lack of a better term is nothing short of perfect. I aspire to have the same level of eloquence that you maintain with every word spoken in this video, and I can tell it all comes from the heart. The bit near the end thanking me (Or, the average viewer) got me to start crying last night, and ever since then I've been like "Man I wanna be ITOI's friend, they seem so nice". Such a wonderful analysis on one of the greatest indies out there, and I hope that we get to see more from you
I appreciate you, it's comments like this that make it all worthwhile!
@@ITOI I've been noticed!!!
I appreciate you and your content; hope you have a lovely day wherever you are
Based ITOI as usual, looking forward if you ever cover King of Cards, thats the SK Game that stayed in my head forever!
Speaking of fighting games...
Did you know that shovel knight has a smash bros clone?
The showdown thing below the "start game" option in the title screen is another game interelly.
It's actually a mix of smash bros and a minigame collection AND you can play as Goldarmor.
Also the Armor of Chaos is OP, but DAMN the Toad Gear is funny as heck.
Like it's the only armor in Shovel of Hope that changes the crouching animation.
THANK YOU INTERNET VIDEO MAN I LOVE MY REALLY LONG VIDEO ABOUT MY HYPERFIXATION
Just looked at your total number of views and subs, and I’m shocked. This was an amazing video! Please keep it up!
Why is this video so good and why am I reliving Showel Knight and other games? Man I love your channel so much!! ♡
Finally figuried out! The hidden gems on Specter Knights screen! So, the previous screen has this breakable wall that leads to 50 gems, pogo over that and itll take ya to the cubby
Truly one of the best things ever created.
1 hour long Shovel Knight vid? Fuck yeah… this channel is sick too
There’s almost no good Shovel Knight analysis vids on YT so thank you… also the Ori games could use some nice long-form content (just a lil suggestion) keep it up man!
Holy shit I cried a lot watching this
Glad to have you back Itoi!
Best game of the past decade!
Beautiful video on a truly beautiful work of art in video game form.
The magic of this game is incredible. I was 15 when it came out and while I didn't give any money for the kickstarter (not that I really could at that age) I still got this game as soon as it released. Now, a fact you have to know about me is that I'm very careful when it comes to trying out new games. I grew up with Mario and Kirby and never strayed too far from these series. Hell, I played my first Zelda and Metroid games _after_ I played Shovel Knight. I was right nervous when I downloaded this game, fearing I'd wasted my money on something I might not enjoy. And yet, just like the idea of this game convinced so many people to back this project on kickstarter, it compelled me to give it a spin because even teenage me could see the potential that lay within.
Shovel Knight taught me an important lesson that day: To try out more games outside of my comfort zone, because I just might end up loving them to bits.
It's a crime that polar knight isn't one of the ones to get his own campaign
Incredible video. Thank you, too
ive been waiting for one of these kinds of videos on shovel knight for fucking ever. one of my favourite games of all time and easily the best platforming game of all time in my opinion.
high. class. kino.
This game is so awesome. I love how the Plague Knight playthrough is just as charming. Love the video. Worth a subscribe.
This is the second time I remember this channel exists, rewatch your videos, and then become sad their hasnt been and upload in almost year and then a upload magically appears
gratz on another chad video
I have no joke beaten tbe original shovel knight campaign about 30 times and most of the others at least 10 or so. But this video was awesome, you deserve all the views you get as well as many more.
i love shubble night thanks for uploadin again its nice to see :)
I wanted to wait until I was finished watching this video to leave a comment, but I had to stop in the middle of the final Black Knight fight to say this: your writing is absolutely remarkable. I studied Creative Writing at university for 5 years and the level of articulation, description, vocabulary, and prose flow you demonstrate is absolutely top notch. As a writer it was a bit cloying when I noticed you were doing it so often, but I heavily suspect this level of raw skill on display is what nets you a good chunk of your viewerbase.
Beyond that, this video is amazingly well-made and articulates a great deal about the series that I love. I am curious on one point, however; how did you miss the influence of NES Ducktales? I'm not asking in a negative way, somehow after replaying this game 3 times I only just realized it now, but it's arguably the second biggest if not first biggest influence on the game in regards to level design and sheer mechanical handling.
Got a subscribe from me and looking forward to watching the rest of this series.
Thank you! I try to keep the twee to a minimum but you know how it goes.
Sadly, I have so little experience with the NES catalog that most pioneers of great games like this are only vaguely known to me.
I am happy to say I have played Ducktails since this release and I give it a little more due in my Zelda II video.
Its always been such s magical game
14:25 i'm pretty sure you could get there from the area right before this one
Let’s go! New ITOI!
you actually can't go past the village at the very beginning even if you wanted to
The mole knight level reminds me of death mountain from Zelda 2.
It's far easier, though.
What the hell?! I didn't see the tower of fate just at the beginning of the game even though it was just there.
Shout out to Yaght Club who made two additional campaigns as free DLC for people who bought Shovel Knight when it first came out.
Three.
Four if you count "Showdown".
4:40 okay this one made me actually laugh aloud
Bless you papa, for this video truly brings us joy and comfort on our adventures through life, and it has been a long while since you blessed us, so this is even more welcome....
Just like Da-
Omg! I thought I was the only one who thought the fairies in Plague Knight’s stage looked like Totoro!
Seriously, when I first played this game, I said something to the tune of; Totoro!! Why did you betray my LOVE?!
14:28 you have jump over the right end of the previous room to get the three gems 4head
NEW SUBSCRIBER
great vid!
20:57 we're fighting Raz? 🤔 But he's only 10
ah yes i love "Plauge knight" lol
Specter of Torment when?
no mention of Duck Tales for the NES? dang
As much as I loved the Kratos Boss fight and the Armor of Chaos...ngl once I got my hands on the Xbox version and battled the Battletoads and got the Toad gear, I never looked back 🐸🐸🐸
fuch 2013 was ten years ago
I don't know what a comment but I'm just commenting for algorithm boost I guess.
11:54 hey they stole that mechanic from Grand Poo World 3
I love undertale
Im still so mad Polar Knight didnt get a dlc. All the edgybait won.
He deserves a "16bit" sequel story
So, uhh
Are you still planning to making a video on the other campaigns?
ye
Interestingly, my first playthrough of Shovel Knight was miserable. I really didn't like the controls and the spikes and the bottomless pits. The game was challenging, and I don't really like hard or challenging games unless it hits a perfect sweet spot. This game, alas, did not hit that. I slogged through the game, and then went on to Plague of Shadows. That was much more fun for me. Specter of Torment was okay, but the story was too edgy for my liking, and it ended up hurting my experience of the game. The gameplay was fine, but not super impressive. And then came King of Cards. I hated King of Cards. The controls were hard to get used to and I thought Joustus was required to get to the credits. I was so bad at deck building and playing the game that any good card I got was immediately lost. I despised Joustus so strongly that I quit the game altogether and never returned to Shovel Knight... until I lost a bet and was bound by word to never play another video game until I got every single achievement for all of the campaigns in Shovel Knight Treasure Trove on Steam.
This time, I had a guide that would tell me how to get all the achievements and find the missing items and whatnot. Thanks to having most of the gear unlocked from my first playthrough, Shovel of Hope was actually pretty fun! I was better at the game than my first time playing, and jetting around with the propeller dagger was a blast. Within a couple weeks, all 45 Shovel of Hope achievements were acquired. Plague Knight was also really fun to do, save for beating the final boss with no upgrades (and then I realized I could break the cauldron thing and create and opening that way). I knocked out Specter of Torment in about a week or two, and I think I played too much as by the end of the achievements for that I was pretty burnt out. I wasn't having much fun.
Finally, I was left with King of Cards (after knocking out all but one Showdown achievement in a few hours). And with all this new Shovel Knight experience, mostly positive at that, I was ready to give King of Cards another go... and I still didn't like it. This time I avoided doing any of the Joustus encounters and just played the main game. I aimed for the Beeline achievement, so I followed a predetermined route and only got one or two heirlooms. I didn't like the levels and getting the secret exits often involved a lot of frustration with bottomless pits. I trudged through the game and made it to the credits, on call with a friend as I did the final level.
But then, something changed. After beating the game, I was able to relax a bit, or something like that. I started having fun clearing out all the levels I skipped. I loved the ghost slap heirloom, and I was having fun knocking out the achievements. I even had enough decent Joustus cards to win! I'm still in the process of clearing this campaign, but I only have 9 achievements left and then the 1 for Showdown.
I am glad I never have to play Shovel Knight for the first time again, but I may very well end up coming back to blaze through the levels some day (skipping the story, because it didn't resonate with me much at all).
I just finished King of Cards, meaning I have gotten every achievement in every campaign! It was a fun journey, and I've come to really appreciate the game. Once I had good cards and knew how to play, Joustus was fairly enjoyable! I think all in all, my campaign preference goes Plague Knight > Shovel Knight > King Knight > Specter Knight. I'm glad I was able to push myself to beat all of these!
How does this guy have so few subs?
My experience with Shovel of Hope was great, but nowhere near as impactful as yours. Although, a game that has had a big impact on me is Everhood. So maybe check that game out if you haven’t already 😉
The order you took the bosses in was straight blasphemous. I dont know why I feel that way so strongly but I do
😅
When I beat the game I thought it would be like world 1 like in Mario 3. Oh, the disappointment. Way too short.
No.
It's funny how you keep mentioning how easy the game is, when it kicked kid me's ass on so many levels. On some of the bosses you complain about, I was stuck for ages! Frankly, I think that Shovel Knight strikes the right balance in difficulty. If it was as hard as you seem to want it to be, I think it would be prohibitively difficult for many people. And that's why the hard mode exists.
(But yeah, great video otherwise.)
the best thing about seeing the Trouple King's dance again is being able to skip right over it. I hate when devs make you watch crap like that. Love Shovel Knight. Hate the dance.
for a retrospective you dont seem to be very knowledgeable about the game at times... but you acknowledged that tinker knight doesnt know he's a bad guy so i can give it a pass
Damn, you think the God of War content is cool, wait to you play the Xbox version!
Honestly ask me why in the replies, but shovel knight is one of the worst games I have ever played and actively wasn't enjoying myself throughout
One of the worst...okaaayyy....
@@sidnew2739 Out of the games I played, I don't judge games I haven't played but yea there probs hundreds worse
Awesome video. My son and I bought it when it first released. Good memories❤