| System: PS3*, Xbox 360 |  |
| Dev: Grasshopper Manufacture, Digital Reality | |
| Pub: Reverb Communications | |
| Release: December 11, 2012 | |
| Players: 1 | |
| Screen Resolution: 480p-1080p | Blood and Gore, Intense Violence |
The art design is such a mishmash that I couldn't possibly try to define it. There is lots of colored sketchwork with defining pencil lines, and then there are doors with bold, multicolored, geometric shapes that look like they came out of the circus. The Black Knight himself has limited detail, with limbs that look like stretched ovals that have been colored in haphazardly with black squiggly lines. The animations, on the other hand, are incredibly smooth. Your hero moves at just the right speed, with slow strides that give a believability to the bulky armor he's wearing. And then, of course, you do a dexterous double-jump that throws that believability right out the window.
The music and effects are just as jumbled as the visuals. With clown horns, pig sounds, opera singers, and a death song reminiscent of “Taps,” you’ll never know what you're going to hear next. My favorite effect is that of the armor, which consistently chinks along with a metallic clatter. Every scene has a different melody, hitting both major and minor chords, but usually (and deliberately, I'm sure) sounding out of tune.
Black Knight Sword may not be everyone's cup of tea, but don't be quick to assume its chaotic design choices make it seem like it was quickly thrown together without care. A few minor control issues aside, the gameplay is incredibly tight. It's not the most challenging platformer you'll ever play, but if you have any sense of curiosity, you'll want to keep playing just the see what the creative people at Grasshopper Manufacture and Digital Reality have come up with next.
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By Sean Engemann Freelance Writer Date: December 13, 2012 |
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