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Pardon the dust! This page includes some jargon that hasn't been added to the site's glossary yet. I'll be around to fix this later, but sorry for the inconvenience in the meantime. |
Review: Shovel Knight: Plague of Shadows
At a Glance
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How to Save and Pause:Your progress is saved whenever you complete a level or return to the map screen. Exiting a level without completing it does not save your progress within that level. If you need to pause the game, press ESC at any time to bring up the pause menu. Time needed per session:In order to have enough time to really explore this game's world, plan on playing for at least twenty minutes at a time.
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Does this game pose issues for Christian players?
 | No - this is a great game for Christians Even though the you're playing as a villain, there's really nothing major to be concerned with in this title. |
Screenshots
![[view screenshot]](../images/screenshots/shovel_knight_plague_of_shadows_0.jpg)
![[view screenshot]](../images/screenshots/shovel_knight_plague_of_shadows_1.jpg)
![[view screenshot]](../images/screenshots/shovel_knight_plague_of_shadows_2.jpg)
Game Overview
Shovel of Hope, the first game in the Shovel Knight series, introduced us to the titular Knight and the crazy medieval world he lives in. While that game neatly resolved the story surrounding Shovel Knight and the evil Enchantress, it didn't quite answer every question that it raised. Who was that green skinned lady in the village? How did Chester get his hands on magical relics that the Shovel Knight missed? Why did the tower collapse when the Enchantress was defeated?
Rather than answer these questions by having us follow Shovel Knight on another grand adventure, Yacht Club Games opted to let their other characters reveal the answers by becoming the protagonists of their own tales. This began with Plague of Shadows, a story that focuses on Plague Knight and what he was doing during the events of the original game.
Despite his costume and name, Plague Knight isn't a doctor or germ carrier. Instead, he's an alchemist - a sort of magical chemist. But, for all his formulas and knowledge, there was one thing that he could not figure out. It was something important. Something grand. Something worth risking everything to get.
...namely, he needed a way to build up enough courage to tell a girl he liked her.
Thus, while Shovel Knight was busy fighting the Order of No Quarter and saving the world, Plague Knight was also travelling around, seeking to steal magical essences from his companions. By collecting powerful essences from the world's strongest warriors and combining them, he could create a potion that would grant him power beyond imagining. With such power under his control, he could do anything, even dare to do something as frightening as hold hands with a girl. It was the perfect plan!
Gameplay wise, this game follows the original very closely. The main differences lie in Plague Knight's preferred means of attack. Alchemists are exceptionally good at manufacturing their own explosives (ideally on purpose), so Plague Knight fights with small vials of volatile chemicals. In addition to blowing stuff up, he can use them to provide additional thrust for jumps. This trick can also be used in midair, creating a sort of double-jump mechanic that players will need to master.
Seeing the world through Plague Knight's eyes also reveals a number of new things we didn't see as Shovel Knight. For example, being a villain tends to make people dislike you. This includes other villains, as just about everybody tends to consider Plague Knight to be contemptable. The poor guy just can't catch a break, though all things considered, it's not like the maniac really deserves one.
Ultimately, this was another hilarious and enjoyable romp in the Shovel Knight franchise, and like the others, it's definitely worth playing through at least once.
Now, this game was originally released as DLC for Shovel of Hope. That method of playing the game has been discontinued, and now it's simply part of the Shovel Knight Treasure Chest compilation. Thus, buy the one game, and you'll get all four stories from their kooky, crazy little world.
Rather than answer these questions by having us follow Shovel Knight on another grand adventure, Yacht Club Games opted to let their other characters reveal the answers by becoming the protagonists of their own tales. This began with Plague of Shadows, a story that focuses on Plague Knight and what he was doing during the events of the original game.
Despite his costume and name, Plague Knight isn't a doctor or germ carrier. Instead, he's an alchemist - a sort of magical chemist. But, for all his formulas and knowledge, there was one thing that he could not figure out. It was something important. Something grand. Something worth risking everything to get.
...namely, he needed a way to build up enough courage to tell a girl he liked her.
Thus, while Shovel Knight was busy fighting the Order of No Quarter and saving the world, Plague Knight was also travelling around, seeking to steal magical essences from his companions. By collecting powerful essences from the world's strongest warriors and combining them, he could create a potion that would grant him power beyond imagining. With such power under his control, he could do anything, even dare to do something as frightening as hold hands with a girl. It was the perfect plan!
Gameplay wise, this game follows the original very closely. The main differences lie in Plague Knight's preferred means of attack. Alchemists are exceptionally good at manufacturing their own explosives (ideally on purpose), so Plague Knight fights with small vials of volatile chemicals. In addition to blowing stuff up, he can use them to provide additional thrust for jumps. This trick can also be used in midair, creating a sort of double-jump mechanic that players will need to master.
Seeing the world through Plague Knight's eyes also reveals a number of new things we didn't see as Shovel Knight. For example, being a villain tends to make people dislike you. This includes other villains, as just about everybody tends to consider Plague Knight to be contemptable. The poor guy just can't catch a break, though all things considered, it's not like the maniac really deserves one.
Ultimately, this was another hilarious and enjoyable romp in the Shovel Knight franchise, and like the others, it's definitely worth playing through at least once.
Now, this game was originally released as DLC for Shovel of Hope. That method of playing the game has been discontinued, and now it's simply part of the Shovel Knight Treasure Chest compilation. Thus, buy the one game, and you'll get all four stories from their kooky, crazy little world.
Points of Interest
Collectables and Customizations
The world of Shovel Knight continues to be filled with treasures in this sequel, where you'll find hidden cypher coins and sheet music behind secret panels and dangerous obstacles. The cypher coins are probably going to be more important to any would-be alchemists, as they can be used to unlock new equipment for Plague Knight's unique arsenal of explosives. Speaking of which, once you've purchased a specific part, you can customize your firepower by combining fuses, casings, and powders in different ways, resulting in some rather unique weapons.
Music is far less useful to someone as practical as Plague Knight, though you can trade any pages you find to Percy, who will give you some gold and a free tip on how to romance the ladies in return.
Music is far less useful to someone as practical as Plague Knight, though you can trade any pages you find to Percy, who will give you some gold and a free tip on how to romance the ladies in return.
New Game+
As in the first game, completing Plague of Shadows gives you the ability to start over with all of your gold and items. This second adventure will be more difficult, as the alchemist will take twice as much damage from enemies, but it's one way to re-experience the game.
Forgiving
You can't be permanently defeated. When Plague Knight runs out of health, he'll drop some of the loot he's carrying and you'll resume the level from the last checkpoint you reached. Once you've recovered your gold from the floating treasure bags, it's like the accident never happened.
Steam community features
Plague of Shadows added 20 achievements to the original 45, bring the total for the first two campaigns to a classy 65. Most of these have to do with collecting things, such as every cypher coin or unlocking every piece of equipment, but there's one that's especially funny.
There's a point in the game were Mona is quietly dancing to herself. You're supposed to use the controls to lower Plague Knight into the room, but if you hesitate (like I did, thinking it was a cutscene), you'll get an achievement for being voyeuristic.
There's a point in the game were Mona is quietly dancing to herself. You're supposed to use the controls to lower Plague Knight into the room, but if you hesitate (like I did, thinking it was a cutscene), you'll get an achievement for being voyeuristic.
Difficult controls
Unlike the nimble Shovel Knight, Plague Knight is considerably less sure footed, and this is reflected in the controls. His slippery movement can be a problem when precision is required, and using his explosives to propel him through the air often sends him flying around. As if this isn't challenging enough, there is an armor upgrade that makes him slide around even more.
If you're not used to his style of moving around, you may experience some frustrating moments.
If you're not used to his style of moving around, you may experience some frustrating moments.
Concerns and Issues
Playing as the Villain
Plague Knight is by no means a hero. This colors every part of his adventure, as he gets chased out of towns, spat on by the Troupple King, and mocked by the other members of the Order of No Quarter. His own behavior isn't much better, as he'll happily knock his own minions about if they get in his way.
Of course, since everything that happens to him is entirely deserved, it provides ample opportunity for physical comedy at his expense.
Of course, since everything that happens to him is entirely deserved, it provides ample opportunity for physical comedy at his expense.
Mild violence
Like the other Shovel Knight games, common enemies just pop out of existence when defeated, while stronger enemies sometimes have more elaborate reactions to losing a battle. As for Plague Knight, he never actually gets defeated - when his health is gone, he'll lean on his staff and run away in a cloud of smoke.
Fairy tale magic and monsters
Whenever you're dealing with a story set in a fairy tale world, you're going to encounter some magic. Ghosts, dragons, and skeletons make up the majority of fantasy creatures, though there's also the god-like Troupple King and his entourage as well as the Enchantress herself to round things out.
Plague Knight doesn't really use any magic; as an alchemist, he prefers the strange and wonderful world of weird science to the supernatural. If you're not already familiar with concept, alchemy is essentially the fantasy equivalent to chemistry. In real life, it was the precursor to chemistry - fiction tends to give it magical powers.
Plague Knight doesn't really use any magic; as an alchemist, he prefers the strange and wonderful world of weird science to the supernatural. If you're not already familiar with concept, alchemy is essentially the fantasy equivalent to chemistry. In real life, it was the precursor to chemistry - fiction tends to give it magical powers.