Knack (video game)

Knack is a beat 'em up platformer from Japan Studio, published by Sony Computer Entertainment for the PlayStation 4. It launched in North America, Europe, and Australia in November 2013, followed by a Japanese release in February 2014, where it came bundled with the console.

Players guide the title character, Knack, through levels viewed from a fixed, third-person camera. Knack is a living humanoid made of Relics—a large central Relic always surrounded by smaller ones. He jumps, dodges, punches, and uses energy-based powers to move through colorful environments filled with enemies. The story follows Knack and his creator as they try to save humanity from a species called the Goblins. When one of the creator’s former friends turns rogue, Knack and his allies must stop the villain’s schemes.

Upon release, the game got mixed reviews. Critics liked its original concept and ideas but criticized the gameplay, difficulty, and story. A sequel, Knack II, was announced at the 2016 PlayStation Experience and came out in September 2017.

**Gameplay**

Knack is a platforming beat 'em up where the player controls the title character. Game director Mark Cerny described it as “a little bit like Crash Bandicoot, and a little bit like Katamari Damacy,” with “a touch of God of War in there.” Players move Knack through long, linear levels from start to finish, fighting enemies like humans, robots, and vehicles, finding hidden objects that grant upgrades, climbing, destroying objects, and solving jumping and switch puzzles. The perspective resembles that of the God of War games. The player only controls Knack, not the camera, which follows him in a mix of third-person and 2.5D angles.

Levels take place in many different locations, each with its own objectives tied to the story. Environments are brightly colored with vivid greens, oranges, blues, and grays. Locations include mineshafts, forests, factories, mansions, gardens, mountains, cities, laboratories, castles, rock formations, and caves. Gameplay focuses on brawling combat and platforming.

Knack is a large Relic that attracts smaller Relics to form a living organism. His size varies: he can be as small as a human child with only a few Relics, as large as a gorilla with a moderate number, or as big as a small skyscraper with many.