Knight vs. Giant: The Broken Excalibur is a captivating top-action game that combines elements of rogue-lite gameplay. Reminiscent of popular titles like Hades, it boasts a thrilling and fluid combat system that keeps players engaged from start to finish. However, what sets this game apart from others in the genre is its unique storyline, which draws inspiration from the legendary King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table.
This intriguing premise adds an extra layer of depth and immersion, making it hard to put the controller down. Additionally, the addictive upgrade system ensures that players are constantly striving to improve their skills and gear, further enhancing the overall gaming experience. Knight vs. Giant: The Broken Excalibur is an absolute must-play for fans of action-packed games with a touch of mythology.
In the enchanting realm of Camelot, the noble Knights of the Round Table embark on a perilous quest in search of the sacred holy grail. However, their plans take a catastrophic turn when they are unexpectedly confronted by a colossal void giant that unleashes its fury upon them, leaving no knight standing and shattering the legendary sword, Excalibur, in the process. It is a devastating blow to the kingdom, and hope seems lost. But just as despair begins to settle, the great sorcerer Merlin emerges to salvage the situation, albeit with his own twist.
With his mystical powers, he banishes the giant to the Astral Dimension, but inadvertently drags the entire kingdom of Camelot along with it. Now faced with a new dilemma of scattered citizens and fallen knights, Merlin calls upon his magic to resurrect the legendary King Arthur. Empowered by the spirits of his fallen comrades, Arthur must now slay the giants, restore Camelot to its former glory, and reunite its people. The fate of the realm rests upon his valiant shoulders, as he embarks on a heroic mission to save the day and bring everyone home.
When I first started playing the game, I had mixed feelings about the plot. As a devoted fan of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table, I was thrilled to see these legendary figures and characters like Morgana brought to life in a video game. However, I was slightly disappointed with the portrayal of Arthur, as he appeared angry and arrogant at the beginning.
As a fan of the lore and books like Sir Gaiwan and The Green Knight, I couldn't help but nitpick certain aspects of the game. Nevertheless, as I continued playing, my initial reservations began to fade, and I found myself embracing the game's interpretation, even the occasional forced humor. Regardless of one's familiarity with Arthurian legends, the story gradually captivates and grows on you with time. The same can be said for the gameplay, which becomes more engaging and enjoyable as you delve deeper into the game.
Knight vs Giant Gameplay Mechanics
The gameplay of this game falls into the hack-and-slash genre, offering a familiar yet thrilling experience. As a player, your main objective is to clear out each room of enemies, gradually upgrading your abilities along the way, all in pursuit of finding the boss room. This task must be repeated multiple times to ultimately emerge victorious and earn a well-deserved pat on the back.
However, this journey is far from easy; death lurks around every corner, ready to strike. Fortunately, each time you fall, Merlin resurrects you, allowing you to grow stronger and try again. Adding to the excitement, the levels are randomly generated, ensuring a fresh challenge with different room layouts and enemy placements each time you embark on this roguelite action game.
The controls in this game are incredibly user-friendly and easy to grasp. With just a standard attack, a dodge, and a special magic skill, players can swiftly navigate through the game's challenges. One feature that I particularly appreciated was the option to hold the attack button instead of constantly mashing it, which prevented my thumbs from becoming sore during intense runs.
What truly sets this game apart is the ability to equip a unique attack and skill bestowed upon you by fallen Knights. These powerful abilities function as distinct spells and weapons, allowing players to personalize their gameplay experience. Whether you prefer to utilize the abilities of a single Knight or mix and match to create a custom build, the choice is yours.
One of the standout features of this game is its incredible replay value. The game's responsive controls make every playthrough feel fresh and exciting. As you progress through the game, you have the opportunity to upgrade your weapons and skills by finding statues of the Knights during your run. This adds even more variety to the gameplay and keeps you coming back for more.
Additionally, completing each room rewards you with purple and gold orbs. The purple orbs can be exchanged at a vendor for potions and extra items to buff your stats, providing an extra layer of strategy. However, it's important to note that these upgrades don't carry over to another run. On the other hand, the gold orbs can be used back at the main hub to rebuild Camelot and upgrade your Knights. This permanent stat boost makes future runs a little easier, encouraging players to continue their adventure and experience the game in new and exciting ways.
One interesting aspect of being able to upgrade the Knights in the game is that you actually need to use their skills or weapons in order to earn experience and unlock these upgrades. While this may seem like a good idea, it often resulted in me sticking to one particular build and not experimenting with different abilities. However, I did appreciate the inclusion of gold orbs in crates. What made this even more enjoyable was the fact that I could simply walk into the crates to break them, instead of having to make the effort to bash them with my sword. Although it may be a small detail, it was a small touch that I found quite pleasing.
One aspect of the game that I found particularly appealing is the way enemies indicate their area of attack, giving players the opportunity to skillfully dodge and avoid taking damage. This feature adds an extra layer of strategy and excitement to the gameplay, as it challenges players to react quickly and make split-second decisions.
Additionally, the ability to teleport instantly to any previously visited room is a convenient feature that saves players from the monotonous task of backtracking. This allows players to prioritize their actions and make strategic choices, such as delaying the use of a health replenishing fountain until it is absolutely necessary. Overall, these features enhance the overall gameplay experience and add depth to the game's mechanics.
While the game has its merits, there are a few niggles that I found bothersome. Firstly, the limited number of biomes and levels left me wanting more in terms of content. With only three biomes and two levels each, the game felt a bit lacking in variety. Additionally, the obligatory rogue-lite grind required to progress in the game became tiresome. It took a significant amount of time and effort to reach a point where enemies felt less like meat shields. Furthermore, the trickle of new content, such as unlocking new Knights and allies, felt inconsistent and slow.
While you do unlock something new with each run, unlocking an important feature in Camelot required surviving to the third biome, which felt like an excessive amount of grinding. This grinding became so excessive that I ended up accumulating more gold orbs than I knew what to do with. As a big fan of the genre, I persevered, but I can see how someone new to the game may be put off by these issues.
Visual Design and Graphics
The game's graphics adopt a charmingly simple 2D sprite design, reminiscent of what I like to call the paper character look. However, I couldn't help but find Arthur's design a bit lacking. He comes across as a rather basic character, resembling more of a ninja Knight with his distinctive red scarf. It gave me a nostalgic feeling, reminding me of the Shinobi games from the PlayStation 2 era, albeit with a slightly slower pace.
The enemy sprite design in the game excels, offering a diverse array of encounters throughout the different biomes. The bosses, in particular, are awe-inspiring with their immense size and intricate detailing, making each battle feel like an epic encounter. The environments are beautifully crafted, showcasing lush and detailed landscapes bursting with vibrant colors. While the settings may follow the typical forest, desert, and lava themes, I couldn't help but feel like I was embarking on a grand fantasy adventure as I explored each room. Additionally, the game runs smoothly in both TV and handheld modes, without any hiccups or glitches detracting from the overall experience.
Verdict
Knight vs. Giant: The Broken Excalibur is undeniably a fantastic action roguelike that lives up to its name. The combat mechanics are exceptionally well-crafted, providing an exhilarating and gratifying experience that had me hooked from the very beginning. The addictive pick-up-and-play gameplay kept me coming back for more, as I found myself immersed in the challenging and unpredictable world of Knight vs. Giant. As a devoted fan of fantasy lore, I was particularly enamored by the rich and immersive fantasy setting, which added an extra layer of depth and excitement to the already thrilling gameplay. Knight vs. Giant: The Broken Excalibur is without a doubt a must-play for any action game enthusiast.
However, it doesn’t bring much to the round table compared to other games in the genre and also suffers similar issues. The game can be grindy and requires a lot of investment before you get to the good stuff, making some runs feel like obligations than time well spent. If you love the genre, it’s a quest worth taking up. But if this has never been your chalice, then you need not venture. Somehow, I’m not tired of this genre yet, and Kings Vs. Giants certainly made a video game Knight out of me.
Knight vs. Giant, while a decent game in its own right, falls short in comparison to other games in the genre. It suffers from similar issues such as being grindy and requiring a significant investment of time before reaching the enjoyable aspects. This can make some playthroughs feel more like obligations rather than time well spent. However, for those who are passionate about the genre, it may still be worth embarking on this quest. On the other hand, if this genre has never been your cup of tea, there is no need to venture into this game. Personally, I have yet to tire of this genre, and Knight vs. Giant has definitely transformed me into a dedicated video game knight.
