Raise Thy Shovel!
Inspired by classic titles such as Castlevania, Ducktales and Super Mario, this gem of a game managed endear itself in the hearts of gamers everywhere practically at release. The level of detail that went into both the overall design and controls easily sold the idea that a tiny knight could take on the forces of darkness with nothing but a shovel, with its ridiculous amount of charm managing to cement its crazy cast as modern gaming icons. Speaking of which, lets talk about those boss battles!
Against the might of the villainous yet of so colourful Order of No Quarter, we were faced with all manner of environment dangers to avoid, often having to perfectly time our shovel jumps just to land the finishing blow. While all may have been quirky, these three certainly stood out as the game’s highlights.
Fair warning, there are SPOILERS AHEAD!
#3: Specter Knight
Phasing out of the darkness to strike terror into the heart of shovel wielders everywhere, the Lich Lord was for many the first boss they encountered. Not only was his eerie design instantly memorable, but he also made for a tricky foe. Able to teleport around the stage, summon his undead minions and even swing his scythe all around the stage like a boomerang, we had to be quick on our feet in order to bust this ghost. Luckily we would later be able to check out his shadowy swagger in the Specter of Torment campaign!
#2: Black Knight
Shovel Knight’s eternal rival, one who lives to best him as well as earn the affection of Shield Knight for himself. His envy could have resulted in a rather shallow and annoying addition…if his boss battle’s weren’t epic as could be! As the only character you clash with multiple times, each time the Black Knight shows up you know you’re in for a challenge on a whole other level. Over the course of the game, he gradually gets more powerful, until he’s basically a fallen angel sending meteors your way. There’s no greater test of your shovel skills than when taking on this dark reflection!
#1: The Enchantress
Not only is the final boss of the game the most challenging of them all, but also delivered on an emotional payoff we were not expecting! After the reveal that the Enchantress was a possessed Shield Knight, the dark magic that corrupted her takes its own form, leading to the two allies joining forces once again to finally vanquish it. With Shield Knight protecting players from damage while also providing a platform to jump off of, it’s fair to say that this battle was as exhilarating as it was nerve-wracking. If that wasn’t enough, seeing Shovel Knight desperately try to catch his beloved for a final time gave us all the feels!
Be sure to check out the video below to see where Shovel Knight ranked in our picks for the Top 10 Awesome Retro Style Video Games.
