Topic: Can someone explain to me what the hype is over Shovel Knight?

I tried multiple times to search for this topic but the search tool never works for me here. I bought the game and downloaded it and after playing the first stage and village, I really don't understand what the excitement was over this, and this is coming from someone who grew up with retro games like Mega Man, Contra, Super Mario 3, Goof Troop, Kid Icarus, Magic Sword, Super Gouls and Ghosts, Castlevania etc.

To me, it just seems like a very typical, run of the mill platforming game. I'm at the point where if I'm not drawn in by a game within the first 30 minutes or so, I get bored pretty quickly and I can't say I felt any connection to this game. Am I missing something?

Well yes if you stopped at the village then you just finished the tutorial. You literally haven't really played it. You haven't even made it to the first boss

I think the fact that it is at worst, as good as any of those games and is also much longer is a good start.

But yes, the themed stages are when they become great.

The first stage I beat did have a boss. It was another knight. I'm not saying the game is bad. I just don't see what all the fuss was about because I don't find anything amazing about it.

That was just the tutorial dude. The tutorial's boss is Black Knight. You haven't even reached the first real stage yet.

Any later comers to a game that is hugely adored by people who buy it when it first comes out are at risk to not enjoy it due to over-hype. It happens with every good game.

Some people also will purposely go "ho hum" about a game adored by many to feel special. Not sure which category you fall into.

Also, 30 minutes to complete the tutorial seems a bit long. I'm inferring that's how long it took you from your posts. Maybe it's too challenging?

I feel like you've not played nearly enough to give a proper opinion like if I only played half an hour into most Zelda's I'd feel they're all boring.

The hype was about a successful kickstarter of an attractive looking 8-bit style game by ex-members of a well known studio known to create good, modern 2D platformers. That was most of the hype right there as people knew the devs would deliver the game they showed and they did. Similar to the hype of Yooka Laylee because they are ex-rare devs

OK, I will try to play further in the game but I guess I had high expectations considering how high this game was rated and how much buzz there was on it.

No, there are multiple paths in the first stage. I died on the first boss once but if there are multiple paths, I like to go in every direction and take all the jewels and dig up everything.

You realize that just because a game was very well received doesn't mean everyone is going to love it, right? It's a well made game that builds on the nostalgia of many NES franchises, which is why there are many people who really enjoy it - it's also why we get people asking this question of why they're not enjoying it as much as everyone else. I personally thought it was good, but nothing especially amazing.

Either you're here because you're genuinely confused about why many people enjoyed it and you didn't, in which case, welcome to subjectivity, or you're here just to state that you personally go against a popular opinion, in which case, this is where you might want to post instead.

Kinda the reason why I don't like Ocarina of Time as much as many other Zelda games. (Wind Waker is the best 3D Zelda)

@DefHalan: I'd venture that most Legend of Zelda games offer a different appeal; Wind Waker's fantastic overworld and more animated characters probably appealed to you more than the more lifeless world offered by Ocarina of Time, despite Ocarina of Time having generally better labyrinths.

@steamhare: Lets not derail this thread by going into detail about Zelda games, but I found OoT to be boring all around. The labyrinths weren't that great in OoT.

Shovel Knight's hype started with the very successful Kickstarter. It showed promise right from the start, and the dev's kept very good communications with the fans, all the way to the release, and well beyond that.
Then the hype held up because it's one of the most faithful recreations of 8-bit platforming up to that point. Since such classic platformers are comparably rare nowadays, many players were also fascinated by the very straightforward execution.

That said, it's very possible that it's simply not as exciting to you as it is to others. I had my fun until I was through, and then it instantly lost me. But just as others (for some reason that is beyond me) play through this game several times, others just can't find any appeal with this game. Don't fret over it, it's your thing. If it doesn't catch you, it simply doesn't. Nobody must love this game (I sure don't), and it's up to you whether you try some more Shovel Knight or just toss it aside. Nobody can judge you, except yourself.

@DefHalan: I was leading into the idea that hype and reflexive hipster hate aren't the only reasons you might legitimately not find Ocarina of Time to be the best, and that the Topic Creator might enjoy the games he mentioned for different reasons than other people which aren't present in Shovel Knight. The games he mentions are all very pick up and play and they do their best to grab you in the first thirty minutes, after all, while shovel knight has a slow paced beginning like more modern games.

I call BS because if you grew up with these games and you can't find the appeal of Shovel Knight then you're lying about the whole scenario.
Shovel Knight is a perfectly executed modern platformer. It's not just a throwback game, it's meticulously designed from the graphics to controls. I can really appreciate the level of detail they put into this game. And who judges a game based on the tutorial level anyway? lol

But hey, your loss I guess.

I don't get either I think people will fall for any thing like this xD

Except the game actually is fantastic in every aspect. If you don't like it that's on you, but don't come in here acting superior as if we all got duped.

Just say the game isn't for you ffs.

there is already a shovel knight discussion thread here.

https://www.nintendolife.com/forums/wiiu_eshop/shovel_knight1?...

I bought it for both Wii U and 3DS. I beat it all the way through and (almost) beat the Expert Mode. I thought the game was an enjoyable experience, even for someone like me who didn't grow up in the 8-bit era. It's very well made for an indie game. However, I don't really get all the hype, either. The game was fine and all, but I do think Shovel Knight is a bit overrated... like Frozen. But that's a topic for another day!