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[Skeletos311]

• Developer: Yacht Club Games; Based in Marina del Rey, California
• Platforms: Nintendo Wii U, Nintendo 3DS, Nintendo Switch, Sony PS3, Sony PS4, Sony Vita, Xbox One, PC, Mac, Linux, Amazon FireTV
• Release Date: March 3rd, 2017 (Nintendo Switch) April, 2017 (Everywhere)
• Price: $9.99 or available as a free update with Shovel Knight: Treasure Trove
• Languages: English, French, Italian, German, Spanish, Portuguese-Brazil, Russian
• ESRB: E for everyone, USK 6+, PEGI 7, OFLC PG

Trailer - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BRwP0P5j05g

Screenshots - http://imgur.com/a/CMBHE

Instruction Manual - http://yachtclubgames.com/specter-of-torment-manual/

Soundtrack - https://virt.bandcamp.com/album/shovel-knight-specter-of-torment-ost

Wallpapers

Specter of Torment is a prequel to Shovel Knight- an adventure starring Specter Knight, the shadowy scythe-spinner! If you've played Shovel knight, forget all you've known- this is a new adventure with different challenges and nonstop action! Take heed and pay close attention; to become the reaper, you must study his moves carefully.

Shovel Knight: Specter of Torment is the action-packed prequel to Shovel Knight! Take control of Specter Knight, servant to the Enchantress, in a quest to recruit a cadre of knights and create the Order of No Quarter. With his scythe and preternatural agility at the ready, he can glide across the ground, clamber up walls, and command an arsenal of curious weapons.

If he carries out his duties, Specter Knight may have a chance at regaining his lost humanity and breaking his chains of servitude. But what cruel tricks might the Enchantress have up her sleeve? Experience perfect platforming, world-class visuals, all new stage designs, new music, new bosses, and even meet a friend or two in Shovel Knight: Specter of Torment!

• Climb walls, leap over gaps, and dispatch enemies with the Dash Slash. Specter Knight's playstyle brings motion and action to the forefront!
• Collect and upgrade curios to unleash all new special attacks.
• Test your scythe skills with Feats and Challenge Stages featuring Boss rematches, platforming challenges, and more!
• Yacht Club Game's beautifully authentic style bridges the gap between yesterday and today. Design, art, and audio hearken back to the days of 8-bit.
• Awesome soundtrack by Jake ”Virt" Kaufman!
• Balanced gameplay is a warm welcome to newcomers, and an old embrace for experts.
• A somber tale told with a light touch to narrative with humor, levity, and heart.
• Crazy bosses and lovable characters.
• Take on a new challenge and uncover all of the world's secrets with New Game+!

Shovel Knight: Treasure Trove - Platform Specific features

Wii U Features

• Miiverse support through the Digger's Diary – read in-game messages from other players or write messages of your own!
• Multiple controller support: Wii U Gamepad, Wii U Pro Controller, Wii Remote, Wii Remote + Nunchuck, Wii Classic Controller, and Wii Classic Controller Pro!
• Off-TV Play with the GamePad!
• Quick select Relics and items using the GamePad!

3DS Features

• Eye-popping Stereoscopic 3D display support!
• StreetPass Battle Arena – a crazy StreetPass battle game where anything can happen!
• Play Coin support – Trade your coins for gold!
• Quick select Relics and items using the Touch Screen!

PS4 Features

• Battle Kratos – Fight the legendary hero from God of War!
• DualShock 4 Light Bars support!
• Cross Buy – buy the game digitally on one PlayStation platform and get it on the rest!
• Cross Save – transfer your save file between PS4, PS3, PS Vita!
• Trophy support!

PS3 Features

• Battle Kratos – Fight the legendary hero from God of War!
• Cross Buy – buy the game digitally on one PlayStation platform and get it on the rest!
• Cross Save – transfer your save file between PS4, PS3, PS Vita!
• Trophy support!

Vita Features

• Battle Kratos – Fight the legendary hero from God of War!
• Cross Buy – buy the game digitally on one PlayStation platform and get it on the rest!
• Cross Save – transfer your save file between PS4, PS3, PS Vita!
• Back touch!
• Trophy support!

Xbox One Features

• Battletoads cameo – battle the Battletoads crew as Shovel Knight! Maybe learn a thing or two...
• Achievement support!

Steam/PC Features

• Trading Cards
• Achievement support
• Cloud Saving
• Big Picture
• Support for every controller we can find!

 

[Linkin112]

Haven't kept up on this, but is this another "Play through the same game, but as one of the bosses" or are there actually new levels?

 

[ThoseDeafMutes]

Are we expecting any switch reviews other than Nintendo Life?

 

[kyo2004]

Waiting until April to hit 3DS and PC to play, Shovel of Hope and Plague of Shadows gave me so much fun... (probably triple dip on Switch if they make a physical release or digital when I finally buy the console)

 

[Erekiddo]

The random shotgun blast of these updates confused me.

What's Treasure Trove?

 

[SkyTurnsRed]

The random shotgun blast of these updates confused me.

What's Treasure Trove?

Treasure Trove is Shovel Knight + all of the DLC.

 

[Hero]

Just played the first level and King Knight's stage. More fun than Plague Knight played so far.

 

[Haines]

Haven't kept up on this, but is this another "Play through the same game, but as one of the bosses" or are there actually new levels?

I kind of adore that the first post just diregards all of the info he wants in the op.

Its that special neogaf charm.

 

[Anustart]

Absolutely hated how plague knight controlled and never bothered finishing his levels. Hopefully this one is better.

 

[Linkin112]

I kind of adore that the first post just diregards all of the info he wants in the op.

Its that special neogaf charm.

Yeah, I looked at the trailer and images after posting and got my answer lol

 

[akidnamededdy]

Absolutely hated how plague knight controlled and never bothered finishing his levels. Hopefully this one is better.

Plague Knight was the jam and your lineage is weak.

 

[serenewarfare]

Finished the whole thing in one sitting tonight. It's excellent. Much better than Plague of Shadows, and I did like that quite a bit.

The air control you have is insane.

 

[Skeletos311]

I was trying to figure out what Specter Knight's controls reminded me of and it hit me. It's pretty much Ryu Hayabusa's wall jumping and Alucard's dive kick. No wall cling, though.

The intro level is a remix. The rest of the levels are new levels with the same themes as the old ones with some similar parts in there.

 

[Megalosaro]

Absolutely hated how plague knight controlled and never bothered finishing his levels. Hopefully this one is better.

I didn't care for his controls either, but the story was p good.

Spectre Knight is amazing.

 

[Jaded Alyx]

How is the joycon 'd-pad' for this?

 

[Skeletos311]

How is the joycon 'd-pad' for this?

It's fine, but I prefer the stick if I'm playing handheld.

 

[rainking187]

It definitely feels like Steam got the short end of the stick as far as platform specific features go.

 

[sugarless]

I've been surprised how much I'm fine with the non-dpad directional buttons on the joy con for this game. It's still better with the pro controller but perfectly fine on the portable mode.

Anyonr holding off because of the same issue, I think it'll be fine! Although your mileage may vary of course.

 

[Cels]

Plague Knight was the jam and your lineage is weak.

definitely. plague knight was awesome, so much mobility. shovel knight's movement was boring in comparison

 

[Velcro Fly]

I found plague to be difficult. I knew what I had to do but my clumsy hands seldom got the button presses down so I stopped halfway through to save my sanity. From the gameplay videos and what Yacht Club has posted it seems like Specter will be a little easier to control while still having some opportunities for flashy gameplay.

 

[Skeletos311]

Specter is much easier to control. Also, this one makes you feel much deadlier than the others. Specter is just a badass.

 

[duckroll]

Something something Ninja Gaiden.

 

[Octavianus]

I think I might actually like this even more than the original campaign. It's been my go to game while playing in handheld mode in bed for the past couple of days now.
Didn't expect to enjoy playing it without a proper dpad, but the short travel distance for the stick helps a lot for me.

Something something Ninja Gaiden.

I think that's a good comparison. I haven't played it in years so I can't be too sure, but the gameplay feels a lot like what Ninja Gaiden on the NES was like, if I remember correctly.

Man, I want another 2D Ninja Gaiden.

 

[SmartWaffles]

Lich Yard music remains the best.

Also I still suck so hard at the game, can't even finish most levels with more gold than I started. Doesn't help that the joy-cons are just too small for my hands.

 

[ForkNetwork]

I thought Plague Knight was fine, but it doesnt come close to the simple fun of controlling Shovel Knight. How does Specter Knight play in that regard?

 

[Chairhome]

Forgive me if I'm wrong, but the Kratos and battletoad cameos (for their respective campaigns) are just for the Shovel Knight campaign, and not in the stand alone version of this. Just stating it cause it's in the OP and if someone buys the standalone version of Spectre, they may be disappointed.

 

[CrisKre]

This game is AMAZING. Thats all. Perfect in-between-Zelda game for my Switch (with a healthy dose of FAST RMX thrown in for good measure).

 

[Okami Haundo]

I can't wait to play this! I just bought Treasure Trove on Switch because I want Specter of Torment ASAP and I also want to support titles that actually come to the platform. Now I just have to pull myself away from BoTW to actually play it...

 

[ghibli99]

Not playing on Switch, but this will be a great 'break' between marathon BOTW sessions.

 

[//ARCANUM]

Dirty secret time: I've never played Shovel Knight.

I'm somewhat intrigued by it and Specter. Do I need to jump in and get the treasure trove? Or should I just play Specter?

 

[akidnamededdy]

Dirty secret time: I've never played Shovel Knight.

I'm somewhat intrigued by it and Specter. Do I need to jump in and get the treasure trove? Or should I just play Specter?

Get Treasure Trove. All three available campaigns are great.

 

[Megalosaro]

Dirty secret time: I've never played Shovel Knight.

I'm somewhat intrigued by it and Specter. Do I need to jump in and get the treasure trove? Or should I just play Specter?

It's secretly the beat game of the generation

 

[SmartWaffles]

Does the cheat codes still work with spectre? I don't see myself finishing the game ever without cheating.

 

[zoukka]

How is the joycon 'd-pad' for this?

Not very good. Playable but you'll miss and input here and there.

Fucking incredible that this portable indie machine has no dpad...

 

[//ARCANUM]

Get Treasure Trove. All three available campaigns are great.

It's secretly the beat game of the generation

Okay, y'all sold me, I grabbed it.

 

[VegaShinra]

I couldn't beat Shovel Knight but am having a blast with Specter. The faster gameplay and slick combat are a excellent. Tons of fun.

 

[superNESjoe]

Not very good. Playable but you'll miss and input here and there.

Fucking incredible that this portable indie machine has no dpad...

I bought a pro controller, but honestly I'd buy a new left joycon if they made a dpad version.

 

[Berordn]

How is the joycon 'd-pad' for this?

A little late here but I played through about 70% of the game with it so far, no issues.The spacing on the buttons is small enough that i can still move my finger similarly to a standard D-Pad.

 

[jacobeid]

Specter Knight controls so well, holy shit.

That's all for now.

 

[ghibli99]

Not very good. Playable but you'll miss and input here and there.

Fucking incredible that this portable indie machine has no dpad...

I don't know when it happened, but I use the left analog for pretty much all retro games now. It seems so much easier to tilt something than it is to press down on something.

Anything but nearest neighbor scaling or a good CRT filter for graphics though... I can't deal. LOL

 

[Anustart]

Specter Knight controls so well, holy shit.

That's all for now.

Then a huge improvement over plague. I tried playing more plague of shadows last night and I'm just done. The base game wasn't amazing as is, adding in a completely unwieldly character didn't help.

 

[IrishNinja]

bought this for switch while waiting on amzon to deliver my copy of zelda...4 bosses down, and maybe its just me but im liking this a bit more than my time with shovel knight!

 

[Moff]

great gameplay and ideas in this, easily the most fun character of the 3

 

[Chill Penguin]

Never played any of these, but am intrigued to get this on switch. Is this much better than the previous entries or should I play all of them? If this is a significant improvement I'd rather just play this.

 

[vocab]

Never played any of these, but am intrigued to get this on switch. Is this much better than the previous entries or should I play all of them? If this is a significant improvement I'd rather just play this.

They all play different and have their own story.

 

[ryechu]

Then a huge improvement over plague. I tried playing more plague of shadows last night and I'm just done. The base game wasn't amazing as is, adding in a completely unwieldly character didn't help.

here we go again.

 

[XxSlasherMcGirkxX]

The people who complain about plague knight movement are the worst. I'm hoping Specter Knight can keep up with him.

 

[The Technomancer]

Never played any of these, but am intrigued to get this on switch. Is this much better than the previous entries or should I play all of them? If this is a significant improvement I'd rather just play this.

Play basic Shovel Knight for sure

Plague of Shadows is really love it or hate it

This sounds great, I haven't dived into it yet though

 

[CHC]

Is this the final expansion?

 

[Professor Lexicovermis]

So, how bout that Rail Mail, huh? Never bothered with any other Cloaks after I bought it!

Is this the final expansion?

Nah, King Knight is getting a campaign next, then the last addition is a four player battle mode. At one time, all the knights and the Enchantress were going to be playable in battle mode, but I'm unsure if that's still going to be the case.