Recently, Yacht Club Games provided Cheerful Ghost with a download key for Shovel Knight: Treasure Trove for the Switch. Given that I just got the Switch and have yet to try a 2D platformer on the platform, I decided to download the game and fire it up.
Before I dive into my first impressions of the game, let's talk about what Shovel Knight: Treasure Trove on the Switch comes with. The Switch version includes the following:
There is a lot of game here and the co-op mode really interests me. Since the Switch has two controllers built in, getting a co-op game going seems like a perfect use of the system in tabletop mode, or even on the TV.
Now on to my first impressions...
My only exposure to Shovel Knight has been on my 3DS. I have enjoyed it a lot on that platform, so when I had a chance to give it a try on the Switch, I was game. This game really pops on the Switch. Shovel Knight on the Switch's screen is gorgeous. I went back and compared it to my 3DS version, and found that my 3DS gave me a headache (both in 3D and 2D mode). This has nothing to do with Shovel Knight, but rather the difference in the platforms. The Switch's display is night and day better than the 3DS, and Shovel Knight shines on it.
The controls are solid on the Switch. You can use the thumb stick or the "D-pad" (actually D-buttons) to move Shovel Knight. Given that I prefer to play 2D platformers with a D-pad, this is the method of control that I decided to use. Playing with the D-buttons is taking some time to get the hang of, but I feel I will get there. Again, this is not a Shovel Knight problem, but rather a Switch design choice.
Next up, I docked the Switch and played Shovel Knight with the Switch Pro Controller on my 47" TV. It looks just as great on the TV as it does on the Switch screen. Moving back to a traditional d-pad was also a bonus (at least until I get used to the D-buttons on the joy-con). The game seemed to preform perfectly on the big screen. I am not sure if there is any resolution change here, but if there is, it did not seem to impact performance.
If I already had Treasure Trove, or all three of the versions of Shovel Knight mentioned above, I would probably have skipped this version, unless I was a die hard Shovel Knight fan, then this is probably a must have for the Switch. Given that I only have Shovel Knight: Shovel of Hope on the 3DS, this is a great value and I would have picked it up.
Overall, I think this will be my go to version of Shovel Knight over my 3DS version. The screen just makes the difference to me.
You can find Shovel Knight: Treasure Trove on the Switch eShop for $24.99.
Before I dive into my first impressions of the game, let's talk about what Shovel Knight: Treasure Trove on the Switch comes with. The Switch version includes the following:
- Shovel Knight: Shovel of Hope
- Shovel Knight: Plague of Shadows
- Shovel Knight: Specter of Torment
- Co-op mode
- Four player battle mode
- Amiibo support
There is a lot of game here and the co-op mode really interests me. Since the Switch has two controllers built in, getting a co-op game going seems like a perfect use of the system in tabletop mode, or even on the TV.
Now on to my first impressions...
My only exposure to Shovel Knight has been on my 3DS. I have enjoyed it a lot on that platform, so when I had a chance to give it a try on the Switch, I was game. This game really pops on the Switch. Shovel Knight on the Switch's screen is gorgeous. I went back and compared it to my 3DS version, and found that my 3DS gave me a headache (both in 3D and 2D mode). This has nothing to do with Shovel Knight, but rather the difference in the platforms. The Switch's display is night and day better than the 3DS, and Shovel Knight shines on it.
The controls are solid on the Switch. You can use the thumb stick or the "D-pad" (actually D-buttons) to move Shovel Knight. Given that I prefer to play 2D platformers with a D-pad, this is the method of control that I decided to use. Playing with the D-buttons is taking some time to get the hang of, but I feel I will get there. Again, this is not a Shovel Knight problem, but rather a Switch design choice.
Next up, I docked the Switch and played Shovel Knight with the Switch Pro Controller on my 47" TV. It looks just as great on the TV as it does on the Switch screen. Moving back to a traditional d-pad was also a bonus (at least until I get used to the D-buttons on the joy-con). The game seemed to preform perfectly on the big screen. I am not sure if there is any resolution change here, but if there is, it did not seem to impact performance.
If I already had Treasure Trove, or all three of the versions of Shovel Knight mentioned above, I would probably have skipped this version, unless I was a die hard Shovel Knight fan, then this is probably a must have for the Switch. Given that I only have Shovel Knight: Shovel of Hope on the 3DS, this is a great value and I would have picked it up.
Overall, I think this will be my go to version of Shovel Knight over my 3DS version. The screen just makes the difference to me.
You can find Shovel Knight: Treasure Trove on the Switch eShop for $24.99.
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I love that this game keeps getting updated and ported to new platforms. I only have it for the PC, so I envy some of these platform-specific extras! Stellar game, and it seems like a perfect fit for the Switch.
I agree, Shovel Knight was made for Nintendo systems.
I kind of want the amiibo. :)
I forgot how brutal this game is.