If I could spend every day playing new 3D platformers, I probably would. I’d be a happier person too, surrounded by colourful worlds and with pockets lined with shiny collectibles. Fortunately we get rather a lot of wonderful new 3d platformers nowadays, from megahits like Astro Bot to lovely surprises like The Smurfs: Dreams. After getting to play the Steam Next Fest demo I’ve got a sneaking suspicion that The Knightling is also going to be something special, and I truly wish I could keep playing it.
The fantasy kingdom of Clesseia is currently in crisis, as the heroic knight Sir Lionstone who defends it is nowhere to be seen. Despite having a missing hero though, the people of the kingdom are still unwilling to have our protagonist the Knightling help out. With the assistance of Sir Lionstone’s talking shield Magnustego, our unlikely hero is eager to prove his worth and save the day – but it won’t be easy.
The demo of The Knightling takes place entirely in the outskirts of town, at what appears to be very close to the beginning of the game. Being restricted to one area doesn’t mean there’s a lack of content though, as the outskirts are a rather sprawling place. A rather sprawling place full of collectibles to find, quests to take on, and most importantly: slopes to slide up and down.
Getting around in The Knightling is absolutely the highlight of the game, which you’ll likely realise the moment you pick up a controller. Moving, jumping, and double jumping all feels great, but much more importantly than this is the shield sliding. Riding down a hill on your master’s defensive gear of choice is an absolute joy, with the curvature of the environment ensuring you’re able to tear through the fields and along the aqueducts at breakneck speed. Even when on flat ground or going uphill, the small boost you get when you start riding your shield makes this novel mode of transportation a blast.
Despite generally being a tool for blocking attacks, your shield is also a powerful weapon in its own right (which is fortunate as it’s all you’ve got). A fairly standard multi-hit combo can be unleashed on basic enemies for great effect, but for bigger foes you might need to use your special attack meter to unleash a powerful slam. If you’d rather steer clear of danger you can even throw your shield, which is also helpful for hitting switches and the like.
In my hour or so with The Knightling I was only really able to access a few extra abilities, but could also see the skill trees that would unlock more. Whether you want new combat options like a powerful counterattack after successfully blocking or the ability to add some boost to your shield sliding, there looks to be some exciting ways to spend your shiny orbs and materials to improve the underdog protagonist.
You can find all the necessary bits and bobs needed to power up The Knightling just by exploring the world, but you’ll get even more by helping the people of Clesseia. The quests even in the demo of this platforming delight are impressively varied. I started off by helping a farmer track down the beast that was disturbing the cattle, which involved searching barns for clues and setting a trap for the culprit. Then I found myself in charge of trying to fix the waterways of the city, and that led to some sewer platforming complete with timed platforms and arrow traps. It’s hard to get bored when you’re constantly doing something new, so hopefully this continues when the game releases In full.
The Knightling has quickly snuck onto my personal most anticipated list after playing through the demo, thanks to its sensational locomotion, and varied missions. If you’re a fan of mascot platformers of old then this is one Steam Next Fest demo you won’t want to miss, I just hope we don’t have to wait too much longer to rescue Sir Lionstone in the full game.
The Knightling is coming to PC via Steam. A demo is available now.
