Black Knight Sword

 PlayStation 3
Black Knight Sword Image
Metascore
66

Mixed or average reviews - based on 26 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
6.2

Mixed or average reviews- based on 16 Ratings

Your Score
0 out of 10
Rate this:
  • 10
  • 9
  • 8
  • 7
  • 6
  • 5
  • 4
  • 3
  • 2
  • 1
  • 0
  • 0
  • Summary: Black Knight Sword 2D is a side-scrolling platformer from Suda-51's development house Grasshopper Manufacture.

Trailer

Play Sound
Please enter your birth date to watch this video:
You are not allowed to view this material at this time.
Black Knight Sword - Teaser Trailer

Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 6 out of 26
  2. Mixed: 20 out of 26
  3. Negative: 0 out of 26
  1. Gamer Limit
    Dec 24, 2012
    85
    While the journey may be fraught with peril, one cannot help but marvel at how solid the Black Knight Sword feels overall. The gameplay and the dark fantasy themes complement each other very well. The black knight will travel through burning villages to a desert mutated by missile testing, to a monstrous carnival, to a deprived wonderland and will never miss a beat.
  2. Cheat Code Central
    Dec 13, 2012
    80
    A few minor control issues aside, the gameplay is incredibly tight. It's not the most challenging platformer you'll ever play, but if you have any sense of curiosity, you'll want to keep playing just the see what the creative people at Grasshopper Manufacture and Digital Reality have come up with next.
  3. GameSpot
    Dec 20, 2012
    70
    A brutal platformer with old-school sensibilities that challenge your patience and capacity for the macabre.
  4. COGconnected
    Dec 18, 2012
    65
    Shortcomings aside the unique visual experience that Black Knight Sword offers up is well worth a few hours of your time. At a price tag of $9.99 you certainly can't go wrong; however, just do not expect an experience you will come back to after you have put the game through its paces.
  5. Gameblog.fr
    Jan 17, 2013
    60
    Black Knight Sword world is unique, aesthetically, and that's an accomplishment in itself. Unfortunately, the gameplay isn't as mesmerizing as the visuals ; it's but a poor restitution of old mechanics from 8 and 16bit platformers, without the level design genius of those times.
  6. GamesBeat
    Dec 17, 2012
    60
    It's a good-looking game with a unique style that screams Goichi Suda's name, but the gameplay is rarely rewarding. So much is working against you that you feel like the only reason you're making any progress at all is because of pure luck rather than skill.
  7. Joystiq
    Dec 14, 2012
    50
    Had the actual gameplay been less clunky, more well balanced, more challenging and less aggressively abusive, Black Knight Sword's sense of style and unique presentation would have been healthy bonuses on top of an already stable foundation. As is stands though, the game's artistic atmosphere and sense of self are all it has going for it, and sadly that's not quite enough.

See all 26 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

Write a Review
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 1 out of 2
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 2
  3. Negative: 0 out of 2
  1. williamflipper
    Jan 23, 2013
    8
    For some reason I love this game, it have some problems on the game design side of things but whatever i like 2d scrolling game with greatFor some reason I love this game, it have some problems on the game design side of things but whatever i like 2d scrolling game with great art style and nice combat system.... its a weird game, you love it or not.… Expand
  2. monosyllabical
    Dec 16, 2012
    7
    Being a big fan of Suda51, CEO of Grasshopper Manufacture, the mind behind such games as No More Heroes and Lollipop Chainsaw, I've beenBeing a big fan of Suda51, CEO of Grasshopper Manufacture, the mind behind such games as No More Heroes and Lollipop Chainsaw, I've been looking forward to Black Knight Sword since seeing some small write-ups and a few screenshots a while ago. As a fan, it doesn't disappoint. The stylistic presentation is a wonder, the highlight being the multi-layered, diorama-style field of play that shifts in real-time to new areas and vistas as you progress. The screen is framed by a theatre curtain, which serves to transition between different areas and levels, but more importantly emphasizes the fairytale-like story. It's inobtrusive, and a nice touch, but it would have been nice to have the option to remove it. The Black Knight himself, as well as the enemies he encounters, are all done in a hand-drawn, paper puppet style. The animation can appear jarring at first, but the disjointed nature of movement actually ties nicely into the overall aesthetic. Music is another highlight as every scene is haunted by a subtle, entrancing melody. It's not the type of music for casual listening, but it definitely enhances the bizarre play that is Black Knight Sword. Some sound effects, however, are too obnoxious or piercing to be enjoyed in anyway whatsoever. Another failure of the game, the big letdown, as is with most Suda51 games, is the gameplay. Everything functions well, there's a fair variety to the knight's moveset, the levels have enough secrets to warrant exploring, but none of it is truly compelling. There's no sense of an ultimate goal for much of the game, and the confusing layout of branching levels certainly doesn't help your progress. There's some challenging platform segments, and the combat can be fun, but it always feels just as disjointed as the world itself. However, the story (which needs to be experienced more than explained), presentation, art-style, bizarre humor, music, and the few bright spots in gameplay, all warrant a try for this under-the-radar game. Suda fans rejoice! Everyone else, you've been warned.… Expand

Trailers