Knack Tips and Tricks Guide

“Knack” is a rather charming platformer which is delightful in its story, visuals and its rather straightforward gameplay.  Visually speaking, the game is enchanting – pulling you inside its colorful environments and coaxing you with its detail and level design.  At first glance most people assume it’s a rather simplistic children’s title that can be easily surmounted in an afternoon by a rank amateur gamer.  Needles to say, that’s not the case at all.  Some people appear to be experiencing problems with the game’s overall level of difficulty, and this might even include some rather experienced gamers.  Not to worry though, we’ve got you covered.  If you own “Knack” for the PS4 and need a bit of help, consider the following helpful tips and tricks…

Don’t be afraid to use your special attacks

Like most gamers, you’ve probably been trained to avoid expending your special attacks out of fear that you’ll miss them when facing more powerful enemies.  Where’s the fun in that though?!  A lot of players will find the game much easier to topple if they simple go with the flow and lash out at enemies at full force when placed in a tough spot or position.  Remember, you are Knack and possess a host of powers which you can use to punish them with.  Moreover, you should also adopt a basic strategy when inflicting damage on opponents, particularly when they’re in groups.  Line them up and hit ‘em hard.

Sunstones are your friends

It should go without saying that any type of power-up in any game is worth collecting.  For those of us who are used to dredging through expansive RPG’s, the notion of picking up items is pretty much a given (or a compulsion, depending on how you look at it).  Anyway, every single time you come across a sunstone, immediately smash it to bits so that the energy can be absorbed.  It’s just the most sensible thing to do.  At the same time, conservation of energy is also very important and might even mean the difference between having enough strength to face a boss or having to scramble back to a checkpoint.

Suspicious walls and hidden treasures

Given the fact that this game is chock-full of hidden goodies, it’s only logical that you assume that suspicious-looking walls might be hiding something special for you.  Of course when you find crystals or gadgets they increase your abilities and / or strength, which will help you to smash through the game much easier.  Seriously, if you want to have a great time with this game, you’re going to need to get a little bit creative.  Approaching this title with sole view that it is simply a brawler isn’t going to make things easy on you (or Knack).  Some goodies are easier to find than others, but there are usually hints that indicate that treasure might be nearby, so keep your eyes open at all times.  For instance, if you spot a crack in a wall – try basing it.

Spin-Dashing

No doubt you’ve played a few games before that allow your character to perform mid-air dashes, right?  Well, in Knack you have a handy little spin / attack move that you can exploit to topple some enemies rather easily.  All you need to do is jump, press the attack button and spin in their direction.  If all goes well you’ll teach them a thing or two.  Additionally, once you really get the timing down, you can often breeze through certain sections like a pro.  For those that find themselves getting stuck on a particular section or checkpoint, the ability to pull off some spin-dashing is going to be a blessing.

Dodging

Just as important as attacking is dodging, which might allow you to avoid damage while simultaneously allowing your opponents to expose themselves for counterattack.  Performing dodges is done with the right analog stick, so become intimately familiar with it as you progress throughout the game.  Seriously, the better player will be able to avoid most damage by simply rolling out of the way.  For all intents and purposes it’s a vital skill to mater within the game and will certainly save you some major headaches and prevent you from having to restart at checkpoints.

Patience

As is the case with most tricky platformers, patience is going to be your ultimate virtue.  Where frustration and anger might help you when you’re playing a first-person shooter in a room with 20 or more other players, getting angry isn’t going to help you achieve anything when tacking a single player campaign like Knack’s.  So, remember that it’s just a game and it’s meant to be fun.   Often times its how we approach a title that ultimately defines our experience.  If you think the game is simply too hard, consider looking at it in a completely different light and/or perhaps even starting over with a fresh, clean slate.  One of the biggest mistakes a gamer can make is in trying to impose a certain set of expectations on a new title (or console) without giving themselves the opportunity to see it for what it truly is.  Furthermore, take your time and savor the experience.  Sometimes it’s our attention to detail that allows us to surmount difficult objectives as opposed to trying to move too quickly through a game.

Since Knack has received some harsh words from critics, it’s safe to assume that some people might find the game to be lacking in one or more respects.  The truth however is that the game is only as good as you make it.  If you bought this game expecting it to be the “greatest thing since sliced bread”, well, of course you’re going to be disappointed.  Rather than focusing on its sore spots, try to look at its more attractive characteristics.  Lastly, try to have some fun with your new PS4!