As the title of this game would suggest, it’s definitely not a game for those that believe violence in video games has gone too far. If you’re of that persuasion then you should stop right here. However, if you enjoy a little violence in your video games and can appreciate their use as a game mechanic then please, keep reading as I review a fun game that’s a whole lot more about kniving somebody.
Description: Knife That Guy is definitely what you can describe as an Arcade game. There’s 8-bit stylings and a fun, fast and challenging pace of gameplay on offer as well. All of this and the unusual premise of the game presents us with a tongue-in-cheek approach to video game violence. How often do we come across such a game that uses a knife instead of a gun? In a nutshell, you have to knife one person on the game board at one time, and only “that guy”, which means you can’t go on a killing spree and it gets more crowded and your victims harder to catch.
How it Works: To get started playing Knife That Guy, you’ll have to go and download from the Play Store. After that you have a few choices:
It’s a good idea to see about how to play, the game takes you through the controls pretty well:
The controls are easy enough, all you need to remember is that you don’t need to knife anyone else but the guy with the arrow. Otherwise, you will lose health – which also depletes as time goes on. Knowing your enemy is key as well, and the game will give you hints on what to look for as well:
When playing, you’ll note that the controls take a little getting used to but, once you’re up to speed with them, it becomes quite intuitive:
To break things up a little bit, there are some power-ups that can help you interact with the game a little better and deal more damage. Sometimes, you need to get around a little quicker, so you can use the dash for this. By touching anywhere on the gameboard you can save a lot of time by just dashing on over to that particular spot.
As well as this, there is the flurry of knives power-up, that will allow you to throw knives all around your person in a 360 degree manner that can be effective at dealing with enemies:
As well as this there is the rage power-up:
The red circle around your feet is a sort of compass that will guide you to your next victim, it might seem easy but it quickly gets quite hard because things speed up a lot. In the top left of the display is your health, this depletes as time goes on, and if you attack an incorrect victim. Finding the right victim however, will replenish it. There are a couple more power-ups as well as those above but, you’ll have to play the game to find out what they’re like. If you lose all your health, you commit suicide.
When you die, you’re given your score and your stats:
Seeing “New best!” each time you play is a pretty big motivator, as is being able to put your name up on the High Score board, just like you did back in the Arcades:
Opinion: Knife That Guy is a whole lot of fun. As in, the gameplay is so good that you don’t really need to pay attention to anything else – though you should. The controls take a little bit of getting used to but, they’re not difficult to master and once you have figure them out, well, it’s incredibly addictive. I had a lot of fun with the other guys you had to knife, such as the angry drunk guy and the mani music guy. The difference between these victims is great, and it really does help to add a dynamic to the game that keeps it fresh and, most importantly, makes sure that you’re faced with a challenge every time.
Ratings
- Speed (4/5) – The action starts off at a steady pace and quickly gets faster and more difficult. Depending on how good you are, you’ll feel like you’re holding on for dear life when the game gets really quick.
- Features (5/5) – At first brush, Knife That Guy feels like a retro-themed game with boring game mechanics…and then you play it. From then on the gameplay will keep you playing for hours, the varied enemies, the brilliant controls, you’ll struggle to keep away.
- Theme (5/5) – As somebody who grew up with Super Nintendo games, seeing pixels like this is nice and it really helps create an Indie-feel that brings authenticity with it.
- Overall (5/5) – Mobile games have come on leaps and bounds in the last two years, but if you’re looking to get away from the 3D games, awkward controls and more then load up Knife That Guy and become addicted.
Pros
- Brilliant gameplay that is easy to grasp but difficult to master.
- Varied enemies and innocents to avoid make for a challenging game that will keep you on your toes.
- Addictive gameplay feels like one of the games down at the arcade that you lost hundred of bucks in.
- While violence is present, it’s held back somewhat and is something you won’t need to write to your Congressman about.
Cons
- Difficult might be too much of a “spike” for some players, and not gradual enough.
- Different weapons would be a lot of fun.
Conclusion: During my time with Knife That Guy I had a lot of fun and as someone who usually spend his time playing PC Games, it was nice to come across a mobile title that was mature, accessible and truly challenging. While the difficult has a tendency to skyrocket after the first few levels, it’s a challenge and that’s what’s important. If you’re fed up of all the 3D games out there that try too hard, and come with awkward controls then you need to download this game right now.