In 2006, Arkane Studios let free a quiet FPS miracle with Darkish Messiah of Would possibly and Magic: a fantasy melee FPS with a quick kick transfer that did not do a lot injury, however would immediately ragdollize virtually any enemy (opens in new tab) on this early Supply engine sport. Ample physics hazards and precarious drops mixed to make Darkish Messiah an absolute slapstick hoedown.
Darkish Messiah’s kick was so breathtakingly, life-changingly satisfying it was by no means seen once more till 2021’s Deathloop. Now developer Alexy “cptnsigh” is constructing a hybrid character motion sport/FPS constructed round that very same good assault, with a recently-released demo for Shady Knight (opens in new tab) proving an absolute blast.
I do not know what makes the titular Shady Knight so shady, however this man is definitely trendy. Shady Knight presents you with a collection of platforming/fight arenas with escalating issue and complexity, difficult you to resolve them primarily together with your trusty boot and a very nasty grappling hook.
These summary, sparse buildings floating out in ocean voids really feel very Neon White (opens in new tab), whereas a personality motion type meter in an FPS jogs my memory of New blood’s Ultrakill (opens in new tab), however Shady Knight feels much more methodical than both of these video games. Along with the boot and grapple, which you at all times have entry to, Shady Knight’s ranges are filled with one-off weapons to make use of and abuse, possibly capping off a killer combo string with a thrown dagger to the face.
Issues begin to get a bit extra sophisticated because the demo goes on, with the addition of extra combo-resistant enemies and assorted stage circumstances to maintain you in your toes. It does assist that there is no Halo Infinite-style gradual cooldown on the grappling hook—I used to be hooting and hollering as I completely punished enemies with the factor in Shady Knight’s free demo. Shady Knight has that character motion richness, virtually begging you to take your time and grasp the sport, however it is usually instantly gratifying to simply hop in and begin kicking guys off ledges.
Shady Knight is at present listed as “Coming Quickly” on Steam (opens in new tab), however you’ll be able to try the free demo your self and wishlist it now. Doofy enemies and precarious drops await you in a definite, putting fantasy world.