Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * * *

Shovel Knight is a side scrolling action adventure platform game available for download from the PlayStation Store for the PS4, PS3 and PS Vita. It has been a long journey for Shovel Knight from March 15th 2013 when the game hit Kickstarter looking for crowd funding. This was so successful in how it was received by audiences that it did not just fund the game, but also all of the accompanying stretch goals for more platforms and features to be supported as the initial figure of $75,000 was by far surpassed with a funding total of $311,502 from a total of 14,749 backers. This level of crowd funding success certainly speaks volumes about just how much of a place there still is for retro experiences in the videogame industry considering that the games entire premise revolves around being an 8 bit throwback to a classic generation of games, but is Shovel Knight as classic and authentic as the games of yesteryear from the 8 bit generation?