Entertainment

Games: Knack 2 is Sony's Nevermind, the Terminator 2 of PS4 exclusives

What's the crack, Knack? Knack 2 might well =win the award for most improved franchise in the history of gaming
What's the crack, Knack? Knack 2 might well =win the award for most improved franchise in the history of gaming What's the crack, Knack? Knack 2 might well =win the award for most improved franchise in the history of gaming

Knack 2 (PS4)

By: Sony

IF CRITICS are to be believed, the original Knack was, well, cack, failing to showcase Sony’s new hardware in the way Mario did for Nintendo. In truth, it was a decent brew of brawling and platforming that, while hardly knacktacular, certainly wasn’t as knacker's yard-worthy as some made out.

Rather than draw a shroud over their folly and pretend it never happened, Sony have only gone and created a sequel. Better still, it’s likely to win the award for most improved franchise in the history of gaming.

Released as a PS4 launch title back in 2013, the original’s mix of hectic combat and size-shifting platforming had players assuming the role of Knack, a walking hunk of magical detritus who could increase or decrease his size to whallop enemies Godzilla-style or squeeze through air vents.

But its cruel learning curve, linear action and lack of personality made it all rather “meh”.

Kicking off after the events of the original, Knack 2 doubles down on what worked, with refined gameplay and combat making for a smoother ride. Over 15 chapters, players will learn and upgrade over 20 different moves via a branching skill tree, while the combat ditches button-mashing for a strategic ballet of dodging, blocking and special moves.

Knack can now flip between his minimum and current maximum sizes at will while drop-in, drop-out co-op multiplayer is always welcome. Better still, it looks amazing, especially on PS4 Pro, backed up by a lush Goonies-esque score.

Joining a hallowed list of follow-ups that wildly improved on the original, Knack 2 is Sony Studios’ Nevermind, the Wrath of Khan of platformers, the Terminator 2 of PS4 exclusives. A breezy, nostalgic nod to late 90s gaming, it’s a truly Lazarus-like return, if Lazarus was a giant made of magic (my memory's fuzzy but I'm pretty sure he was). The sequel no-one asked for is one of the biggest surprises of the year.

Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm Legacy (PS4)

By: Bandai Namco

FOR 15 years Naruto reigned supreme in the manga world, with countless spin-offs parting our Japanese cousins and the Forbidden Planet set with their cash. The games first drew breath on the Gamecube back in 2003, when young Naruto Uzumaki kicked seven shades of Shinto out of challengers to become the greatest in a world of magic ninjas.

The curtain finally closed on the series last year with Ninja Storm 4, and now Bandai Namco has shoved the entire series into a single collection.

The hyperactive, uncomplicated brawling features flashy yet simple fighting mechanics and a growing roster of plate-eyed, spiky-haired characters that, by the fourth, entered triple digits. Legacy brings the first three games to current gen consoles for the first time with all of their DLC plus added spit and polish, but there’s no denying how creaky the earlier titles look compared the mighty Ninja Storm 4.

Arguably, Ultimate Ninja Storm 3 is when the series hit its stride, with more characters and interactive arenas, though don’t expect Tekken levels of depth – brawling is basic, but with awesome special moves and incredible boss battles.

As Japanese as a noodle, Legacy is one for completists, and the perfect time for the curious to dip their toe into this seminal ninja Battle Royale.