Knack 2 Reviews
Improvements abound, but Knack's adventures still suffer from a lack of charm.
On a technical level this is clearly a better game than its infamous predecessor, but it's still nowhere near as fun as it should be thanks to its bland design and characters.
Knack II calls back to the action platformers of Sony's early days, and though it doesn't do anything remarkable or new, it's a simple and enjoyable escape.
Leaving its predecessors legacy far behind, Knack has seriously grown up and become the platformer we deserved all along.
Knack 2 is a pleasant surprise that improves upon the majority of its predecessor's faults. It still lacks in genuine creativity and new ideas, but Japan Studio has crafted a confident platformer that acts as a whimsical spark in the PS4's exclusive catalogue.
If you're looking for a great platformer to play on your own or with friends, this is the one for you. It's fun and it looks gorgeous, filled with combat that provides lots of options to defeat the goblins and the robots.
Knack 2 is the "next chapter" that everyone was waiting for, just to give the right value to the IP that Mark Cerny originally imagined. Knack 2 offers an adventurous and complete story that shines if played in coop mode.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Knack 2 is an improvement on the first game in every way possible. Mark Cerny and his team have proven that they can take criticism, iterate on it, and then give players even more for their money than was expected.
Knack 2 isn't perfect but it represents a giant improvement when compared with the first entry in the series. The flexibility of the combat system and certain gameplay elements reminded us of the golden age of platformers on PS2, and that is definitely a good starting point to redeem the franchise.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
Knack 2 has surprised us and entertained us for a considerable number of hours. It is a very solid platform game, with well-designed levels and a combat system. But its history and characters are not very interesting, and its phases become somewhat repetitive.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
An enjoyable experience and a big improvement over the first with decent content and optional co-op make this a great choice. Some technical issues and a lack of character mar an otherwise great experience.
Review in Arabic | Read full review
Knack II didn't really need to happen, but it did. There was nothing new to gain from the experience, the story is boring, but the game has a few fun moments here and there.
Knack II fixes many of the problems of its predecessor, delivering a fun action-platformer worthy of giving this series a second chance. The story is still a bit bare-boned, but the gameplay alone will be enough to keep you going until you see the end credits.
Knack 2 silences naysayers with innovative puzzle-platforming, even if its combat can't keep up.
Knack II has the bones of a good platformer and a hint of charm but it just doesn't execute. I'm not sure what the Knack series attempted to accomplish, but after a sequel, it stands as one of the most missable franchises Sony has ever crafted. Maybe one day Sony can combine both of these together on the PS5 as a free PS Plus item and call it the "Knack Pack." That one's free.
For all intents and purposes, Mark Cerny's sequel is one of the most 'gamey' video games I've played in recent memory and stands as a reminder of what I still consider to be the Golden Years of this industry. You bought a disc, you popped it in, you pressed 'Power' and damn it, you had fun.
Words I didn't expect to type in 2017: I really like the new Knack. So much for the running joke that this PlayStation 4 exclusive is a sequel that no one wanted. Good thing we got it.
Knack 2 doesn't have exactly the same problems as Knack, it's just moved things into different places and ended up mostly the same. Which is at least emblematic of Knack himself, I suppose.
There are plenty of better games to spend your time and money on right now. If you absolutely, specifically need an inoffensive couch co-op brawler right now, try it.
While the original game was more of a showcase of what the PS4 was capable of, Knack 2 is a more thoughtful, well-rounded experience.