Shovel Knight: Specter of Torment

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Critics Recommend

Average Score

Total Reviews: 22

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Critics Recommend

Critic Reviews: 22

Critics Consensus

# Reviews: 22

A summary of the critical opinion for this game will be provided after release or a minimum of 15 reviews have been aggregated.

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Awards & Recognition

Critic Reviews for Shovel Knight: Specter of Torment

Reviews

High Score - 95/100

Low Score - 70/100

Gold TIER

48% of scored reviews fell within the range of 86 to 92 / 100

Mike Williams (USgamer)

4/5 stars

“Spectre of Torment stands up well next to the previous Shovel Knight and Plague of Shadows campaigns. It’s a bit on the short side and the bosses are a bit easier, but Yacht Club Games has kicked out some excellent new stages this time around. This prequel still offers precise platforming and a unique, more aggressive style of play to the series.”

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Edmond Tran (Gamespot)

8/10

“Specter of Torment is a focused and satisfyingly challenging 2D platformer which retains Shovel Knight’s strong aesthetic and sense of charm.”

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Christian Vaz (Wccftech)

9/10

“What Yacht Club Games managed to achieve with Shovel Knight was extremely impressive, and they’ve continued their streak with Spectre of Torment. This latest expansion has overshadowed Shovel of Hope as being the best Shovel Knight game. Spectre of Torment demonstrations that with time, Yacht Club Games can create an expansion that outclasses Plague of Shadows with ease. Featuring a remixed soundtrack, a new look to each level and the coolest character in the Shovel Knight series, Spectre of Torment is better than I could’ve ever imagined. Considering what is available on the Switch right now, there is absolutely no reason for you not to own this game.”

Read full review

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Read the Reviews (22 total)

Outlet	Author	Score	Date	Quote	Read
CGMagazine	Andrew Ko	9 / 10	03-14-2017	If Shovel Knight is Mega Man X, then Specter Knight is Zero; his expertly-crafted new campaign is a perfect complement to one of the best 2D platformers ever made.	Read review
Cubed3	Thom Compton	9 / 10	04-17-2017	Shovel Knight: Specter of Torment is exceptional. It's always incredible to see what new ways Yacht Club Games is able to reimagine the same universe, and without fail, it does it in a way that makes the experience feel completely fresh. While the setting may be similar, Specter of Torment is so completely unlike the previous two games, both in setting and gameplay. Everything about it is absolutely addictive and impossible to put down, making it a perfect launch title for the Nintendo Switch.	Read review
Destructoid	Chris Carter	9.5 / 10	03-02-2017	Shovel Knight: Specter of Torment is worth picking up on its own, but you should really just get the total package and play through all three campaigns. They each offer something unique like a Vegas buffet, and coincidentally enough the new price point of the Treasure Trove edition matches up.	Read review
Digital Chumps	Steven McGehee	9 / 10	03-01-2017	Ultimately, there is very little bad to say about SoT. It's an excellent 2D action platformer with some good RPG elements, and its balanced difficulty lets genre hacks like me struggle through while more seasoned players can still expect a good, but not overly difficult challenge.	Read review
Game Revolution	Griffin Vacheron	4 / 5 stars	03-08-2017	For my tastes, Specter himself features the least compelling of the three games’ platforming styles, but it’s not due to a mechanical or half-baked implementation: I just love the original Shovel Knight. As a timed Switch exclusive on a console with what is currently a modest number of games, there’s little reason not to play Specter of Torment unless you’re revisiting Shovel Knight proper via Treasure Trove first (which includes them all). My recommendation? Go for that. These games are worth it.	Read review
GameSpew	Richard Seagrave	9 / 10	03-10-2017	Put simply, Specter of Torment is absolutely brilliant. It’s a slice of classic platforming action that puts a smile on your face from beginning to end.	Read review
GameSpot	Edmond Tran	8 / 10	03-16-2017	Specter of Torment is a focused and satisfyingly challenging 2D platformer which retains Shovel Knight's strong aesthetic and sense of charm.	Read review
GameXplain	GameXplain	Recommended	03-11-2017	Video Review	Read review
GamingTrend	Kyle Movius	85 / 100	03-09-2017	Specter of Torment puts cool new twists on Shovel Knight's action platformer gameplay and has a fascinating story to boot. It's challenging but very fair, and I thoroughly enjoyed the entire game. Those who already have Shovel Knight should look forward to this excellent free expansion, and those who don't have the base game needn't think twice about spending $9.99 for this masterfully crafted experience.	Read review
God is a Geek	Nick Gillham	8 / 10	03-12-2017	More of what Shovel Knight fans love, and a superb entry point for people new to the series, Spectre of Torment is a great take on modernised nostalgia.	Read review
Hobby Consolas	Elisabeth López	89 / 100	03-17-2017	Shovel Knight: Specter of Torment is an expansion to live up to the original game that will allow to enjoy the essence of Shovel Knight in a different and challenging way. If you have played Shovel Knight and you have Nintendo Switch, you can´t miss this great additional content.	Read review
IGN Spain	David Soriano	8.7 / 10	03-15-2017	Specter of Torment is an outstanding prequel, independent game and expansion (all in one) despite recycling lots of assets from the original.	Read review
Nintendo Life	Steve Bowling	9 / 10	03-04-2017	Specter of Torment is the latest in a fantastic series of games; it further cements Yacht Club Games's reputation as a developer capable of crafting experiences that are not only on par with, but often surpass the efforts of some of the largest studios in the world.The game's excellent level design, charming art style and top-notch soundtrack hold up as well in 2017 as they did three years ago in the original Shovel Knight. If you haven't played a Shovel Knight game before, we would highly recommend you pick up Shovel Knight: Treasure Trove for your Switch instead of this, as it contains Specter of Torment as well, but if you'd rather save some cash you can't go wrong with Specter of Torment.	Read review
NintendoWorldReport	Zachary Miller	9 / 10	03-04-2017	That is really my only criticism. You’ll be doing things in Specter of Torment that literally make you say “wow” out loud. It’s a smooth, expertly-crafted platformer filled with heart. Again, it’s a free update to your Wii U and 3DS versions so there’s no reason not to play it. For Switch users, it’s absolutely worth experiencing, as is the rest of the Treasure Trove.	Read review
PS4Blog.net	Tracey	9.5 / 10	03-17-2017	I had a lot of fun with Shovel Knight: Specter of Torment, and I’d rate it as high if not even higher than Shovel Knight: Shovel of Truth. The level design suits the dark feel of this new campaign, and the added gameplay features make the whole experience feel very fresh. As always, Virt’s (Jake Kaufman) soundtrack is top notch and perfectly fits the action. I highly recommend that you play Shovel Knight: Specter of Torment today – for the best value be sure to grab Shovel Knight: Treasure Trove on Nintendo Switch!	Read review
Shacknews	Jason Faulkner	8 / 10	03-10-2017	For those who yearn for the days of platforming yore, Shovel Knight: Specter of Torment is a dream come true.	Read review
Sirus Gaming	David Rix	9.5 / 10	04-06-2017	Overall, Specter of Torment is a fabulous addition to the Shovel Knight title and further proves that Yacht Club Games are masters of their craft. Gameplay is fast and brimming with action, while adding hints of challenge. Specter Knight is an interesting character and a joy to play, while having an interesting story to boot. There's more than enough meat to justify your purchase, and it is a succulent dish indeed to experience.	Read review
Slant Magazine	Jed Pressgrove	3.5 / 5 stars	03-17-2017	Its superior kineticism shows that Shovel Knight was an amateur's first stab toward something a little greater.	Read review
TechRaptor	Alex Santa Maria	9.5 / 10	04-07-2017	Shovel Knight: Specter of Torment is everything you could want in a 2D platformer, featuring mechanics from classic games brought forward in clever ways. Specter improves upon the original Shovel Knight in most regards and continues Yacht Club Games' tradition of excellence effortlessly.	Read review
The Game Fanatics	Tyler Chancey	9 / 10	03-08-2017	If you bought Shovel Knight when it came out and loved every minute of it, Specter of Torment is a fantastic reason to return to this world and its characters. Sharp gameplay, taut worldbuilding, and brimming with personality, this is a trip to the dark side that is worth taking.	Read review
USgamer	Mike Williams	4 / 5 stars	03-23-2017	Spectre of Torment stands up well next to the previous Shovel Knight and Plague of Shadows campaigns. It's a bit on the short side and the bosses are a bit easier, but Yacht Club Games has kicked out some excellent new stages this time around. This prequel still offers precise platforming and a unique, more aggressive style of play to the series.	Read review
Wccftech	Christian Vaz	9 / 10	03-22-2017	What Yacht Club Games managed to achieve with Shovel Knight was extremely impressive, and they’ve continued their streak with Spectre of Torment. This latest expansion has overshadowed Shovel of Hope as being the best Shovel Knight game. Spectre of Torment demonstrations that with time, Yacht Club Games can create an expansion that outclasses Plague of Shadows with ease. Featuring a remixed soundtrack, a new look to each level and the coolest character in the Shovel Knight series, Spectre of Torment is better than I could’ve ever imagined. Considering what is available on the Switch right now, there is absolutely no reason for you not to own this game.	Read review

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Game Info

Game Description / Storyline:

Summon your scythe in the prequel to Shovel Knight! Take control of Specter Knight to dash through completely redesigned levels by climbing walls, mastering a new arsenal of weapons, and slashing your foes to ribbons. Become the reaper, discover your melancholy past, and recruit the Order of No Quarter!

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