Knifeboy Rebooted | Switch Review

Coming from developer Runic Codes like a cryptic piece of pop art is the hand drawn video game "Knifeboy Rebooted". A cryptic conspiracy driven comic book hero style action adventure with light Metroidvania features, and speed running in mind. It is centered around a dude with a knife protruding from his forehead, and a dystopian community under the rule of tyranny. Move over Chainsaw Man cause you've got some competition now!!! ...

This mystery man, and living weapon who has been resurrected into the alien post-dystopian world as it's savior is there to make sense of himself, and the world around him. Through interesting characters of different races, and information gathered from various sources he slowly comes to terms with the fact that he was the one to put an end to the New World Order, and that Anonymous has risen to take their place. That in this sordid recollection every conspiracy theory imaginable is made manifest. From Free Masons to the Illuminati. All throughout the jointed yet disjointed world. A world filled with disheveled makeshift locales named as if they were borne of fringe conspiracy theories themselves. Places like Mountain of D.O.O.M., Twin Peaks, and Pirate Bay just to name a few. It is here that Knifeboy must find eight hidden Golden cogs, return them to Dr. J, and rediscover his lost memories in relation to those who seem to know him more than he does. It is in this discovery that he can then come to terms with the truth, and his role in that truth.

As Knifeboy not much is explained to you out of the grave. Yes, you begin by being dug up out of your own grave with absolutely no sense of direction or tutorial. From there on out it is a journey of discovery made possible by exploring, experimenting, visiting NPC vendors, and conversing with NPC patrons who inhabit the outer town districts in various hubs of interest. Some will give you hints, others will sell hints and wares for coin, and others beyond that will help to unfold the underlying story through contextual conversation. Some even act as a means to learn the mechanics. 

The Mechanics ...

Controlling Knifeboy is a matter of mastering melee combos, Metroidvania travel tricks, and mechanics specifically used for navigating the mazelike infrastructure of the dystopian world before you. You can attack with a flurry of punches and kicks by spamming an attack button, can use your the knife in your head as a powerful weapon using the Overdrive gauge, and learn new abilities like wall jumping, dashing, and double jumping to circumnavigate previously inaccessible areas. Areas of which are inhabited by hostile alien creatures, and fellow Dystopians. All within a transition's reach from inside the main hub area. 

While your main objective is to simply find, and collect the eight golden cogs and return them to Dr. J, you will find some skippable combat situations that double as lucrative opportunities to capitalize on gold coins. It is this currency that can buy you hints, and augments back at the augment shop. A place where mapped out images show you the basic "where to go" directions for finding the missing cogs. A place where gauge refills can be bought alongside other key items that will also aid you in your quest. These extra key items include a map, knife/weapon upgrades, and other useful things.

Navigating the World ... 

Progress, or the lack thereof in Knifeboy Rebooted is determined by how well you manage your resources, how well you're upgraded, and your ability to navigate the world and it's threats in order to find the eight golden cogs. Knifeboy, himself is governed by three primary colored gauges depicted as a series of red pills, a blue chest plate, and a yellow spirally sliced cranium circle within a statuesque humanoid figure. The red pills are your life, and each red pill has two hits before it's fully depleted. The blue chest plate gauge acts as your mechanics/weapon function energy, and the yellow spiral slices as the gauge for an all powerful knife move known as Overdrive. These are limited commodities that can only be refilled back at the main hub area. Something that costs coin every time you partake of those services. You can also buy single use refills that can be used from the augment store vendor if need be. Something that's pulled up from the START menu, and applied when needed. 

In addition to the augment vendor is the vendor that sells hints for a price. Collectively these hints will point you where you need to be to find the missing cogs, and other treasured loot. That, and a few other local NPCs will be your only sense of direction in this otherwise free roaming adventure. Stopping to smell the roses is a choice, as is speed running your way through to the end for bragging rights sake. The developer definitely wants you to stop, and take it all in, but at the same time has built the world so that it is speed run friendly. Something he told me that he did intentionally as he likes speed runs. No matter how you tackle it the end goal is all the same. Collect the eight golden cogs, return them to Dr. J, and complete the game.

The Verdict ...

Had the previously disclosed information not been partially explained to me by the developer I would have been a little less accepting of the design of this game. Knowing what I know though helped me to better appreciate the artistic vision, and the story being told. The fact that it involves conspiracy theories, symbolism, and a cryptic story that could be seen in different ways with different interpretations makes it all the more engaging. I also liked how it utilized Soulsborne style storytelling for world building, and character building. This somewhat fleshed out what was going on, and worked with the intriguing artistry on display. That being said if you rush through this you are going to miss a lot. That's why it's important to take it slow and steady to begin with, and then attempt a speed run if that is your cup of tea. As an experience the enjoyment you get out of Knifeboy Rebooted will depend wholly on whether or not you like guidance in your games or are open to a journey of discovery. That and whether or not you are into fringe conspiracy theories.