Review: Bucket Knight (PlayStation 4)

by Jim Smale · Published February 28, 2020 · Updated April 2, 2020

Even knights still have to pay taxes, loans, and alimony. Help the brave knight in his sacred mission to find the Holy Grail (and then sell it). Explore dungeons, slay enemies, avoid traps, stay alive and get rich.

Pros:

Retro graphics.
344.2mb download size.
Platinum trophy.
Cross-buy with Vita.
Stackable Platinum trophies.
CRT filter.
Platformer gameplay.
Actions-jump, double jump, and shoot.
Coins-drop from enemies and crates, use them to buy new games.
Instant restart button.
Chiptune soundtrack.
End of level breakdown.
Difficult in places.
Fun to play.
Easy trophy list.
Level variety like pacifism, platforming or shooting.

Cons:

Difficulty spikes.
No checkpoints.
Coins don’t save upon death.
Can get lost.
Got stuck on the scenery a fair few times.
Repetitive.
No replay value.
Easy to accidentally hit the level restart button.

7/10

Graphics - 7/10
7/10

Sound - 7/10
7/10

Accessibility - 7/10
6/10

Length - 6/10
7/10

Fun Factor - 7/10

6.8/10

Summary

Bucket Knight is a game that tries to emulate the nostalgia of games past. It nails it for the CRT filter elevates the graphics and you can’t really go wrong with Chiptune soundtracks. The gameplay is simple and to be honest doesn’t try to mix it up or even nail the controls. Constantly getting stuck on scenery especially ledges, enemies being waaaaay too good at shooting and how the whole one life or restart mechanic drags it on. I must admit it had me at first and I thought I was gonna really dig it but constant scenery clashes and same level designs made me go off it quicker than I enjoyed it. Do it for the trophies otherwise you can live not playing it.