Shank is a side-scrolling hack-and-slash game built on the promise of a comeback for a genre that had largely faded away. Developed by Klei Entertainment and published by Electronic Arts in 2010, it puts players in the role of Shank, an ex-mob hitman seeking revenge after his girlfriend Eva is murdered. The game was re-released as part of the Humble Indie Bundle 4 in December 2011.
The premise is simple. Shank fights his way through waves of enemies, bosses, and combos, wielding knives, a chainsaw, pistols, machine guns, and grenades. The art style leans heavily on comic book stylization, and the game’s plot was written by Marianne Krawczyk, who worked on the God of War series.
Trailer, via watchTechNews.
The Setup
Shank controls like a classic beat-’em-up, but with a twist. Attacks are assigned to controller buttons, and combining them creates combos. Fallen enemies drop temporary weapons that can be used for a limited time. The player can also grapple, throw enemies, and pounce on them from mid-air. Acrobatics include swinging from lampposts and running along billboards.
Enemies display health bars on the screen, a nod to the genre’s roots in titles like Final Fight. The multiplayer mode, which serves as a prequel to the main story, lets two players control Shank and his partner Falcone. They work together to defeat bosses and complete objectives.
The Revenge Story
The single-player campaign follows Shank’s quest for vengeance against the mob that killed Eva. The voice cast includes Marcel Davis as Shank and Becky Poole as Eva. The story is told in two parts: the main campaign and the cooperative mode, which covers the events leading up to the main story.
What Works
The visual style is the game’s strongest asset. The comic book art direction carries through both the gameplay and the cutscenes, giving Shank a distinct identity that stands apart from other action titles of the time. Critics praised this look across the board.
The combat system is fluid and responsive, and the combo system rewards players who learn the timing. The temporary weapons add variety to encounters, and the acrobatic moves give Shank a sense of movement that feels alive.
Where It Falls Short
The level design is uneven, and some critics noted that the gameplay can feel repetitive. Boss fights are frequent, but not always memorable. The game’s difficulty spikes occasionally, and the lack of a save point system means progress can feel fragile.
The Numbers
- Developer: Klei Entertainment
- Publisher: Electronic Arts
- Platforms: PlayStation 3, Linux, PC (Windows), Mac, Xbox 360
- Release year: 2010
- Re-released in December 2011 as part of Humble Indie Bundle 4
- Sequel: Shank 2 released in 2012
Commercial Performance
Shank sold tens of thousands of copies and remained in the top 20 Xbox Live Arcade games during September 2010. That performance suggests the game found an audience beyond its critical reception.
The Verdict
Shank is a competent revival of a beloved genre, but it falls short of greatness. Its art style is striking, its combat is satisfying, and its story has weight. But the uneven level design and repetitive pacing keep it from reaching the heights of its inspirations.
The game remains a solid entry in the Klei catalog and a notable moment in the history of the genre. For fans of beat-’em-ups, it offers a nostalgic thrill with fresh twists. For newcomers, it is a good but flawed introduction to a style that demands patience.
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