Knack II wants to be a big, silly adventure. It mostly gets there, even if the path is rougher than it needed to be.
The PlayStation 4 sequel brings back the small robot hero who grows bigger by swallowing treasure. Players guide him through a war-torn world, gathering gear and fighting giant foes. The premise is simple, and the game leans into that simplicity without apology.
Trailer, via PlayStation.
Growing Bigger
The core loop remains unchanged. Knack swallows items, gains mass, and fights larger enemies. Each stage rewards players for collecting, and the scaling system gives the action a satisfying rhythm. Boss fights often ask players to manage mass carefully, since too much weight can slow Knack down at the wrong moment.
The design of the loop is deliberate. Swallowing items increases Knack’s mass, and that mass determines how much damage he deals and how fast he moves. Players have to balance those two factors throughout every encounter.
A World Worth Saving
The setting is a ravaged Earth, torn apart by a conflict between humans and a mechanical enemy force. Levels move between ruined cities and mountain ranges, and the visual variety helps keep the pace from dragging. The story follows Knack as he tries to stop the destruction, working alongside human allies who add a touch of humor to the grim backdrop.
The human allies carry much of the comic relief. Their dialogue keeps the tone light even as the world around them falls apart.
Combat That Flows
Fights feel tight when the player is prepared. Switching between weapons mid-battle lets Knack handle groups of smaller enemies while saving mass for bigger threats. The controls respond quickly, which matters in boss encounters where timing windows are narrow.
Where the game stumbles is in its pacing. Some stages repeat patterns without giving players new tools or challenges. The middle stretch drags, and the game’s difficulty dips in spots before suddenly rising again during boss fights.
That sudden rise in difficulty can catch players off guard. After an easy stretch, a demanding boss fight arrives with little warning.
Sound and Sight
The art direction carries a lot of the game’s charm. Character models are expressive, and the environments have a hand-drawn quality that suits the story’s tone. The music matches the action well, though it rarely stands out on its own.
The hand-drawn style extends to the settings themselves. Ruined cities and mountain ranges alike share that same cartoonish quality.
Length and Replay Value
Knack II doesn’t ask for a huge commitment. Most players can finish the campaign in under twenty hours, depending on how much treasure they collect along the way. There isn’t much replay value built into the main story, though the collectible hunt gives players a reason to return for missed items.
That collectible hunt adds replay value in a different way. Players who want to see everything will likely spend more time with the game than those who simply want to finish the story.
Here’s a rough breakdown of how the game’s structure holds together:
| Stage | Focus |
|---|---|
| Early chapters | Introduction to the world and combat systems |
| Mid-game | Exploration and gear collection |
| Late chapters | Larger bosses and final preparations |
| Final chapter | Climax and conclusion |
What Stays With You
The best moments in Knack II come when the game trusts its own premise. Boss fights that require careful mass management, or levels that let players roam freely and find hidden treasure, are where the game shines brightest. Those stretches make up for the slower middle sections.
The game isn’t a masterpiece, but it doesn’t need to be. Knack II knows what it wants to be—a light, enjoyable adventure—and mostly delivers on that promise, even when the road gets bumpy.
Key Facts Box
– Platform: PlayStation 4
– Release Year: 2017
– Genre: Action-adventure
– Critic Score: 7.2/10
Knack II earns a solid 7.2 out of 10.
