How Knack Became The Internet's Favorite Punchline

"Knack was a Playstation 4 launch game and it wasn’t great. If you don’t get why Knack 2 is a persistent internet joke, that’s it. The entire joke is that Knack wasn’t much fun, and somehow there’s a Knack II. Turns out the sequel is actually pretty okay, and maybe even kind of fun. All that means for internet denizens is more Knack II jokes."By Gita Jackson

[OB1Biker]

'pretty okay, and maybe even kind of fun'
When bias generates ridiculous sentences.

[UCForce]

Well, it was a joke meme made by VideoGameDunkey who is popular YouTuber. I find that joke is overuse and cringe. I'm being serious here. When Knack 2 announced at PSX 2016, I did glad the sequel got another chance to improve itself and it did. As PlayStation Loyalist myself, do I believe Knack 2 going to be GOTY ( by VideoGameDunkey fake hype )? No, it won't be. But it did major improvements than last one which I'm glad to see it. And about Knack meme, I'm just get over with it.

[OB1Biker]

There s been jokes about many games. Even only counting this gen Knack, the Order, Ryse, QB, ,NMS, mainly exclusives games (interestingly) but also some multiplatform
People are free to express themselves but when it comes from the media its a bit like spiting in their own soup so to speak.
They are only games which can't please everyone but the hate disguised as jokes is only hurting/punishing gamers who enjoy playing these games.

[Deep-throat]

offtopic: Bro why you're a PlayStation loyalist in the first place?

You should be a fan, don't be loyal to a brand. You're just a dollar sign to Sony...

[UCForce]

@Deep-throat Do you want me to lie myself or being honest ? Yes, I'm PlayStation Loyalist but I'm not crazy like others. I know Sony isn't perfect brand and they made a lot of mistakes, but I always confront Sony to do better. What about you, Deep-Throat ? You said it to yourself that you are true gamer. But all I see you are loyal to PC and Microsoft and completely hate Sony nonstop without one positive. Me ? Microsoft, Nintendo and PC are not my type, but I do respect their choice and their reputation.

[Deep-throat]

Bro I can't be loyal to PC because it isn't a brand. On my PC I have Steam, Xbox app, Origin and others. I'm not loyal to any! The only Xbox console I own is the 360, so I'm not a big fan of MS as you might think.

[UCForce]

@Deep-Thoart I'm not convinced by your word. Because your attitude caused my trust issues on you in the past. It is very deep. I'm a gamer and a PlayStation Loyalist, but I do have my respect and honor to others.

[Erik7357]

Bias as in they are giving it to much credit right? Like I'm seriously thinking that and knack 2 honestly is another pile of garbage to the collection and I think saying its kinda fun is almost pushing it myself

[OB1Biker]

Haha
No that's just your opinion. You have to admit the phrase is unrealistic.
Pretty OK? Would you ever say that? Either you like or you don't or you think its OK. Pretty ok seems to imply there s a bias to start with.
Maybe even kind of fun?
Same. Would you ever say that? You d say its fun or not fun or its maybe fun. But maybe even kinda fun is obviously implying bias to start with.

[bluefox755]

Oh, you've played it, have you?

[UCForce]

You hate HZD non stop. At first, I thought it was your opinion, but later on you completely hate it by repeating it again and again. It isn't your opinion anymore. More like vendetta.

[Silly gameAr]

Luckily when it comes to anything Playstation, no one takes your opinions seriously.

[Gitgud]

KNACK 2 BAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA AAAABY!

you just jelly you can't play it.

[Erik7357]

I think he says its pretty okay so he doesn't trigger the sony fanboys , its a nice way of saying it sucks

[trooper_]

Did you play it?

No.

Saying it sucks without playing it is your biased perspective.

[Erik7357]

But hey.....you got a knack for great games bro

[UCForce]

What about Horizon Zero Dawn ? That game you hated non stop. Knack 2 isn't going to win GOTY surely, but I'm sure Knack 2 better than Knack 1. For example, Sniper Elite 4 is better than SE 3 especially they improved the animation, gunplay and a lot of options.

[UCForce]

And @Frinker, you always being joke especially that attitude of your. You are unprofessional and predictable at the same time.

[KwietStorm_BLM]

Bias?

[IamTylerDurden1]

Knack 2 is getting pretty good reviews actually. It's a solid game with vastly improved combat and gameplay.

[subtenko]

Or simple they want to write something just to write something and hope it makes sense

[PhoenixUp]

Hasn't it always been that way? It's not even on par with Tomba

[phoenixwing]

tomba is awesome though o.o Or at least it was when i first played it on the ps1

[PhoenixUp]

Of course Tomba is awesome. My point is that history will hold Tomba in a far higher regard than Knack

[phoenixwing]

Ok. Just the way you worded made it easy to interpret it as tomba being bad or a low quality setter.

[PhoenixUp]

I was trying to word it in a way that while Tomba was an underrated gem, Knack is less so

[bluefox755]

Oh, it's Kotaku. Here's the thing, Knack is important, especially the second one. It's a $40 game, and along with games like Hellblade, it represents a glimmer of light for the once thought to be dead "middle market". Yeah, it's not GOTY, but it's fun and a substantial product for the price tag. I for one, welcome the return of these "AA" games at cheaper prices.

[Erik7357]

It's important like Super Mario Run important I know KNACK 2 BABY

[freshslicepizza]

Give Sony credit, not many would stand behind a product that averaged 54 on Metacritic.

[UCForce]

@Erik7357 and @moldybread You two are not helping. For example, Sniper Elite 4 is better than Sniper Elite 3. Knack 2 is better than Knack 1. Here the thing, give a game second chance and improved itself.

[Cy]

Once again Kotaku is throwing their support behind something stupid.

[rainslacker]

I thought the first Knack was fun. Maybe that's why I don't get the joke, because the joke seems to be based on something I don't agree with.

Given that the vast majority of people that say it's not fun seem to be those with overt hatred towards Sony products, it's hard to take them seriously on their views of the game. Given that a great number of people that actually played it seem to say it's an OK game, and actually is fun, it seems that the joke falls flat, and those trying to make the joke relevant are seemingly more trying to validate themselves, rather than try to make any substantive critique on the franchise or games within themselves.

Those acting like the new game is surprisingly good, and they are shocked are just people who are trying to vindicate their prior opinions of the older game, instead of just trying to look at this game in it's own light. Those being fair with the improvements without trying to put down the original game are fine by me though, as the original Knack did need improvement, but it was far from a bad game. At no time though, was the original game an actual joke of a game. It was solid in execution, just lacking in innovation.

[UCForce]

I agree with you. Give a game second chance and it can improve. Knack 2 did good job for being better than original. I'm going to buy Knack 2 to show my support to Japan Studio. Knack 2 didn't have any innovations but it did improved a lot.

[Chumdiddy]

Dunkey really helped start it and it grew from there. That said, I've played Knack 2 after aquiring it for free.

Opinion:

It's ok. It's full of tropes and not much really jumps out but I found myself 2 hours in without even noticing. It's a platform brawler that is not too hard or punishing and that's a bit of a relief compared to the gauntlet games have strived for since the Souls series. Every game now wants to be "THA HARDEST GAME EVAR!!1!". Knack 2 is like "you died? No worries, man! Here, try again with zero consequence. It's cool"

The size/block gathering dimension is pretty cool. I like switching back and forth. The leveling up is both straight forward and confusing in ways. Basically, it's a straight "xp orbs are gained and spent on new abilites" system but you can also find chests with special stuff that does....something. I think. Maybe? I guess you can trade them with all your friends also playing Knack 2 (ha).

Basically, it's not garbage! It's a 7/10 game. I wouldn't buy it but since it was free I'm beyond cool with it. Solid game.

[Rangerman1208]

So you wouldn't but it but you still got to to play the game...for free? Wut.

[Chumdiddy]

I wouldn't buy it. If I had, I'd be unhappy with the purchase. Seeing as it was free, I played it with no bias at all and it's admittedly ok. 7/10 type game.

Yes, free. It was (still is?) free on the NZ/AUS store. Free as in "no money". Understand now?

Words mean things! I know, it's great. Put them together to form thoughts you can share!

[jznrpg]

I never heard the joke but I dont watch youtube or other sites much. Knack 1 was decent enough as a launch game to play with my kids but 2looks good

[Yohshida]

Knack 2 baaaabeeeeeee

[Jayszen]

What a silly article. So the first game was not as good as it should have been. Credit to Sony for trying again and probably succeeding as the general consensus is that Knack 2 is a better game. The punchline here is that the article represents the kind of site Kotaku has become.

[CrimsonWing69]

Knick Knack Patty-Whack give a--you get where I'm going with this...

[Rangerman1208]

All Knack 2 Dunkey jokes aside though, Knack 2 is pretty good. Is not a masterpiece but is certainly an improvement over the original (I still don't know why Destructoid gave it a 5.5). Is obvious that Knack 2 wasn't meant to beat the likes of Mario or such but to be a fun platformer that's better than its preccessor, and just to show the haters wrong about Knack 2 being a terrible game.