Type Knight
Review
A Short Story
by Henry Stockdale
reviewed on PC
A Short Story
It's uncommon to see typing utilised as a gameplay mechanic. From previous horror games such as The Typing of the Dead on Sega Dreamcast to more educational titles like Learn with Pokmon: Typing Adventure on Nintendo DS, we now come across Type Knight, a 2D side-scroller from developer Chaikadev. Focusing on a warriors journey to defeat the undead, its a fun experience but finishes as soon as it starts.
Type to Survive
Set within a graveyard, the goal is to defeat each wave of undead monsters, with a variety of enemies to challenge. Youll need to defeat them by typing the white word above them, with the letter count increasing as you proceed but if you fail to do this before they reach you, youll be attacked until your health is depleted. Youll earn points for each defeated enemy and the game also provides a combo system, multiplying your score when you defeat the undead in quick succession.
This also provides a high score focus, which adds to the replay value of the game and you can also choose from one of three difficulties: Spelling Squire, Calligraphy Cavalier and Palindrome Paladin. These gradually increase the difficulty of the game, providing bigger words to type from the start and a larger number of enemies to defeat. Skeletons are your most common enemy, who move slowly but come in larger numbers, whereas bats are quick but have shorter words.
After defeating several waves of monsters, youll be granted a shield that can block ranged attacks from ghosts and bosses, achieved by typing red words that appear above you. As you defeat each wave, youll find treasure chests that provide health potions or gold, which adds to your score. These waves are also broken up by narrated screens, acting as the only form of plot within the game.
Choose Your Adventure
Chaikadev have also provided a custom game option, allowing you to choose the text that appears onscreen within the fights. Its a fun feature and provides some much needed replay value, with the core gameplay proving to be challenging but fun. The biggest problem however is that once youve gone through the main mode, additional content is non-existent. Its easier to forgive when considering the low price but Type Knight does little to draw you back in outside of custom mode. The presentation is also light on detail, utilizing a 2D pixel art style backed by dynamic weather effects and an original, atmospheric soundtrack. Its a simple approach that works but its an area that requires further polish.
Not a lot to write home about
There isnt much to say with Type Knight, as the game simply doesnt have much on offer. What Chaikadev have offered is a short but sweet adventure; one where youll need to be quick with a keyboard to survive and it proves entertaining with custom mode. With its low price, its hard to go wrong if youre looking for a quick fix but its not an experience thatll keep you coming back.
6.5
fun score
Pros
Enjoyable gameplay, Custom games provide great replay value, Cheap cost
Cons
Barebones content, Repetitive gameplay
