As a massive fan of Top-Down arcade bullet-hell shooters, I could not be more excited to introduce you to Kill Knight, the latest release from Melbourne-based studio PlaySide. Games in this genre are supposed to be easy to play and hard to master. I used to be addicted to this challenge, but in recent years, I have found that games in this genre were lacking in the challenge department. Join me to discover if Kill Knight has rekindled my addiction to challenging, chaotic, hard-to-master gameplay.

Once a loyal knight betrayed and banished to the Abyss. A desecrated corpse inside reanimated armour. You have been condemned to eternal sufferance deep within the voids of an eldritch arena. Branded Kill Knight, you have one purpose, kill the last angel. Being light on story content isn’t an issue with arcade games like this. I would have loved to have experienced a wild and dangerous journey with a setup this good.

Before you descend headfirst into the brutal depths of the Abyssal Keep, I highly recommend playing through each of the 11 tutorial levels. These levels will teach you the basic use of each game mechanic you have to master. You know you’re in for a rough time when even the tutorials have difficulty ratings.

Mechanics like dashing, active reloads, and using swords and heavy weapons are simple to pick up. Learning where and when to utilise the more complex mechanics like pulse counterattacks and wrath bursts will take the most time and patience to master.

The tutorials do a wonderful job of teaching you the basics, but nothing can prepare you for the onslaught that comes next.

Players must navigate through the chaos on 5 levels known as Layers, with each new layer unlocked by surviving the maddening onslaught of the previous layer. I hope you’re prepared for a crap load of deaths because even surviving a singular layer will test every ounce of patience you have. The learning curve is steep and only gets steeper with each new layer you unlock. I feel that many players could be turned off by just how incredibly difficult the game is to master. However, I ain’t no slouch when it comes to rising to the challenge of overcoming overwhelming odds.

Surviving a layer felt as if I had just won the lottery. I couldn’t help but physically celebrate every victory, often leaping out of my seat with excitement. This feeling is heightened further by completing one of the optional challenges that reward you with new gear unlocks. You don’t need to worry much about being successful with these challenges, as new gear can be unlocked with in-game currency earned from playing. I loved that no matter how I chose to play, I could still reach my goal of unlocking more powerful weaponry and gear.

Once I had unlocked more powerful weaponry and gear, I became addicted to perfecting my build to suit my aggressive playstyle. I love the constant risk vs reward that changing up your build provides. After becoming more successful at passing a lower difficulty level, it was time to crank the difficulty up a notch, only to be humbled again. What can I say? I’m a glutton for punishment and addicted to the thrill of the hunt.

I loved the way that a layer would change its shape as you progressed further into the level. These changes as you progressed helped to make me feel as if I was descending further into madness and made each layer feel almost alive. Each layer is minimalistic in design, acting more like a blank canvas. Combine the expressive slaughter of the eldritch horrors with their crimson blood splatters and create an instant work of art.

Weapon audio is on point and never fails to deliver a sound that feels punchy, powerful and eerily blissful. I love the different feelings I get from some of the tones used throughout the game. Taking damage from an enemy sounds exactly how it should feel, annoying, frustrating and obnoxious all at the same time. I am particularly grateful that the game’s soundtrack blended seamlessly into the background because even the slightest distraction would mean death on a level.

Kill Knight is a constant struggle for survival that delivers more carnage than you can poke a stick at. PlaySide has delivered a challenge I haven’t been this addicted to overcome in such a long time. This is not a game for the weak-willed or faint of heart. Kill Knight will test even the mightiest of warriors. Do you have what it takes to survive the terrors of the Abyss?

Written by: Gary Nielsen