Nonstop Knight ambitiously tries to combine the depth of an action RPG with the simplicity of a clicker and mostly pulls it off.
When you think of an action-RPG, it’s rare that you’ll combine it with an auto battling system. Nonstop Knight is a rare omission to this rule and actually manages to pull things off quite well, though it’s not without flaw. The main element of the title is earning gold; you do this by battling enemies and taking down bosses. Gold can then be used to buy equipment, which in turn allows you to beat bigger and harder opponents.
It’s a harmonious circle that promotes grinding among anything else, but there’s enough draw in the simple combat to make you keep coming back… even if the ascension system feels a bit limiting. When you reach level 20 and defeat the boss, you have the option to ‘ascend’. You’ll go back to level 1 and lose all your items at the expense of exclusive tokens that can be used to buy permanent upgrades. These could be anything from damage increases to armour upgrades. It seems odd that for a game about progression, you’re basically hitting the reset button every 20 levels, but we can see why the developers did it as there’s more leverage to get from the game this way. It keeps things fresh and stops you from hoarding all the best items.
This links in with the leaderboard, which is judged primarily on which level you reach. If you want to climb the board, you’ll need to either resist the urge to ascend or rack up some tokens first before you step up to the challenge. While some have criticised this as being confusing and inconsistent with the progression formula, we think it creates an interesting decision element regarding when you actually need to ascend. Equally, the pacing in each level is spot on without any difficulty walls forcing you to pay up. Those who want to splash the cash will get a pretty boost, but you’re by no means obligated to do so.
Nonstop Knight uses a rather unique control scheme that prioritises one-handed control, much like we’ve seen in other hit titles like Temple Run. Battles are completely automated with no actual character control; you simply choose your attacks and then wait for them to refill. This makes it perfectly suited to long commuting sessions where you’re probably using the other to keep your balance. It’s a simplistic system with basic attack patterns mapped along the bottom for easy access, though we reckon that they could’ve added a couple of additional features and still keep that carefully crafted one-handed balance. When your hero is swamped by large groups of enemies, it would be nice to have the option of tapping a specific enemy and concentrating the attack on them specifically. As it is, you just end up wildly hitting the attack buttons in the hope of dishing damage.
It’s this largely passive experience that manages to be both its greatest asset and it’s greatest weakness, as the beautiful simplicity of it all can sometimes mean you feel a little disconnected from what’s happening on-screen. This is extended outside of the game itself where, as it turns out, Nonstop Knight doesn’t even need you to play the game, as even that is automated. It’s an interesting feature that’s clearly been put in to encourage people who can’t afford the grinding hours, but it also means that earning gold becomes as easy as leaving your phone on a bedside table. Admittedly, you’ll need to do this so you can save up for those boss battles, which require heavily upgraded armour and weapons… but wouldn’t it be more fun to do it yourself?
Graphically, things are genuinely excellent, with a detailed yet cartoony vibe that manages to perfectly capture the tone of the game. The level design can feel a bit samey after long play sessions however, with familiar dungeon settings grating after a long session. It would be nice to see some other environments such as outdoor spaces or even in a castle.
Nonstop Knight is a solid title that gets by primarily on the fact that it’s addictive and has a smooth difficulty curve that doesn’t unnecessarily pressure players into paying for progression. The ascension system is unique and helps to keep things fresh, but some players may feel a little short-changed by it. Still, as far as gameplay goes, Flaregames have pretty much nailed the one-handed formula and as such, this is the perfect companion for any morning commuter.
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