#knack doctor vargas

[chibifox2002]

Doctor Vargas and Penny standing at speed nervous

[knackfandomarchive]

Half-Finished Horror Comic - Child of Prometheus

Credits are at the bottom and will be in a reblog.

Content Warnings (as if the comic was complete):

Dream logic

Blood and gore

Organs and dismemberment

Consumption of human body parts

Graphic depiction of vomiting

Desecration of corpses (not sexual)

That’s all I have in the drawings department - I got us started too late. I have a full script minus a page; let me know if you’d like us to keep working on it.

Credits:

Cover by DiscoKnack (me)

Beautiful finished pages by @p-p-red, and some sketch pages

Some sketch pages by DiscoKnack.

Script by DiscoKnack

Additional help from @spellboundrose (for a panel sketch that has since been done over - I'll color and share it separately)

[sonicasura]

Not sure if the Kaiju number 8 world is escapism for the characters, or me. Probably both. Somehow I always bring KNACK around to sad/weird.

Lucas looks up to Reno, who is older than him but has similar traits. Lucas is too young to join the Defense Force, but in the meantime, he's likely to hang out more and more in that universe and hear the stories. Reno is kind of like an older brother, which is a role Knack can occupy only sometimes.

Once Reno impresses on Lucas how dangerous Kaiju are and why Kafka's secret is so important to keep, poor Kafka feels teamed on when he gets two earfuls about being reckless instead of one.

Knack gets chewed out, too, because Lucas wants to keep him safe. Though Knack may at some point tell him to 'zip it!' When priorities change.

The safety of his friends and family is more important than Knack's own protection. In that respect, him and Kafka's tendencies align.

He burns through Sunstone energy like fire through gasoline, however, those times he gets involved in battle. Kaiju are *nothing* like humans and goblins. I wonder how he might mess with Kaiju sensors, if at all.

Kafka's fatherly tendencies have interesting effects on the KNACK boys. Lucas finally feels listened-to and valued by an adult, and after the boys figure out how Knack's portals work, Lucas feels less and less inclined to return home every visit. Especially after getting into arguments with the Doctor. I think Kafka recognizes this as a problem, but I'm not sure how he approaches it.

The weirder part might be Knack's temperament. Knack's been alive for less than a few years, and I headcanon that this is his only go around with the whole existing thing. So Knack has always been as he is. Kafka has only been half-kaiju for less than a year, but is in his thirties, as we know.

Knack asks Kafka how he handles being different, mistreated for his looks even though he's human. Knack probably made an assumption that Kafka has had his kaiju powers for longer than he really did. Lucas points out that Knack seemingly implied that Knack is human when he isn't. And Knack shuts down after that, only giving one-word answers or silence for the rest of the talk. That's why it's kinda weird and I'm not sure how to explain Knack's feelings. He likes how he is and the way he looks, so he's not ashamed of himself in that way. But he called himself human for some reason.

This just makes me think back to Knack 1 where the Doctor says that Charlotte was his better half alongside Lucas genuinely being an orphan(lost his mother and no father in the picture). He genuinely cares for the two but sometimes his interests get the better of him. I think that's why Knack alongside Lucas have been exploring on their own while Doctor and Charlotte were at the Monk Temple in Knack 2.

A massive argument which makes the older man realize both his assistants need time to grow as their own individuals while he needs to reflect on himself. They do separate on better terms though when Lucas' group ends up seeking the Doctor for help in Knack 2. Both our younger heroes definitely flourished during their personal journey.

It also makes senses why Lucas ends up losing it later on in Knack 2, he doesn't want to be pushed to the wayside and ignored again especially for his blocky brother figure. An irrational fear as Knack would never dare replace Lucas something reaffirmed once the two are stranded on that island together.

Reno and Kafka sorta just speed up the process of the eventual separation. Both give the younger boys that needed reassurance but also validation. Kafka and Knack cope with not being human alongside learning about themselves better. Lucas gets to really show off his ideas but actually feels seen due to Reno than just our favorite himbo. Both people allow our boys to truly grow into their own individuals.

You can say exploring the world of Kaiju No. 8 is like finally being able to leave the nest in my opinion.

[spellboundrose]

Lucas and knack brother shenanigans are amazing yes, but consider

Knack and doctor Vargas father and son bonding

[knackfandomarchive]

I don't know how old flockie is, but I *have* seen younger folk around. If you don't know what rule 34 is:

Rule 34 is basically a joke that says, "if something exists, there is porn of it." On the internet, it's basically a prophecy. If you append "rule 34" to any search, you can find porn.

If you don't know what porn is, you might not be old enough to use the internet *or* you live in a place that doesn't teach good sex education. For reference, most social media websites require you to be at least 13 years old.

I can't find a good definition online for pornography. Usually it's described as "imagery intended to arouse/excite someone sexually/make someone horny." But that doesn't describe what you would expect when looking it up. It tends to be fantasy depictions of sex, but not always. And some fantasy depictions of sex aren't meant to be pornographic.

I found some teen-oriented sex education websites, like sexetc.org and scarleteen.com , but neither mention rule 34.

Doctor Vargas ain’t safe ether 😭

(Shitpost)

[thinkkirby2]

Here's a thing I thought of. [Silly thing made in: 11/29/22]

Doctor Vargas: Hey hey guys! what did I miss-

(Dr Vargas got captured and the garage at the Doctors mansion blew up (the mansion had some parts messed up by the explosion)

Ryder: oh my God.

(the Kidnapper was Gundahar, because he wants the Doctor's plans (Charlotte once had this issue)

Lucas: NO WAY! D:>

Knack (Vargas' size): you did not just do that…

Gundahar: yeah I did!

Knack(Vargas' Height): I'm so mad… (aggressive tone) (Knack began getting madder)

Lucas: Oh no, OH MAN! (ran off)

Ryder: I'm out. (swiftly left) (Knack Yells in anger, Gundahar laughs in a evil idiotic way, and Knack Yells again but this time it sounds like a roar.)

Knack (Vargas' Height): (heavily breathing) do you want to see me turn into a Giant?

Gundahar: NO!

(Knack began to absorb so many Relics)

Gundahar: No it can't be! NOT A GIANT BEAST!

(Knack tears up some clothes he had and runs toward Gundahar's Mech (the goblin kept it Somehow after Knack II)

Update: Youtube, what's happening to the videos?

[believerindaydreams]

Me: guys I wrote you an *ending*

The unholy polycule I have summoned into existence: tough luck, keep writing

Carla

If there's anything that does suggest their quartet weren't always complete idiots, it's that the community they started seems to have kept going just fine without them.

The leaders are all women, it turns out- Shari, the best doctor they have and busy training more. Sierra, who seems a little scattered but will chat with anyone and offer them a bottle of her homemade Nuka-Cola brew. And Catherine, who describes herself as "useless in the field, but very good at telling you how to plant it."

Catherine being the only one who's also a mother, it's reassuring having her expertise around; even when Daisy is just contentedly napping in her carrier.

"And of course you were the impetus for our gang of four- always the one to put your foot down when a decision needed to be made. Deciding to accept former raiders, for instance- ooh, I was a dither about that and so was Sierra. But you said no, this community was going to take anyone in until they'd proven otherwise, and you did, and why, it's gone very smoothly. Of course, it's easy when there's so much money flowing in- the bottle trade alone, my dear! Caravans are big business these days."

"But the boys," Carla says, rather confused. "Don't they do anything?"

"Ah, well- your husband was always popping off again, you used to call him your own cartographer. Couldn't rely on him, I'm afraid. Vargas we all agreed would be perfect for the Rivet City liaison, so that keeps him busy, and Arcade Gannon...? I don't know if you've noticed, but he is so terribly shy. No bedside manner worth speaking of, he used to joke."

"...then what did I do?"

"Oh, anything and everything! Running back and forth all hours of the day and night, Daisy in her carrier and your hands full of knitting. Directions, breaking up quarrels, assigning schedules and then getting people to do them, which are by no means the same skill- but you could do anything you turned your hand to, it seemed. We were- we were rather intimidated, when you told us that you had to go with your husband. Goodness, please don't do that again any time soon. There's far too much in the wind for you to vanish on us again."

"Then perhaps you had better tell me. Because I am badly out of the loop."

Catherine taps the side of her nose. "It's Margaret, you know- well, it's Three Dog really, but he doesn't say everything that he knows. The Brotherhood has him body and soul- I mean, they do guard the station. But we have a mole named Margaret who works the early morning shift even though she doesn't like it, and it's very kind of her. Because then she can give us the word on things like Liberty Prime being brought online."

Whatever effect Catherine is hoping to make, it's wasted on her. Carla occupies herself patting her baby instead, letting Daisy suck sleepily at her breast.

"And that, I understand, is because Doctor Li's team is planning some sort of...well, plan, about the Tidal Basin water- now they've said that before but the Brotherhood seems to think it's serious this time, because they are planning to send Liberty Prime in to destroy it or something. And that's just as well for us, because if there was cheap water for the taking- why, poof! Nacochtank might as well be Big Town or Dave's Republic, just any old settlement scratching out existence. All those lovely plans of yours up in smoke."

She wishes she'd known this when she'd come back- no, she doesn't. It's taken this long just to be able to recognize people in her own settlement, to rest and bond with her child and start putting Raven Rock out of her mind.

It's good that she left people who could be trusted to carry on without her.

She won't allow that state of affairs to continue; but it was smart.

*****

Arcade

There is nothing so definitely clear cut as remembrance, while he lies flat against the dirt in his own herb garden; but he's sure it's doing him good all the same.

"I don't think I would have even made it here without you," he says affectionately to Boone. Books were all very well up to the point that the constrained walls of the Rivet City Clinic began reminding him of the Enclave; and it's lucky that Boone had seemed to have a knack for those bad patches, his simple presence a trustworthy constant.

His lover grunts, cuts xander greens from the root with his machete. "No problem."

A wave of affection rolls over him, mixed with the inevitable disbelief. He plucks a flower to chew and opens up the lovingly bound thesis he'd found in his tent. Dry, a touch arch, but the contents aren't so alien as they perhaps should be.

Which gives him hope for some type of reversal, although it would be a long way off yet.

"Hey, guys? Family meeting," Manny says.

"I'm here, you're here, Arcade's here," Boone says. "Just get my wife and we can have it right here."

"Behind you."

"Aww, I was going to surprise him with a kiss- well, have one anyway."

"We should move, though," Manny says. "Out of the way of listening ears."

Arcade groans, sits up to dust himself off. "Don't tell me we're going into a subway or a bunker, I've had quite enough of that."

"How about a boat?"

***

So that's how they end up all sitting in a rowboat above who knows how much dirty water. At least they've left the baby on shore.

"Thing is," Manny says, and pauses. "Look. I know none of you are at your best right now, that you have no reason to trust me-"

"Bull," Boone says. "We left Daisy with you."

"And everyone I have met does respect you," Carla points out.

"And I trust them," Arcade says simply.

"Okay then," Manny says, after a fairly pregnant pause. "Look. I gotta know- what is it we're pulling for at this point? A safe life for Daisy? Nacochtank's welfare? Revenge on the Enclave? Cos a whole lotta things are about to go down and before I can start planning, I need to know what way you all want to jump."

"Brahmin before the cart," Carla says briskly. "Tell us what info you have, and then we'll decide based on all the facts."

"Agreed," Arcade says.

So they sit and compare notes, which overlap. At the Jefferson Memorial.

"...you never would help the Rivet City science lab," Manny says, pulling a splinter off an oar. "Never nailed down a reason why, but I suppose we can guess now."

"If we know Autumn will be at the Memorial, I wouldn't mind giving him a bullet for a parting gift," Boone says.

"If the Brotherhood doesn't beat you to it- I wish I knew what a Liberty Prime is," Carla says, trailing her hands in the water. Boone scowls at her and she wipes them on his shirt. "Arcade, what do you think?"

He thinks he'd just like to be at peace, with books and herbs; and feels vaguely guilty that he can't immediately recapture the drive for humanitarianism that landed him in this position. "I think it's going to end with a war starting uncomfortably close to our homes, unless we can do something very clever."

"Such as?" Carla sounds as dubious as he feels.

"Like- a temporary truce of some kind, perhaps while fighting another enemy."

"Ashur?"

"I confess, I can't think of anyone better suited.

Manny heaves a sigh, starts rowing back to shore. "This is gonna need Veronica."

[knackfandomarchive]

Yess I was hoping someone would talk about Lucas he's such a bean (affectionate). But my brain got fried yesterday so idk how well I can bounce off.

We're on very similar wavelengths, I think. I have a post with some headcanons and sort of justification for why I think Lucas is pretty young also. Trying to decide whether to post it separately or modify it slightly and post it as a reblog. The tone and structure of that post might be jarringly different, but I really appreciate your insight and want to, uhh. Be like hey everybody! I really this person's take!

Aww, but maybe I'm playing favorites? I can do that, though. I'm allowed. It's my blog.

*you hear grinding noises emanating from my skull as I try to remember what I wanted to talk about*

Doctor Vargas is a jerk! Well, not exactly. The way I have/am going to have him written is: he is not prepared to be a dad at all, but out of the people willing to step up and take care of Lucas, the doctor and his living situation is the most stable. Ryder is in the throes of grief on top of whatever else he has going on, so... The messed up part of 'being willing to step up' is that it may not be out of desire or capability, but rather out of necessity. Thinking... it speaks to his character that he is willing to do so, in comparison to whatever blood family members Lucas may have that did not take him up. But that doesn't mean he can be what Lucas needs.

I definitely think the doctor has an ego problem. Science science, I know science dogma and doc likes Being Right more than actually being right. Not very Scientist of him.

...I think much like with Knack, trying to pinpoint Doctor Vargas's character would need several chapters before I feel even slightly confident I understand him. I don't want to judge based solely on vibes, but the doctor seems to me as not knowing how to connect with people much outside of work. So when he brings Lucas into the fold of some things he's working on, that's when he's trying to do bonding time and Dad wisdom stuff. Which Lucas may or may not appreciate depending on how interested he is in the thing.

Aside from, at one point, being the only person Lucas has to hold him while he cries so hard he throws up, the doctor might be kinda ??? when it comes to affection or play. He knows how to hug and rub Lucas’s back when he's sad, but he might forget things like goodnight hugs and bedtime stories. Plus, the Doctor seems to be unwilling to own up to his fondness for Lucas, at least in the second game. I'll have to feel around and look at things when my brain isn't mashed potatoes. Maybe he can take Lucas out to museums and carnivals and such. And those would be way more fun if he had a friend like Knack.

What else am I thinking about? The. I'm definitely looking forward to writing a chapter about the holding hands thing. Grah! It's so bittersweet I love it.

I think it would be fairly early on, when Knack is still so new. I have some headcanons I'm working out for the circumstances of Knack's birth, but whether it's love at first sight or if Lucas has some rocky feelings at first, they would be fast friends. Does Lucas know how much Knack loves him? Because Knack loves him a whole lot, and I couldn't tell you why. Uhmm, I think the chapter I am trying to words in my head is fairly dependent on how I interpret Knack, which is brought up in the post I haven’t posted.

So at first, Lucas was the one holding a hand out for Knack to take, or even just going over and grabbing his hand sometimes, often because he was really excited to show Knack something. As Knack got used to the gesture, he sought it out himself, and it became less like a means to lead him around and more like they were sticking together. And needless to say, Lucas liked this a lot. This reminder that he had a friend who enjoyed his company. But that's also where Knack began absentmindedly rubbing a thumb over Lucas’s knuckles. I guess it's not so absentminded if he was contemplating the texture, but he didn’t look at what he was doing, because he was so small (weaker but not frail) and hadn't yet learned that the same principles of why soft chalk leaves a mark on the tougher concrete also applied here.

And the first few times, it didn't hurt, and Lucas didn't mind. But later, Lucas noticed the scab and remembered where it came from. He would try to keep it a secret. It's no big deal, just a scratch here and there. No need for even a bandage, some lotion will do.

The next time Knack wanted to hold his hand, he offered the other one. And this was almost imperceptible. Knack thought nothing of it. But little by little, to Lucas, it started to hurt. Not a lot, but enough to be uncomfortable. It was worth it, though.

The lie lasted only as long as the outer layer of skin stayed intact. The scab was light in color, but very soon, it wouldn't be. There was nothing Lucas could do besides keep his mouth shut and reapply the lotion. A bandage would give it away easily. But Knack noticed the scab.

Lucas had one on each hand, and he always offered Knack the hand on which it was lighter. But maybe one day, Little Knack would let go to look at something at the other side of him, and when he returned and reached to grab Lucas’s hand, the one with the darker scab, that's when he noticed. Lucas could feel him slacking his pace, and Knack grabbed his arm with both hands, stopping him.

Lucas wanted to minimize it. It was no big deal, really, but the words died on his lips as his chest tightened. He'd been found out. Knack scrutinized the boy's hand, turning it lightly in his. And Lucas, as always, tried to figure out what he was thinking.

He looked angry, glaring at the scab. He brought a thumb over like he wanted to make a soothing gesture, but thought better of it. So he placed a paw over Lucas's hand, clasping it, and looked up at him.

Why didn't you tell me? He seemed to say, concern and accusation mixed.

Umm so yeah lol Knack upsetti. Lucas will probably cry and maybe even have a breakdown, because he thinks Knack won't hold his hand anymore. But I think Knack will keep reaching for his hand; it's habit at this point. But he can be more careful about friction. Apparently I have been at this for much of the day but I'm brain don't work. Thank you for reading!

okay I am not goign to add this to the replies of the og post bc this isn't even close to what the original post was about but. ough. I keep thinking about this. I'll put this under a read more again because this is just me being strange and depressing about a character and subsequently creating something difficult for the general public to read.

i think the doctor and ryder unintentionally created a situation where lucas would grow up emotionally neglected. like im sure ryder cares about and loves lucas, but his job makes it so he's never around. and while i dont think the doctor is neccesarily abusive,,,, i don't think he'd see lucas as a kid to take care of as much as he sees an assistant for his work, if that makes sense? a robot assistant, but that feels wayyyy too blunt. he doesn't hate lucas, he just kind of wants him to agree with him all the time, as seen in the first game. i don't know.

(plus his deal with you know, being an orphan. which i think was meant to be interpreted as his parents dying, but they don't need to be dead for him to be abandoned, if that makes sense. i dont think his mother would've abandoned him but there is literally nothing in the games about his father)

and of course, being raised in such an environment makes him very very touch starved. maybe without even knowing it. he's "very mature for his age" and yet simultaneously wants to be held and cradled and have someone hold his hand and run their fingers through his hair and wipe away his tears with their knuckles and yet also has this mild primal fear of touch that he can't really fathom. i think when he's touched, either by knack or someone else, that part of his body sort of tingles? if that makes sense? like a lasting impression on what was there. it makes him stop and go. huh.

he craves validation but no one really gives it to him in the amount he needs, or maybe he's just overly needy. i can imagine him wanting to crawl inside someone's ribcage??? not in a violent way or anything (at least as unviolent as a thought like that could be), he just wants to be with someone forever. like a vital organ, kind of. he knows he's not really needed by anyone in order to function (or at least thats what he thinks), but if he's in their body they can't leave!! yippee!!!! (revolting)

i mean i don't think he'd go that far into obessiveness, he's a littol messed up (affectionate) but he would never want to hurt anyone he cares abt. he's like a cat that was weaned too early from its mom so it suckles and kneads on blankets.

and like the thing with him ignoring the pain something causes him in order to still have that comfort auugugghh. knack hugs him a bit too tight and sometimes it leaves bruises but thinking about not being hugged anymore almost brings him to tears. he wants love so badly that he's willing to let himself get hurt to get it. doesn't help that i see lucas as a Child (12 in first game, 14/15 in second).

im a little embarrassed to post this bc its just me being super headcanon-y about lucas but whatever its 1am im seeby ill worry about that later lmao

lucas is my favorite autism warrior hes fighting in the war on autism on the side of autism

[talesofsonicasura]

Stone and Dove

Hello folks and happy pride month! I was scanning through my Google Docs and had forgotten I written this story...or that it was perfectly suited for this particular monthly event.

My first story doing Male X Male pairing! This tale involves my first PlayStation 4 Game Knack and Jojo's Bizarre Adventure. Particularly, a Jojo OC on my @sonicasura account, Jodari Jonah so check that out when you can! No information about Knack is required! The story will explain some of it.

They say the dove is a symbol of rebirth. For when one life passes, it is reborn anew in a different form. A clean slate just like a pure white dove. Yet, sometimes, rebirth can be a chance to fix something before it could be broken. And to connect two hearts of two different worlds.

Doctor's Laboratory

"I walk a lonely road, the only one that I have ever known. Don't know where it goes. But it's home to me and I walk alone. I walk this empty street on the boulevard of broken dreams. Where the city sleeps, and I'm the only one and I walk alone." A voice sang through the halls, rough, slightly rugged but rich with smoothness, balance of husk and baritone.

Walking the halls of the facility belonging to one Doctor Vargas, world renowned inventor for his research on relic fueled devices, was a strange man. He was bulky which was balanced by his frightening height of 7'4. Curly, messy black hair tied at the back with a large white bow of sorts resembling broken wings, one side with an aqua green stripe and the other a bubbly blue.

Heterochromatic eyes with the right blue and the left a verdant green but a line going down the optic starting from the eyelid to the bottom. A bisected line birthmark at the center of his face even going down his nose and lips. He wore a mismatched long coat, the right half a pure white with no sleeve revealing his ripen with muscle arm, black pocket, and featherlike ends, the left being pure black with a long sleeve, white pocket and flat end.

A gray shirt with a large V neck revealing large abs, hot rod leather pants and black boots. The biggest oddity was the nails of his right arm, they were of a stone. The ones on his left were normal as he was carrying what looked like a liquor bottle, which he was currently downing the contents merrily.

He was baffling as he walked through the humble abode like halls unaware of being on camera. The unknown man was wandering in a battle site, while the people on the other side of the glass walls were just baffled. "Um… Doctor, is he another one of your assistants?" "Who is he?" That guy wasn't in the meeting! I'm sure as hell would remember someone dressed like that! Is he literally singing Green Day while drinking vodka?!"

One of the onlookers, a large slightly portly man with a gray frohawk paired with a goatee, chocolate brown eyes and wore a white lab coat was more attentive on the stranger's hand. This man was Doctor Vargas himself, owner of this very facility. "His nails… they are pure red relics! Astounding." The man said while examining the stranger.

Mechanical clanking had the stranger look up from his bottle. Standing at the end of the hall were white and black humanoid robots with red visors for eyes but also wielding swords made out of pure plasma. Doctor Vargas quickly ran to his control console for the robots. "Oh no! I got to shut down before that young man ends up getting hurt!" Vargas exclaimed, ready to pull down the lever.

The lever controlled the battle site which would shut off both robots and obstacles meant for his greatest creation to power through, not an innocent human. Three words was the only thing that stopped him. "Don't underestimate me." Followed by the loud screech of shredding metal. His eyes widened upon the sight before him.

The robot that was ready to slice the stranger in half was laying on the ground. A large hole in its chest dripping out what looked to be alcohol from the damaged circuits. The man had the bottle of alcohol pointing at where the machine once stood, fizz foaming from the entrance of the vodka. "Wow! He...just busted a hole through the robot with a shot of alcohol!!!?"

It wasn't a lie either. Vargas had rewinded the footage on the small monitor of the control panel to the moment before his robot was shot. The stranger pointed the bottle of liquor before yellow electricity began to crackle around his hand. Next thing that happened was a small bullet of the liquor shot sparking with this same energy but it was also spinning!

The spinning orb tearing a hole through the metal circuitry by compressing it with pure rotation into the liquid itself. Sure enough, there was a little ball of metal at the center of the whole, circuits, wiring and liquor compressed into the tiny marble sized orb. "Black Hole Overdrive." Were the words that left the odd man's lips.

Black Hole Overdrive… Vargas didn't know how the young man manipulated the liquid to perform such a feat but it proved the stranger was very skilled if this was an actual technique. "A golem made out of relics?" The stranger said looking at the oddity that greeted him from down the hallway.

This oddity was a humanoid made out of pure relics. Ones acting as the main body were light tan to mimic skin color but also position to form the main body: tipless cone and flat cylinder for the head, cube relics stacked together to form arms, legs, hands and rounder ones to mimic muscles, the gold forming the gumdrop nose, large tusks, small teeth, tips of the ears, and joints from the sphere and triangular pieces located in the shoulder, knee, thigh and ankle areas. Red stone relics forming small wild hair, claws, front and back toes, even fuzz around the chin and on the arms and legs.

The main piece was the large dark gold orb at the center with an aqua blue core. From the two oval obsidian eyes and the red rectangular pieces forming the squinting eyebrows, it was clear the 5'11 golem was surprised by the stranger's appearance. "For something so strange, you are really adorable." The odd man said while giving the subject of his attention a subtle wink.

Vargas, who noticed the wink, almost burst out laughing from seeing Knack, the golem he created jaw nearly dropping to the floor. "This must be a battle site designed for you? Oh dear, looks like I ended up getting lost. Can you please escort me to the exit? I'll follow behind you without any interference." The odd raven asked politely.

Knack merely nodded to the man's request. The relic bound golem could easily protect the stranger from the Doctor's test drones. "Thank you. You're such a gentleman. My name is Jodari, Jodari Jonah. Time to move out, Red~" Knack's core immediately heated up by the raven Jodari's subtle greeting.

Jodari Jonah wasn't exactly normal was a simple thing for everyone to understand. The odd man sidestepped and easily avoided every obstacle that was designated for his golem escort. Leaping across electrified panels in a single step, walking past fast blowing vents undeterred and even dodging the attacks of various machines while drinking from his vodka bottle.

He kept his word of not interfering with Knack's progress while the golem ran the deadly gauntlet. Honestly, Knack was impressed on just how agile this human male was. The raven's presence was bizarrely soothing to him. Sunbathing on the beach or listening to the sound of nature type of soothing.

It didn't take long to go through the last obstacle and escort Jodari back to the human officials alongside the Doctor. One of the women, the chairwoman easily recognized by her well kept silver hair stepped up. "Most impressive Doctor. You call it 'Knack' is that right?" She asked.

A husky, smooth and a touch rough male voice joined in the banter. "Actually, I call myself Knack." Came from the golem, Knack sounding awfully cheeky. "So your name is Knack? Cute, suits a cheeky fellow like ya. 'Knack' for mischief, huh?" Jodari said, voice filled with merry. 'Is he really flirting with a being made of living stone?!' Being the thought of every guest in the facility. "Young man, how did you even get into this meeting?" Heterochromatic eyes bore into the woman as she flinched.

"Goblins didn't just destroy a high tech military base, miss Chairman. They flattened my village first as a mere test run." Any rebound died from Jodari's words. "My dear god. I'm so sorry." Vargas said only for the raven to wave him off. Jodari taking a swig of his liquor before pulling something out of his pocket.

"Don't apologize. You didn't do the deed, Doctor Vargas. For why I'm here is simple. I came to deliver schematics on the few weapons I stole from them bastards but I want to join the expedition." The young man said, handing the man a few pieces of paper. These pages detailed a few weapons from a blaster, mechanized spear and even a small tank.

"And how did you get these schematics?" Questioned a tan skinned man with combed brown hair, trimmed beard, brown eyes and expensive purple suit. "From their corpses, Viktor. Sketched down every single detail of the spoils once I put them in the dirt. Got a problem?" Jodari towering over the man with a heavy glare.

"You wish to join the expedition? Heh. All I see is a drunkard and as for Knack, he seems a little too delicate to me." Viktor said, walking back with nonchalance. "What are you getting at, Viktor?" Vargas questioned eyeing the billionaire industrialist with suspicion. "I brought a few security robots with me. If Knack can get by those, then he'll have a place on the expedition. Jonah can try too."

The golem in question walking up to one of the bots in question. It was cycloptic and humanoid from the built silver armor over the black exoskeleton. "Huh!" Knack barked, the robot flinching in defense from the hostility. Jodari let out a bark of laughter before downing the remaining liquor in his bottle. The raven immediately crushed the bottle with his bare hands before tossing a shard into the eye of Viktor's guard bot.

The shard spinning in velocity before drilling a hole through the green optic and back out hitting the wall behind it. Metal crashed onto the floor as the machine fell dead. Knack inspecting the damage and glass shard in awe. The golem let out a whistle in admiration. "Like that big red~? Call it the Drill Technique. A bit of rotation can turn even a fragile piece of glass into a drill capable of piercing tank armor." Jodari said, grinning at the stone ginger.

"Nice. Hope you can teach me later. Now let's take this to the garden, there's a bit more room. Would you like another escort, Jodari, so you won't get lost?" Knack asked the raven offering his hand. "You are such a gentleman! I would love an escort, Knack!" The odd raven said taking the golem's hand, but after giving him a teasing smack to the ass.

'So bold!!!' Everyone who just witnessed the scene couldn't help but think. Knack's chest orb was scorching hot after the smack. They thought the man was merely poor ass drunk after downing an entire bottle of pure Vodka but to Vargas and to some extent Knack, Jodari was as sober as if he was drinking water. No flush cheeks or slurs, the man was bold and had a thing for gingers. Male gingers because no one knew that Jodari Jonah, was a purely gay male.

The golem and odd man were alone at the moment. Their trial would be held through the maze-like garden, a maze that will soon be littered with machines belonging to Viktor. "Hey Jodari, are those nails of yours pure relics? My chest orb has been picking up on some for a while." Knack asked, the raven looking at said object of attention.

"Yep. I think I was born with them? I honestly don't remember anything past 5 months ago when pops found me, naked and no name." Jodari responded nonchalantly. "You have amnesia? I'm sorry for bringing that up." The relic golem was flustered from being carelessly rude. The raven merely waved it off.

"Oh don't frown, Red~! You didn't know, plus my amnesia never really bothered me. Why focus on the past when you have a future in front of ya? Pops did tell a nice 'wive's tale' once. He said that the nails of your right hand matches the one of your Soulmate. If you don't know, a Soulmate is the person you meant to bond with for eternity. A 'true spiritual marriage' to be appropriate." The golem's jaw dropped immediately.

"M-m-m-arriage?! Soulmate?! NO WAY CAN I BE YOUR SOULMATE! I'M NOT EVEN HUMAN FOR CRYING OUT LOUD!" Knack would continue if Jodari didn't put a finger to the golem's mouth, lips if you count the gold area around the opening of the two stone pieces that make up his head.

"Species doesn't matter to me. I wouldn't even care if my significant other was a goblin. Plus, even if you aren't my soulmate, you are a sweet gentleman and whoever gets ya is very lucky. Handsome face, your ears are cute, the nose makes ya adorable, and the teeth and claws just add the perfect amount of fierce to the incredible mix. Plus, I love strong gingers." Knack felt like his orb was going to explode from this sudden new emotion, felt like deep admiration but way different.

"Thank you. You look nice too. I, uh, like your eyes, they're pretty. And your bow is very nice, Jojo." It was Jodari's turn to slightly blush. "Jojo?" He asked, refusing to stutter like a schoolgirl. The raven wanted to put Knack through the hardcore school of flirting. Nicknames was step one.

"I took the first Jo of your name and put it together with the second one. Hence, Jojo, I figure you didn't want me to continue calling you Jodari since this... Soulmate thing." The redhead explained with sincerity. "How sweet~ You may call me Jojo then, Red. So Knack, before everyone else arrives, why don't we get to know each other's abilities first? Teamwork is a good key to winning battles." That the golem could easily agree on.

It wasn't much longer to reach their destination or everyone to arrive in order to spectate. The two males were starting to see why they seemed likely paired from that wive's tale. Their abilities were very similar. While Knack could channel Sunstone, Jodari had Hamon.

Hamon was a breathing technique that allowed someone to use their lungs to create an energy akin to sunlight, which was what Sunstones were, crystalized sunlight. With Hamon, he can supercharge any water like elements or good conductors like metal to unleash powerful and devastating attacks.

Knack could manipulate his parts to a large extent, shrinking by removing his parts, form a barrier around him, and even expel in a spray fashion or large clusters. Jodari had Spin, a technique that uses the state of perfect or near perfect rotation to produce energy with a lot of applications.

He could bound this energy to any object and fire them with destructive properties. It was how he could make that glass shard drill right through Viktor's robot that easily. Sphere shaped objects can produce more energy than any other one.

Jodari had one more ability but he wouldn't say anything about it. 'If we have cars thrown at us here, then I won't mind showing my ace in the hole in front of everyone.' Was the raven's response while blowing a kiss at the golem. It just made Knack really curious on what this hidden ace was but he wouldn't press on it.

The duo's goal was simple, defeat all the robots while making their way to the end. Apparently the industrialist had two different types of his guard robots which Jodari personally dubbed Goliaths. The thin human size versions which would wield rods, toss boxes or punch at them from what he glimpsed while he was lost in the lab.

He only saw one of the large models which reminded him of a walking fridge. They were very bulky from what the raven could glance, but it wouldn't make Jodari drop his guard carelessly. Apparently it was two bots from the first category that were their first opponents. One had no weapons while the other held a large black bat cops often used.

"Hey Knack, I'll take care of the stick on the machine. Will you be kind to deal with the other one?" Jodari asked before taking something out of his pocket. It was red plastic yoyo with a star on each side, the string was pure metal wire from the golem saw. "You got it." Knack said before reading himself for combat.

The rod wielding robot was the first to attack, leaping at Jodari with the intent of caving his skull in. With a flick of his wrist, Jodari launched the toy part of yoyo at the offender. The string wrapping around the rod tightly and with a gentle tug, sliced the black metal to pieces. "Hup!" And the raven delivered a spin kick to the machine, his right leg glowing a bright yellow aura.

"Shining Sunlight Overdrive!" Jodari's kick sending the robot flying back, his Hamon frying its circuits upon contact. "Raah!" Knack roared lunging forward at his respective opponent. His left arm reared back and claws open for a swipe. The bare handed Goliath went to respond for a punch, but Knack was quicker.

The golem quickly moved the relics of his body to the other side of his opponent's attack, then he brought down his claws on the machine's side. Metal tearing to shreds from red ancient stone piercing its surface, yet he wasn't done. His left arm which was cocked back into a fist upon reforming, Knack delivered a brutal punch to the same place.

The added pressure of his attack to the robot's damaged side was enough to tear it completely in half. Both halves crumpling onto the ground lifeless. "Nice job. Come on, Red~ Let's wreak some true havoc." Jodari said before rolling down his yoyo. He was performing the 'Walk the Dog' trick as they continued onward.

In all his life, Viktor had never felt so humiliated. He had gotten everything he ever wanted without a fuss. The best business dealer in robotics, from advanced airships to robots capable of eliminating any threat. Immense wealth and rich heritage from his noble lineage. But yet…

Here he was, watching his robots getting destroyed. Torn to pieces by the Doctor's pet project and a drunken man fighting with a damn yoyo! A child's plaything was smashing through thousands of dollars of advanced circuitry! However he couldn't deny that, they had his interest.

It was the man that interested him the most between the two. Jodari Jonah, he seemed capable of manipulating pure Sunstone energy without a care in the world. It was an easy feat as Sunstone energy was the same as electricity, conducting would end up in pure electrocution. However the odd man didn't seem affected. He needed more information.

"Black Hole Overdrive!" Jodari tossed a handful of water from his hand at the robot across the stream. Apparently the machines decided to use a blocked off path to chuck empty crates at the checkered pair. Despite it being cheap, it was a good tactic he had to admit. However the crunching sound of metal being compacted into a small marble was enough to explain the results.

Or the large cluster sunstone charged relics that decapitated the other opponent. The head landing in the water separating them with a nice splash. Taking a few steps back after reclaiming his parts, Knack leapt over the guards rail to the other side. "Woohoo!" As Jodari followed the golem with a large jump. The raven easily made it across the opposite rail while Knack grabbed onto the wall.

"Here you go!" Jodari said, helping Knack over the rail. "Thanks." The golem thanked, earning a smile from the young man. Following Knack since he knew the way, the duo encountered three more robots. Only one had a weapon which was another baton rod. Not so hard for the two males to destroy.

"Vibrant Drill Overdrive!" Jodari spun his yoyo into the chest with a bare fisted robot. The toy being charged with Hamon and a mixture transformed it into a spiral drill. This drill tore through the circuitry and metal plating with ease. He wasn't finished though. The yoyo ran a loop around the dead machine through the hole in its chest before effectively wrapping around. "Clutch!"

Jodari then turned at Knack. The relic golem was busy fighting the mechanical staff user but was unaware of the other robot to strike him in the back. "Crimson Revenge Overdrive!" Yelled the raven haired male before tossing the lifeless robotic shell at its former comrade. Mechanical junk began to spiral in vicious red into makeshift top, drilling into Knack's sneak attacker much to the golem's surprise.

"Be careful Red~ You're enemies won't play fair and square. Rather not have my new friend get hurt." Jodari responded softly with a small flirtatious tone. Knack merely gave him a smile and a thumbs up. Cheering could be heard from outside the garden. Apparently the Doctor's guests were enjoying watching the two gladiators wipe out their opponents in style.

Jodari wasn't just enjoying the destruction but he was enjoying the show the golem was putting. Seeing the golem bulk up with relics to increase his size was an incredible sight. He wouldn't lie that he liked guys who were bigger than him. After all, they give the best hugs and cuddles. And Jodari was just ready to give the now 9'7 golem a big ol' hug.

It wasn't long to reach the car lot. The car lot was the halfway point to the end of the garden. Knack had already trashed the robot there with a nice drop kick to the face. However, it seemed a bit too easy for the raven's liking. His suspicion was answered when two of those walking fridge Goliaths he spotted jump down in front of them.

Their hands were way too big to be a normal function, or the fact they were eyeing the cars parked here. "Son of a bitch! Guess I have no choice. Yo Knack, get behind me. I rather not accidentally hit you." Jodari warned. The golem was about to question the raven only to notice how different he seemed.

His eyes were hardened instead of the carefree brightness he saw earlier. A bright reddish violet aura burning around him. Knack didn't question Jodari's words and walked behind the man. "Everyone's got a fighting spirit. Some are weak while some are strong. However, for those whose spirit burns than the sun, it can take a physical form." The raven started.

Raising his right hand to his head and clutched it with his claws. A mad grin tearing across his face as the aura around him exploded in a large burning haze. "The Star! The 17th card of the Tarot Deck's Major Arcana. It symbolizes hope, optitism, and faith for those it blesses and despair to those who oppose it!"

"Take form, the spirit that burns brightly from my starlit soul! Roar to the heavens and show the light that survived absolute disaster! This is my true power! Behold my Stand: Star Platinum Ruin!!!" With a raise of his left hand to the sky, the world around Jodari exploded in a blast of light as a pillar of light shot skyward.

No one expected what would happen next. The violet aura around Jodari separated from bed taking an actual physical form. This aura soon took the shape as what you can describe as an ancient Aztec warrior. Skin a bright violet with a lavender inner tone across his large bulky frame decorated by golden wavy lines spanning down the chest, arms and legs.

Large mane of smoky black hair that waved constantly as if it was pure fire. Bright burning blue eye, a white loincloth but the biggest focal point was what the rest of his body and clothing were made of. They were crafted from pure relics and Sunstones. The left eye was black oval stone amongst the remaining white, ears were just like Knack's but attached to the head, two large gold tusks on the side of his plump lips, red string stone eyebrows paired with a gold circlet and a blue jewel to it but another on his forehead.

Gold and blue jewel necklace that made up part of the neck, two triangular blue jewels on the upper top of his abs, shoulder pads made of pure flat carved Sunstone with red and violet spikes jagged out of it, the center of the arms made out of block stone and gold relics, the outer sides having small wings made out of 6 purple, gold and red relic pieces before ending with yellow Sunstone knife like shards.

Right hand a full trapezoid tan relic with claws made out of red, violet and small gold pieces, left hand fingernails made out of red relics with a gold studded black fingerless glove. A kilt made out of jagged purple and red relics with pieces on the back floating separately, knees made out of tan and gold relics with an aquamarine jewel in the center, floating red back spikes, gold trapezoid shaped feet with three purple and red front claws and one back claw.

The spirit or Star Platinum was large, almost as big as Knack but a foot shorter but the golem could feel it. Immense power pouring from this entity but also some sort of connection. Almost if he was part of Knack himself. Then the entity spoke or to be precise, roared.

"OOORRRRAAAAAAA!!!!!" Star Platinum Ruin howled voice sounding like a mixture of both Knack and Jodari with a bit of static like distortion to it. Feeling threatened, both robots went to grab a car. Too bad they didn't realize how fast this new being was. One second, the left Goliath was fine, then the next it had a large hole in it with Star's arm through it. Knack pitied the second robot for what happened next.

"ORAORAORAORAORA!!" Came an onslaught of punches from the Stand. The bulky machine was form to pieces with every brutal punch, metal scraps flying everywhere until the machine dropped dead. The Goliath was reduced to nothing but few pieces of scrap metal. "Ora!" Star roared in triumph.

"Holy shit." Was all Knack could say at the sight. Jodari and his Stand looked at Knack, the raven had a smile while the hybrid had a look of curiosity on his face. "Come on, Red~ We still have halfway to go. Star Platinum Ruin will be fighting in my place for the rest. Wouldn't be fair to pull him back just for two robots, right, Star?" Jodari said looking at the spirit in question.

"Ora!" The purple goliath chirped with a nod. He seemed very pleased from the odd man's consideration. Regaining his voice from the huge surprise, the golem finally spoke. "Sure. You got it partner. I'll do my best to help out." Knack answered, earning a smile from Jodari.

Making it to the end of the garden wasn't hard with the inclusion of Star Platinum Ruin. The Stand, Knack believes is what Jodari called him, was insanely powerful. Star was fast, tearing apart Viktor's machines left and right with either his fists or claws. Not even one of Viktor's mechanical menaces could so much as touch much less hurt the violet skinned berserker.

He was kind to leave enemies for Knack to fight on his own while keeping the rest from sneak attacking him. Jodari was being his odd self… taking out a flask of alcohol (where did he even get that Knack would never know) and chugging it down while singing Camptown Races.

Finding the end of the garden didn't really take long. The key mark to it is the stone statue of a beautiful woman. A memorial crafted by the Doctor for someone he cared about the most but lost a long time ago. Knack had grown around 13 ft in size at the moment before looking at his strange human companion.

Jodari had stopped singing and drinking. The man merely looked at the statue with honest empathy before walking up to it, Star Platinum Ruin following. The raven stood in front of it before closing his eyes and placing his hands together, Star following suit. Knack knew what he was doing, Jodari was giving a silent prayer, a respect to the fallen.

It was a sincere and beautiful moment, however it became one that would soon rot. One of Viktor's robots had emerged in the garden and aimed its gun at them. It started shooting medium balls of green plasma with no hesitation. Quick to act, Knack ran over to Jodari and pulled him out of the way. A stray shot hitting the base of the statue.

Looks of horror spread on both the Doctor and Jodari, a loud cry of 'No' echoing from outside the garden. A cry came out of Jodari's throat, a phrase Knack didn't recognize. "Za Warudo Riwaindo(The World Rewind/Rewind The World)!!!" Everything around them suddenly greyed out before everything just stopped in place.

Yet, Knack, Star Platinum and Jodari were unaffected. Jodari was immediately shocked at what was going on but Star didn't seem to be. It's almost if the Stand knew...no he was doing this. Next thing other of them knew, their bodies began moving to previous positions, alongside everything else. 'We're...going back in time!!!' The golem thought in pure astonishment.

They then found themselves in their previous spots, 30 seconds before Viktor's robot appeared and attacked. Knack was stunned beyond belief but immediately shook it off hearing the familiar hum of circuitry. Without a thought, the golem spun around and delivered a Falcon Punch into the robot that would've attacked in the past.

The fist decapitating the attacker while it's head went flying to the opposite side of the garden. Jodari spun onto his feet looking up to see more of the drones, ready to drop down on them from the sky. Aiming the small flask of liquor and giving Star three metal ball droppings. "Blackhole Overdrive!!" A shot of spiralling alcohol came out of the flask like a rocket.

Star Platinum Ruin flicked one of the metal droppings with his finger, the item went airborne at the speed of a bullet despite the little movement used. The liquor shot tearing through the chest plate of one Goliath while the metal ball pulverized the head of the other. Both bodies of lifeless dropping down to the ground with a heavy thud.

Two more Goliaths, both with installed cannons came flying from the garden over to their current spot. This was the last wave of machines. "One more push, Star Platinum Ruin! Time to shine bright as the stars above! Knack!" The golem looked at the raven. "Toss me into the air!" Knack looked at Jodari for a moment before nodding.

Picking up the raven, Knack threw Jodari right at the two airborne machines. "Raise your graceful wings, my precious star!" The relic wings on the Stand's arms immediately spread forth, Sunstone energy began to channel between the pieces. What came from it was a large glowing pair of golden Phoenix Wings.

"Saki Spiral!" Channeling Spin into his flask, the raven sent it forward, Star Platinum following by tossing the two remaining metal bearings. The clear liquid created multiple spirals of Saki in two groups from the bearings that grew in the air and with a spark of Jodari's Hamon, they ignited into twin tunnels of fire. Star Platinum Ruin grabbed onto Jodari's arms as the young man shifted into a kicking position with a quickly growing rotation, the Stand sinking into his body with the wings now spread across his host's body.

"Ultimate Technique: Rising Phoenix Overdrive!!!" Jodari roared, now an angelic drill fire and burning rings, with all his might. The raven drilled through the robot in his range and tore a massive hole into it, however it wasn't what finished the machines off. The spirals of fire he created had grown in a viciously large vortex as they travelled, swallowing the remaining robots within its maw.

Using the wings of his Stand, the amnesiac raven descended down like an angel that flew out of battle in triumph, a large explosion of golden fire exploding in the sky. He stood up as the rest of his Stand dissipated before looking at Knack, with the biggest grin on his face. "That was a blast! Looks like we're in!" Knack couldn't help but laugh.

This adventure was going to be very interesting and very bizarre.

This is Knack if you haven't seen him.

[xb-squaredx]

Knack Review: More Like Lack

In 2013, the PS4 hit the store shelves, its library littered with a variety of games that just happened to look slightly nicer than their PS3 counterparts. Amidst the “next-gen” ports, there was ONE game that stood out as being a true step forward. A glimpse into the future of gaming as we knew it, and something that could only be defined by the words “Next-Gen”: Killzone: Shadow Fall. Oh, and Knack was there too. A new IP and at the time one of the only real benchmark games out there for what was defined as “next-gen,” Knack is definitely an interesting title. While nowadays a punchline and meme (due to a certain YouTuber), I finally got a chance to run through the game and see just what all the fuss (or lack thereof) was about.

Knack is a frustrating game for many reasons, most of all that it has a fairly solid premise with some real potential…but the execution is overall lacking. The story of the game is simple enough; long ago, humans and goblins went to war over “Relics,” ancient technology from a long-gone civilization. Humans won, goblins were banished and human civilization flourished. Now, Doctor Vargas has achieved a new breakthrough in Knack, a sentient pile of Relics that can absorb Relics into himself to grow bigger and stronger, and it’s up to Knack to take out the goblin forces whenever they show up. The goal of every level (or Chapter) in the game is simple; get Knack big, so he can smash stuff. And yet the game tries to complicate the premise with the introduction of tons of human characters and their own interpersonal conflicts that either A) fail to endear them to you or B) are barely used.

Doctor Vargas (who is called only “Doctor” so often I quickly forgot his name) is either expositing, going on and on about his dead wife or being told he’s reckless and needs to be held back. Despite this, he’s not really what I’d call reckless throughout the game up until the ONE moment where the script says some conflict should happen. The world-traveling adventurer Flynn comes and goes out of the narrative to the point that he feels useless, and his nephew Lucas has his own personal character arc where he wants to earn Vargas’ trust, while still getting over the death of his parents and it’s given enough focus that you get the feeling he should be the main character. The problem with Knack’s story isn’t just the cliché dialogue and paper-thin characters; Knack is the main hero and thus solves pretty much every problem, which results in the human cast being useless 99% of the time. Knack’s own story rarely intersects with the humans overall; it feels like two stories violently fighting for screen time. The result is that you can come to resent the human characters because they do nothing but order Knack around, and you can’t really be endeared to Knack because he has almost no personality. He rarely talks, does what is asked of him without question or even a snarky reply and whenever he DOES say something it’s either a joke that falls flat or an attempt at sounding cool that is ruined because…just look at the guy. This is clearly not the kind of game you play for the story.

As for gameplay…it’s a mixed bag, really. I often saw Knack billed as a platformer; in some circles it was marketed as this generation’s Crash Bandicoot or Spryo the Dragon. In actuality, Knack is a 3D beat-em-up with minor platforming elements; the actual platforming is very simple, at times even automated. Many times throughout the game, rather than letting players jump down into a new area or cross a gap, the game will take control away from you and go into a brief cutscene where the jump is done for you. I suppose its fine that the platforming isn’t the focus, but if that was the case, I wish they had made Knack’s default jump better at the very least. He has a normal jump and a double jump, and in almost all instances, the single jump can’t clear anything. Every jump essentially requires two jumps to clear, and while that sounds very minor, it gets VERY annoying as time goes on. Mashing that jump button when it should be done in half the button presses makes the platforming feel like a chore when it should be…you know…FUN.

You spend the bulk of your time fighting though, the platforming just a minor break from the repetitive, monotonous combat. Knack’s move set is pretty basic; a three-hit combo and an aerial attack and…that’s pretty much it. He does have three special moves that can be performed if you find enough Sunstone crystals to charge your “batteries” but it often takes so long to build up uses, I almost always regret using them, even if they are generally good for clearing out a whole room of enemies at once. Knack also has a dodge move that feels very inconsistent; sometimes it comes out fast, other times it seems to not register in time to dodge. You can’t dodge in the same direction more than once, and you really don’t move that far out of the way, so in many cases I’d dodge at the correct time but still get hit by an attack. Oh, and did I mention dodging is done by flicking the right stick? It’s about as awkward as it sounds.

So if the right stick controls dodging, how does one control the camera? Well, Knack is kind enough to prevent any camera control at all. It either moves the camera automatically or more often has a fixed camera angle for many rooms. Generally, this was something done in the infancy of 3D games, before proper camera control was really ironed out, a result of necessity really. Seeing these techniques employed in Knack was a bit of a red flag, but admittedly fixed camera angles aren’t inherently bad…but it becomes clear early on that they are not used well in Knack. Enemies can go off-screen leaving you with no way to tell where they are or where to dodge, and since the overall premise of each level is for Knack to get bigger, he will eventually obscure a great deal of the camera in some spots, resulting in me blindly attacking and hoping I hit the enemies that are in front of me. I suppose I should be thankful the platforming isn’t more intensive or else the fixed camera angles could become more of a problem then they already are. The game is far from unplayable due to this, but it’s still far more annoying than it should be.

So with a limited move set, a stiff, at times unresponsive dodge and camera shenanigans aplenty, that’s a lot going against Knack’s combat, and that’s before we even factor in the overall difficulty. Now, difficulty is subjective; one man’s easy is another’s hard, and I don’t really like bringing it up unless it feels necessary. Knack isn’t a brutally hard game that only the hardest of the hardcore can beat, but considering how simple its mechanics are and how it’s marketed as a game meant for the younger set (in lieu of all the complex shooters out there), it feels far harder than it should be on many occasions. Part of this comes from enemies being very smart and often paired together in ways to ensure Knack is always at a disadvantage. Nearly every enemy in the game has superior range to him, either with large melee weapons or with projectile attacks, something Knack has no real answer for. Melee attackers will charge forward while the others hang back to pelt you with shots, and if you ever get close enough to attack, often enemies can roll out of the way of your attacks and then immediately retaliate; something Knack really can’t do due to poor range and attack speed. It’s still manageable though; you learn to bait enemies first rather than go in aggressively, and that’ll work out fine enough…however that doesn’t stop the constant frustration. One big problem I have with Knack that shines the most in combat is the rigid scaling it employs with everything. Knack starts each Chapter at his smallest stage, and he’ll fight enemies of a similar size; tiny goblins or bugs, usually. As he gets bigger, so do his enemies. He graduates from bugs to humans or human-sized robots, then giant goblins and robots, then tanks and attack helicopters and so on. The problems start when you realize that it’s often hard to appreciate how big he’s really getting when everything appropriately scales. It’s rare that he fights smaller enemies in his larger forms, and you NEVER encounter a bigger enemy when small (baring one real instance). The level itself seems to perfectly scale out to be just as wide as it usually is, the enemies can see you eye-to-eye at all times and while the game TRIES to hype you up as being big and powerful, it doesn’t work. This is also due to the fact that, regardless of how big Knack gets, he’ll be fighting enemies that will usually kill him in two hits, MAYBE three if you’re lucky. The attack scaling is so aggressive any sense of empowerment you had is lost instantly. There’s something so WRONG about seeing Knack’s massive health bar instantly halve when an enemy so much as touches him. It feels more appropriate when he’s small; it gives you a reason to get bigger and stop being a pushover, but the game never lets you flex those oversized muscles.

Knack feels like it could be a cross between Katamari Damacy and Hulk Ultimate Destruction. It should feel rewarding to see Knack at his biggest, something you spend the whole chapter accomplishing, but it never really hits that outside of some fleeting moments. A Chapter where you ward off a goblin attack in the middle of a city is one of the few parts of the game where it almost comes together. The townspeople in the distance combined with the buildings all around you establish appropriate scale and it feels like you’re in the middle of a monster movie. I wish more of the game had felt like that. That’s not even touching on the fact that no matter how big Knack gets in a chapter, he’ll ALWAYS shrink at the end, and you know you’ll be starting the next chapter out small and weak. Not exactly a great motivator to keep going. That’s not the only bit of potential being wasted either.

Knack is composed of a bunch of independent objects and that alone means he should be able to reshape himself into almost anything. He could form a shield or sword with excess parts, and really it makes no sense why his dodge barely covers any ground when he could just disperse the Relics that make him up and then quickly reform. The game even shows that he can amass other objects into his body for a time; reflexive crystal, ice, wood and metal, but outside of the crystal, the other forms are shown to be a poor man’s substitute for Relics. Ice Knack melts in the heat, Wood Knack can be lit on fire and burned away and Metal Knack is only usable in areas where powerful magnets either slow you down or strip the metal away. All three of these forms also don’t actually grant you more health and when you get hit, you lose those materials and shrink, allowing you to be instantly taken out by enemies that are technically one “tier” of size above you. Using the crystals though, Knack becomes “Stealth Knack” and the Chapters that make use of the form were actually pretty fun. Unlike the other forms, Stealth Knack is used when he needs to get small, walking through security beams and going into ventilation shafts, but at the press of a button Knack could switch back to a bigger form for combat. I really don’t get why only that form worked that way.

At the end of the day, Knack frustrates more than it excites or entertains. If not due to its restrictive fixed camera angels, dull and at times unfulfilling combat and shoddy excuse for a story, than for the potential that lies within. There’s a good game buried under here, somewhere. From what I hear, Knack 2 fixes a lot of these issues…at least as far as gameplay goes. Going into Knack, I expected it to just be kind of dull and unremarkable, but in the end I had way more to say about it than I thought I would. It’s a concept with a lot of room to grow and really it should have been grown out more before it was released. Knack feels less like a fully fleshed-out idea and more like a tech demo for the PS4 to flex its then-new muscles. Which makes it amusing when anytime I use a special attack the framerate dies. As a launch title for a new system, Knack had the unfortunate responsibility of being seen as an example of what games could do with upgraded technology, what the “next step” in gaming would look like, but it really looks like it might have taken a few steps backward.

Until next time.

-B

[chibifox2002]

So you did Kirby crew as dog, but what about the rock squad?

What type of dogs they will be?

Okay! *claps hands* So here's what I think the squad (plus some others) would be as dogs!

Knack- Grey Wolf (still has his colors)

Lucas- German Shepherd

Ryder- German Shepherd (with more "blonde" fur coloration)

Penny- Wolfdog/Akita mix

Ava- Puli

Doctor Vargas- Irish Wolfhound

Charlotte- (Yellow) Labor Retriever

Katrina- Doberman

[knackfandomarchive]

I knew he was full of it!

Charlotte needed more screen time oh my gosh. I'm not clever enough to fill the gaps in my fanfictions.

[sonicasura]

Man, the goblins, especially Gundahar, would shit themselves if Knack brought Bendy along. An enemy with little to no weaknesses that can tear through their weapons with little effort. Xander would've been consumed immediately, if only for reminding Bendy of Joey, much like how Dr Vargas reminds him of Henry. Just Xander fawning over toon Bendy while Bendy gives him the most annoyed/disgusted face he can muster.

True lol. Bendy is familiar with goblins from Audrey who told him about them and GENT which used said folk for experiments. Only traditional(low tech) weapon that can harm the Ink Demon are explosives or fire. Bendy would shrug anything else so most goblins are definitely screwed fighting him without proper gear.

Xander was immediately regarded with suspicion the moment he came into the picture. He knows a liar when he sees one and the man's entire order felt too much like Wilson's cult. Knack kept Bendy from biting off Xander's fingers.

You are right on Doctor Vargas reminding Bendy of Henry, well, a more eccentric version. Both men tend to stubborn and their respective lovers tend to pull them back from going too far. Henry's drawings thankfully doesn't explode unlike Vargas' prototype inventions.

[knackfandomarchive]

Does Knack have a thing about skin?

I found a poem I wrote two months ago in the middle of the night, where it mentioned warm skin as an important part I think.

There is nothing in either game about Knack's feelings about skin, at least as far as I know of? Not sure why I think it's something to have feelings about.

I'm wondering if he's curious. Not necessarily envious, but maybe, if you want.

It's soft and always warm to him.

I'm wondering if a younger Lucas might need to use lotion to soften a light scab on the back of his hand, where Knack has absentmindedly rubbed his thumb over too much. And while it's just a minor abrasion, Lucas has to decide whether and how to tell him he’s hurting him. Knack would understand, of course, but his solution would be a disinclination to hold hands anymore, or so Lucas worries. That poor boy needs all the attention he can get.

I wonder if Knack would ever try to hold the Doctor's hand, and whether he takes care to be very small when he does. Would the Doctor tell him he's too old?

I dunno where to go from here, so: Posting!

[knackfandomarchive]

do u have any random headcanons for any of the knack characters lol

I wrote down as many of my headcanons as I could remember (71). And then sorted out the ones for the characters (58 or so). I feel like I forgot some. Here is a not-exactly-random selection of ten fifteen:

The Doctor claims to have spent decades learning the secrets of the relics. But the sad truth is, Knack’s orb was shelved for a very long time; it reminded the Doctor of what he lost the day he found it.

Knack has an actual rectangular phone rather than a wristwatch. It’s funny to watch him eat it when he wants to put it away.

Baby Knack was born not knowing how to initiate sleep. So he wore himself out over the course of a couple days until he finally passed out during troubleshooting. I wanted the Doctor to do it, but Lucas figured it out first that the little thing wanted a hug.

Lucas (almost) never refers to Charlotte as “Mom,” because that title is Reserved. He does call her “Mother” (as in, one who mothers), especially when he’s doing a bit, and sometimes “Ma.”

I think Katrina would wear a fedora at least once.

When Lucas and Knack were younger, Lucas would often press his forehead to Knack’s forehead and scratch him behind the ears.

Knack had a phase where he jump-scared Lucas and even the Doctor at every opportunity.

Charlotte has a minor hobby collecting jewelry

Knack grows to refer to Charlotte as “Mom.” He was very excited to learn that having a mom was an option for him.

Any friends or lovers Charlotte made during her time among goblins were cut off from contact by Gundahar. This was shortly after he moved her to live in his castle.

Ryder tries to be a stoic kind of guy, but it’s easy to tell when he’s upset because his face reddens, especially around his eyes.

Charlotte picked up sewing and sometimes makes Knack and Lucas new outfits.

Somewhat early on, Lucas learns to interpret Knack when he’s little and talks to the Doctor for him.

Deflecting is Knack’s favorite move.

Lucas often spoke to Knack’s dormant orb. Not in the way that he expected a response, but more like how a doctor would explain what he’s doing to his patients.

[knackfandomarchive]

last night i had a dream where dr vargas was coercing this random guy into assassinating the (ingame) president

idk i thought that was pretty interesting

Damn, that's crazy! (I'm so sorry I don't know how to answer that). I'm curious like. What was the Doctor threatening him with?