Shovel Knight

Next-gen consoles are pushing for more realism, better graphics and more immersive gameplay, but nostalgia still has a place. And there's no better demonstration of this than the rake of retro-inspired titles that have hit the market in recent months. Shovel Knight follows that trend, with 8-bit-inspired graphics and a definite whiff of Castlevania and Mega Man – something the developer is open about.

There's an interesting story behind it. Shovel Knight was the subject of a Kickstarter campaign, the method du jour for raising funding for projects. The game met and exceeded its target last year, raising more than $300,000.

The plot isn’t the most original: a knight on a mission to save his beloved and defeat an evil enchantress. He’s armed with the ShovelBlade, which allows you to slash and dig your way through the Order of No Quarter, a band evil knights determined to stand between our hero and the enchantress.

Despite its 8-bit heritage, Shovel Knight also has modern touches, with unlimited lives ensuring you don't get bored of repeating the same sections unsuccessfully over again. There are consequences (you lose your treasure), but it's an improvement on the old-style "three strikes and you're out" approach.

Checkpoints will save your progress or provide you with a new source of gems – you make your choice and take your chances. As you build up loot, you can upgrade your armour and weapons to increase your firepower.

Controls are simple to master, so the game will appeal to both fans of the genre and newcomers who might be looking for something a little different from the usual blockbuster games.

Nostalgic yet refreshing, Shovel Knight is worth a dig out.