Hi-Rez Studios are a publisher I like to call friends. They have given me endless opportunities to get hands-on early with previous titles and lots of behind-the-scenes of Rogue Company which proved to be a big hit. They are back again with a new experience from developer Red Beard Games which sits under the Hi-Rez umbrella. Divine Knockout arrived on several platforms just before the Christmas break and comes in the form of two introductory editions. Marketed as the world’s only 3rd person platform fighter, it is literally one of a kind!

Introduction

Immediately after playing Divine Knockout, you get instant vibes of the Super Smash Bros franchise and games like Power Stone rolled into one. If you’re too young to remember Power Stone, then let’s just say it was an arcade-style title focused on beating the crap out of each other and being the last one standing. This game brings qualities from the games I’ve mentioned and adds a brilliant level of polish to the overall chaos.

Two Editions To Start With

Part of me wonders whether Divine Knockout is heading in the same direction as Rogue Company went. What I mean by this is with paid editions for a short period of time and then free to play later down the line. At the moment you can choose a founders edition for £21.99 which will give you access to the main game with a few characters unlocked. For a whopping £43.99, you can acquire the Ultimate Edition which includes 8 characters and a variance of cosmetics along with some in-game currency.

Gameplay

Whilst many may simply skip by a tutorial, I love a game that has the option. Divine Knockout will introduce you to a short run-through of how the game operates before you dive in. Here you’ll be learning how to maneuver around the arena and how to attack and defend. More importantly, you’ll be shown how to avoid being knocked out to your death.

The only way to knock someone out is to smash them off the sides of the level with a constant barrage of attacks between you and your team. Percentage indicators display how much damage an individual has taken. The higher this number, the less chance they have of having the energy to leap back into the game.

Different Modes Increase Longevity & Replayability

I was pleasantly surprised to see several modes that are selected at random in each game. Whilst you can have the standard team deathmatch style option, there are also modes that mimic King of the Hill or collect coins dotted around and bank them. What I liked about this is you have to adapt your playstyle each time and be strategic in your approach. Obviously, with a group of friends, it will be easier to work together as a team to play the objective, but I found randoms actually go for the win here rather than just kills.

Time Your Attacks Wisely

There is a leveling-up system throughout the game and you can adjust powers and abilities within the game menus. Each character has specific attacks they can deploy but you have to be mindful that the more powerful ones have a cooldown. The gameplay loop is super spontaneous and with how chaotic everything becomes you will quickly become accustomed to timing and attempting to be precise with your attacks.

Graphics & Audio

The presentation of Divine Knockout is excellent with bright and colorful cartoony visuals across the board. Whilst the game is set up as your standard generic cosmetic money and battle pass sift, it is done in a tasteful manner and the range of character design is actually brilliant. The game especially comes to life in the heat of battle with everyone having unique attack and defense options with special abilities that really ramp up the intensity. With no framerate issues and a buttery smooth experience throughout, the team has aced everything with the art design.

Audio blends in exceptionally well and performs as you’d expect, sound effects echo the power behind your character so everything is complemented by the tight control system. With a feel-good soundtrack to go alongside everything else, it is another big green tick for the game.

In Conclusion

Divine Knockout has incredible potential if they get the marketing and audience right. With cross-platform and cross-gen multiplayer, they are already halfway there at the moment. Whilst there have been some subtle stabs at Super Smash Bros clones on Xbox with Brawlhalla and Multiversus recently, there has never been a successful 3D version that I know of.

It is difficult to criticize the gameplay, it is fun, and the characters are well-crafted. Once the paid entry barrier is removed then this will populate the servers and give everyone the opportunity to join in. Unlocking characters is possible without spending real money, but if you want some snazzy skins then you’ll need to dip your hand in your pocket, unfortunately.