Bad game design, poor controls and unfair mechanics make it bad. Not inscrutable, not difficult, not obtuse. But bad.
Not sure I'd go THAT far, but I am getting a lot of the same tone from the conversation as people had with that ring in Dark Souls that said it regenerated your health, but actually gave you MORE health.
And people fell all over one another to explain that bad translation was, like, PART of the PLAN, DUUUUUUDE.
It seems like calling back to an old game/type of game and combining the old game feel with smart, modern changes is a very hard balance to strike.
Kudos to Yacht Club and Shovel Knight I guess.
P.S.
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I think it becomes exponentially harder when you add that Z-axis. Not to take away what Shovel Knight accomplished, there are plenty of examples of even MODERN 2D games that managed to shit the bed (Mighty No. 9, anyone), but once you introduce camera controls into your throwback game, I can't imagine how much more complex EVERYTHING becomes.
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