Line #5 VideoGame/BlackKnightSword


1	[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/Black_Knight_Sword_350px_6413.jpg]]
2	->'''''An escape from darkness... by stealing hearts'''''
3	-->-- ''Black Knight Sword''[='=]s {{tagline}}
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5	''Black Knight Sword'' is a PlatformGame developed by Creator/GrasshopperManufacture and Creator/DigitalReality, as a whimsically [[DarkerAndEdgier dark]] and strange throwback to 8-bit and 16-bit 2D action platformers for Platform/{{PlayStation 3}} and Platform/{{Xbox 360}}.
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7	You take control of the eponymous [[DarkIsNotEvil Black Knight]], Grahame Wormwood, in a fairy tale quest to stop an evil [[LightIsNotGood White Princess]]. Aiding him in this adventure is Black Hellebore, a [[CuteGhostGirl spectre]] that takes form of knight's magical sword who can also help him perform [[DoubleJump double-jumps]], cast spells, and solve puzzles. ''Black Knight Sword'' exudes a unique puppet theatre artstyle that looks like something straight out of Creator/MontyPython with dynamically changing backdrops and scenery.
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9	The game was released on December 11th, 2012 for Platform/{{PlayStation Network}} and Platform/XboxLiveArcade the day after. Has nothing to do with ''Black Knight'' staring Martin Lawrence. If you're looking for the trope of a knight in black armor, see BlackKnight.
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11	----
12	!!This game features examples of:
13	* AbsurdlySpaciousSewer: Stage 2 has this.
14	* BackFromTheDead: Wormwood is resurrected by Black Hellbore to serve as her knight.
15	* BlackKnight: Wormwood becomes one picking up the sword at start of the game.
16	* BigCreepyCrawlies: [[spoiler: one of the bosses. A giant spider with a gas mask…and a human head on the other end. Did we mention this game is weird yet?]]
17	* BookEnds: The game begins and ends the same way if you go through the credits after the True Ending: [[spoiler:Wormwood hanging himself in a lonely motel room.]]
18	* BrutalBonusLevel: Some of the completely optional missions in Challenge Mode are quite difficult.
19	* BulletHell: The White Princess loves to do this in her third phase, and does so a lot faster on higher difficulties.
20	* CainAndAbel: [[spoiler:The White Princess is Black Hellebore's sister. The hate they felt for each other was so strong that it defied death itself and annoyed ''God'' enough that he sealed them in a storybook, which is the setting of the game.]]
21	* CentralTheme: Violence begetting violence.
22	** All the main bosses have seemingly unconnected short poems that all have the theme of people bringing animals harm (with various kinds intents, but all ultimatelyending the same.)
23	** The Three main bosses are also fusions of the animals and the humans who brought them harm (the wolf and the hunter that shot it, the spider and the princess who brought it to her father - that smashed it, and the chicken and the farmer who cooked it.)
24	** The main story is about a Sword Spirit fighting a Princess [[spoiler: who turn out to be the spirits of twin sisters trapped in a storybook, and it's implied that they're no different from each other, to the point that the games events repeat with them exchanging the two roles and Wormwood is simply caught in the middle as their fighter and just wants to rest in peace, which is why he hangs himself and the Narrator repeats the opening line at the very end.]]
25	* CoolSword: Black Hellebore, a sword that can take form of a CuteGhostGirl and provides our hero with magical spells and a DoubleJump ability. [[spoiler:The White Princess can turn into one as well.]]
26	* CuteKitten: The Cathead Grasses you find throughout the game are quite adorable.
27	* DamageSpongeBoss: Most of the bosses take a lot of hits to bring down, but arguably the biggest example goes towards the boss of the UnexpectedShmupLevel, who has the most forms out of any of them.
28	* DarkIsNotEvil: The Black Knight is ultimately facing an evil White Princess.
29	* DrivenToSuicide: Wormwood hangs himself at the beginning of the game, but is brought back by to life by Black Hellbore, falling from the noose and picking up the sword which kicks off the events of the game. [[spoiler:The True Ending shows that he'd rather stay dead, however.]]
30	* DownerEnding: [[spoiler:In the True Ending, the White Princess is defeated and Grahame is finally free from the Black Hellbore's binding, returning to his room... only to then hang himself again, likely staying dead this time.]]
31	* EvilKnockoff: [[spoiler:The White Princess turns into a CoolSword and animates a White Knight in the true final battle.]]
32	* HarderThanHard: The dreaded Arcade Mode strips you of the ability to save your game and adds a strict time limit to each level, while the difficulty is set on Hard. Which means you have to play through the whole game [[ThisIsGonnaSuck in one sitting]].
33	* HeartContainer: The Earthling's Eyes. You buy them from the giant eyeball with the hearts you collected from enemies.
34	* LightIsNotGood: The White Princess.
35	* LadyAndKnight: Our duo of protagonists. [[spoiler:The White Princess animates a knight of her own for the TrueFinalBoss fight.]]
36	* NintendoHard: With the game being a throwback to 8- and 16-bit action platformers, this comes naturally. Even freakin' Easy Mode has its fair share of challenges.
37	* OurMonstersAreWeird:
38	** Monsters with weird human faces, friendly flying eyeballs with hands for wings, you bet this game has some weird monsters.
39	** One of the bosses is a giant fire-breathing chicken. Immediately after is a fight against an ugly flying head that hatches from and egg.
40	* SelfImposedChallenge: One trophy/achievement requires a MinimalistRun. Easy Mode is highly recommended.
41	* PortalBook: [[spoiler:Turns out to be where the game is set, God having sealed the Princesses in a storybook.]]
42	* StableTimeLoop: Implied. [[spoiler: God sealed away the two bickering twin sisters in a storybook the narrative is set in. It's implied that when the story ends in a sisters defeat, Wormwood goes back to hang himself and then which ever sister lost revives him into a knight when the story restarts to wrest control back from the other as a sword spirit, which is why the White Princess is able to make her own knight and also become a sword spirit.]]
43	* TheStinger: The True Ending offers a post-credits scene, [[spoiler:where Wormwood goes back to his room to hang himself again.]]
44	* TrueFinalBoss: [[spoiler:After she is defeated in her first form, the White Princess turns into a sword and animates a white knight.]]
45	* UnexpectedShmupLevel: Occurs at the very end of Stage 3.

Context VideoGame / BlackKnightSword