In 2006, Arkane Studios unleashed a quiet FPS miracle with Dark Messiah of Might and Magic. This early Source engine game was a fantasy melee FPS with fast kicking moves that did not do much damage but instantly tore most enemies to shreds (opens in new tab). The combination of abundant physical hazards and unstable drops made Dark Messiah an absolute slapstick mayhem.

The kick of Dark Messiah was breathtaking and life-changingly satisfying, but it wasn't until 2021's Deathloop. Now developer Alexy "cptnsigh" is working on a hybrid character action game/FPS centered around the same perfect attack, and the recently released demo of Shady Knight (opens in new tab) proves an absolute blast.

I'm not sure what makes the titular Shady Knight so shady, but this guy sure is stylish. Shady Knight presents a series of platform/combat arenas of increasing difficulty and complexity, challenging us to solve them primarily with our trusty boots and a particularly nasty grappling hook.

The abstract, sparse structures floating in the ocean void feel like "Neon White" (open in new tab) itself, and the FPS character-action style meter reminds me of "Ultrakill" (open in new tab) from "New blood," but "Shady Knight" is much more methodical than either of those games. In addition to the always-available boots and grapples, Shady Knight's levels are full of one-shot weapons, and you can even throw a dagger in the face for a series of combos.

As the demo progresses, things get a little more complex, with stronger enemies added to the combos and level requirements changing. It helps that the grappling hook doesn't have a slow cooldown like Halo Infinite's. In Shady Knight's free demo, I was yelling at the top of my lungs to absolutely punish my enemies with the grappling hook, and Shady Knight has a wealth of character action and while it seems to beg you to take your time and master the game, it's immediately satisfying to just jump in and start kicking enemies off the ledge.

Shady Knight is currently listed as "Coming Soon" on Steam (opens in a new tab), but you can check out the free demo and add it to your wish list right now. In a unique and striking fantasy world, dodgy enemies and precarious drops await.