Knock-Knock (video game)

Knock-Knock
Developer(s)Ice-Pick Lodge
Publisher(s)Ice-Pick Lodge
Director(s)Nikolay Dybowski
EngineUnity
Platform(s)Windows
OS X
SteamOS
Linux
iOS
Android
PlayStation 4
PlayStation Vita
Xbox One
Nintendo Switch
Release
October 4, 2013
  • Windows, Linux, OS X
    October 4, 2013
    iOS
    March 6, 2014
    Android
    May 29, 2014
    PlayStation 4
    • NA: September 10, 2015
    • PAL: February 18, 2016
    PS Vita
    February 23, 2016
    Xbox One
    • EU: August 22, 2017
    • NA: August 23, 2017
    Switch
    October 31, 2018
Genre(s)Adventure, survival horror
Mode(s)Single-player

Knock-Knock (Russian: Тук-тук-тук, romanized: Tuk-tuk-tuk, IPA: [tuk tuk tuk]) is a 2013 survival horror video game developed and published by the Russian studio Ice-Pick Lodge.[1] It takes place in a pseudo-3D side-scrolling environment.[2]

Gameplay

The main goal of the game is to help The Lodger survive until dawn. His house is surrounded by something which makes The Lodger fear strongly for his life. The player takes control of The Lodger and helps him survive by turning the lights on in every room of the house. The items in a room can only be interacted with once the light is on. There might be, for example, a clock which can help speed up the time, a place where The Lodger can hide, or just some decor items. At the same time, the more rooms are lit, the faster The Guests will come. When a Guest walks into a lit room, the lights go off.

The gameplay is also affected by The Lodger's poor physical condition. As an example, he suffers from an eye condition which makes him stand still after a turning on a light bulb to adjust to a change of lighting.

Time in Knock-Knock is relative and can even go backwards.

Development

The developers claimed that Knock-Knock's design was sent to them by an outsider, and that the production followed his outline.[1][3][4] Its lead designer within Ice-Pick was Nikolay Dybowski.[5] The team based the game's design on the concepts of "obscurity and inevitability", which the company's Vasily Kashnikov called "the two greatest fears". Dybowski remarked that Ice-Pick had to remake "the game twice from scratch" before it managed to strike the right tone.[6]

Knock-Knock was funded through a successful Kickstarter campaign.[7]


Reception

The game received "mixed or average reviews" on all platforms according to the review aggregation site Metacritic.[8][9][10][11][12]

References

  1. ^ a b c Marchiafava, Jeff (October 9, 2013). "Knock-Knock Review". Game Informer. GameStop. Archived from the original on November 18, 2013. Retrieved June 12, 2019.
  2. ^ Swain, Eric (December 11, 2013). "'Knock Knock' Is Creepy". PopMatters. PopMatters Media, LLC. Archived from the original on April 30, 2019. Retrieved June 12, 2019.
  3. ^ Meer, Alec (July 27, 2012). "Knock-Knock. 'Who's There?' Ice-Pick Lodge. 'Uh-Oh.'". Rock Paper Shotgun. Gamer Network. Archived from the original on February 11, 2023. Retrieved February 12, 2023.
  4. ^ Couture, Joel (November 7, 2013). "Talking Spooky Stuff with Ice-Pick Lodge [Interview]". Mash Those Buttons. Reactor 5, LLC. Archived from the original on October 24, 2021. Retrieved June 12, 2019.
  5. ^ Mammo, Jordan (March 14, 2014). "Don't look for order in the horror of Knock-Knock". Kill Screen. Kill Screen Media, Inc. Archived from the original on February 12, 2023. Retrieved February 12, 2023.
  6. ^ Khaw, Cassandra (September 27, 2013). "Ice-Pick Lodge on the Making of Monsters". VG247 (USgamer). Gamer Network. Archived from the original on July 29, 2022. Retrieved February 12, 2023.
  7. ^ Rossignol, Jim (October 9, 2013). "Wot I Think: Knock, Knock". Rock Paper Shotgun. Gamer Network. Archived from the original on February 12, 2023. Retrieved February 12, 2023.
  8. ^ a b "Knock-Knock for Xbox One Reviews". Metacritic. Fandom. Archived from the original on February 12, 2023. Retrieved February 12, 2023.
  9. ^ a b "Knock-knock for PlayStation Vita Reviews". Metacritic. Fandom. Archived from the original on February 12, 2023. Retrieved February 12, 2023.
  10. ^ a b "Knock-Knock Game for iPhone/iPad Reviews". Metacritic. Fandom. Archived from the original on September 3, 2022. Retrieved September 3, 2022.
  11. ^ a b "Knock-knock for PC Reviews". Metacritic. Fandom. Archived from the original on April 26, 2019. Retrieved June 12, 2019.
  12. ^ a b "Knock-knock for PlayStation 4 Reviews". Metacritic. Fandom. Archived from the original on September 3, 2022. Retrieved September 3, 2022.
  13. ^ Petit, Carolyn (October 14, 2013). "Knock-knock Review (PC)". GameSpot. Fandom. Archived from the original on February 12, 2023. Retrieved February 12, 2023.
  14. ^ Rose, Mike (October 9, 2013). "Knock-Knock Review (PC)". Gamezebo. Archived from the original on February 11, 2023. Retrieved February 12, 2023.
  15. ^ Sanchez, David (October 27, 2013). "Knock-Knock Review: Great scares wrapped in frustrating design choices (PC) [date mislabled as "October 23, 2013"]". GameZone. Archived from the original on October 31, 2013. Retrieved February 12, 2023.
  16. ^ Albert, Brian (October 16, 2013). "Knock-Knock PC Review". IGN. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on February 12, 2023. Retrieved February 12, 2023.
  17. ^ Leray, Joseph (March 13, 2014). "Knock-Knock Review". MacLife. Future US. Archived from the original on April 25, 2015. Retrieved February 12, 2023.
  18. ^ "Review: Knock-Knock". PC PowerPlay. No. 222. Next Media Pty Ltd. December 2013. p. 80.
  19. ^ Brown, Mark (March 10, 2014). "Knock-Knock (iOS)". Pocket Gamer. Steel Media Ltd. Archived from the original on February 12, 2023. Retrieved February 12, 2023.
  20. ^ Brooke, Sam (September 12, 2015). "Knock-Knock Review (PS4)". Push Square. Gamer Network. Archived from the original on February 12, 2023. Retrieved February 12, 2023.
  21. ^ Kämblad, Torbjörn (March 13, 2014). "'Knock-Knock Game' Review – A Journey Into The Weird". TouchArcade. TouchArcade.com, LLC. Archived from the original on September 3, 2022. Retrieved September 3, 2022.