Nonstop Knight is a free game that blends
click action and RPG. It combines the progression one sees in an RPG with
things found in clicker games such as generating revenue in the background. The
knight makes his way through dungeons as you watch and click to activate
special abilities. Upgrades are purchased using revenue. These timed abilities
give the game a touch of interactivity that every game needs. There is a major
problem here though; the game is very slow to start and you just don’t care by
the time you progress enough to enjoy it.
The idea of auto-battling in an RPG seems
wrong in itself. It may make grinding easier but it’s the complete opposite of
the hacking and slashing one should go through in such a game. Something that
sets Nonstop Knight apart from other auto-battlers is that it doesn’t try to
hide what it is. It doesn’t try to pretend that the progression isn’t the
important bit. It is also far more interactive than other clicker games thanks
to abilities. These abilities can be used to either strengthen your defences or
take out enemies in a rush. The game is still very passive, but you have some
degree of influence. There are even abilities that are unlocked through
levelling up. Thanks to these tactical elements the game isn’t entirely
passive, meaning that people who like clickers that deviate from the norm will
enjoy it.
Unfortunately the progression is slow at
times. It takes a long time to climb the ladder, but you can also earn tokens
that can be used to purchase permanent upgrades. Ascending will return you to
level one but adds additional bonuses that make it worth it, one of which is a
potion that increases your attack speed; even against bosses.
While you can buy a starter pack for $4.99
it’s a bit of a waste because you skip loads of progression and end up at the
tedious part even faster. The game reaches a peak past which playing becomes almost
a chore. This is a shame as this starter pack is filled with gems that allow
you to buy helpful items such as a dragon that will follow you into battle and
blast fire at enemies. This dragon is worth the money but this is a game where
skipping ahead definitely takes out some of the fun.
Another major problem is that the game
quickly reaches a plateau after ascending. Even when you get the powerful
upgrades it’s like you can only make a tiny amount of progression and levelling
up loses all meaning, especially as you have to start all over again. It’s
enough to make loot lose value. You don’t really keep it after all. What’s the
point? There is definitely room on the market for a game like this but it needs
to be less centred on resetting and ascending. Nonstop Knight should have taken
a lesson from Doomsday Clicker. In that game it feels like you’re really
levelling up and progressing, unlike with Nonstop Knight.
It would also be nice if the games that
bolster your speed could be bought with in-game currency. It would be nice if
you could also buy boss tickets but they only really let you skip ahead a few
levels. It’s understandable that the video rewards change every few hours, but
the game needs more things for players to spend gems on. Throw in more chests
and potions. This allows players to really boost their power and also gives
them more incentive to purchase gems in the first place.
This is the real flaw with Nonstop Knight.
Clickers are games that are all about the progression. They need to keep
players engaged. Nonstop Knight is a game that quickly loses your interest.
This is a shame because at its very core Nonstop Knight is a game that has a
lot going for it. It also feels unique thanks to the interactivity. Not to
mention the cute and affordable little baby dragon. As engaging as Nonstop
Knight is, it just doesn’t hold your attention in the long run. Despite the name
it really doesn’t take long for this knight to stop.
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