*disclaimer - havent read reviews, so i dont know what they said about the game, i'll give my impressions:*
my knack review:
aight, started playing this last night and this shyt is fun...it has an old school feel to it...also, it's challenging cause it plays more like a straight beat'em up than it does a platformer...dont get me wrong, there are some platforming elements (jump traps, having to do a couple things to advance, etc.) and there are some exploring elements (a lot of hidden shyt to find), but for the most part this is an old school beat'em game....i mean it's linear; has the set cam that you cant control; you have special attacks but you're mostly clearing levels throwing them thangs from the shoulders; and in most cases 1 hit from the enemy and you're dead...not only that, if you dont make it to the next save point, you have to start the whole level over, enemies and all lol....
i can see people getting shocked at how this game isnt as 'friendly' as you may think when you first see it...i know i did...it looks all cute and like it'll be an easy play through....that is until you get hit that first and only time, and you die lol....then you see where you have to start over, get a lil further, and get hit that 1 time again and die; then you have to start over again lol....
overall: i'd recommend this...it's not as easy and childish as they make it look, but it's fun nontheless....