Growing up, there was no better fun (at least for me) than bashing together a bunch of action figures from different TV shows, cartoons and games though nothing has really quite recaptured that magic — until perhaps now.
The developers for Knock Off: The Battle for Imagination is attempting to bring back that nostalgic vibe from the ’80s and ’90s through a cool-looking fighting game, which just launched a playable demo and Kickstarter campaign.
Knock Off is being worked on as a traditional six-button fighting game with its roster made up of action figures parodying some iconic shows / properties like He-Man and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.
The battle system includes open ended gatling combo mechanics, specials, EX moves, Ultra Moves, Guard Repel for defense, a chargeable Zenith Strike, and assist for each character.
Knock Off’s demo features six playable characters including Kronan, Lockjaw, Wolfgang, Oozebite, Grimrot, and Rayzenger as some legally distinct callbacks to He-Man, Skeletor, the TMNT, Mazinger, Street Sharks and more.
Check out this Basic Mechanics Guide to get the most out of the Knock Off demo! Dive in and uncover some awesome combos! Character move list is included in the game pause menu (special moves option) pic.twitter.com/0nGYujfuEa
— Knock Off (@KnockOffRD) October 29, 2024
The fighters are indeed action figures themselves with moveable joints and everything while their battle arenas are places like a bedroom desk and the backyard all given that nostalgic vibe with other toys and decorations in the backgrounds.
This indie dev team has already put a lot of time and effort into getting their game up and running with some good polish for a demo to boot though there are obviously some spots that need more fleshing out as a work in progress.
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For their Kickstarter, they plan to launch the base game with seven characters and seven stages for PC followed by PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X if all goes well.
Rollback netcode is indeed included, and crossplay will apparently be too if / when it comes to consoles.
You’ve asked for it…and we delivered! KNOCK OFF: DEMO OUT NOW! Go to to download today!
We also remind you that if you enjoyed the demo check out our Kickstarter ! pic.twitter.com/xHLBufUhrh
— Knock Off (@KnockOffRD) October 29, 2024
The team is asking for $250,000 USD as their goal to complete this neat project with the campaign set to end on November 23 as it currently sits with over $15,000 raised as of the time of reporting.
Backers can get the full game for pledging $30 though there’s obviously higher tiers with more rewards like early access, polls and more.
Knock Off seems like a game with a lot of potential and a strong foundation already there from the little time we’ve put into the demo, so check it out for yourself and consider backing too if it tickles your fancy or nostalgia.