Bahnsen Knights Review: Good Knight
Bahnsen Knights marks the triumphant conclusion to LCB Game Studio’s Pixel Pulp trilogy. Similar to the other titles in the series, it is a unique take on horror indie with alluring stakes and an awe-striking world.
Burnin’ Rubber
You must infiltrate a cult. Look, this may not be the only game where you need to take on one such group, but this particular cult is very unique in its approach. Playing as Boulder, you must untangle the complex mystery of the Bahnsen Knights. They’re led by Toni, a used car salesman turned new world evangelist. His cult, the Bahnsen Knights believe that hell is above and the only way that they can save the world is by “exorcizing the roads”. This ritual involves the crew driving on the road in their gaggle of Ford Sierras complete with painted red crosses to prevent more F5 tornadoes from plaguing their unnamed “midwest county”. Even though it feels crazy to explain, there is some familiarity with the world.
Cultivating a Vibe
The strongest thing going for this game is easily its style. Much like other games in the series, it replicates the old-school feel that you would get on an old IBM PC. But unlike the brighter colors that you might encounter in the series’ second game Varney Lake, this one has a real synthwave aesthetic to it. It’s all about purple, pink, blue, red and black and gives me the same feeling I would get watching Batman: The Animated Series or listening to one of the darker albums from the Midnight, particularly Nocturnal or Horror Show.
It’s not only the graphics that brought me in though. They do a great job bringing you into the world in small ways like finding a tune on your Ford Sierra’s radio or in larger ones. Danny’s Bar, which ends up being a central hub of sorts lets you gather details about the world. You’ll converse with the bartender, play darts and talk to compatriots in the gang. There may be even more in the bar for you to discover, but I will let you find that out on your own.
Chasing Storms
This game is a visual novel. Spend time with the cult, find out more about their activities and gather evidence to incriminate them. Do all of this while keeping suspicion about your activities to a minimum. If someone in the cult suspects that you’re not fully invested, it usually ends with a blade in your guts. Making it out alive is the only way that you will be able to see your wife and daughter again. Don’t get too stressed though, you can restart pretty easily.
Beyond the meat of the game: finding out more about the various cult members and gathering evidence, the game will ask you to play certain narrative mini-games and side mini-games. These mini-games are the only frustrating part of this game. During one narrative-based mini-game, you will be asked to drive at the front of the pack for a road exorcism. It requires a series of very quick car movements but these are sometimes hard to pull off as you have to navigate your vehicle using a menu. Beyond this mini-game, there’s one sequence where you will be asked to pick the locks of your fellow gang members’ vehicles and another where you’ll stealthily be asked to throw something out a window. Not a problem on mouse and keyboard, but if you’re playing this one with a controller, prepare for a little frustration.
Not all mini-games are frustrating though. Darts in the bar are fun and the mechanism for sharing evidence is great too (and not as twitchy). Once you find evidence, you’ll be asked to pass that information on to your handler using tarot cards, where you have to match the type of evidence to religious figures on the cards.
Breakdown
Game: Bahnsen Knights
Developer: LCB Game Studio
Availability: PC, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch
Reviewed on PC (Steam Deck)
Pros:
+ Unique world with great art that’s just as compelling as the other games in the Pixel Pulp series
+ Compelling evidence gathering and submission mechanic at the center of the mystery
Cons:
- Some of the narrative sequences that involve timing were frustrating from a control & gameplay standpoint on controller
Final Thoughts
Bahnsen Knights has you digging into a fanatical cult, in a unique setting all while trying not to get caught and killed. Like other games in the Pixel Pulp series, it doesn’t overstay its welcome. And the best part about getting caught in this cult is that death is temporary. Watch the trailer; if it feels like your vibe - the stakes and the world will pull you in.
A Note about Playing Other Pixel Pulp Games
Do you need to play the other two games in the series before this one? This game is the third game in a series of titles which includes Mothmen 1966 and Varney Lake. At the time of the review, I have completed both Varney Lake and Bahnsen Knights and while I can say that there is some fun shared narrative between the two games, it is not a requirement to play both games before jumping into this one. Think of the games like an anthology that you’re rewarded for playing more titles within.
Reviewed by Jacob McCourt