Knightlore - New and Improved.
As regular readers already know, Sabreman and I go way back. We met in the humid jungle of Sabrewulf , where we scaled magenta mountains, chased a cyan wolf and poked lazy hippos. We met up again in the caverns of Underwurlde , where we jumped on the furniture and rode on volcanic bubbles . Now we would meet again , in slightly different circumstances . This is Knightlore by Ultimate , released at the end of 1984.
I must admit I didn't get round to playing this until 1986, Sabrewulf took up a lot of my time as did Underwurlde , I was enjoying those two so much I didn't feel the need to move on. Plus pocket money had to be earned first! Knightlore in Filmation , which gave the look of 3D was applauded by the critics but ....I don't know , I just had my doubts. I liked massive maze games where you could lose yourself without having to complete puzzles first. But...It was Ultimate and Sabreman , I was always going to buy it eventually.
Sabreman has now developed an embarrassing little problem, he now transforms into a werewolf , ( ooh , that's got to cramp your style!) I told him it wasn't safe in that jungle ! But help is at hand , he has 40 days to collect items throughout Melkhior the Wizard's castle and brew up a potion to cure himself.
Sabreman has now developed an embarrassing little problem, he now transforms into a werewolf , ( ooh , that's got to cramp your style!) I told him it wasn't safe in that jungle ! But help is at hand , he has 40 days to collect items throughout Melkhior the Wizard's castle and brew up a potion to cure himself.
However, this being Sabreman , things are never that easy. Be prepared to balance, push , ride on blocks, dodge guards and other jolly japes. All in that 3D style. (Much has already been written about the control system of this game, suffice to say it was different, but you did get used to it....eventually). I have to say that immediately I didn't warm to this game. It wasn't as comfy as Underwurlde or as luscious and colourful as Sabrewulf . It was monochrome, despite each screen being a different colour. But the worst was to come as day turned into night and this happened.
He contorts, rather graphically into a werewolf. Suddenly things you could step on you can't , things run away from you, or charge dramatically towards you. This could be classed as two games in one, but no sooner do you get used to what you can and can't do, the sun rises and back to the pith helmet we go. It adds a layer of difficulty to what it is already a difficult game. Also to make life interesting blunder into the wizard too early in the game and death also awaits.
I really , really, really wanted to like this game, all the reviews for this game told me I should like it and marvel at it. My jaw should be dropping, my eyes popping out, I should be glued to the screen ( not turning it off and reloading Sabrewulf or AticAtac after 20 minutes .) There may have been 128 screens , but I was lucky if I saw more than 15. Was it me, or was it just that control system ? I suspect the fact that I was playing it on an old black and white TV meant that lining up jumps and collecting objects were harder than normal. But was I perhaps growing up and losing that child-like imagination that would have added the glitter and flashing lights to this game? Possibly not as I still loved AticAtac, Underwurlde, Sabrewulf etc. So where does that leave Sabreman and I? Well, I never finished this game, I never really went back to replay it either.
I suppose I had to face facts, my taste in games was not that well developed. I was not a game connoisseur. Those magazine reviewers must know better than me.....Isn't that right? NO in big magenta letters.
This game taught me what sort of games I loved playing and by looking at this one, the reasons I loved all the other ones, (sorry to great fans of Ultimate and sorry to Sabreman). I was finding my taste and style, and what I wanted in a computer game was colour, simplicity , the ability to easily lose yourself and if possible the main character not to contort violently every few minutes!
I was always going to be a gal who loved the bright colours , the dancing sprites , the colour clashes , the things that reminded me of my favourite time of Sinclair gaming , those first few early years where anything went. Sabreman had grown up and left me behind, but that was okay.
You see this little magic black boxed ZX Spectrum also doubled as a TARDIS and I could revisit those special games whenever I wanted (well , 7 minutes loading time , but let me have poetic licence .) Things may have become new and improved , but I didn't need to go along with them , not yet.
I would leave the brightly coloured jungle when I was ready.
I was always going to be a gal who loved the bright colours , the dancing sprites , the colour clashes , the things that reminded me of my favourite time of Sinclair gaming , those first few early years where anything went. Sabreman had grown up and left me behind, but that was okay.
You see this little magic black boxed ZX Spectrum also doubled as a TARDIS and I could revisit those special games whenever I wanted (well , 7 minutes loading time , but let me have poetic licence .) Things may have become new and improved , but I didn't need to go along with them , not yet.
I would leave the brightly coloured jungle when I was ready.