Magic Knight

Last updated

Magic Knight is a computer game franchise created by freelance programmer David Jones originally for the 1985 game Finders Keepers on the Mastertronic budget label. Finders Keepers is a flip-screen platform game released on the ZX Spectrum, Amstrad CPC, MSX and Commodore 64. The game spawned three additional sequels (also starring Magic Knight) on the Mastertronic Added Dimension budget label: Spellbound (1985), Knight Tyme (1986) and Stormbringer (1987). The three sequels are far less action-orientated, being effectively graphic adventure games using a basic menu system ("Windimation") for Magic Knight to interact with characters and items instead of typed commands.

Contents

Plot

Finders Keepers

Magic Knight is ordered by the King to go to Spriteland and bring back a fitting birthday present for the Princess. Magic Knight is transported to the castle in Spriteland and can either amass as much treasure as possible or find a suitable present and return to the King.

Spellbound

The wizard Gimbal accidentally mixes up a spell, which results in casting himself, Magic Knight and an array of other characters into an unknown castle. Magic Knight must find Gimbal and reverse the spell to return everyone home.

Knight Tyme

After freeing Gimbal, the spell to send Magic Knight home goes wrong, and instead of being sent back to the Middle Ages, he awakens on the USS Pisces in the 25th century. Magic Knight must then find a way to reach the Tyme Guardians and return home.  

Stormbringer

On returning from the 25th century, Magic Knight finds his local village terrorised by the "Off-White Knight", who has taken residence in the castle. Further investigation shows the Off-White Knight to be the evil side of Magic Knight himself, and the task is to join the two together again.

Gameplay

Descriptions are based on the ZX Spectrum versions, although all versions are broadly the same in gameplay.

Finders Keepers

The game is a traditional flip-screen platform game, with a small Magic Knight having to negotiate screens filled with numerous monsters, which move in pre-defined paths. There are also two scrolling mazes that Magic Knight must traverse to enter new sections of the map. Variation is added to the gameplay by the addition of objects, which can be picked up and utilised, or traded with the Traders that are scattered throughout various points in the castle (and coincidentally look exactly like Magic Knight). Certain objects, when carried at the same time will react to create new objects. Magic Knight has four lives, each with its own energy bar that is depleted by collisions with monsters, or certain parts of the floor.

Spellbound

This game marked a significant departure from Finders Keepers. Magic Knight increased in size and the monsters were disposed of. This game also introduced the Windimation system, whereby the player could interact with other objects and characters (pick up/drop/throw/command/cast magic) via a system of menus. Magic Knight (and indeed the other characters in the game) all had RPG-like stats instead of the previous simple energy bar.

Knight Tyme

This game operates in virtually the same way as Spellbound. It introduced the "advert" item, which appeared to have no purpose, but was essential as it could be stood on, allowing Magic Knight to reach otherwise inaccessible areas. The first mission is to get the crew of the USS Pisces to obey Magic Knight and to repair the ship. Once this is done they gain the ability to travel to anywhere in the galaxy. Magic Knight can beam down to some of these planets and explore on arrival, although he soon finds that not all of them are friendly.

This game was released in 48k and 128k versions, with the latter having many more locations and in-game music.

Stormbringer

Similar again from a control point of view, but with a larger and more varied map, increased puzzle difficulty and more characters. One of the first missions in the game is to find out what job is currently on at the castle and then finding a disguise to get in. The game was also released in 48k and 128k versions, with the latter featuring more locations and in-game music.

Legacy

In 2019, Jones donated the Tandy TRS-80 Model III computer that he used to create these games to The Centre for Computing History. [2] Many floppy disks were also donated, along with a hard disk which contained source code and assets for many of his games. The data was preserved as part of the centre's ongoing video game preservation work. [3] A game called Crime Busters featuring a detective in a mansion, was released by IJK Software in 1986, and found to use significant portions of the Spellbound code. This game was withdrawn following Mastertronic's demand for a written apology from the Crime Busters author, Harry S. Price, and the threat of legal action after Price refused to apologise. [4]

Related Research Articles

<i>Knight Lore</i> 1984 video game

Knight Lore is a 1984 action-adventure game developed and published by Ultimate Play the Game, and written by company founders Chris and Tim Stamper. The game is known for its use of isometric graphics, which it further popularized in video games. In Knight Lore, the player character Sabreman has forty days to collect objects throughout a castle and brew a cure to his werewolf curse. Each castle room is depicted in monochrome on its own screen and consists of blocks to climb, obstacles to avoid, and puzzles to solve.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Beam Software</span> Former Australian video game developer

Krome Studios Melbourne, originally Beam Software, was an Australian video game development studio founded in 1980 by Alfred Milgrom and Naomi Besen and based in Melbourne, Australia. Initially formed to produce books and software to be published by Melbourne House, a company they had established in London in 1977, the studio operated independently from 1987 until 1999, when it was acquired by Infogrames, who changed the name to Infogrames Melbourne House Pty Ltd.. In 2006 the studio was sold to Krome Studios.

<i>Underwurlde</i> 1984 video game

Underwurlde is a 1984 action-adventure platform video game in the Sabreman series by Ultimate Play the Game for the ZX Spectrum and Commodore 64. The player controls the adventurer Sabreman as he jumps between platforms in a castle and its caverns to find an escape past the exit guardians. Underwurlde features about 600 flip screen areas. Unlike other games of its time, Sabreman is not injured when touched by enemies and is instead knocked backwards. Underwurlde is the second game in the series, between Sabre Wulf and Knight Lore, and released shortly before the latter for the ZX Spectrum in late 1984. Another developer, Firebird, ported the game to the Commodore 64 the next year.

<i>Head over Heels</i> (video game) 1987 video game

Head Over Heels is an action-adventure game published by Ocean Software in 1987 for several home computers. It uses an isometric engine similar to the Filmation technique first developed by Ultimate Play the Game. Head Over Heels is the second isometric game by Jon Ritman and Bernie Drummond, after their earlier Batman computer game was released in 1986. The game received favourable reviews and was described by Zzap!64 as an "all time classic".

<i>Aaargh!</i> 1987 video game

Aaargh! is a single-player action video game in which the player controls a giant monster with the goal of obtaining eggs by destroying buildings in different cities across a lost island. It was designed for Mastertronic's Arcadia Systems, an arcade machine based on the custom hardware of the Amiga, and was released in 1987. It was ported to a range of other platforms and released on these across 1988 and 1989. Electronic Arts distributed the Amiga version of the game.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mastertronic</span> British computer game publisher

Mastertronic was originally a publisher and distributor of low-cost computer game software founded in 1983. Their first games were launched on April 2, 1984. At its peak the label was one of the largest software publishers in the UK, achieved by selling cassette-based software at £1.99. As well as supplying leading retailers such as Woolworth's and Toys "R" Us, Mastertronic sold software in outlets such as newsagents which had not been previously associated with the software market.

<i>Spellbound Dizzy</i> 1991 video game

Spellbound Dizzy or Dizzy 5 is an adventure video game, featuring the character Dizzy, released in November 1991 by Codemasters. The series was originally developed by the Oliver twins but they had little involvement with this title other than executive sign-off, leaving Big Red Software to redesign the graphics engine and design the game and puzzles.

Interceptor Micros, also known as Interceptor Software and later as Interceptor Group, was a British developer/publisher of video games for various 8-bit and 16-bit computer systems popular in Western Europe during the eighties and early nineties.

<i>Spellbound</i> (video game) 1985 video game

Spellbound is a video game that was designed and programmed by David Jones with music by Rob Hubbard and released in 1985 for the ZX Spectrum and Amstrad CPC home computers. Versions for the Commodore 64 and the Atari 8-bit computers and an enhanced 128K Spectrum version with music and additional graphics were all released in 1986. Unlike the other Magic Knight games, Spellbound was never released for the MSX system back in 1985, but an authorized version was finally released by Tracy Lewis in 2023. It is the second game in the Magic Knight series and was published by Mastertronic as part of their Mastertronic Added Dimension label.

<i>Finders Keepers</i> (1985 video game) 1985 video game

Finders Keepers is a video game written by David Jones and the first game in the Magic Knight series. It was published on the Mastertronic label for the ZX Spectrum, Amstrad CPC, MSX, Commodore 64, and Commodore 16 in 1985. Published in the United Kingdom at the budget price of £1.99. Finders Keepers is a platform game with some maze sections.

<i>Knight Tyme</i> 1986 video game

Knight Tyme is a computer game released for the ZX Spectrum, Amstrad CPC, Commodore 64 and MSX compatibles in 1986. It was published by Mastertronic as part of their Mastertronic Added Dimension label. Two versions of the ZX Spectrum release were published: a full version for the 128K Spectrum and a cut-down version for the 48K Spectrum that removed the music, some graphics and some locations.

<i>Stormbringer</i> (video game) 1987 video game

Stormbringer is a computer game written by David Jones and released in 1987 by Mastertronic on the Mastertronic Added Dimension label. It was originally released on the ZX Spectrum, Commodore 64, Amstrad CPC and MSX. A version for the Atari ST was published in 1988. It is the fourth and final game in the Magic Knight series. The in-game music is by David Whittaker.

<i>The Incredible Shrinking Fireman</i> 1986 video game

The Incredible Shrinking Fireman is a platform game for the ZX Spectrum released by Mastertronic in 1986. It was programmed by Andy Mitchell with art by David Kidd.

<i>The Trap Door</i> (video game) 1986 video game

The Trap Door is a video game published for the ZX Spectrum in 1986 by Piranha Software and ported to the Amstrad CPC and Commodore 64 by Five Ways Software. It was written by Don Priestley and based on the British children's television show of the same name.

<i>Agent X</i> (1986 video game) 1986 video game

Agent X, also known as Agent X in the Brain Drain Caper, is a computer game released in 1986 for the ZX Spectrum. The player takes control of the eponymous Agent X in a multi-load game made up of a number of sub-games. It was followed by a sequel, Agent X II: The Mad Prof's Back.

David Jones is a former freelance computer game programmer who was prolific in the mid-to-late 1980s. He is best known for the creation of the computer game character Magic Knight in his 1985 game Finders Keepers for the Mastertronic budget label and released on the ZX Spectrum, Amstrad CPC, MSX and Commodore 64. He later went on to work for Psygnosis and Acclaim.

<i>Thanatos</i> (video game) 1986 video game

Thanatos is an action game developed and published by Durell Software in 1986 for the ZX Spectrum, Commodore 64 and Amstrad CPC.

<i>Friday the 13th: The Computer Game</i> 1986 video game

Friday the 13th: The Computer Game is the first game adaptation based on the films of the same name. It was released in 1986 by Domark for the Amstrad CPC, Commodore 64, and ZX Spectrum. The game was released on floppy diskette and cassette tape. The player's goal is to find and kill Jason, while making sure their friends or they themselves are not killed by Jason.

<i>Nosferatu the Vampyre</i> (video game) 1986 video game

Nosferatu the Vampyre is an action game based on the film of the same name and runs on the Amstrad CPC, Commodore 64 and ZX Spectrum computers. It was developed by Design Design and published by Piranha Software in 1986.

References

  1. ↑ "News: Program Crime Bust". Sinclair User . No. 57. EMAP Publications. December 1986. p. 10. ISSN   0262-5458.
  2. ↑ "Magic Knight Computer Preserved at Museum". computinghistory.org.uk. Retrieved 1 February 2021.
  3. ↑ "David Jones video game preservation case study". computinghistory.org.uk. Retrieved 1 February 2021.
  4. ↑ "News: Program Crime Bust". Sinclair User . No. 57. EMAP Publications. December 1986. p. 10. ISSN   0262-5458.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.