Knight Tyme
Encyclopedia
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 (which was published first) and a cut-down version for the 48K Spectrum that removed the music, some graphics and some locations (which was published later).
It was programmed by David Jones
and is the third game in the Magic Knight
series. The in-game music was written by David Whittaker on the C64 version and Rob Hubbard
on the Spectrum and Amstrad versions. Graphics were by Ray Owen
.
USS Pisces. Magic Knight must find a way back to his own time, with the help of the Tyme Guardians, before he is apprehended by the Paradox Police.
. Once again, the game's wide range of commands are carried-out using "Windimation", a system whereby text commands are carried-out through choosing options in command windows.
The importance of watching Magic Knight's energy level and keeping him from harm is rather different this time around. Whilst Spellbound required you to be vigilant about his health and needed the player to occasionally avoid flying objects that could sap his strength, Knight Tyme is much more focused on the puzzle-solving aspect (although there are still some "death rooms" as in Spellbound). For this reason, it should be regarded as a true graphic adventure.
As before, the gameworld features a large amount of characters that our hero can interact with. This time around, however, he is not so responsible for their welfare and they are more there to help him on his quest. They do, after all, belong to the time Magic Knight has found himself in. He is the only displaced person this time around.
Knight Tyme also involves some space travel, with Magic Knight commandeering the USS Pisces and using it to journey to various planets and star systems. All of these planets can be communicated with and some can be beamed-down to via the USS Pisces transporter system. Magic Knight also needs to keep note of the ship's fuel as if it runs out both he and the starship will be stranded which means the end of the game. Refuelling can take place at many of the planets the USS Pisces visits.
, was released in 1987.
ZX Spectrum
The ZX Spectrum is an 8-bit personal home computer released in the United Kingdom in 1982 by Sinclair Research Ltd...
, Amstrad CPC
Amstrad CPC
The Amstrad CPC is a series of 8-bit home computers produced by Amstrad between 1984 and 1990. It was designed to compete in the mid-1980s home computer market dominated by the Commodore 64 and the Sinclair ZX Spectrum, where it successfully established itself primarily in the United Kingdom,...
, Commodore 64
Commodore 64
The Commodore 64 is an 8-bit home computer introduced by Commodore International in January 1982.Volume production started in the spring of 1982, with machines being released on to the market in August at a price of US$595...
and MSX
MSX
MSX was the name of a standardized home computer architecture in the 1980s conceived by Kazuhiko Nishi, then Vice-president at Microsoft Japan and Director at ASCII Corporation...
compatibles in 1986. It was published by Mastertronic
Mastertronic
Mastertronic was originally a publisher and distributor of low-cost computer game software founded in 1983. Their first games were distributed in mid-1984. At its peak the label was the dominant software publisher in the UK, a position achieved by selling cassette-based software at the £1.99...
as part of their Mastertronic Added Dimension label.
Two versions of the ZX Spectrum release were published: a full version for the 128K Spectrum (which was published first) and a cut-down version for the 48K Spectrum that removed the music, some graphics and some locations (which was published later).
It was programmed by David Jones
David Jones (programmer)
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 cult computer game character Magic Knight in his 1985 game Finders Keepers for the Mastertronic budget label and released on the ZX Spectrum, Amstrad CPC,...
and is the third game in the Magic Knight
Magic Knight
Magic Knight is a computer game character created by freelance programmer David Jones in his 1985 game Finders Keepers for the Mastertronic budget label. Finders Keepers is a flip-screen platform game released on the ZX Spectrum, Amstrad CPC, MSX and Commodore 64...
series. The in-game music was written by David Whittaker on the C64 version and Rob Hubbard
Rob Hubbard
Rob Hubbard is a music composer best known for his composition of computer game theme music, especially for microcomputers of the 1980s such as the Commodore 64...
on the Spectrum and Amstrad versions. Graphics were by Ray Owen
Ray Owen
Raymond "Ray" Owen was a professional rugby league footballer of the 1960s, and chairman of the 1980s, who at club level played for Widnes, and Wakefield Trinity, playing at /, i.e. number 7, at club level was chairman for Widnes....
.
Plot
Having rescued his friend Gimbal from a self-inflicted white-out spell, Magic Knight finds himself transported into the far future aboard the starshipStarship
A starship or interstellar spacecraft is a theoretical spacecraft designed for traveling between the stars, as opposed to a vehicle designed for orbital spaceflight or interplanetary travel....
USS Pisces. Magic Knight must find a way back to his own time, with the help of the Tyme Guardians, before he is apprehended by the Paradox Police.
Gameplay
Gameplay is very similar to Knight Tymes predecessor, SpellboundSpellbound (computer game)
Spellbound is a computer 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...
. Once again, the game's wide range of commands are carried-out using "Windimation", a system whereby text commands are carried-out through choosing options in command windows.
The importance of watching Magic Knight's energy level and keeping him from harm is rather different this time around. Whilst Spellbound required you to be vigilant about his health and needed the player to occasionally avoid flying objects that could sap his strength, Knight Tyme is much more focused on the puzzle-solving aspect (although there are still some "death rooms" as in Spellbound). For this reason, it should be regarded as a true graphic adventure.
As before, the gameworld features a large amount of characters that our hero can interact with. This time around, however, he is not so responsible for their welfare and they are more there to help him on his quest. They do, after all, belong to the time Magic Knight has found himself in. He is the only displaced person this time around.
Knight Tyme also involves some space travel, with Magic Knight commandeering the USS Pisces and using it to journey to various planets and star systems. All of these planets can be communicated with and some can be beamed-down to via the USS Pisces transporter system. Magic Knight also needs to keep note of the ship's fuel as if it runs out both he and the starship will be stranded which means the end of the game. Refuelling can take place at many of the planets the USS Pisces visits.
Sequels
One further Magic Knight game, StormbringerStormbringer (computer 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...
, was released in 1987.
External links
- Review of the ZX Spectrum version from CRASH magazine.