''Knight Tyme'' is a computer game released for the

ZX Spectrum The ZX Spectrum () is an 8-bit computing, 8-bit home computer that was developed by Sinclair Research. It was released in the United Kingdom on 23 April 1982, and became Britain's best-selling microcomputer. Referred to during development as t ...

Amstrad CPC The Amstrad CPC (short for ''Colour Personal Computer'') 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 Sin ...

Commodore 64 The Commodore 64, also known as the C64, is an 8-bit home computer introduced in January 1982 by Commodore International (first shown at the Consumer Electronics Show, January 7–10, 1982, in Las Vegas). It has been listed in the Guinness ...

and

MSX MSX is a standardized home computer architecture, announced by Microsoft and ASCII Corporation on June 16, 1983. It was initially conceived by Microsoft as a product for the Eastern sector, and jointly marketed by Kazuhiko Nishi, then vice-p ...

compatibles in 1986. It was published by

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 one of the largest software publishers in the UK, achieved b ...

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 Rob Hubbard (born 1955 in Kingston upon Hull, England) is a British composer best known for his musical and programming work for microcomputers of the 1980s, such as the Commodore 64. Early life Hubbard first started playing music at age seve ...

on the Spectrum and Amstrad versions. Graphics were by Ray Owen.

Plot

Having rescued his friend Gimbal the wizard from a self-inflicted white-out spell, the Magic Knight finds himself transported into the far future aboard the

starship A starship, starcraft, or interstellar spacecraft is a theoretical spacecraft designed for interstellar travel, traveling between planetary systems. The term is mostly found in science fiction. Reference to a "star-ship" appears as early as 188 ...

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. On board the USS Pisces, the Magic Knight is first not recognized at all by the crew of the ship, and must create an ID Card, which he receives a template of from Derby IV, the ship's main computer. After getting his ID completed, he then takes command of the ship, first arriving at Starbase 1 to refuel the ship. After refueling, the Magic Knight collects the pieces of the Golden Sundial from Monopole, Retreat and Outpost. Returning to the ship with all the pieces of the sundial, he discovers that a time machine has appeared inside the USS Pisces to take him back to his own time.

Gameplay

Gameplay is very similar to ''Knight Tymes predecessor, '' Spellbound''. 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 the player 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 number of characters that the player 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, ''

Stormbringer Stormbringer is a magic sword featured in a number of fantasy stories by the author Michael Moorcock. It is described as a huge, black sword covered with strange runes, created by the forces of Chaos with its own will. It is wielded by the doo ...

'', was released in 1987.

External links

Review of the ZX Spectrum version
from CRASH magazine. *{{WoS game, id=0002722
Solution to the Game
ZX Spectrum games Commodore 64 games Amstrad CPC games MSX games 1986 video games Mastertronic games Puzzle video games Video games scored by David Whittaker Video games scored by Rob Hubbard Video games developed in the United Kingdom Single-player video games Video games about time travel Video game sequels