Knight Lore - MSX2 | MSX Resource Center

Finally, the MSX2 remake of Knight Lore, made by Manuel Pazos (Guillian) and Daniel Celemín (LordFred), is available to all who couldn't attend yesterday's RU in Spain! This remake of the old isometric game Knight Lore features outstanding graphics, a style rarely seen on MSX and certainly of a quality usually seen on 16BIT systems. Other extras in this version:

Different palettes for day and night
In-game map that shows the actual player's location, visited rooms and objects' location
Improved music (adding some reverb)
Torch animation (can be disabled by pressing ESC while booting the game)
Bug fixing of the original game
Intro scroll showing the 'Mist tunes'
On turbo R, the R800 is enabled to prevent slowdowns

On the RetroWorks website you can find this page, containing:

The game ROM (48K)
A full game map using screenshots of this new version
A user manual in PDF format
Packing designs (cartridge label and box)

Without a doubt, one of the most exciting releases of the year already. Check out this YouTube video showing the game, in case you missed it some while ago. What are you waiting for?

Relevant link: RetroWorks

Comments (32)

By Manuel

Enlighted (5675)

31-05-2009, 13:53

This is in all respects looking truely like professional stuff. The only comment I can think of: sound could have been improved more, using FM or something or adding more music (probably it would only be available on turboR, I guess). But other than that: magnificent.

Any more MSX2 versions of games using this game engine in the works?

By ARTRAG

Prophet (3033)

31-05-2009, 16:10

By Ivan

Scribe (1354)

31-05-2009, 16:14

ARTRAG seems to be happy!

By hap

Paragon (1101)

31-05-2009, 18:27

Looks solid, great job.

By sd_snatcher

Hero (538)

31-05-2009, 18:33

Thanks for this excellent remake! The graphics are truly very impressive!

I would only request two small improvements: some FM music (like Manuel said) and a load/savegame feature, as these days we don't have to much free time to play it on a single run.

By Walter.MSX

Rookie (17)

31-05-2009, 19:17

Magnificent. Excellent. Respects.

By lionelritchie

Champion (283)

31-05-2009, 20:10

long live SPAIN
locomia and now knightmare msx 2!

By sd_snatcher

Hero (538)

31-05-2009, 20:27

This video shows an unofficial port for the Atari XL that features music. It proves the games fits very well with music.

BTW, are you going to submit this game for the Passion MSX's MSX2 game contest? It will be a very strong entry if you ask me.

By Guillian

Paladin (997)

31-05-2009, 23:34

Thanks! Nice to hear you liked it

>Any more MSX2 versions of games using this game engine in the works?

Nop. We finished the game just a few weeks after Alien 8 and talked about porting Pentagram. But right now I don't feel like starting a new proyect.

About FM music. I thought about it but I decided to not include it. I think the game should keep as close to the original as possible.

>BTW, are you going to submit this game for the Passion MSX's MSX2 game contest? It will be a very strong entry if you ask me.

The rules say: "recompiled games are not acceptable. Already released games or hacked games will not be accepted either. Also, direct graphic or music rips from other authors used without permission won't be acceptable."
So the game can't be acceptable.

By iamweasel2

Master (138)

01-06-2009, 19:16

Really great! It is a amazing work! Thanks for sharing it with us!

Just a question, you said (and I agree with you) that fm music could be too much away from the original (and I don't think it would fit either) but what about some background noise (or music)? Something that will add to the atmosphere while being small, not distracting the user from the game (like winds, noises, etc)?

By iamweasel2

Master (138)

01-06-2009, 19:32

About Knightmare MSX2 there's already a great msx2 remake by Daniel Caetano that even has CD audio sound.

But there are other konami games available (like Yie Ar Kung Fu 2 or Konami's Soccer ) that could benefit a lot from a work such as the one that was made in Knight Lore/Alien 8.

By cidra

Expert (115)

01-06-2009, 19:38

Yes, actually, when we see those enhanced games (La Abadia Del Crimen, Knight Lore) it's impossible not to think of all the other isometric games with the same improvements (Batman, Night Shade, Gun Fright)...

By Manuel

Enlighted (5675)

01-06-2009, 23:07

The Attack of the Killer Tomatoes!

By Ivan

Scribe (1354)

01-06-2009, 23:11

I've got killed because I've spent 40 days. Very difficult game

By lionelritchie

Champion (283)

01-06-2009, 23:30

what a great success it would have been in the 1990s

By Ivan

Scribe (1354)

01-06-2009, 23:52

what a great success it would have been in the 1990sAn MSX2 could compete graphically with 16bit machines of that time thanks to its resolution and colour palette.

By PingPong

Paragon (1732)

02-06-2009, 11:29

Guillian: a good challenge is "NIGHT SHADE"
How time take the disassembling and rev-engineer of a isometric game?
What is the approach that you use to do similar convertions?

By Guillian

Paladin (997)

02-06-2009, 15:12

How time take the disassembling and rev-engineer of a isometric game?

About a week of full time work.

What is the approach that you use to do similar convertions?

I disassemble the game and study each part to understand how it works. Then, I decide how to adapt the game to a different screen mode. Using some place holder graphics, I start to made some test. Finally, I send the original graphics converted to SCREEN 5 to the artist so he can make the new ones.

By muffie

Hero (636)

02-06-2009, 16:12

Reminds me Amiga Cadaver...
www.lemonamiga.com/games/screenshots/full/cadaver_02.png

http://www.lemonamiga.com/?mainurl=http%3A//www.lemonamiga.com/reviews/view.php%3Fid%3D300

By muffie

Hero (636)

02-06-2009, 16:35

cart is also only available to Spanish guys, or can I get it from here?

By Ivan

Scribe (1354)

02-06-2009, 17:57

cart is also only available to Spanish guys, or can I get it from here?Ask Guillian, I'm sure that he can help you...

By Ivan

Scribe (1354)

02-06-2009, 22:25

I've finished the game!

Using blueMSX and saving states. It took me 36 days (in the game, of course

) and visited a 75% of the rooms. You must collect 14 items (in order).

By Guillian

Paladin (997)

02-06-2009, 22:42

Congratulations!

By muffie

Hero (636)

02-06-2009, 23:02

Wassup Guillian. Congratulations for the perfect conversion.
So, can I get that one?

By Ivan

Scribe (1354)

03-06-2009, 00:09

Congratulations!If anyone wants the blueMSX .sta file (saved state) to see the end scene, drop me an email!

By lionelritchie

Champion (283)

03-06-2009, 03:49

save states = profanation
don't spoil the game

By Guillian

Paladin (997)

03-06-2009, 10:28

>So, can I get that one?

I made a few more cartridges. If you are interested send me an email.

Supporter (0)

03-06-2009, 22:05

Yes, of course. What's your e-mail? If you don't want to paste it here, plz send a message to muffie@lavabit.com

By turbor

Master (206)

04-06-2009, 09:52

This is a superb update of this classical masterpiece. It can't get any better on our beloved system
(unless if you add some nice creepy sound scape to it that is

)

It seems that Knight Lore is being reworked a lot these days, here is an other
WIP on retroremakes (not for the MSX platform however) that also looks promising
retroremakes.com/forum/index.php/topic,96.0.html

By Guillian

Paladin (997)

04-06-2009, 10:08

My email (just in case there is more people interested)
GuillianSeed at gmail . com

By lionelritchie

Champion (283)

06-06-2009, 14:49

make gunfright for msx 2 or i will kill my family

By muffie

Hero (636)

08-06-2009, 15:34

I'll have my CART! Assuming that Brazilian mail service does not kidnap the package...
Friends are not family, right Lionel?