Knight Lore - MSX2

by Guillian on 31-05-2009, 11:50
Topic: Software
Languages:

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 (33)

By Manuel

Ascended (19332)

Manuel's picture

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

Enlighted (6933)

ARTRAG's picture

31-05-2009, 16:10

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By Ivan

Ascended (9342)

Ivan's picture

31-05-2009, 16:14

ARTRAG seems to be happy! Tongue

By hap

Paragon (2042)

hap's picture

31-05-2009, 18:27

Looks solid, great job. Smile

By sd_snatcher

Prophet (3647)

sd_snatcher's picture

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. Smile

By Walter.MSX

Expert (73)

Walter.MSX's picture

31-05-2009, 19:17

Magnificent. Excellent. Respects. Tongue !

By lionelritchie

Champion (439)

lionelritchie's picture

31-05-2009, 20:10

long live SPAIN
locomia and now knightmare msx 2!

By sd_snatcher

Prophet (3647)

sd_snatcher's picture

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

Prophet (3516)

Guillian's picture

31-05-2009, 23:34

Thanks! Nice to hear you liked it Big smile

>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. Tongue

By iamweasel2

Paladin (709)

iamweasel2's picture

01-06-2009, 19:16

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

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

Paladin (709)

iamweasel2's picture

01-06-2009, 19:32

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

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

Master (202)

cidra's picture

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

Ascended (19332)

Manuel's picture

01-06-2009, 23:07

The Attack of the Killer Tomatoes! Tongue

By Ivan

Ascended (9342)

Ivan's picture

01-06-2009, 23:11

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

By lionelritchie

Champion (439)

lionelritchie's picture

01-06-2009, 23:30

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

By Ivan

Ascended (9342)

Ivan's picture

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

Enlighted (4098)

PingPong's picture

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

Prophet (3516)

Guillian's picture

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

Paladin (933)

muffie's picture

02-06-2009, 16:12

By muffie

Paladin (933)

muffie's picture

02-06-2009, 16:35

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

By Ivan

Ascended (9342)

Ivan's picture

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

Ascended (9342)

Ivan's picture

02-06-2009, 22:25

I've finished the game! Smile Smile Smile Using blueMSX and saving states. It took me 36 days (in the game, of course Smile) and visited a 75% of the rooms. You must collect 14 items (in order).

By Guillian

Prophet (3516)

Guillian's picture

02-06-2009, 22:42

Congratulations! Big smile

By muffie

Paladin (933)

muffie's picture

02-06-2009, 23:02

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

By Ivan

Ascended (9342)

Ivan's picture

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 (439)

lionelritchie's picture

03-06-2009, 03:49

save states = profanation
don't spoil the game

By Guillian

Prophet (3516)

Guillian's picture

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.

By anonymous

incognito ergo sum (116)

anonymous's picture

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

Hero (520)

turbor's picture

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 Wink )

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

Prophet (3516)

Guillian's picture

04-06-2009, 10:08

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

By lionelritchie

Champion (439)

lionelritchie's picture

06-06-2009, 14:49

make gunfright for msx 2 or i will kill my family

By muffie

Paladin (933)

muffie's picture

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?

By iamweasel2

Paladin (709)

iamweasel2's picture

31-05-2020, 18:43

Eleven years from this awesome work already. It seems like it was yesterday...

And I keep dreaming of a similar work being done with the Simcity conversion done by Daniel Caetano from ZX to MSX. Smile