King's Knight (1986-)

• Developer: Square

• Publisher: Square

• Genre: Scrolling Shooter

• Designer: Hironobu Sakaguchi

• Composer: Nobuo Uematsu

King’s Knight is an action role-playing and vertical scrolling shooter hybrid developed by Square and released for the NES in 1986. It was published by Square in Japan and by Taxan in North America, marking one of Square’s early ventures into the home console market before the launch of the Final Fantasy series. The game was later re-released on various platforms as part of retro collections and through digital distribution, allowing new audiences to experience its unique blend of genres. Its combination of shooting mechanics with RPG elements distinguished it from typical NES action games of the era.

The game’s narrative follows four heroes—King, Prince, Wizard, and Knight—as they embark on a quest to rescue the kidnapped princess and defeat the evil sorcerer Ragra. The story draws inspiration from traditional fantasy motifs, combining medieval heroism with high-action gameplay. Players navigate through vertically scrolling stages, flying across landscapes and dodging or attacking enemies, while the overarching quest structure provides a sense of progression and purpose. The colorful graphics and imaginative enemy designs contributed to the game’s appeal, reflecting the mid-1980s trend of blending fantasy storytelling with arcade-style action.

Gameplay in King’s Knight merges fast-paced shooting with character-driven RPG elements. Players can choose from four different characters, each with unique abilities and speed, and can collect coins during stages to improve their score and unlock items. The game’s stages feature a mix of enemy patterns, environmental hazards, and boss encounters that require both quick reflexes and strategic use of character abilities. The soundtrack, composed by Nobuo Uematsu in his earliest video game work, provides energetic and memorable melodies that complement the vertical-scrolling action and enhance the heroic tone of the game.

King’s Knight does not have a prequel, but it received a spiritual successor of sorts in later Square titles that combined action and RPG elements. Promotion for the NES version relied on in-store advertising and magazine features, highlighting its colorful graphics and unique gameplay style as a draw for players seeking both action and adventure. Reception at the time was generally positive, with praise directed at its innovative combination of genres and music, though some critics noted that its difficulty could be punishing for newcomers. Over time, King’s Knight has gained recognition as a notable early work from Square, particularly for showcasing the nascent talents of Uematsu and experimenting with hybrid gameplay mechanics on the NES.

Images from MobyGames