by Brett Weiss
P
King’s Quest V for the NES puts players in the UBLISHER: Square. DEVELOPER: Square. Vertical Scrolling Shooter, 1 player. 1989.
role of King Graham, who must journey through
a magical world (including mountains, forests,
At first glance, King’s Knight looks like a
deserts, and an island) to find his missing cas-
role-playing game. However, it’s actually a
tle and royal family. Players guide Graham with
shooter, with players guiding a knight, a wiz-
the control pad, but an icon system is used for
ard, a monster, and a thief (one at a time) over
most functions. Icons include walk, quick
mountains, towns, and islands, firing away at
travel, look, talk, action, item (view last item se-
such enemies and obstacles as rocks, statues,
lected in inventory mode), inventory, and
mushrooms, and trees. Magical elements, which
memory. Items to find include keys for open-
are hidden in the first four areas, are important
ing doors, fish to feed a cat, a sled for riding
for making it through the fifth and final level,
down a mountain, a tambourine for getting rid
where the characters band together and fight
of a snake, a stick to throw at a dog, and much
as a team. Standard power-ups include higher
more. Includes password feature. See also:
jumps, speed, shields, and firing strength. A
King’s Quest: Quest for the Crown (SMS).
minor effort by Square.
Kirby’s Adventure
Kings of the Beach Professional Beach
PUBLISHER: Nintendo. DEVELOPER: HAL Labo-
Volleyball
ratory. Side-Scrolling Platform, 1 player. 1993.
PUBLISHER: Ultra Games. DEVELOPER: Konami.
Sports/Volleyball, 1–4 players (simultaneous).
The second installment in the popular
1989.
Kirby franchise (following Kirby’s Dream Land
for the Game Boy), Kirby’s Adventure is a cute, Arguably the best pre–’90s volleyball game,
colorful, thoroughly enjoyable game. The titu-
Kings of the Beach has bright, detailed graphics lar pink puff ball must make his way through
that include onlookers, beachcombers, oceanic
seven levels (including Vegetable Valley, Ice
backgrounds, and a nice side-view of the court
Cream Island, and Rainbow Resort), jumping
and players. There are three types of serves
on platforms, swimming, floating over obsta-
(underhand, flat, and jump) and a variety of
cles, and sliding into and shooting air pellets
moves, including bump shots, spikes, blocks
and water at enemies. Includes three mini-
(including a special Kong block), feints, and
games: Quick Draw Kirby, Egg Catcher, and
dives. The two-on-two action, which is de-
Crane Fever. The game introduced Kirby’s
signed to mimic the playing styles of pros Sin-
trademark ability to swallow enemies and use
jin Smith and Randy Stoklos, is accessible and
their powers, which later showed up in such ti-
fun. Players can even argue bad calls. The game
tles as Kirby’s Dream Land 3 (SNES) and Super has five stages: Coronado Beach, San Diego;
Smash Bros. (Nintendo 64).
Oak Street Beach, Chicago; Waikiki Beach,
114
CLASSIC HOME VIDEO GAMES, 1985–1988
Kiwi Kraze
items as laser guns, balloons (for flying), magic
PUBLISHER: Taito. DEVELOPER: Software Cre-
watches (for freezing enemies), and magic staffs
ations. Platform Shooter/Side-Scrolling Plat-
(for invincibility). Arrows and a radar map
form, 1 or 2 players (alternating). 1991.
help players make it through the levels. Kiwi
Despite missing the animated introduc-
Kraze is a cute and charming, yet challenging tory screen, Kiwi Kraze is a very nice port of game that platforming fans will thoroughly
Taito’s 1988 arcade game, which was called The
enjoy. Followed by: New Zealand Story: Revo-
New Zealand Story. Players guide a Kiwi bird
lution (Nintendo DS).
named Tiki through zoos, caves, mountains,
villages, fields, and a pirate ship (all based in
KlashBall
New Zealand), rescuing his friends from cages,
PUBLISHER: Sofel. DEVELOPER: The Bitmap
dodging obstacles (including spikes and fire-
Brothers. Sports/Futuristic, 1 or 2 players (si-
multaneous). 1991.
balls), and shooting arrows at crabs, koalas,
angle bats, sea anemones, flying teddy bears,
KlashBall is basically futuristic soccer,
flying robo kitties, flying spearmen, and other
viewed from a top-down perspective. There are
enemies. In addition to running, jumping,
four players on either side (plus goalies), and
shooting, and swimming, Kiwi can find such
the objective is to kick a small, bouncing ball
into the opponent’s goal posi-
tioned at the top or bottom of the
screen. The action scrolls verti-
cally, and the playfield is approx-
imately two screens in size. The
sides of the field have openings
like the tunnels in Pac-Man, and if
the ball goes through one, it will
come out the other side. Unlike
traditional soccer, KlashBall has
bumpers (and other obstacles) and
randomly appearing power-ups,
letting players freeze the other
team, create an extra goalie, pro-
tect their team from taking dam-
age, and more. Standard moves
include catching the ball and div-
ing to block the ball or knock down
an opponent. Adapted from Speed-
ball, the 1988 computer game.
KLAX
PUBLISHER: Tengen. DEVELOPER:
Tengen. Action Puzzle, 1 or 2 play-
ers (simultaneous). 1990.
A port of Atari’s Tetris-influ-
enced arcade game, KLAX for the
NES has players lining up de-
Three NES games starring popular Nintendo characters: scending (on a conveyor belt) tiles
Kirby’s Adventure, which introduced Kirby’s ability to swal-in rows, columns, and diagonals.
low enemies; Dr. Mario, which put Nintendo’s chief mascot in a Tetris-style game; and Donkey Kong Classics, which includes Scoring a “KLAX” (three or more
the arcade hits Donkey Kong and Donkey Kong Jr.
tiles of the same color lined up)
NINTENDO NES
115
removes those tiles from the screen. Players
them. A cursor is used for picking up the objects
catch each tile on a paddle and can drop it into
(one at a time) and placing them in the desired
position below, hold onto it (up to five tiles at
spot. The longer the row of objects removed (11
a time), or hoist it back up to the conveyor belt.
is the maximum), the more points players will
Combos are worth extra points, and certain
score. Objects include cats, dogs, elephants,
objectives (such as getting a set number of di-
snails, cobras, chatter teeth, spheres, books,
atomic clocks, fish faces, and more. Gamers can
each wave. Letting too many tiles get past the
play solo or have a friend join in for coopera-
paddle ends the game. Atari’s original coin-op
tive or competitive action. There’s no music
classic (1989) has voice effects and crisper,
during gameplay, the creatures are mono-col-
more richly colored graphics, but the NES ver-
ored and lacking in detail, and repetition sets in
sion does offer a Pong-type bonus game called pretty quickly. However, the simple, fast-paced
Blob Ball. Thankfully, the two-player split-
action will appeal to a certain breed of puzzle
screen mode remains intact. Also released for
fan. Unlicensed.
the Atari 7800, TurboGrafx-16, Genesis, and
other systems. Unlicensed.
The Krion Conquest
PUBLISHER: Vic Tokai. DEVELOPER: Vic Tokai.
Knight Rider
Platform Shooter, 1 player. 1991.
PUBLISHER: Acclaim. DEVELOPER: Pack-In
The Krion Conquest is similar to Mega
Video. Demolition/Combat Racing, 1 player.
Man 2, but with a little witch named Francesca 1989.
in the starring role. Unlike Mega Man, Francesca
Based on the TV show (1982–1986) star-
can shoot upward (in addition to left and right),
ring David Hasselhoff, Knight Rider is some-
duck, and ride on a broom. There are five lev-
what similar to Spy Hunter, but is viewed from els of play (Underground Base, Ice Base, Under-inside the car instead of above the action. In
water Base, Sky Base, and Space Station), and
addition, the roads twist and turn (ala Pole Po-
the robot-shooting action is carried out via six
sition), and there are boss battles against semi types of selectable magic: normal, freeze, fire,
trucks and jetcopters. Players drive the souped-
ball (shots ricochet off walls), shield (forms
up Trans-Am KITT (Knight Industries 2000)
barrier against enemies), and broom. Holding
on 15 similar missions, shooting bullets, mis-
down the fire button charges up the magic gauge
siles, and lasers at certain vehicles while avoid-
for unleashing super shots. Derivative, but fun.
ing or collecting items (such as gasoline and
shield repairs) from others. Courses are timed,
Krusty’s Fun House
and backgrounds reflect the various destina-
PUBLISHER: Acclaim. DEVELOPER: Audiogenic
tion cities. Regrettably, there are no voice ef-
Software. Adventure Puzzle, 1 player. 1992.
fects, meaning KITT can’t spout wisecracks like
A Simpsons-ized rendition of the com-
he did in the television series. However, he can
puter game Rat-Trap, Krusty’s Fun House finds jump over enemy fire.
the titular residence being overrun with rats,
and the player must help the cantankerous
Krazy Kreatures
clown lure the pesky creatures into traps set by
PUBLISHER: American Video Entertainment.
Bart and Homer. This involves moving blocks
DEVELOPER: American Video Entertainment.
(including spring blocks), trapping rats in jars,
Action Puzzle, 1 or 2 players (simultaneous).
creating stair steps, finding secret passageways,
1990.
throwing superballs, jumping on moving plat-
In Krazy Kreatures, waves of small animals
forms, using fireworks, connecting pipes, plac-
and other objects jump from off screen onto a
ing fans (which blow the rats), breaking walls,
rectangular or otherwise geometrical playfield,
and more. To ward off snakes, aliens, birds, and
and it is up to the player to place the objects in
flying pigs, Krusty can throw custard pies. In-
rows of identical shapes in order to remove
cludes password feature. Also released for the
116
CLASSIC HOME VIDEO GAMES, 1985–1988
Game Boy and Game Gear. Released as Krusty’s
Laser Invasion
Super Fun House for the Genesis and SNES.
PUBLISHER: Ultra Games. DEVELOPER: Konami.
Light Gun Shooter, 1 player. 1991.
Kung Fu
Laser Invasion puts players in the cockpit
PUBLISHER: Nintendo. DEVELOPER: Nintendo.
of a helijet, guiding a cannon sight around the
Side-Scrolling Combat, 1 or 2 players (alter-
viewscreen (which takes up the top half of the
nating). 1985.
playfield), shooting missiles at enemy fighters,
Based on Irem’s Kung-Fu Master arcade
aerial mines, and other enemies in the employ
game (1984), Kung Fu has less detailed graph-of Sheik Toxic Moron. Below the viewscreen is
ics than its coin-op counterpart, but handles
the control panel, where players monitor radar,
better and has faithfully adapted (if repetitious)
remaining missiles, remaining optional equip-
music. Players guide a kung fu expert named
ment (fuel tanks, ground bombs, and chaff ac-
Thomas as he runs, jumps, punches, kicks (in-
tivated protection systems), air speed indicator,
cluding jump kicks), and crouches his way
and damage meter. After destroying the Sheik’s
through a barrage of stick fighters, giants, knife
Vulture Squadron, players must land the heli-
throwers, dragons, poisonous moths, and other
jet, shoot at enemies running around on the
enemies. The simple fighting action is dated,
ground, and then enter the 3-D Confusion
but this system launch title holds a special place
Maze, which, like the rest of the areas in the
in the hearts of many early NES owners. The
game, is viewed from a first-person perspec-
game was released as Kung-Fu Master for the
tive. A mapping system helps keep players from
Atari 2600, Atari 7800, and Game Boy.
getting lost as they navigate the maze, collect-
ing items and shooting bad guys. Although it
Kung-Fu Heroes
can be played with a standard controller or a
PUBLISHER: Culture Brain. DEVELOPER: Culture
Nintendo Zapper gun, Laser Invasio n is de-
Brain. Maze/Fighting, 1 or 2 players (simulta-
signed specifically for use with Konami’s Laser
neous). 1989.
Scope headset, which is a voice-activated opti-
cal targeting device.
When martial arts masters Jacky and Lee
return to their homeland, they discover that
Last Action Hero
Princess Min-Min has been kidnapped by
P
monsters. To set things right, the cartoonish
UBLISHER: Sony Imagesoft. DEVELOPER: Bits
Studios. Side-Scrolling Combat, 1 player. 1993.
characters must battle through eight castles,
each of which contains four single-screen
Based on the feature film (1993), Last Ac-
rooms. As in Bomberman, the view is from
tion Hero puts players in the Arnold Schwarz-overhead, and players can move their combat-
enegger role of Jack Slater, who must walk (left
; ant up, down, right, and left. However, instead
and right only), crouch, punch, kick, and jump
of setting bombs, Jack and Lee dish out kung fu
his way through seven levels, each inspired by
punches and flying “moon sault” kicks against
a scene from the movie: Christmas in L.A., A
the many oddly amusing enemies (including
Medieval Nightmare, A Date with Your Ex, The
Mr. Coffin, Medusa Cat, and Dragon Man)
Car Chase, Leo’s Funeral, Premiere Night, and
they will encounter. In addition, the duo can
Finale. Enemies to battle include knights,
destroy boxes, blocks, and stones to reveal
archers, bad cops, guerilla guards, psycho candy
swords, candles (for seeing hidden traps), in-
girls, The Ripper, and others who have broken
vincibility, projectile attacks, and other help-
out of the movie screen and entered the “real”
ful items and power-ups. Destroying all the en-
world to unleash cheap hits on our hero. Health
emies in a maze opens a door to the next
hearts are the only pick-up. The limited, strat-
screen. Simple and accessible, Kung-Fu Heroes
egy-deprived, punch-and-kick action is bro-
is charmingly retro. Based on Taiyo’s Chinese
ken up somewhat by Jack having to ride eleva-
Hero (arcade, 1984). Followed by: Little Ninja tors and jump on cars and trucks. Includes
Brothers (NES) and Super Ninja Boy (SNES).
between-level cut scenes. The Genesis and SNES
NINTENDO NES
117
versions include two driving levels. Also re-
Factor for the Intellivision, but with inferior leased for the Game Boy and Game Gear.
gameplay and no bombs.
The Last Ninja
Lee Trevino’s Fighting Golf
P
P
UBLISHER: Jaleco. DEVELOPER: Beam Software.
UBLISHER: SNK. DEVELOPER: SNK.
Adventure, 1 player. 1991.
Sports/Golf, 1–4 players (alternating). 1988.
Offering clearly defined graphics, four dis-
The Last Ninja puts players in the role of
tinctive golfers of varying abilities (including
Armakuni, Master Ninja of 9th Century Feu-
“Super Mex” himself ), two 18-hole courses
dal Japan, who gets transported to modern day
(Japanese and American), four modes of play
Manhattan. On a mission to bring down the
(Stroke, Nassau, and Practice), and a three-tap
Evil Shogun Kunitoki, Armakuni must battle
swing system, Lee Trevino’s Fighting Golf is a his way through six puzzle- and enemy-filled