Knightmare 1986

Is it still worth playing?

A warrior named Popolon fights through eight stages of a Greek styled fantasy world to rescue Princess Aphrodite from the evil priest Hudnos, in this 1986 vertical shooter for the MSX. The screen never stops scrolling until a boss appears. Popolon starts with a bow and arrows, and flashing crystals swap or upgrade the weapon, picking the same one twice to power it up. Crystals marked P can be shot to cycle through boomerangs, three way shots, swords, extra speed, brief invincibility and a shield. Shooting at a riverbank reveals hidden bridges, and enemy formations give bonus points when you take them out. It was the first game of the Knightmare trilogy. Its constant scroll and weapon swapping still keep each stage busy.