Classic Moments: Knight Lore

Darran recalls all the memorable bits from Ultimate’s excellent Sabreman adventure

» PLATFORM: AMSTRAD CPC » RELEASED: 1984 » DEVELOPER: ULTIMATE PLAY THE GAME

Ultimate’s adventure certainly wasn’t the first isometric game you would have encountered on a home computer, but it was arguably the most impressive you would have seen back in 1984.

Tim and Chris Stamper seemingly pushed your Amstrad to breaking point, delivering an exciting world to discover as you went about your quest to free Sabreman from the deadly curse he’d found himself afflicted with. Despite a move to the third dimension and the loss of his trusty sword, Sabreman was still recognisable as the avatar you’d controlled in both Sabre Wulf and Underwurlde, but that appearance certainly wouldn’t last as you navigated your way through the 128 rooms that the Stampers had so meticulously constructed. For you see, that curse Sabreman had caught in the wulf’s jungle domain was the curse of lycanthropy… and the full moon is fast approaching. Our hero abruptly stops and you watch in wonderment as he contorts and twitches before your very eyes, only to be replaced with a new lupine form. It’s the kind of moment that stays with you forever, and each painful-looking transformation pushed you forward to find an antidote to Sabreman’s malady.