Knight Lore is the third game in the Sabreman series, preceded by Sabre Wulf and Underwurlde, and followed by Pentagram. It was developed and published by Ultimate Play the Game, a predecessor company to Rare, and released in 1984 for the ZX Spectrum. It was also made available for other game computers such as the MSX and the Amstrad CPC.
After escaping the underworld, Sabreman has fallen under a curse that will transform him into a werewolf every night, and will become permanent in 40 days. Traveling to a castle, he works together with the wizard of the castle to obtain numerous items in the maze of the castle to concoct a potion that will reverse the curse.
This game is notable for being one of the first games ever to use Isometric Projection, creating an illusion of depth that the ZX Spectrum otherwise could not replicate, alongside its day and night system which was likewise previously unheard of. Originally only released in Britain, other areas would eventually be able to play the game when it and its two prequels were included in Rare Replay, a Compilation Re-release of 30 of Rare and Ultimate's games.
Knight Lore contains examples of the following tropes:
- All There in the Manual: The game's premise is not conveyed in the game other than in the game's ending, it is only spoken about in the guide. In addition, the wizard's name (Melkior) is also there.
- Blob Monster: Some of the game's few enemies are shapeless blobs.
- Colour-Coded for Your Convenience: Each room in the original ZX Spectrum version is bathed in a single color palette of blue, green, yellow or pink, to help the player not get lost as easily.
- Eye of Newt: The ingredients include bottles of poison, shoes, diamonds, teacups, and crystal balls.
- In-Universe Game Clock: Another innovation of its time, Knight Lore has an in-game clock that switches between day and night, with Sabreman turning into a werewolf every night and changing back every day, with only 40 days to complete the game.
- Isometric Projection: This game was one of the first to ever use isometric graphics, being used in every room.
- Magic Cauldron: The cauldron where you dispense the items is able to display an image of what the next item is. In addition, it'll also attack you with magic if Sabreman is in werewolf form.
- Magic Fire: One obstacle in the game is never-ending fire that is able to move back and forth.
- The Maze: Like its predecessors, the game is one massive maze of 128 rooms, and no two playthroughs will be the same as the locations of every item as well as the order of the items is random every time.
- One-Hit-Point Wonder: Like the previous games, Sabreman can only take one hit or he's a goner.
- Our Werewolves Are Different: Instead of turning into a werewolf every full moon, Sabreman has the unfortunate attribute of changing every moon.
- Spikes of Doom: Spikes are the most common obstacle in the game, usually requiring precise jumps to cross over. They're a bit easier as a werewolf thanks to the higher jump.
- To Be Continued: The game's ending, if you manage to free Sabreman of the curse, teases Mire Mare, a sequel that was never released.
