Turbo Boost '80s Style
Last updated: 16/11/2006 - 14:22
Get behind the wheel of artificially intelligent Trans-Am KITT and make like David 'The Hoff' Hasslehoff for a spot of high-octane adventure - based on '80s TV series Knight Rider.
Knight Rider - The Game
"Michael, Devon’s calling..."
TV heroes of yesteryear Michael Knight and KITT are once again teamed up, championing the cause of the powerless in a world of criminals who operate above the law.
In Knight Rider - The Game players take the role of ace be-permed driver Knight, in pursuit (quite literally) of perpetrators and wrongdoers, fighting on the side of the innocent and the helpless.
Using the most technologically advanced crime-fighting car ever made, The Knight Industry Two Thousand - more commonly known as KITT - the players must take to the open road to win the day.
90 Episodes
Based on the Knight Rider TV series – which told of the adventures of Michael Knight (played by David Hasslehoff) selected to drive the super car KITT for the Foundation of Law and Government – the game gives the player the same mission: to route out evils beyond the reach of conventional law enforcement.
The original series ran for four seasons – from 1982 to 1986, comprising an incredible 90 episodes – with just a single TV movie revival in 2000. Now’s your chance to have a revival of your very own.
In the game - as with the TV show - KITT is a sentient, high tech car whose outer shell is constructed of a unique molecular bondage structure, making him all but impervious to damage. This comes in pretty handy, as it (he?) can come in for some punishment while using the car’s “Super Pursuit Mode” – at speeds exceeding 200mph!
Using all of KITT's amazing high-tech features players in this car chase game can set off on one of 10 original, action packed missions over 15 different driving environments.
Gameplay wise, this is a series of driving adventures, in which the super-powered car encounters enemy vehicles of all kinds and well-known allies and enemies from the TV show. The latter includes: Devon, Bonnie, KITT's diabolical twin - KARR - and the evil mastermind known only as Garth – who also happens to bear an uncanny resemblance to David Hasslehoff…
Turbo Boost
KITT’s many facilities allow players to scan buildings to track down enemies. Make improbable leaps across speeding railway trains with the aid of “Turbo Boost”. Chase enemy helicopters using “Super Pursuit Mode” and defy gravity, to make a two-wheeled escape using “Ski Mode”.
What the reviews have said about Knight Rider – The Game:
"The car is the star, as he doesn't have a perm or a weasel down his shirt" - PlayStation MAX
"Davilex has done its homework and fans are likely to lap this one up when it speeds into view" - P2
"The thespian genius was obviously KITT, the sleek, black, sentient super car with the red LED" - PC Gamer
"It's a dream come true for anyone who ever wanted to drive KITT themselves." - PC Format
"A game that has the potential to capture the inane stunts, David Hasslehoff's curly 80s 'fro and the campness of KITT, Knight Rider - The Game could be as exciting as the hit TV series it's based on." - GamesDomain.com
"Unique driving experience"
"Knight Rider offers players a unique driving experience. Its mix of action & adventure, coupled with its instantly recognisable theme will offer gamers a fun, exciting, game play experience," explains KOCH Media's Commercial Director, Kerri Davies.
Knight Rider – The Game is available now for PC & PlayStation 2, from KOCH Media.
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General
This game looks great; all graphical details have been looked after including excellent slow-motion shots of KITT completing sections of the game. For me however, that is one of the only major plus points of this game. The gameplay itself is not too bad, the car responds fairly well to the controls, it’s the plot that I found awful.
For me, if Michael was allowed to leave the vehicle to inspect warehouses, fight crime, flirt with Bonnie etc... the game would be greatly improved. The search and investigate levels are very tedious and the jumping over walls with KITT is just not enjoyable (or for that matter plausible or altogether true to the TV show) enough to keep you glued.
Graphics and Sound
As I have said the graphics are second to none. The look of KITT is first-class, the scrolling excellent, the movement smooth and the scenery breathtaking. The highlight for me was getting a jump slightly wrong and watching as the game auto-cuts to slow-motion as you fly through the air in what should be a glorious moment, but if you do it my way you get a slow-motion aerial disaster. My only gripe about the sound (as the effects are great) is this: why did they not get the real voice of KITT to really pump up the ambiance?
Gameplay
Well the car chases are good in an arcade sort of way, but that can only keep you hooked for so long. The levels where KITT battles Goliath and KARR are a welcome change, but all the same did not do a lot for me personally.
The ski mode where you flip the car on its side is good, but again I used this for messing around rather then the actual game itself. All in all I felt the game lacked a bit of atmosphere that could have been gained by allowing Michael to leave the vehicle so as to give the car chases more substance.
Another drawback is longevity - if you got this game for Christmas and play for a couple of hours you could complete it and have it exchanged in the Boxing Day sales!
Overall
I was so disappointed with this game. As a youngster and as an adult, Knightrider was a programme I never missed (despite David Hasslehoffs dodgy perm) and with this game I just feel there has been a huge opportunity missed to take us 80's kids back in time, and for those who missed the phenomena, a decent game to play. Sorry guys, but this just does not cut the mustard!
Ardo Sharrok, posted on 16/11/2006 at 02:51