Tecmo Knight, a high-fantasy brawler developed by Koei Tecmo, was released to arcades in 1989. The game features a muscle-bound hero on a quest to rescue the townspeople from the clutches of the Beast Demon Army. Hamster has brought the classic game to PS4 and Nintendo Switch, but it failed to become a well-remembered classic due to its finicky and precise controls. However, it’s still worth checking out if you’re a fan of classic brawlers.

The Story of Tecmo Knight

Tecmo Knight follows the journey of a heroic character, Tecmo Knight, who battles his way through the Kingdom of Valdik to rescue the townspeople from the Beast Demon Army. The hero is aided by his tiger pal, “Tiger”, and Smokeman, a deity who provides additional attacks and abilities. Tecmo Knight can also call upon the power of a dragon, who can defeat any opponent with a single blast of fiery breath. The game’s objective is to defeat the Beast Demon Army and save the townspeople.

The Gameplay

Tecmo Knight’s gameplay is similar to other brawlers of its time, such as Golden Axe. The game’s controls are finicky and precise, which makes it a trickier challenge for players. The anxiety-inducing Continue? screen sees the Tecmo Knight being eaten by a giant monster as he screams in pain. Failing to add a credit in time sees a helmeted beast hack through the screen, yelling “NO FUTURE!” like a 1978 British punk. The attract sequence was ultimately censored before release, with further bloodletting, such as decapitations, ensuing throughout the game.

The Legacy of Tecmo Knight

Despite its lack of widespread success, Tecmo Knight is a classic brawler that is worth checking out. Tecmo’s take on Sega’s Golden Axe is more finicky and precise, similar to their own hit, Ninja Gaiden. The game’s unique characters and storyline make it an interesting game to play. Tecmo Knight is available to download now on PS4 and Nintendo Switch, priced at $8.

Frequently Asked Questions

• What is Tecmo Knight?

  Tecmo Knight is a high-fantasy brawler game developed by Koei Tecmo and released to arcades in 1989, and now available on PS4 and Nintendo Switch through Hamster’s Arcade Archives.

• Who is the main character of Tecmo Knight?

  The titular hero of Tecmo Knight is a muscle-bound warrior who battles through the Kingdom of Valdik to rescue the townspeople from the Beast Demon Army. He is aided by his tiger companion, “Tiger”, and the deity Smokeman who provides additional abilities.

• What is the gameplay of Tecmo Knight like?

  Tecmo Knight is a high-fantasy brawler game with finicky and precise controls, similar to Ninja Gaiden. It is a trickier challenge than other brawlers of the time, like Sega’s Golden Axe, and features an anxiety-inducing Continue? screen where the Tecmo Knight is eaten by a giant monster as he screams in pain if a credit is not added in time.

• What is the price of Tecmo Knight on PS4 and Nintendo Switch?

  Tecmo Knight is available to download on PS4 and Nintendo Switch through Hamster’s Arcade Archives, priced at $8.