Knight Rider (video game)

For other uses, see Knight Rider.

Knight Rider
North American cover art
Developer(s)	Pack-In-Video
Publisher(s)	Acclaim
Platform(s)	Nintendo Entertainment System
Release date(s)	JP September 30, 1988 NA December 1989 EU July 27, 1990
Genre(s)	Racing
Mode(s)	Single-player
Rating(s)	CERO: not rated (n/a) ESRB: not rated (n/a) PEGI: not rated (n/a)
Media/distribution	4-megabit cartridge

Knight Rider is a racing video game for the Nintendo Entertainment System that is very loosely based on the television show of the same name. In the Japanese version, the Bonnie character is renamed "Vonnie" due to phonetic reasons. The Japanese version (released in 1988) also has a purple screen compared to the blue screen of the North American version (released in 1989); making it feel more like manga.

Gameplay

Mission mode

Terrorists have raided a U.S. military site; only a man and his robotic car can chase them across the United States to stop their evil plan. A time limit helps put pressure on the player as he attempts to defeat the terrorist forces. KITT has structural shielding; however the vehicle is considered destroyed if it repeatedly crashes or enemy gunfire depletes the shielding. Despite the non-violent premise of the television show, "Mission Mode" makes use of firearms as way to enhance play, similar to RoadBlasters. Shooting non-combatant (blue) vehicles deducts from the timer, making the completion of a level more difficult.

Drive mode

There is also a drive mode that allows players to go on a simple drive through the game's stages without weapons or enemy fire.

Ways to lose a life

Players can and will lose lives if any of these things happen: running out of gasoline, destruction of the player's vehicle, or if time is allowed to run out. Occasionally, allies will give the player either extra time, extra shields, or extra gasoline. It is important to be able to discriminate between enemies, civilians and allies. Losing lives is possible in both the "normal" and the "drive" mode. Unlike a racing game, speed is not important; instead the emphasis is on being able to make the journey from the start of the level to the end without running out of fuel or having excessive contact with the other vehicles.

Reception
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