This is more or less the final build. There are a few improvements to make but given I have gameplay parity with the original version and more or less my final look, it’s time to put this out there.
If you want to read a little more about the motivations for this project, go here.
Download the ZX Spectrum Next BASIC DIY installation package here.
If you do not have a ZX Spectrum Next then I recommend the CSpect emulator from www.cspect.com and simply using the files from this page in order to get going easily (see below).
Donate Coffee
This is not a commercial product and you can use it or bugger about with the source code as you please. If you like what I have done here however, donations via Ko-fi.com/jzlok are appreciated. They will help to pay for the licensed graphics and maybe fuel some follow up projects.
Instructions
This is a simple game, more of luck than skill. It is intended to play as the original 8-bit Atari version did.
Simply run the game and press SPACE to begin play. Move the Knight around 8-directionally (I made that phrase up) using Q,W,E,A,D,Z,X and C or use Kempston joystick.
The aim of the game is to find the Chalice* and the key to get back into the castle. Return the Chalice to it’s rightful place in the castle.
- The Chalice in this version is Golden Skull because it was included in the licensed graphics and I just liked it.
Playing via CSpect
All the files and and instructions are available from cspect.org and http://www.zxspectrumnext.online/cspect/.
Beware. Some anti-virus software shows CSpect as a false positive.
The general gist of the instructions from the above link (please RTFM) is:
- Download and Install CSpect from the first link.
- Download SD card image files from the second link.
- Copy the enNextZX.rom and enNxtMMC.rom files into the CSpect installation root folder.
- Download Knights and Chalices and extract all the files from the .rar.
- Use a program such as hdfmonkey or hdfgooey to create a directory in the image file and copy Knights and Chalices into place on the SD card image.
- Boot CSpect with something like ‘CSpect.exe -sound -fullscreen -tv -s28 -zxnext -nextrom -mmc=<path to and name of your image file>’
- Navigate to wherever you copied the files and boot the game and select ‘kac.bas’. It should boot.
Credits
Based on an original 8-bit Atari game by Bruce Willard. I do not know Mr Willard, this product has not been endorsed by him. I hope he approves.
ZX Spectrum Next development is my own work.
I came across the perfect tileset and licensed the graphics from www.oryxdesignlab.com. Impressive work!
I pulled the font from a collection of free fonts from https://damieng.com/typography/zx-origins/