| Knight Rider Special | |
|---|---|
| Developer(s) | Pack-In-Video |
| Publisher(s) | Pack-In-Video |
| Year released | 1989 |
| System(s) | PC Engine |
| Genre(s) | Racing |
|---|---|
| Modes | Single player |
Knight Rider Special (ナイトライダースペシャル Naito Raidā Supesharu?) is a driving game for the PC Engine, produced and published by Pack-In-Video Co. Ltd (who also developed the NES version) on December 22, 1989 in Japan only. It is based on the 1980s TV show Knight Rider, about the secret agent Michael Knight and the Knight Industries Two Thousand (KITT) technologically-enhanced vehicle with its own sophisticated AI. The game employs the memorable music from the TV show and also features sound bites by KITT's voice actor, Akio Nojima, straight from the show's Japanese dub. The goal of the game is to race to the end of each stage, avoiding other vehicles on the road and employing KITT's turbo boosters to make time, and then taking out the criminal Michael was sent to chase down with KITT's weaponry.
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Title screen
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Game screen
Gameplay[edit]
Unlike the NES version, Special's gameplay is featured in a third-person perspective akin to even the most basic driving games like Out Run and Rad Racer. The action is very similar to that of Chase H.Q. which also features a third-person driving perspective. Players have to navigate KITT through and around various cars, big rig trucks, and other obstacles in order to reach their destination and face each level's boss. However many of the cars on the open road are armed with rear guns and will try and fire at KITT. Jet fighters or propeller planes will also fly by and try to fire machine guns or drop missiles on KITT.
- Areas / Checkpoints
Like many other driving games checkpoints or "areas" as they are called, are very important as one of the player's biggest enemies throughout the game is the clock. Players are given 60 seconds to get from area to area.
- Weapons
KITT is only armed with a pair of machine guns and has a turbo boost function. Unlike the show and other Knight Rider games, turbo boosts can keep KITT airborne for long periods of time. Over the course of the game players can earn upgrades to strengthen KITT's abilities and defenses.