Knight Rider Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)It's not often that I get excited about games. And KR is no exception. Though I'm a terribly huge fan of the show (I actually installed a KITT-like scanner on my car), I had a feeling that this game would be only so-so from what I've seen.The demo was okay, involving a simple chase-the-helicopter exercise.But I have to admit; the opening was fantastic - almost just like the show.You'll swear some of that footage is real, not computer-generated!
I changed my mind once my cousin brought a European version back on his visit. If you're a fan of the show, you'll really enjoy this game. You've got KITT in all of his glory, equipped with Turbo Boost, Ski Mode (allows you to pull two-wheelers), the all-purpose scanner, and my personal favorite, Super Pursuit Mode.
KITT is actually pretty functional (aside from his awesome) gadgetry. He's quick to speed, and he's a dream to control as you might expect for a multi-million dollar dream car. He retains his solid performance even on turf and dirt roads (0 to 60 in 3.7 seconds!). You can pull those famous reverse-180 turns in a snap, or do doughnuts on a dime. And his stopping power is superb. He's not terribly fast at first, topping out in the mid-120s. But the sense of speed is there. Especially when you hit Turbo Boost; the screen stretches as you're pushed back into yours seat to squeeze out a bit more speed - a very cool effect.And what about Super Pursuit Mode?KITT morphs beautifully and fluidly, just like the show.The screen stretches and tints red as you're hit with high G-forces, thrusting KITT just below 200 mph.More thrilling than Fast and the Furious!Extra, extra kudos! Sorry, no air rams when you stop hard in SPM mode.I guess Bonnie improved his ABS.His outer shell makes him nearly impervious to impact, but not totally invincible to explosives (and strangely, not to other vehicles).But this IS the Knight Industry Two Thousand.And he is grand.
In this game, you are KITT, not Michael Knight. So you essentially do nothing but drive. But the gameplay is varied enough (as with the locations), ranging from stop the super-car bad guy to snooping around crime scenes. It's all mission-based, requiring you to start off in basic training to prove your road-worthiness, and then it's off to declare justice for the Foundation for Law and Government. However, I don't understand why there would be mines along an old town street . . . Guess the locals don't like tourists. Although this game is short, there IS some replay value. Knight Rider is one of those games that just begs to be played again and again. However, once you've been through it two or three times, you'll probably want to give it a rest.
As for the difficulty of this game, it does get a little tricky - and it's especially challenging if you play it on hard mode, which is absolutely unforgiving. Normal mode is prime, as it delivers the right challenge without totally punishing you should you fishtail out of a Turbo Boost landing.
You'll see a lot of familiar faces, a la Bonnie and Devon - and including the return of Garth, Goliath, and KARR. Yes, they're back, and it's up to you to show 'em who's the top auto on the road.
For the most part, the voice work in this game is peachy, if a little under-acted at times. Every character is voice-doubled (sorry, no Mr. Feeney), but they do a remarkable job of bringing the original cast to life. Michael's character sounds like his boyish and clever self, while KITT's double is soothing and witty, almost indistinguishable form William Daniels (though the KITT double has a strong American accent, so those hard "r" sounds give him away). Devon is spot-on; Bonnie, much less so. I'm disappointed with her performance, as she reads her lines with little enthusiasm. But Garth is entertaining (for the few lines he has).
Sound-wise, this game gets the job done.Turbo Boost is captured right out of the show, as well as all the phone-tone style button sounds. And KITT's scanner? Perfectly translated into the game. KITT himself, however, is another story. Apparently, KITT only has a single gear transmission, so there's no shifting required - which makes for a rather dull listening experience. And they didn't quite replicate KITT's engine sound, as he sounds more like a jet plane rather than an enhanced road car.The music is all created in-house, and has that 80's action flare to it.Not bad, but a touch forgettable.The techno remix of the main theme is cool, though.
Graphically, this game is no eyesore, but not a real head-turner at a glance. Of course KITT being the star, he gets the full treatment. He's almost perfect from bumper to bumper. His interior, not nearly as detailed as I'd like as you only see the speedometer and the corresponding gauges for your shields, Boost, and Pursuit. The environments are well enough - especially the warehouse mission. But to experience the entire graphical splendor, you'll need a mean machine to run it effectively - and I'm talking near-top-of-the-line if you don't want any breaks in the frame rate on those later levels.
All in all, this game is made by fans, for the fans. I can't really see a lot of incentive for the casual gamer to pick this one up - especially if they have the new rendition of Spy Hunter. However, I believe that Knight Rider successfully captures the essence of the show despite its lack of the real cast. You finally get to be the REAL KITT, and it's guaranteed to bring back the memories of you wishing you had that talking black Trans Am in your garage.
If you're a fan, buy it. Can't beat it for this price. If you're not a fan, move along.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Knight Rider

Want to read more honest consumer review about Knight Rider now ?