Forest Escape - A Knight's Quest (ZX Spectrum 48K-128K)

Autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) is one of the most common, life-threatening genetic diseases. In ADPKD, fluid-filled cysts develop and enlarge in both kidneys, eventually leading to kidney failure. It is the fourth leading cause of kidney failure and more than 50 percent of people with ADPKD will develop kidney failure by age 50. Once a person has kidney failure, dialysis or a transplant are the only options.

In support of the mission to #endPKD, all proceeds from the sale of this game will be donated to the PKD Foundation.

Forest Escape - A Knight's Quest (ZX Spectrum 48K/128K and NEXT)

In a land shrouded in legend and mystery, a small but courageous knight named Wee is known throughout the kingdom for his unwavering determination and unyielding spirit. But today, he faces a challenge unlike any he has encountered before.

After a daring escape from the clutches of a haunted castle, Wee finds himself deep within the heart of an enchanted forest. The towering trees, gnarled and ancient, seem to whisper secrets of forgotten times. The moonlight casts eerie shadows, and an eerie mist hangs in the air, making the forest come alive with an otherworldly aura.

Little does Wee know that this forest is enchanted, and its inhabitants are far from ordinary. Spiders, with eyes that glow like precious gems, scuttle in the moon's silver light. Bats, their wings like dark shadows against the night sky, circle overhead, guarding the forest's secrets. Magical flowers and mushrooms, both helpful and hindering, dot the landscape.

But Wee has a purpose – to escape this mystical maze of trees, collect as many gleaming gold coins as he can find, and unlock the path to freedom. To do so, he needs to find four keys hidden deep within the forest to unlock four ancient chests that hold the secrets to his escape.

With only his determination to guide him, Wee embarks on a daring adventure to navigate this perilous forest, battling creatures of the night, collecting treasures, and searching for the elusive keys. Time is of the essence as Wee seeks his way out of this enchanted labyrinth, with only the distant echoes of the haunted castle fading behind him.

Join Wee on his quest as he faces the challenges of the enchanted forest, with magical flowers and mushrooms both aiding and obstructing his path. Having just narrowly escaped the haunting horrors of the castle, will he find the four keys, unlock the four chests, and make his escape with the coveted gold coins, or will he become just another legend lost in the woods? The fate of our small knight, Wee, rests in your hands as you embark on this thrilling journey into the unknown.

Physical Cassette Version

A physical cassette version of this game is available from our partners at Cronosoft.

ZX Spectrum NEXT Users

If using HDMI output on the ZX Spectrum NEXT select NEXT/+3 mode when starting the ZX Spectrum 48K/128K game. Or...

Simply download the version of the game specifically for the ZX Spectrum Next included with each purchase.

Awards

Reviews

Reviewed in Crash Micro Action Issue #19 Dec/Jan 2024.

Controls

• Default Keys (can be redefined)
  • O - Left
  • P - Right
  • M - Jump
  • Shift - Pause (Q - Quits game when paused)
• Joysticks
  • Kempston
  • Sinclair

Tips

• Use pause to study each level before you clear it
• All gold is collectible but you may need antigrav-mushrooms to do it
• Mushrooms regrow on the level you lose a life on

Credits

• Coding - IrataHack
• Graphics & Level Design - Crayon, TRIXS, Craig Stevenson
• Music & SoundFx - Undertaker, rnR T.A.D., IrataHack
• Cover art - Richard Langford
  
• Calstone Font - DamienG
• ZX0 Decompression - Einar Saukas

Tools and Utilities

• Level design - Tiled 
• Tile, sprite, and screen conversion - Gfx2Next
• 48K sound FX - BeepFX
• 48K music - Beepola
• AY music - Vortex Tracker 2.5
• AY sound FX - AY Sound FX Editor (Improved)
• Tilemap splitter/compressor - SplitMap
• Tape loader - zxctl

Donations

Thank you for supporting the PKD Foundation by purchasing this game, I hope you are enjoying it. Since its release, over $200 $300 $360 has been donated to this charity.