King’s Valley is a platform video game released by Konami for the MSX in 1985. The game is considered a spiritual successor to Konami’s earlier arcade game Tutankham (1982), employing similar concepts such as treasure hunting in Egyptian tombs and an identical end-level music tune. It also has similarities to Lode Runner (1983).
The game was initially released on ROM cartridge with 15 levels. It was also planned to be released on floppy disk with 60 levels but that version was shelved. The floppy disk version would ultimately be released a few years later in 1988 as part of Konami Game Collection Vol. 1 on MSX.
Gameplay
King’s Valley is a platform game with puzzle elements, in which the player controls an archaeologist exploring a tomb in search of jewels. On his way, the hero encounters an army of multi-colored mummies chasing him and uses throwing knives for protection. To reach the hidden gems, the archaeologist must use special tools, such as pickaxes, which allow him to dig through brick walls. There are a total of 15 rooms in the game, some of which occupy two screens, and only after collecting all the jewels on the level, the door to the next stage opens.
Versions
In 1998, King’s Valley was included in the Konami Antiques MSX Collection Vol. 3 compilation for the PlayStation, and later in the Ultra Pack for the Saturn. In 2002, a mobile version of the game was released. Despite the original MSX version being published in Europe, none of the re-releases were released outside of Japan. There is an unofficial port of the game for the ZX Spectrum, created in 2009 by Retro Works. There is also a version for the MSX on floppy disks, containing 60 levels instead of 15 and a level editor. This version is included in the Konami Game Collection Vol. 1 compilation.
Reviews
The MSX User magazine considered King’s Valley one of the best platformer games available for MSX, as in their view, careful planning and quick thinking are necessary to achieve success. The critic from the Japanese magazine MSX Magazine also found the game well-balanced in difficulty and engaging due to the need to carefully plan one’s actions. What MSX? also praised the graphics and sound effects, noting that they “utilise MSX’s capabilities brilliantly”. MSX Extra reviewer complained that in some moments, the main character lacks speed of movement, especially when pursued by fast blue mummies, which greatly complicate the gameplay.
Legacy
A sequel King’s Valley II was released for the MSX with two versions, each specifically designed for the MSX and MSX2 respectively.
See also
- Pharaoh’s Revenge (1988)
Gamer24h Editor's Take
King’s Valley caught our attention with its unique design and has shaped up to be a must-play masterpiece candidate thanks to the depth of its experience. The visionary approach of developer Konami, combined with the expertise of publisher Konami, has resulted in an exceptionally refined product. Its innovative take on the Platform genre offers a breath of fresh air for fans of the category. All in all, the Gamer24h team stands firmly behind our rating. This is a unique journey you won't want to miss.