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Cover art of Knights of the Round

4.5 / 5

7 votes

Platform
SNES
Genres
Action · Beat 'em Up
Developers
Capcom
Publishers
Capcom
Release date
November 27, 1991

Summary

Knights of the Round lands on the Super NES as a classic Capcom beat‑'em‑up that borrows heavily from the King Arthur mythos while treating you like an RPG hero. The game pushes you through seven distinct stages, each ending in a boss that often only yields after you master the timing‑critical block: press attack, pull the joystick back, and you’ll snag a brief invincibility window for a counter‑strike. A desperation move wipes the screen clean, but it costs a slice of health, so you learn to reserve it for those tight spots. You can choose from three knights, each with a distinct playstyle. Arthur balances speed and power with his evolving Excalibur and armor upgrades, while Lancelot darts around with a fast sabre and a jumping‑kick special that feels perfect for newcomers. Perceval swings a heavy battle‑axe, can dash by double‑tapping forward, and follows up with a "Giant Swing" that rewards timing over finesse. All three get to mount horses at set moments, letting you trample foes or even face mounted enemies, adding a brief but exhilarating change of pace. The SNES version earned mixed reviews—praise for its sprite work but criticism for its slower, repetitive feel—yet it survived long enough to appear in modern Capcom collections and even landed on Complex’s list of the best Super Nintendo games ever made.

Storyline

Knights of the Round tells the tale of Arthur, a young knight who proves his worth by pulling the sacred sword Excalibur from the stone. Realizing his destiny, he accepts that he is to become the first king of the Britons. The wizard Merlin then tasks Arthur and his two closest allies, Lancelot and Perceval, with a quest to dethrone the tyrant King Garibaldi. Their goal is to overthrow Garibaldi’s rule and unite the lands of Britain under a single banner. The game’s narrative frames each battle as a step toward that unification.

Edited by Maya Carter

Game Screenshots

  • Screenshot 1 of Knights of the Round