Knights of Valour

Knights of Valour

Overview & History

Released by IGS in 1999, Knights of Valour (San Guo Zhan Ji) is a landmark arcade beat-'em-up deeply rooted in Luo Guanzhong’s historical epic, Romance of the Three Kingdoms. Set during the tumultuous collapse of the Han Dynasty, the storyline thrusts players into the boots of legendary Shu Han heroes—including Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, Zhao Yun, Ma Chao, and Zhuge Liang—as they unite to overthrow the tyrannical warlord Cao Cao. Operating on powerful CPS2-rivaling hardware, the game revolutionized the side-scrolling arcade genre by injecting complex tactical RPG elements, branching paths, and a deeply intricate weapon-and-item system that kept players pumping quarters into cabinets across Asia and Western arcades alike.

Gameplay Features & Mechanics

Unlike traditional, mindless button-mashing brawlers, Knights of Valour introduces a dynamic magic and inventory system fueled by elemental scrolls, hidden items, and collectible weaponry scattered across destructible environments. Players can unleash devastating area-of-effect spells, summon historical allies, and execute complex fighting-game-style motion inputs (such as quarter-circles and 360-degree rotations) to trigger screen-clearing super moves. Character differentiation is massive: Zhao Yun relies on blindingly fast spear combos and exceptional mobility, Zhang Fei utilizes slow, bone-crushing grapples and heavy broadswords, and Zhuge Liang commands lethal wind and fire magic at the expense of physical defense. The game also features a scoring and leveling system, secret hidden rooms, and moral choices that alter boss encounters, ensuring immense replay value.

Keyboard Controls

• Arrow Keys / D-Pad: Move
• Action Keys: Attack / Jump
• Enter: Start / Pause