Knot in 3D

The Good
What I like about playing games that were made in the Eighties is, unlike newer games, there is no story behind it. You have this simple objective, and that is all. Malcolm Evan's Knot in 3D was no exception to this rule. The object here is to steer your yellow/green beam around the playfield, while avoiding the red/blue beam, who will be doing the same. There is more than one level, which takes a very long time.

Let me say that the game's title may be confusing. The "Knot" refers to the game's interpretation of you crashing your beam into your opponents too many times (a crash is known as a "fault"). When you get "knotted", you have to restart the level. Before each game, you can choose your control method and the game speed. You can also watch a demonstration which is useful for players who are new to the game.

The highlight of the game is the graphics. At the bottom of the screen, three lines make their way from left to right; and these are your score, density, and faults, respectively. All these lines are displayed in a parallelogram rather than just a rectangle, a feature uncommon in most games of its day. Also, as I was playing the game, I enjoyed looking at the mixture of colors as they pass by; they really light up the screen.

Knot in 3D is one addictive game, and it has that "just-one-more-go" feel to it. It is ideal to play during your lunch break or when you spend the weekends home.

The Bad
There is hardly any sound, other when you are awarded a "Fault". Also, selecting yes and no in terms of your control/speed is a bit tedious.

The Bottom Line
In conclusion, Knot in 3D is an addictive game where the object is guide your beam as long as you can without crashing it in your opponent's. Its clever use of 3D is enough to impress anyone who thought that 3D wasn't possible on the Spectrum, and the wide variety of colors stop the game from being boring. I only got just over 1,300 points on level one, which is about the first checkpoint. If you are playing this game, I hope you do better than me. If you like light-cycle games, in the style of Tron, then this game is for you.