Knightmare was usually a sinister and serious game, but it certainly had its share of comedy moments.
Some of the best were created by the questing teams themselves. Think side-stepping left into a giant hole, dispelling SHRUD, or offering goblins a present.
But what about those that were scripted or that manifested through Knightmare's non-playing characters?
Knightmare creator Tim Child has admitted that some characters ended up 'too pantomime for my taste' but confessed that he wanted the laughs.
Let's see 10 comic moments generated by Knightmare's characters, ranked from mildest to most outrageous.
10. Folly vs Cedric
The early series of Knightmare were rather strait-laced. Between Wall Monsters, Lillith, Mildred, and Gargoyles, there wasn't an awful lot of comic relief, even from Folly the Jester's archaic wit.
But the end of Series 1 offers an interesting clash between Folly and the flat-track bully, Cedric. Folly challenges the Mad Monk to a battle of insults and eventually leaves the sour guard pleading for mercy.
This six-minute sequence - one of the longest in Knightmare history - perhaps anticipated the insult duels of The Secret of Monkey Island, which brought the insult-trading trope from Errol Flynn films into a graphical adventure.
9. Brother Mace - Brother Silence
Brother Mace had something of the Friar Tuck about him - he wasn't worried about mixing it with the scoundrels.
On one occasion, Mace is sat quizzing an assassin, whom he names 'Brother Silence'. The assassin shakes its head in answer to every question. The team get concerned that Mace might need warning about his company.
All the while, it turns out that the monk is preparing his strike. He creates a 'silencer' from various picnic implements and knocks the slayer unconscious.
Did you see? He didn't hear a thing.
It's all a bit lame, but the team find it quite hilarious. That's probably what matters!
8. Motley - Cauliflower cheesy
Motley wasn't a particularly successful jester. Part of his role in his earlier years was harvesting fresh jokes from dungeoneers.
By the end of his first season's residency at the Crazed Heifer, the patrons had heard enough and lobbed vegetables at him. He's left picking bits of cabbage leaf out of his garments.
Not content with that, he appears shortly afterwards in the same quest, and ridicules the giant tarantula, Ariadne, into retreat.
It's old cloth ears!
I suppose it's churlish if he doesn't get at least one comic moment.
7. Smirkenorff - Singe for your supper
Knightmare's famous dragon was supposedly under threat quite often, either from red dragons or the Brollachan. You had to wonder - would we ever get to see Smirkenorff in combat?
Not quite. But he did come to the rescue of a dungeoneer in Series 7 that was corned by Raptor and his goblins at the end of Level 1.
Smirkenorff turned from his nesting lair and unleashed a fireball upon the hopeless brigand, who fled the scene wailing. Of course, the well-spoken dragon had a quip for it.
Say what you like about the Opposition, they do singe rather nicely
6. Honesty Bartram - Don't tell yer dad
These days, we'd probably raise an eyebrow at Bartram's cheeky departure catchphrase, with its vibe of 'don't tell a responsible adult, so they won't come looking for me'.
It wasn't always particularly audible or standout. But the best use of it was after one Series 8 team encounters Bartram a second time (to dungeoneer Nathan's irritation).
The team has Bartram on a string. They know they will convince the merchant eventually to trade in their favour (as had happened earlier). And so, it is the case again.
The trader is happy enough. He waxes lyrical about how nice it is to say them again before delivering it quite deliberately:
Don't tell yer dad
5. Sylvester Hands - Wart charming
Sylvester Hands of 1992 was a different beast to the previous year - less sinister and far more gullible. That created more comic opportunity for the ragamuffin character.
The final dungeoneer of the series encounters Hands in Witch Haven. Hands mistakes him for a witch and seeks help for his out-of-control wart condition.
I've even got warts on warts…
Dungeoneer Chris makes up a throwaway rhyme, to Hands' disbelief. The scene takes a further twist when the hood of Chris's robe falls, exposing the Helmet of Justice.
Hands decides the best remedy is to stand and point to all his affected places. That allows the team to slip out and leave him in the middle of this embarrassing ritual.
4. Ridolfo - Empty lives
The scurrilous troubadour had been turned into a grumpy fisherman by Hordriss, following a false tip-off from Lord Fear.
The questing team went about setting the record straight. They find Hordriss in one of his poor disguises and persuade him to remove the enchantment.
At the end of the level, Ridolfo rushes in to rescue Sophia from the Dreadnort. With the danger averted, the rejuvenated lothario then shows his gratitude in customary fashion.
I so sorry. You nearly get a-kerbunk off Lord Fear's metal man! And it's all Ridolfo's fault! ... I of course got to thank you on behalf of all of the ladies with-a the empty lives.
3. Lord Fear - Date night, Lissard?
The final team of Series 7 was arguably Knightmare's best. Every element of their quest is dialled up to eleven. Their spyglass sequences are quite wild as well.
Fear spends one cut scene embracing his new 'shell phone'. In another, Lissard reports that Hordriss is smitten with Marta, the Tavern Maid.
Fear is all over this and does what anybody would do - he turns Lissard into Marta. The first attempt isn't quite right. The voice is all wrong, the breath still smells of cat food...
But once he corrects the faults, Fear is suddenly smitten himself. Time to ask Lissard on a date.
First thing's first - what are you doing tonight, Lissard?
2. Rothberry - Pick-me-up
Forget fools and jesters - the eccentric apothecary of Series 7 and 8 was the most comedic character in the show. From blowing stuff up to anecdotes about bat poop, his antics are hilarious.
Perhaps his finest moment is when a team finds him upset. He'd taken a pick-me-up and got it a bit wrong. It was a put-me-down.
An offer of gold quickly reduces his misery to mere occasional sniffling, before he finally breaks out in a smile.
Awfully good pick-me-up, isn't it, gold?
He then goes on to get rather high after snorting a flying potion and hovers comically in mid-air as the dungeoneer descends to Level 2.
1. Sylvester Hands - Ten Dead Goblins
The most comic episode in the show's history. And none of it feels particularly premeditated.
The team has already discovered Hands' weakness via a spyglass. Fear labels him a boozer and a lightweight.
One half of ale, you think you're Genghis Khan. Two, you think you're the entire Mongol horde.
The encounter with Hands begins bizarrely - he leaps from a tapestry background into the scene. The team coaxes him into a sip of 'Old Heggerty's Dungeon Juice' and all hell breaks loose.
Hands refers to pubic hair, has a minor meltdown, decides to celebrate, nearly falls over, starts singing loudly, passes out at the table, blurts out more song, and flops again.
Take a bow, Paul Valentine. This was top drawer.
What's your favourite Knightmare character comedy moment? Is it one we've missed? Let us know in the forum!
