Krull is a video game in the action genre developed by D. Gottlieb & Co. and published by D. Gottlieb & Co. originally released in 1983. It is currently playable on Arcade.
Krull, released in 1983 for arcade cabinets, adapts the science fantasy epic into a high-energy action game. Players assume the role of Prince Colwyn, determined to rescue his bride Layla from the Beast by penetrating the Black Fortress. The journey unfolds across a sequence of stages that blend wilderness, ruins, and otherworldly landscapes. The centerpiece is the Glaive, a legendary throwing weapon the hero wields to pierce enemies and trigger switches. The objective is to reach the fortress and confront the Beast in a final, decisive confrontation.
Controls and mechanics are designed to fit the isometric viewpoint. The joystick moves the character across a grid-like floor that presents diagonal corridors and raised platforms. A single action button throws the Glaive, which travels in straight lines and can be aimed by timing your throw; the weapon then returns to the hero. Enemies patrol paths and obstacles demand precise placement to avoid damage. Collectible power-ups extend the Glaive’s range or speed and replenish energy, while collisions drain health or lives. Each stage culminates in a boss encounter that guards the entry to the next area.
The setting spans a sequence of environments that echo the film’s fusion of fantasy and science fiction. Desert plains, ruined temples, and subterranean caves lead inexorably toward the foreboding arches of the Black Fortress. Visual style relies on sprite-based animation with bright, saturated colors and simple shading, arranged on isometric tiles to convey depth and spatial relationships. Backgrounds scroll with parallax layers to impart a sense of scale and movement, while architectural motifs evoke ancient citadels and otherworldly machinery that populate the Krull universe.
Audio is built from a lean, punchy arcade palette. A synthesizer-driven score underpins the action, delivering a steady rhythm that matches the pace of combat and exploration. Crisp sound effects accompany the Glaive’s flight, impact, and return, along with monster cries and energy pulses that punctuate near-misses and breakthroughs. The combination of music and effects reinforces the cinematic mood, inviting players to feel the danger and resolve of a quest that threads through perilous mazes toward a climactic fortress.
Player experience is one of brisk, tactical action with emphasis on precision and timing. The Glaive’s returning throw adds strategic depth, rewarding accurate aiming and deliberate positioning. Progression through the fortress demands pattern recognition to bypass guardians and navigate traps, balancing risk and reward as health and resources tighten. The game delivers a sense of momentum and discovery, echoing the film’s mood of peril, daring, and ultimate triumph as the path toward the Beast unfolds.
Download game
It is possible that we have multiple downloads available
when different versions exist.
