Game Review: Sport of Kings (Commodore 64, Mastertronic/MAD)

Sport of Kings started life on the ZX Spectrum, with that version programmed by Jeff Calder. It was also a first-generation MAD release with the pop art style packaging.  When later conversions to both the Amstrad CPC and Commodore 64 were released, they had different standard catalogue numbers from the main Mastertronic range, sporting the third generation MAD front cover – with the main artwork the same as the original.  The Spectrum version was also notable for the commentary that accompanied the racing, using the Currah speech unit.  It may have sounded primitive, but on that version, it added to the excitement.  David Barbour of Sculptured Software (those who brought you the Entertainment USA games such as Street Surfer and Panther) handled the Commodore 64 conversion.

Under Starter’s Orders

The game loads with the credits screen showing who programmed the original game and the conversion, with the bookmaker (known as the bookie) shown in graphical form, smoking a cigar as you would have expected from that era.   You are asked if you wish to see the instructions, and if you do, they explain the game a little bit more and how it operates.  Once viewed, you can then select several options to customise the game, which includes (in order):

• if you want to load a saved game
• how many horses in the season (25, 50 or 75)
• if the weights affect the results or not
• if the going affects the results or not (some horses run better on softer ground, some on good or firm ground for example)
• if the jockey affects the results or not
• if you want a kitty (if you say yes, any money you win is only from that kitty)
• how many players you wish to have (1-5)

You then enter the player’s names.  Note here that the two icons either side of the name entry are not helpful: error is to correct the mistake but stop is to enter the name.  Maybe back and continue would have made more sense here?  You are finally asked if you wish to automatically run several races, and if you do, how many.  Whilst this may build up the form, it does mean that you must watch them all beforehand, which may not be beneficial if several of you are playing and all waiting.

In the Betting Ring

The main icon driven screen here shows eight options. Each are explained in the instructions with your player’s name in the centre.  From the top left you have load/save, the bookie, the form book, then the money status, which shows you if the game has a kitty or not as well as how many horses in the season and what affects the results.  There is the race info for the next race showing the runners and riders, going and odds, add or remove players, print out any form cards and race info, and the cross to start the next race.  Incidentally, once all players have placed their bets the race will also commence.

Going down the Bookies

The form book becomes handier as more races have been run, as you can then examine the form of each horse in the next race, and see if they are a good bet or not – if you chose not to run any auto-run races there will be no form at the start, so do bear this in mind.   You choose what sort of bet you wish to have, whether each way, win, place, forecast, reverse forecast, or show.  So, for example, each way is that you can win or be placed to win money but note the amount you bet is doubled in this case.  One thing to note that if the race has less than eight runners, a place or each way bet made will only pay out on the first two finishers, not the first three.

What is of interest is that the jockeys that are named for the races are mostly genuine flat racing jockeys of the era, which includes the likes of Willie Carson, Walter Swinburn, Steve Cauthen, Greville Starkey, Lester Piggott, Brian Rouse, Tony Ives, and several others.  The programmers also appear to be a jockey too.  All the races incidentally are flat racing, and all are on a straight track – there are no bends, no circuits and no jump racing over hurdles and steeplechase (also known as National Hunt) so do bear that in mind that if you prefer that type of racing, this game will not be for you.

On the Flat

Once all the players have placed their bets, the action switches to the racing itself.  The screen is split, with the top and bottom having the running rails with the grandstands at the top and an ambulance running along the bottom in case of any fallers.  To the right, a commentator shows speaking into the microphone and a colour coded key for each of the horses and their names, with the centre showing the horses as they progress.  Up to nine horses can be on screen at once if there are that number of runners, and they move right or left depending on if they are leading the field or going backwards in speed.

Speech?  What Speech?

The game’s instructions mention the fact that if you have a Currah speech unit, then you would hear speech in the game.  Whilst this is true of the Spectrum version, I do own a working Currah speech unit for the Commodore 64 and there is no speech here, as was the case when I first owned the game back in the late 1980s and true now – the occasional sound effect of the horses’ hooves as they head along the screen is all that you get.  It is a shame, because that would have added to the excitement hearing your horse being in the first three as you race along, particularly in the longer flat races with more distance.  Do bear this in mind as you may need to make up your own commentary pretending to be Peter O’Sullevan or Graham Goode.

We’re in the Money

Once the race has finished, you will see a display showing you if there is a photo finish for any of the places, and if there is, the game will briefly pause and then show you the first three positions of the race, complete with the odds (5 to 1, 7 to 1 and so on.)  The game will then show the bookie showing what payouts (if any) are needed to be made.  A nice touch here is that if the bookie has made money, he has a grin on his face as he smokes his cigar.  However, if you manage to win a bet, this changes to be a sulking face instead as he is having to pay out. This was quite nice to see when I had backed Hot Pot to win at 4 to 1 and made a nice tidy sum.  If you do run out of money, it is game over for that player, and if this is the last player in two players or more, they win.

Graphics and Sound

The graphics in Sport of Kings are reasonable, with the icons being well drawn and easy to understand, along with a sensible graphical interface that is easy enough to follow.  The horses themselves have a few frames of animation to show their movement, and the screen does scroll smoothly as the races take place, with little animations of the crowd as the grandstands are passed during the races.  The little animations of the bookie are well done and it is good to see him sulk when you win money, and those touches are appreciated.  Sound is non-existent apart from a few sound effects and the speech is really missing here.

Final Thoughts

Sport of Kings is, without doubt, much more fun with two or more players, where you can all bet on your horses and see if they win, with the action at least showing some levels of excitement as you play.  Whilst it can get a little repetitive with only flat racing featured, and no circuits or National Hunt (jump) racing noted either, the icon driven system is straightforward to use and means that you can get into the game quickly.  The customisation options are a nice touch, and it is a shame that the promised speech from the instructions is not there.  One more for the fans of horse racing, but if that is your thing there is some reasonable entertainment to be had for the money.

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