Knights of the Round: The Arcade Classic That Still Slaps in 2025

June 26, 2025

Arcade

Remember that glorious era when arcade cabinets were social hubs, quarters were currency, and beating up pixelated knights with your buddies felt like saving the world? Knights of the Round was peak Capcom magic – a beat 'em up that somehow made Arthurian legends feel as hype as a WWE match.

Fast forward to 2025, and this 1991 classic still delivers more satisfying sword thwacks than most modern RPGs. Let’s break down why you should care (and why your friend group needs to play this immediately).

1. The Holy Trinity of Smashy Boys

Pick your fighter:

• Arthur: The balanced king (basic but reliable, like toast)
• Lancelot: The speedy edgelord (dashes around like he’s late for his Tumblr shift)
• Percival: The tanky lad (hits like a freight train carrying hammers)

Each character levels up mid-game, changing armor and unlocking screen-clearing specials (pro tip: Percival’s spin attack is stupidly OP). The progression system was revolutionary for arcade brawlers – it’s like if Diablo and Streets of Rage had a baby raised by medieval monks.

2. Co-op Chaos = Friendship Destroyer

The game shines in 3-player co-op, where:

• Friendly fire is always on (accidentally smacking your buddy’s health bar is a rite of passage)
• Power-ups trigger Hunger Games-level scrambles (that chicken leg is MINE)
• Boss fights turn into glorious clusterflops (looking at you, fire-breathing Garibaldi)

Modern games could learn from its simplicity: no microtransactions, no battle passes – just pure, unadulterated "I NEED A QUARTER" energy.

3. Janky Charm & Secret Tech

• Horseback combat: Because nothing says chivalry like curb-stomping bandits as a mounted unit.
• Excalibur glitch: Spam attack near the sword for a dramatic damage boost (the knights’ equivalent of finding a gun in PUBG).
• Final boss cheese: Percival can stunlock the Black Knight with well-timed heavies. Git gud, scrub.

Why It Still Rules in 2025

• Mod support: The MAME community has upscaled textures and online co-op mods.
• Speedrun potential: Current WR is under 30 minutes – a perfect lunch break adventure.
• Nostalgia with teeth: Unlike many retro games, the combat feels weighty even today.

Verdict: If you love co-op chaos, dumb medieval memes, or just want to yell at friends IRL, this is a must-play. Find it in Capcom’s Arcade Stadium collections or emulate it (we won’t tell).

Final tip: Always let Percival have the chicken. Trust me. 🍗⚔️

(For more retro deep dives, check out our Final Fight vs. Streets of Rage showdown or the best hidden gem beat 'em ups.)