LOST CLASSICS: Episode 2

[Cosmonautical]

So, you may or may not remember a thread I demoed in the Misc forum, back before this was just the "Retro Games" forum and specifically the "Retro Nintendo" forum. It covered a lesser-known game on a lesser-known computer system, popular in the UK. That system was the ZX Spectrum.

This time, I'm bringing a bit of info to you about a game that had a multi-system release, but undoubtedly also met its largest audience in the home-computer market that was most thoroughly established in the UK.

So, without further delay, I present Castle Master by Domark.

Click to view video.

It released in 1990 to the Amiga, Atari ST, IBM PC compatible, Amstrad CPC, Commodore 64, and ZX Spectrum markets.

The first video includes footage from the unquestionably definitive version for the Commodore Amiga, the superior gaming PC at the time (oh how the mighty have fallen).

Fully 3-dimensional, this was a variety of first-perston-shooter/adventure game. The pace is necessarily slow, as the engine was also slow. The engine itself was known as the "Freescape" engine, which was notably first used in a game called Driller.

The game actually does feature combat, with enemies being "spirits" and your weapons being thrown rocks. A handy toss will do them in. At the start, you choose your gender, and immediately set out to explore "Castle Eternity" to rescue the respective opposite gender. You can accomplish this by dealing with all of the spirits first, and then the head spirit "Magister." To help you find your way around the castle, there are many hints scattered throughout.

In many ways, the game is akin to the likes of Shadowgate, but more of a predecessor to the gameplay style that would one day be made popular in the Metroid Prime series.

Feel free to leave a comment or discuss the game or others that gave rise to First Person Adventure below.

[1-up Salesman]

That's really impressive for what it is! Thanks for putting this up, and please continue, it's very interesting.