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Originally created by the now defunct developer ICOM Simulations, Shadowgate is one of the most iconic adventure games of all time.
Originally released in 1987 for the Apple Mac, this hard-hitting point-and-click game cemented its legacy in 1989 when it was ported to the Nintendo Entertainment System.
Dark, exciting and unashamedly complex, Shadowgate it’s a fantasy adventure that requires the player to experiment, and the punishment is often brutal and swift. However, unrelenting hardships lead to true moments of triumph, making success all the sweeter. Even now, nearly 40 years after its launch, Shadowgate still gets remasters and ports, but the NES version remains forever.
The many deaths of the king
U Shadowgate, you are a brave hero and “the last of a line of kings” who arrives at the terrifying Shadowgate Castle with only your main goal in mind. Sent by the wizard Lakmir, you have come to confront the vile warlock lord, interrupt his ritual of dark magic and save the kingdom once and for all. Playing from a static first-person perspective, you’re set free at the entrance to Castle Shadowgate, with only your mind and a single lit torch to guide you.
Shadowgate functions like many point-and-click adventures, where you interact with your environment using a set list of verbs, solving puzzles and managing conflicts. For example, you might “pick up” a sword from the ground, “glance” at a huge dragon in the hallway, and decide to “smite” the creature to test your strength. As usual in Shadowgateyou will most likely be burned to the ground or dispatched in some other gruesome manner, but a different combination of actions may lead to success.
Castle Shadowgate is filled with mysteries to unravel, thrilling moments of dark fantasy, and a palpable sense of tension. However, if you engage in a constant cycle of experimenting, dying, trying another way, and dying again, Shadowgate becomes a strange comfortable nightmare. It’s like a sprawling interactive Choose Your Own Adventure book that manages to tackle a huge range of amazing scenarios, all set in a spooky castle that requires brave exploration.
Legacy of Shadowgate
After a while, Shadowgate earned a reputation as the best point-and-click port of MacVenture on the NES, outstripping its peers, Deja vu and Uninvited. Although there have been several sequels over the years, e.g For Shadowgate and Shadowgate 64: Trials of the Four Towersthe original game remains the most popular.
In 2014, the original developers returned to make a full remake Shadowgate, which was released on all major gaming platforms, including the Nintendo Switch. There’s even a “demake” of the game currently in development Shadowgate PD, which is slated for a Playdate PDA release later this year. However, the NES version is the one that is best remembered, with its improved inventory system, colorful pixel art, and killer music.
If you’ve never tried to conquer Castle Shadowgate and defeat the Warlock Lord, Shadowgate on the NES should serve as a great challenge to test your retro gaming mettle.
Contribution Matt Owen