Shadowcaster - Electronic Arts RRP œ44.99
                (RPG for PC and CD-ROM)

                     Reviewed by MerC

This game should prove to be thoroughly enjoyable, as it is
virtually seamless, lightning fast and not broken. The graphics
are excellent, within the usual limitations of pixellated
drawings, and though play is distinctly hack & slay there is
enough variety for the game not to pall too easily. Unfortunately,
it is also remarkably short, at around 20 levels, none of which is
particularly extensive. Hence I am sorry to say that at full price
it is not good value for money. I had it bundled with hardware, so
I did not fork out, and I'm not sure I would have done. It only
took a day or two to complete. The CD ROM version is said to have
digitised speech, a few more levels and other additions.

You begin as a human character - no choice of race, class,
profession etc. and no stats, so dedicated RPGers are not going to
go for this one in a big way. You can, however, choose your level
of difficulty from Wimp, through Mortal to Hero.  At the very
start you are put to the test, as approaching rapidly is a crested
purple beast, described deflatingly by one player as a chicken.
Anyway, it kept killing him until he learnt how to kick it to
death. Some chicken, JW !

Throughout the game you have to find green obelisks with red
pyramidal tips.  Sometimes the tips are hidden elsewhere. When
complete and touched, the obelisks grant you the permanent ability
to change (morph) into another type of creature, each with its
unique properties and weaknesses. Without giving away too much,
the Maorin is strong, but can't abide water, whereas the Caun is
weak but heals rapidly. Weapons are perfunctory compared to those
in other games, though I particularly like the shuriken, as it
returns to your hand after being thrown. The game engine has been
well thought out, and the display conveys the limited information
clearly.  You only need to keep an eye on a couple of stats bars.
You can change the size of your playing area, and even on
megascreen you can scroll at a pace fast enough for Nigel Mansell,
using any combination of mouse, cursor keys or numeric keypad.

The automap feature is excellent, though the dungeons are not
particularly big. Combat is perhaps a little too easy at Mortal
level. Four games can be saved to disc, which might seem to be
limiting, except that the brevity of the game should make this
sufficient. Puzzles are limited to "let's pull this chain and see
what happens" or "how many more hits do I have to take before
resting and finishing off this lot" or "what do I do with this
hourglass and this niche to stop the obelisk zipping around".
Creatures other than you do not appear to recover, though some are
protected by the same sort of amulets you can find. I never did
discover what the various coloured crystals are used for. Intro
and ending are well animated, and the very last frame leads the
player to believe a sequel may well be in the offing. If so, it
will need to be about ten times bigger. Dungeons should be more
numerous, more occupied and more complex.

No software house has hit on the perfect game, and probably never
will. One combining some of the following features might go a long
way towards it.

i.   Variety of quest, dungeons and activity : Ultima Underworld II

ii.  Game engine, movement and layout        : Shadowcaster

iii. Spell casting and mixing                : Arena (in a working
                                               manifestation)

iv.  Graphics (no pixellation)               : The Legacy

v.   Size                                    : Arena

vi.  Party and interaction                   : Dungeon Master

vii. Puzzles                                 : Wizardry:Crusaders
                                               of the Dark Savant

viii.Storyline and ending                    : Written by MerC

                              - o -