Dark Castle

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DarkCastle title.png

Dark Castle
System(s): Sega Mega Drive
Publisher: Electronic Arts
Developer:
Distributor: Tec Toy (BR)
Original system(s): Macintosh
Developer(s) of original games: Silicon Beach Software
Sound driver: Sega Music Development System
Genre: Action

















Number of players: 1
Release Date RRP Code
Sega Mega Drive
US 		703401
Sega Mega Drive
EU 		E177SMXI
Sega Mega Drive
UK 		£34.9934.99[4] E177SMXI
Sega Mega Drive
AU
Sega Mega Drive
BR
Non-Sega versions

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Dark Castle is Sega Mega Drive action platform game developed by Artek Digital Productions and published by Electronic Arts. A port of the classic 1986 Silicon Beach Software game Dark Castle, it was released in 1991 to overwhelmingly negative reception.

While the original home computer versions of Dark Castle controlled the player character with precise mouse control, the home versions instead rotate his arm with a button press, resulting in an exhausting and terribly-imprecise control scheme which renders the game nearly unplayable. Due to this, the game has developed a modern reputation as one of the single-worst titles developed for the Mega Drive - something which has since become strongly associated with the game's modern identity.

Plot

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Prince Duncan traverses a treacherous castle to defeat the dreaded Black Knight.

Gameplay

Prince Duncan can run, jump and duck, interact with parts of the scenery and throw a limited number of rocks. Elixirs can be found to protect from animal bites, and acquiring a bag of rocks with replenish his projectiles. Duncan can also equip a magic shield, and upgrade his projectiles to powerful fireballs.

The game is infamous for its weak protagonist. Prince Duncan frequently trips on the scenery, grows dizzy after short falls, and dies in a single hit. To compound things even more, while the original game was designed to aim Duncan’s arm with a computer mouse, the home versions instead rotate his arm with a button. This exhausting control scheme is the primary reason for the poor reception of the Sega Mega Drive port.

Rooms

DarkCastle MD GreatHall.png

Great Hall

DarkCastle MD Trouble1.png

Trouble 1

DarkCastle MD Trouble2.png

Trouble 2

DarkCastle MD Trouble3.png

Trouble 3

DarkCastle MD Fireball1.png

Fireball 1

DarkCastle MD Fireball2.png

Fireball 2

DarkCastle MD Fireball 3.png

Fireball 3

DarkCastle MD Fireball 4.png

Fireball 4

DarkCastle MD BlackKnight1.png

Black Knight 1

DarkCastle MD BlackKnight2.png

Black Knight 2

DarkCastle MD BlackKnight 3.png

Black Knight 3

DarkCastle MD Shield1.png

Shield 1

DarkCastle MD Shield 2.png

Shield 2

DarkCastle MD Shield3.png

Shield 3

DarkCastle MD Shield4.png

Shield 4

History

The original Macintosh release is considered a classic for that platform; its high-resolution graphics and realistic sound effects were considered groundbreaking, and the game was a critical and commercial success. With this success came the desire for ports to home video game systems. However, the original release was specifically designed to be played with a mouse; something few console ports would take advantage of.

Legacy

Most non-computer versions of Dark Castle were critically panned on release, with the Mega Drive port being no exception. Having originally been designed for high resolution monochrome graphics and mouse controls, the game now runs with a smaller screen resolution and utilizes slower, D-pad controls. When the Angry Video Game Nerd reviewed the game for his 2012 Halloween special, he said it was "the worst Sega Genesis game I have ever played".

Production credits

  • Producer: Keith Francart
  • Product Manager: David Bamberger
  • Programming, Music, and Sounds: Artek Digital Productions
  • Documentation Layout: Jennie Maruyama
  • Quality Assurance: Jonathan Skolnick
Source:
US manual
DarkCastle MD US manual.pdf
[5]


Magazine articles

Main article: Dark Castle/Magazine articles.

Physical scans

Sega Retro Average 
Publication Score Source
{{{{{icon}}}|L}} Division by zero.
Based on
0 review
Sega Retro Average 
Publication Version Score
1700 igr dlya Sega (RU)
66
[6]
Console XS (UK) PAL
52
[7]
Cool Gamer (RU)
10
[8]
Mean Machines: The Essential Sega Guide (UK)
13
[9]
Gamers (DE)
7
[10]
Games-X (UK)
30
[11]
Joypad (FR) PAL
41
[12]
Joystick (FR)
55
[13]
Sega Mega Drive Advanced Gaming (UK) PAL
38
[14]
Mega (UK)
44
[15]
Mega Force (FR) PAL
55
[16]
Mean Machines (UK)
23
[17]
Mean Machines Sega (UK)
23
[18]
Player One (FR)
19
[19]
Sega Power (UK)
69
[4]
Sega Pro (UK) PAL
49
[20]
Sega Pro (UK) PAL
52
[21]
Supergame (BR)
87
[22]
Tricks 16 bit (RU)
38
[23]
Video Games (DE)
25
[24]
Sega Mega Drive
 40
Based on
20 reviews

Dark Castle

Mega Drive, US
DarkCastle MD US Box.jpg
Cover
DarkCastle MD US Cart.jpg
Cart
DarkCastle MD US manual.pdf
Manual
Mega Drive, EU
DarkCastle MD EU Box.jpg
Cover
DarkCastle MD US Cart.jpg
Cart
Dark Castle MD EU Manual.jpg
Manual
Mega Drive, AU

Mega Drive, BR
Darkcastle md br cover.jpg
Cover
DarkCastle MD BR Cart.jpg
Cart

Technical information

Main article: Dark Castle/Technical information.

References

  1. ↑ https://groups.google.com/g/rec.games.video/c/WQTliK_b27o/m/24qlxLOrrSYJ
  2. ↑ Games-X, "10th-16th October 1991" (UK; 1991-10-10), page 6
  3. ↑ Computer Trade Weekly, "" (UK; 1991-10-14), page 19
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Sega Power, "January 1992" (UK; 1991-12-05), page 49
  5. ↑ File:DarkCastle MD US manual.pdf, page 6
  6. ↑ 1700 igr dlya Sega, "" (RU; 2001-xx-xx), page 55
  7. ↑ Console XS, "June/July 1992" (UK; 1992-04-23), page 128
  8. ↑ Cool Gamer, "9" (RU; 2002-10-13), page 59
  9. ↑ Mean Machines: The Essential Sega Guide, "" (UK; 1993-11-18), page 36
  10. ↑ Gamers, "Februar/März 1992" (DE; 1992-xx-xx), page 48
  11. ↑ Games-X, "10th-16th October 1991" (UK; 1991-10-10), page 33
  12. ↑ Joypad, "Novembre 1991" (FR; 1991-10-1x), page 52
  13. ↑ Joystick, "Novembre 1991" (FR; 1991-1x-xx), page 150
  14. ↑ Sega Mega Drive Advanced Gaming, "January 1993" (UK; 199x-xx-xx), page 91
  15. ↑ Mega, "April 1994" (UK; 1994-03-17), page 62
  16. ↑ Mega Force, "Novembre 1991" (FR; 1991-11-19), page 70
  17. ↑ Mean Machines, "December 1991" (UK; 1991-11-28), page 176
  18. ↑ Mean Machines Sega, "October 1992" (UK; 1992-09-xx), page 138
  19. ↑ Player One, "Novembre 1991" (FR; 1991-xx-xx), page 78
  20. ↑ Sega Pro, "December 1991" (UK; 1991-11-21), page 69
  21. ↑ Sega Pro, "April 1993" (UK; 1993-03-11), page 64
  22. ↑ Supergame, "Novembro 1992" (BR; 1992-11-xx), page 45
  23. ↑ Tricks 16 bit, "Tricks Sega Gold 800 igr" (RU; 1998-03-20), page 48
  24. ↑ Video Games, "4/91" (DE; 1991-12-06), page 31


Dark Castle

DarkCastle title.png

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