Dark Castle

From Sega Retro

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DarkCastle title.png

Dark Castle
System(s): Sega Mega Drive
Publisher: Electronic Arts
Developer:
Original system(s): Macintosh
Developer(s) of original games: Silicon Beach Software
Sound driver: pre-GEMS
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[3] 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

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Trouble 2

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Trouble 3

DarkCastle MD Fireball1.png

Fireball 1

Notavailable.svg

Fireball 2

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Fireball 3

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Fireball 4

DarkCastle MD BlackKnight1.png

Black Knight 1

Notavailable.svg

Black Knight 2

Notavailable.svg

Black Knight 3

DarkCastle MD Shield1.png

Shield 1

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Shield 2

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Shield 3

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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
[4]


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
[5]
Console XS (UK) PAL
52
[6]
Cool Gamer (RU)
10
[7]
Mean Machines: The Essential Sega Guide (UK)
13
[8]
Gamers (DE)
7
[9]
Games-X (UK)
30
[10]
Joypad (FR) PAL
41
[11]
Joystick (FR)
55
[12]
Sega Mega Drive Advanced Gaming (UK) PAL
38
[13]
Mega (UK)
44
[14]
Mega Force (FR) PAL
55
[15]
Mean Machines (UK)
23
[16]
Mean Machines Sega (UK)
23
[17]
Player One (FR)
19
[18]
Sega Power (UK)
69
[3]
Sega Pro (UK) PAL
49
[19]
Sega Pro (UK) PAL
52
[20]
Supergame (BR)
87
[21]
Tricks 16 bit (RU)
38
[22]
Video Games (DE)
25
[23]
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


Dark Castle

DarkCastle title.png

Main page | Comparisons | Maps | Hidden content | Magazine articles | Reception | Region coding | Technical information | Bootlegs


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