Nightshade (video game)

Infobox VG| title = Nightshade


developer = Tim and Chris Stamper
publisher = Ultimate Play The Game
designer =
engine = Filmation II
released = October 1985 (Spectrum) ["Nightshade" first appears in the Gallup Software Top 30 chart as a Spectrum-only new entry in the November 1985 issue of C&VG, p.30, and is reviewed in the same issue.]
Nov/Dec 1985 (MSX) ["Knight Lore, Alien 8 and Nightshade" MSX pre-release promotional brochure, published by Ultimate Play The Game in October 1985. Available to view at World of Spectrum: [ftp://ftp.worldofspectrum.org/pub/sinclair/company-pics/UltimatePlayTheGame/Brochures/KnightLore+Alien8+Nightshade_Brochure(MSX)/] ]
Early 1986 (Amstrad) ["Reviewed in February 1986 editions of both Amstrad Action (issue 5) and Amtix (issue 4, p.18-19).]
Early 1986 (Commodore 64) ["Zzap!64", issue 11, page 24. Newsfield Publications, 1986]
genre = Arcade adventure; Maze
modes = Single player
ratings = N/A
platforms = ZX Spectrum
Amstrad CPC
BBC Micro
MSX
Commodore 64
media = Cassette
requirements = 48K RAM (Spectrum)
64K RAM (Amstrad CPC)
32K RAM (BBC)
input = Keyboard, joystick (Spectrum, Amstrad, MSX, Commodore)
Keyboard (BBC)

"Nightshade" is a ZX Spectrum video game developed and released by Ultimate Play The Game in 1985. Building upon the earlier titles "Knight Lore" and "Alien 8" using the flip-screen, isometric gameplay branded "Filmation", "Nightshade" introduces a scrolling isometric environment branded "Filmation II". [cite web | url=http://www.crashonline.org.uk/51/runagain.htm | title=Looking For An Old Angle | publisher=Newsfield | work=Crash Magazine, Issue 51 | accessdate=2006-10-03]

Introduction

Typically for an Ultimate release, players are given a tantalising and cryptic introduction :

:"THE LOST VALLEY

:Somewhere between the purple mountains, and the seas of the Seven Islands lies a hidden valley, a land that time has not touched.

:All remained peaceful and tranquil, until darkness descended upon the land, light and freedom were banished from its homely hills, and the evil set seed.

:Death and hunger spread, and all who remained within the walls of the village became stricken or hag ridden with haunted evil. All who had deserted the village sought refuge elsewhere. The village was now in complete control by darkness.

:THE PLAGUES

:The remaining people, weak and afflicted were unable to leave and soon became enveloped by the vicious evil force, transmuted by some terrible disease into the most hideously foul creatures. They wander their once peaceful village, producing deadly plagues, and fall fouls, to enslave anyone who dares trespass into the village, to try to defeat the evil overlord.

:THE STORY TELLER

:Many years had passed since the village became over-run, and soon the knowledge of the village slipped into legend.

:Songs were sung and tales were told of brave adventurers who ventured into the valley to find and destroy the evil force and never to return, of the riches that could be gained from the successful adventure, and the evil which lay in wait for anyone who dared to set foot in the evil enchanted NIGHTSHADE village.

:The old story teller's eyes widen into fiery gems as he recalls and re-lives the tale of battle with the force of evil at work in the NIGHTSHADE village.

:"Tales of ghosts and mad monks enslaved by evil forces to do their bidding and of plagues and foul demons let loose on the village. Even death itself was imprisoned within the village of NIGHTSHADE as an un-invited guest of the evil one."

:The old man continues:

:"Skeletons with rotting flesh dripping with the blood of the long dead, waiting, prowling the now empty village for live prey."

:"Hideous demons" he croaks, " and terrible ailments and spells waiting to absorb any who dares anger the evil force."

:"Lift the darkness and the Kingdom of NIGHTSHADE shall be yours forever!"

:The old man slumps back exhausted into the tall carved wooden chair. You extract as much information as you possibly can from him, but he can tell you little more than where to find the village. You set off down the valley and enter the forbidden NIGHTSHADE village.

:FARE THEE WELL"

Gameplay

The player takes the role of a knight who enters the plague-ridden village of "Nightshade" to vanquish four demons who hold sway over it. Similarly to the major foes in "Atic Atac", each demon is vulnerable to a particular object which must be collected by the player (a hammer, a Bible, a crucifix and a hourglass). To help the player locate the demons, these objects also glow when in close proximity to the demon they destroy.

Aside from the demons, "Nightshade" is densely populated by several different types of plague-carrying monsters. Contact with these monsters infects the player, with repeated contact turning the player's color from white to yellow to green then death. Rather than relying on more convention weapons such as sabres, the player can collect a range of "antibodies" which materialise within the buildings of "Nightshade". These "antibodies" can be fired at monsters to destroy them, but each only kills a specific type of monster - if fired at the wrong monster, it will "mutate" the monster into a different, and possibly worse, foe.

ee also

*"Nightshade" (1991 video game)
*"Nightshade" (2004 video game)

References

External links

* [http://www.ultimate-wurlde.com/games/nightshadeintro.shtml "Nightshade"] at Ultimate Wurlde
*
* [http://www.crashonline.org.uk/21/nightshade.htm "Nightshade" review] at "CRASH" magazine
* [http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=1692800544646879547 A walkthrough video of "Nightshade" on the ZX Spectrum]