Cadash

Infobox VG
title=Cadash


caption = "Cadash" (Arcade version)
developer = Taito
publisher = Taito
distributor=
designer=
version=
released=Arcade version
1989
TG-16 version
flagicon|Japan January 18, 1991
flagicon|US 1991
Genesis version
flagicon|US 1992
genre = Platform game
modes = Single player, 2 to 4-player
ratings=
platforms= Arcade Game, TurboGrafx-16, Sega Genesis
media=
requirements=
input=8-way Joystick, 2 Button
cabinet =
arcade system=
cpu=68000, Z80
sound=YM2610
display=Horizontal, Raster, 320 x 240 pixels, 4096 colorsnihongo|"Cadash"|カダッシュ|Kadasshu is a hybrid RPG/platform arcade game, released by Taito in 1989. It was ported to the TurboGrafx-16 and Sega Mega Drive in 1991 and 1992 respectively. It was included in Taito Memories Vol. 2 which was released for the PS2 in 2005. It was also included in the Xbox and PC versions of Taito Legends 2 which was released in 2007.

tory

Once, the kingdom of Deerzar knew total peace and prosperity. However, a mighty demon, Balrog (Baarogue/Baalogue in the English language version), had boasted to his fellows that he would prove himself worthy to rule both them and the world. To this end, he attacked Deerzar and other lands, and recently kidnapped Deerzar's princess, Sarasa. In response, the king has called for brave adventurers to rescue her and drive Balrog's influence out of the land.

However, the truth of the matter is that Balrog kidnapped Sarasa precisely to lure the adventurers who could challenge him to their doom...

Gameplay

"Cadash" is an early example of what would become a fairly common trend in Japanese-made arcade games of the early 1990s: the "Platform-RPG". While not generally recognized as truly belonging to the RPG genre, platform-RPGs have a distinct history that can be traced back to early 1987, when Nintendo released ' for their Famicom Disk System in Japan. "Cadash" borrows many principles of "Zelda IIs gameplay, combining side-scrolling platform action with an RPG-like system of statistics, levels, money and magic. This idea would go on to influence a number of early 1990s arcade games, such as Capcom's "King of Dragons" and "Knights of the Round" (though the RPG aspect was generally watered down).

Up to two players may select from four different characters: Fighter, mage, priestess, and ninja, each with different attacks, statistics and skills. Players then proceed through each level, killing monsters and bosses, collecting keys to unlock doors, and collecting gold and experience. Towns throughout the game sell items, weapons, and armor to the player, or provide information. In the console versions, extra lives can be purchased in town. The arcade versions has a limited game time, which can be extended by buying progressively more expensive hourglasses at shops, or by picking up rare bonuses. Also in shops, and in hidden places in the game, are medicinal herbs (restore 10 HP if brought to 0) and antidotes (cure poison inflicted by specific foes). There are also two elixirs in the game, one dropped by the optional level 3 boss Crawling Kelp, and the other in the first part of level 5. These act like medicinal herbs, except they restore all HP.

The four characters vary significantly in terms of power and abilities:

*The fighter has powerful melee attacks, the highest defense, and the highest agility in the game when using a particular weapon. However, compared to the other characters, he is disadvantaged against ranged and flying enemies due to the short reach of his weapons. To combat ranged enemies, the fighter can wield shields to block many enemy projectiles including dragon fire. The fighter's quick attack speed, especially with his end game weapons, allows him to make short work of most enemies and bosses if he can close the distance. Generally, the fighter is better suited for veteran players who have the knowledge and experience to take down otherwise difficult monsters with the use of a shield and the fighter's inherent agility.

*The mage has the most powerful offensive capability in the game through his spells, but is also physically the weakest and slowest character. As the mage gains levels he learns new spells and is able to cast them at progressively lower costs of mana. However, his spells do not work on many creatures, including but not limited to the undead, forcing him to evade them or fight with his limited melee capability. The mage's devastating spells allow him to be the best boss killer in the game. He also requires the least amount of experience to gain levels. The mage is best used by expert players who know how to bypass dangerous areas where spells are of little use.

*The priestess is the most durable and arguably the best character in the game thanks to her spells which allow her to heal and negate damage. Offensively, she is competent against normal enemies due to the excellent reach and penetrability of her weapons. However, she takes more time to kill the later bosses due to her slow attack speed and weak strength. The priestess also has the ability to add more playing time in the arcade version of Cadash. Her versatile offense and her impenetrable defense is a powerful combination. The priestess is an excellent choice for beginners. In the Japanese version of Cadash, the priestess is much more balanced: her protection spell absorbs significantly less damage and her time spell grants only 30 seconds.

*The ninja has excellent agility, the second highest defense, and exclusively uses projectiles to attack with. Although the priestess comes close in terms of weapon reach, the ninja outclasses her in terms of attack speed and raw damage. The ninja is unparalleled when it comes to taking down normal enemies, and is also an excellent boss killer. Some of the ninja's weapons have special abilities such as spread fire and being able to penetrate enemies and walls. The ninja's sole disadvantage is that he has the highest experience requirements to gain levels, but this is overcome by the fact that he can dispose of enemies the quickest among the four characters.

The game, in the arcade version, supported a 4-players "link mode" using two Cadash cabinets, albeit with some limitations, such as each player having to pick a different character, and characters playing on the same machine being forced to keep up with each other, unable to venture "off screen".

There are five lands in all that the heroes must fight through:

--Deerzar caves. Foes: Orcs, green slimes, bats, skeletons, eyes, giant spiders. Boss: Black Pudding.

--Marinade catacombs. Foes: Giant frogs, ghouls, ropers, grey slimes, giant hornets, eyes of the deep. Boss: Kraken.

--Forest of Labyrinth. This land is actually in two parts. Part one foes: Earth elementals, giant poison spiders, eyes of the deep. Boss: Worm. Part two foes: Mud-men, spikebeasts, giant wasps, harpies. Boss (optional): Crawling Kelp.

--Ruined land. Foes: Zombies, manticores, will-o'-the-wisps, wraiths, firedrakes. Boss: Fire Elemental.

--Balrog's castle. Foes: Violet slimes, black skeletons, sky wyrms, zombie drakes, storopers, eyes. Bosses: Jelly Giant, Worm, Balrog (two fights in a row).

Ports

In the early 1990s, "Cadash" was ported to the TurboGrafx-16 (in 1991) and the Sega Genesis (1992).

The Turbo Grafx 16 (PC-Engine) version of Cadash, which was translated into English by Working Designs, implemented many changes to the original game. Many aspects of the game were changed, including agility, defense, spell costs, and damage, to better balance the characters. Formerly challenging characters such as the fighter and mage were greatly enhanced to rival and even surpass the priestess. To accommodate the differences in hardware power, the levels were divided into large rooms and halls connected by doors and corridors, whereas the arcade game used large, seamless levels. The PC-Engine version featured colorful, new designs and graphics that are a sharp contrast from the darker shades used in the arcade and Genesis versions. The PC-Engine version did not allow any continues in one-player mode, although dead allies could be revived at inns in two-player mode.

The Genesis port curiously excluded two of the four playable classes, keeping only the fighter and mage. The port was not entirely accurate although the graphics were similar, albeit with a much darker palette. The giant kelp boss was removed entirely from this version. The healing value of herbs, damage from enemies, enemy AI, and many more aspects of the game were altered. This is the only version of Cadash where the player can buy elixirs, which serve as extra lives, in item shops.

Both home console versions of Cadash eliminated the time limit that existed in the original arcade version.

External links

*moby game|id=/cadash
* [http://www.gamefaqs.com/coinop/arcade/game/563943.html In-depth FAQs at GameFAQs]
* [http://www.klov.com/game_detail.php?game_id=7254 Cadash at The Killer List of Videogames]