Shadowcaster
Encyclopedia
ShadowCaster is a first-person/role-playing computer game from 1993 developed by Raven Software
. It was released by Origin Systems
after Electronic Arts
acquired them. A CD-ROM
version was released in 1994, featuring two additional levels with new monsters, and replacing text boxes with FMVs and spoken narration through CD tracks.
The player takes the role of Kirt, a human with powers of shapeshifting. Among other forms, Kirt can become a huge cat-like animal, a floating tentacle-wielding gazer, and a dragon. In the beginning of the game Kirt finds out that he is not in fact human, but comes from a parallel world where there was a war raging between shapeshifters for centuries. Kirt, and his grandfather, are the last of their kind, and now the evil ones have found them. Kirt's grandfather opens a portal back to the homeworld, and that is where the story begins. Kirt's mission is to stop the demons once and for all, but first he will need to awaken his innate shapeshifting powers, which is where the obelisks come into play. Going up to one of these and touching it will unlock a new form, and the first is the cat form. Few video games have made the concept of shapechanging the center of their gameplay, Kameo: Elements of Power
is a rare example of a modern game based on this concept.
The main character of Kirt was based on the name of the game's software developer, Kurt Schallitz, and included his brown leather jacket. The face of Kirt is actually that of Raven software's owner Brian Raffel.
Maorin - The first form the character collects, and the most useful early in the game. Maorin is a large four-armed cat like creature with superior fighting skills and the ability to see things invisible to others. It drowns quickly however.
Caun - A leprechaun
like creature who is a poor fighter, but can heal quickly, jump over obstacles, fit in smaller spaces and unleash a swarm of insects (needed to unlock a particular door). Also has a shield spell and a light spell, and can magically reach out and take objects which are far away.
Opsis - A hovering eye with tentacles that can use spells effectively, such as fireballs and cold blasts. Moves very slowly in the air.
Kahpa - A decent fighter that can breathe underwater. Has a sonic and an electrical attack. Both are supposed to be extra powerful in water.
Ssair - A hovering dragon with no legs with better attack (but weaker defense) than the Maorin. Can breathe fire and use its tail as a weapon. Very fast flier, and real Ssair, who are normally hostile, will ignore Kirt when he is in the form of one.
Grost - A man made of stone that is an excellent fighter with strong defense that can also punch through certain walls. Can cause earthquakes and paralyse his foes with a mere touch.
, a successor of the Wolfenstein 3D
and a predecessor of the Doom technology, was written by id Software
's John Carmack and licensed to Raven Software
. Carmack wrote the ShadowCaster 3D engine during his technology research after id completed Wolfenstein 3D. The engine features diminished lighting, texture mapped
floors and ceilings, walls with variable heights and sloped floors. The engine was "about half as fast as that of Wolfenstein" but fit the exploration of ShadowCaster rather than the fast paced action of Doom.
Raven Software
Raven Software is an American video game developer. The company was founded in 1990 by brothers Brian and Steve Raffel. In 1997, Raven made an exclusive publishing deal with Activision and was subsequently acquired by them...
. It was released by Origin Systems
Origin Systems
Origin Systems, Inc. was a computer game developer based in Austin, Texas that was active from 1983 to 2004...
after Electronic Arts
Electronic Arts
Electronic Arts, Inc. is a major American developer, marketer, publisher and distributor of video games. Founded and incorporated on May 28, 1982 by Trip Hawkins, the company was a pioneer of the early home computer games industry and was notable for promoting the designers and programmers...
acquired them. A CD-ROM
CD-ROM
A CD-ROM is a pre-pressed compact disc that contains data accessible to, but not writable by, a computer for data storage and music playback. The 1985 “Yellow Book” standard developed by Sony and Philips adapted the format to hold any form of binary data....
version was released in 1994, featuring two additional levels with new monsters, and replacing text boxes with FMVs and spoken narration through CD tracks.
The player takes the role of Kirt, a human with powers of shapeshifting. Among other forms, Kirt can become a huge cat-like animal, a floating tentacle-wielding gazer, and a dragon. In the beginning of the game Kirt finds out that he is not in fact human, but comes from a parallel world where there was a war raging between shapeshifters for centuries. Kirt, and his grandfather, are the last of their kind, and now the evil ones have found them. Kirt's grandfather opens a portal back to the homeworld, and that is where the story begins. Kirt's mission is to stop the demons once and for all, but first he will need to awaken his innate shapeshifting powers, which is where the obelisks come into play. Going up to one of these and touching it will unlock a new form, and the first is the cat form. Few video games have made the concept of shapechanging the center of their gameplay, Kameo: Elements of Power
Kameo: Elements of Power
Kameo: Elements of Power is an action-adventure video game developed by Rare. Under development for 4 years, the game was released as a launch title for the Microsoft Xbox 360 video game console in late 2005.- Plot :...
is a rare example of a modern game based on this concept.
The main character of Kirt was based on the name of the game's software developer, Kurt Schallitz, and included his brown leather jacket. The face of Kirt is actually that of Raven software's owner Brian Raffel.
Forms
Kirt - The default character. All abilities are weak, but has some fighting skill and is the only form in which magic rejuvenates. Health also rejuvenates but slower than magic does.Maorin - The first form the character collects, and the most useful early in the game. Maorin is a large four-armed cat like creature with superior fighting skills and the ability to see things invisible to others. It drowns quickly however.
Caun - A leprechaun
Leprechaun
A leprechaun is a type of fairy in Irish folklore, usually taking the form of an old man, clad in a red or green coat, who enjoys partaking in mischief. Like other fairy creatures, leprechauns have been linked to the Tuatha Dé Danann of Irish mythology...
like creature who is a poor fighter, but can heal quickly, jump over obstacles, fit in smaller spaces and unleash a swarm of insects (needed to unlock a particular door). Also has a shield spell and a light spell, and can magically reach out and take objects which are far away.
Opsis - A hovering eye with tentacles that can use spells effectively, such as fireballs and cold blasts. Moves very slowly in the air.
Kahpa - A decent fighter that can breathe underwater. Has a sonic and an electrical attack. Both are supposed to be extra powerful in water.
Ssair - A hovering dragon with no legs with better attack (but weaker defense) than the Maorin. Can breathe fire and use its tail as a weapon. Very fast flier, and real Ssair, who are normally hostile, will ignore Kirt when he is in the form of one.
Grost - A man made of stone that is an excellent fighter with strong defense that can also punch through certain walls. Can cause earthquakes and paralyse his foes with a mere touch.
Technology
The ShadowCaster game engineGame engine
A game engine is a system designed for the creation and development of video games. There are many game engines that are designed to work on video game consoles and personal computers...
, a successor of the Wolfenstein 3D
Wolfenstein 3D
Wolfenstein 3D is a video game that is generally regarded by critics and gaming journalists as having both popularized the first-person shooter genre on the PC and created the basic archetype upon which all subsequent games of the same genre would be built. It was created by id Software and...
and a predecessor of the Doom technology, was written by id Software
Id Software
Id Software is an American video game development company with its headquarters in Richardson, Texas. The company was founded in 1991 by four members of the computer company Softdisk: programmers John Carmack and John Romero, game designer Tom Hall, and artist Adrian Carmack...
's John Carmack and licensed to Raven Software
Raven Software
Raven Software is an American video game developer. The company was founded in 1990 by brothers Brian and Steve Raffel. In 1997, Raven made an exclusive publishing deal with Activision and was subsequently acquired by them...
. Carmack wrote the ShadowCaster 3D engine during his technology research after id completed Wolfenstein 3D. The engine features diminished lighting, texture mapped
Texture mapping
Texture mapping is a method for adding detail, surface texture , or color to a computer-generated graphic or 3D model. Its application to 3D graphics was pioneered by Dr Edwin Catmull in his Ph.D. thesis of 1974.-Texture mapping:...
floors and ceilings, walls with variable heights and sloped floors. The engine was "about half as fast as that of Wolfenstein" but fit the exploration of ShadowCaster rather than the fast paced action of Doom.