Witchaven
Encyclopedia
Witchaven is a fantasy
computer game developed by Capstone Software
and released by Intracorp Entertainment
in . It was followed by the sequel named Witchaven II: Blood Vengeance
in 1996.
known as Illwhyrin who is responsible for plunging Stahzia into never-ending darkness. In her lair, hidden in a massive subterranean maze, Illwhyrin is casting malevolent spells, consorting with demons, keeping vicious monsters as pets, and performing human sacrifice
s. For years, adventurers from across the Prime Realms have journeyed into those dark depths seeking glory and wealth, but few have returned. Those who did come back told tales of a horrifying evil. Now, a rumor persists that the witch seeks to lift a dimensional barrier, known as the Veil, that separates the game's universe from chaotic
Nether Reaches. Each day brings her closer to creating a permanent portal through the Veil to allow the demon
lord to traverse into the Prime Realms and rule the world. When word of this reaches Stazhia, Grondoval sets out for Char by boat, armed only with a dagger
and the determination to save his people. His mission is to fight his way through the hordes of monsters and hellspawn dwelling in a labyrinth of dark caves and dungeon
s, to reach Illwhyrin's inner sanctum and stop her before she can succeed in her plans.
The original version of the game's story, which was featured in early promotional materials, involved a plot by a coven
of three witches to activate the two-century dormant volcano
of Char, causing it to erupt and threaten the surrounding areas. The unnamed hero's quest was to break this curse by vanquishing the witches. Although the story changed before the game's release, the owner's manual mentions a volcano and speaks about destruction of "the witches in their wretched lair" when telling the game's backstory. Similarly, the official website includes the phrase the "Witches of Char" in its description of the game. Despite the implication that there are several witches, Illwhyrin is the only boss
of the game.
, the game has several fantasy and role-playing game
elements. These include character progression through acquired experience points, level advancement, a constantly increasing number of hit points and weapons proficiency, and access to more powerful spells at higher levels. The game also has a focus on close-quarters combat, unlike the standard run-and-gun gameplay of most first-person shooters or fantasy games at the time. Overall gameplay works like many other typical old-school first-person shooters in that the player must kill everything that moves in his path while searching for an exit that would lead to the next level. There are also options to adjust the game's difficulty and gore levels.
The game also offered a LAN
-based deathmatch
-style multiplayer mode for up to 16 competitors. This made it the first 3D action game to feature so many players simultaneously.
There are ten weapons in Witchaven, each with a different attack range. Among them are bare fists, a dagger, a short sword
, a morning star
, a broadsword
, a battle axe
, a bow
and arrows, a pike axe
, a two-handed sword
and a halberd
. One of the game's more innovative features is that weapons are not infinitely durable. With the exceptions of the fists, weapons will break down with repeated use and replacements must be found in order to continue fighting.
Fighting consists of a mixture of hand-to-hand combat and magical abilities. There are several types of the scroll
-based spells which can be cast by the player, such as the Fireball
, Fly, Freeze, Scare, Unlock, and Nuke invocation
s. There are also various potion
s scattered through Witchaven, that the player can drink for health, stamina
, and fire resistance, among others. There is a plethora of enemies the player must contend with, including goblin
s, ogre
s, imp
s, skeleton
s, willow wisps
, and fire drakes
. All of these creatures are bound in loyal servitude to the villain Illwhyrin, but some of them are prone to fighting against the other types of enemies. For instance, differently-colored
rival goblin tribes will attack each other if put in close proximity.
. It started with an idea for a "violent, first-person action game set in a fantasy universe ruled by a coven of evil witches who must be eradicated from their lairs". Along with William Shatner's TekWar
, also made by Capstone in 1995, Witchaven was one of the first games released to use an early version of Build engine
s. Generic enemies are actually clay
-made models, first photographed at every angle, then turned into computer sprites
. In-game weapon models were created by using digitization. During early development, heroes were split into two classes, spellcaster or warrior. Early plans called for the player to choose a class and a gender. These features were later abandoned in favor of a predefined male hero character, Grondoval, capable of using both weapons and spells.
The game's three-level demo
version included features that differed from the full version. The demo version only included five weapons to wield and only six spells. Instead of a potion that cured poison, the demo version used an armour potion that increased armor value. Similarly, the fire resistance potion was replaced with a fire walk potion.
of enemies and poor design of repetitive levels; however, its graphics were usually praised. Regarding the game's dark theme and brutality, PC Zone
recalled Witchaven being "sick, twisted, gory and depraved". Computer Gaming World
called the game "less than spellbounding", and very disappointing for its lack of real gameplay immersion despite "eye-popping gore and a few cosmetic" RPG elements", concluding it to be "just another staid Doom clone". GameSpot
rated the game only 53%, commenting that "in-your-face combat is novel at first, but after a few hours of play, you'll be praying for a BFG- 9000
."
A black metal
band, formed in 2006, took the title "Witchaven" from the series title.
Fantasy
Fantasy is a genre of fiction that commonly uses magic and other supernatural phenomena as a primary element of plot, theme, or setting. Many works within the genre take place in imaginary worlds where magic is common...
computer game developed by Capstone Software
Capstone Software
Capstone Software was a subsidiary of IntraCorp, a Miami, Florida-based computer and video game company. Founded in 1984, Capstone created first-person games such as Corridor 7: Alien Invasion, William Shatner's TekWar and Witchaven, and is also known for releasing games based on movie/TV...
and released by Intracorp Entertainment
IntraCorp
IntraCorp was a Miami, Florida-based game publisher, founded in 1984. They went bankrupt in 1996 and shut down along with their main subsidiary, Capstone Software. IntraCorp developed and published games for a wide range of genres....
in . It was followed by the sequel named Witchaven II: Blood Vengeance
Witchaven II
Witchaven II: Blood Vengeance is the sequel to the fantasy first-person shooter video game Witchaven, created and released in 1996 by Capstone Software. It was Capstone's last proprietary game release before their parent company Intracorp went bankrupt....
in 1996.
Story
In Witchaven, the player takes on the role of Grondoval, a knight in service of his homeland Stazhia. He has been just chosen by his master, Lord Verkapheron, to travel to the forbidding Island of Char. The island, now known as Witchaven, is the domain of the powerful witchWitchcraft
Witchcraft, in historical, anthropological, religious, and mythological contexts, is the alleged use of supernatural or magical powers. A witch is a practitioner of witchcraft...
known as Illwhyrin who is responsible for plunging Stahzia into never-ending darkness. In her lair, hidden in a massive subterranean maze, Illwhyrin is casting malevolent spells, consorting with demons, keeping vicious monsters as pets, and performing human sacrifice
Human sacrifice
Human sacrifice is the act of killing one or more human beings as part of a religious ritual . Its typology closely parallels the various practices of ritual slaughter of animals and of religious sacrifice in general. Human sacrifice has been practised in various cultures throughout history...
s. For years, adventurers from across the Prime Realms have journeyed into those dark depths seeking glory and wealth, but few have returned. Those who did come back told tales of a horrifying evil. Now, a rumor persists that the witch seeks to lift a dimensional barrier, known as the Veil, that separates the game's universe from chaotic
Chaos (cosmogony)
Chaos refers to the formless or void state preceding the creation of the universe or cosmos in the Greek creation myths, more specifically the initial "gap" created by the original separation of heaven and earth....
Nether Reaches. Each day brings her closer to creating a permanent portal through the Veil to allow the demon
Demon
call - 1347 531 7769 for more infoIn Ancient Near Eastern religions as well as in the Abrahamic traditions, including ancient and medieval Christian demonology, a demon is considered an "unclean spirit" which may cause demonic possession, to be addressed with an act of exorcism...
lord to traverse into the Prime Realms and rule the world. When word of this reaches Stazhia, Grondoval sets out for Char by boat, armed only with a dagger
Dagger
A dagger is a fighting knife with a sharp point designed or capable of being used as a thrusting or stabbing weapon. The design dates to human prehistory, and daggers have been used throughout human experience to the modern day in close combat confrontations...
and the determination to save his people. His mission is to fight his way through the hordes of monsters and hellspawn dwelling in a labyrinth of dark caves and dungeon
Dungeon
A dungeon is a room or cell in which prisoners are held, especially underground. Dungeons are generally associated with medieval castles, though their association with torture probably belongs more to the Renaissance period...
s, to reach Illwhyrin's inner sanctum and stop her before she can succeed in her plans.
The original version of the game's story, which was featured in early promotional materials, involved a plot by a coven
Coven
A coven or covan is a name used to describe a gathering of witches or in some cases vampires. Due to the word's association with witches, a gathering of Wiccans, followers of the witchcraft-based neopagan religion of Wicca, is also described as a coven....
of three witches to activate the two-century dormant volcano
Volcano
2. Bedrock3. Conduit 4. Base5. Sill6. Dike7. Layers of ash emitted by the volcano8. Flank| 9. Layers of lava emitted by the volcano10. Throat11. Parasitic cone12. Lava flow13. Vent14. Crater15...
of Char, causing it to erupt and threaten the surrounding areas. The unnamed hero's quest was to break this curse by vanquishing the witches. Although the story changed before the game's release, the owner's manual mentions a volcano and speaks about destruction of "the witches in their wretched lair" when telling the game's backstory. Similarly, the official website includes the phrase the "Witches of Char" in its description of the game. Despite the implication that there are several witches, Illwhyrin is the only boss
Boss (video games)
A boss is an enemy-based challenge which is found in video games. A fight with a boss character is commonly referred to as a boss battle or boss fight...
of the game.
Gameplay
Although the game is considered an first-person shooterFirst-person shooter
First-person shooter is a video game genre that centers the gameplay on gun and projectile weapon-based combat through first-person perspective; i.e., the player experiences the action through the eyes of a protagonist. Generally speaking, the first-person shooter shares common traits with other...
, the game has several fantasy and role-playing game
Role-playing game
A role-playing game is a game in which players assume the roles of characters in a fictional setting. Players take responsibility for acting out these roles within a narrative, either through literal acting, or through a process of structured decision-making or character development...
elements. These include character progression through acquired experience points, level advancement, a constantly increasing number of hit points and weapons proficiency, and access to more powerful spells at higher levels. The game also has a focus on close-quarters combat, unlike the standard run-and-gun gameplay of most first-person shooters or fantasy games at the time. Overall gameplay works like many other typical old-school first-person shooters in that the player must kill everything that moves in his path while searching for an exit that would lead to the next level. There are also options to adjust the game's difficulty and gore levels.
The game also offered a LAN
Län
Län and lääni refer to the administrative divisions used in Sweden and previously in Finland. The provinces of Finland were abolished on January 1, 2010....
-based deathmatch
Deathmatch (gaming)
Deathmatch or Player vs All is a widely-used gameplay mode integrated into many shooter and real-time strategy computer games...
-style multiplayer mode for up to 16 competitors. This made it the first 3D action game to feature so many players simultaneously.
There are ten weapons in Witchaven, each with a different attack range. Among them are bare fists, a dagger, a short sword
Types of swords
This is a list of types of swords.The term sword is here used in a narrow sense. This is not a general list of bladed weapons and does not include the machete or similar "sword-like" weapons....
, a morning star
Morning star (weapon)
The term morning star is used to describe medieval club-like weapons which included one or more spikes. Each used, to varying degrees, a combination of blunt-force and puncture attack to kill or wound the enemy.- Design :...
, a broadsword
Broadsword
Broadsword may refer to:*Broadsword , a military sword used by heavy cavalry during the 17th to early 19th centuriesIn more modern times, it has also been used to refer to:...
, a battle axe
Axe
The axe, or ax, is an implement that has been used for millennia to shape, split and cut wood; to harvest timber; as a weapon; and as a ceremonial or heraldic symbol...
, a bow
Bow (weapon)
The bow and arrow is a projectile weapon system that predates recorded history and is common to most cultures.-Description:A bow is a flexible arc that shoots aerodynamic projectiles by means of elastic energy. Essentially, the bow is a form of spring powered by a string or cord...
and arrows, a pike axe
Pike (weapon)
A pike is a pole weapon, a very long thrusting spear used extensively by infantry both for attacks on enemy foot soldiers and as a counter-measure against cavalry assaults. Unlike many similar weapons, the pike is not intended to be thrown. Pikes were used regularly in European warfare from the...
, a two-handed sword
Longsword
The longsword is a type of European sword designed for two-handed use, current during the late medieval and Renaissance periods, approximately 1350 to 1550 .Longswords have long cruciform hilts with grips over 10 to 15 cm length The longsword (of which stems the variation called the bastard...
and a halberd
Halberd
A halberd is a two-handed pole weapon that came to prominent use during the 14th and 15th centuries. Possibly the word halberd comes from the German words Halm , and Barte - in modern-day German, the weapon is called Hellebarde. The halberd consists of an axe blade topped with a spike mounted on...
. One of the game's more innovative features is that weapons are not infinitely durable. With the exceptions of the fists, weapons will break down with repeated use and replacements must be found in order to continue fighting.
Fighting consists of a mixture of hand-to-hand combat and magical abilities. There are several types of the scroll
Scroll
A scroll is a roll of parchment, papyrus, or paper, which has been drawn or written upon.Scroll may also refer to:*Scroll , the decoratively curved end of the pegbox of string instruments such as violins...
-based spells which can be cast by the player, such as the Fireball
Incendiary device
Incendiary weapons, incendiary devices or incendiary bombs are bombs designed to start fires or destroy sensitive equipment using materials such as napalm, thermite, chlorine trifluoride, or white phosphorus....
, Fly, Freeze, Scare, Unlock, and Nuke invocation
Invocation
An invocation may take the form of:*Supplication or prayer.*A form of possession.*Command or conjuration.*Self-identification with certain spirits....
s. There are also various potion
Potion
A potion is a consumable medicine or poison.In mythology and literature, a potion is usually made by a magician, sorcerer, dragon, fairy or witch and has magical properties. It might be used to heal, bewitch or poison people...
s scattered through Witchaven, that the player can drink for health, stamina
Endurance
Endurance is the ability for a human or animal to exert itself and remain active for a long period of time, as well as its ability to resist, withstand, recover from, and have immunity to trauma, wounds, or fatigue. In humans, it is usually used in aerobic or anaerobic exercise...
, and fire resistance, among others. There is a plethora of enemies the player must contend with, including goblin
Goblin
A goblin is a legendary evil or mischievous illiterate creature, a grotesquely evil or evil-like phantom.They are attributed with various abilities, temperaments and appearances depending on the story and country of origin. In some cases, goblins have been classified as constantly annoying little...
s, ogre
Ogre
An ogre is a large, cruel, monstrous, and hideous humanoid monster, featured in mythology, folklore, and fiction. Ogres are often depicted in fairy tales and folklore as feeding on human beings, and have appeared in many classic works of literature...
s, imp
Imp
An imp is a mythological being similar to a fairy or demon, frequently described in folklore and superstition. The word may perhaps derive from the term ympe, used to denote a young grafted tree.-Folklore:...
s, skeleton
Skeleton
The skeleton is the body part that forms the supporting structure of an organism. There are two different skeletal types: the exoskeleton, which is the stable outer shell of an organism, and the endoskeleton, which forms the support structure inside the body.In a figurative sense, skeleton can...
s, willow wisps
Will o' the wisp
A will-o'-the-wisp or ignis fatuus , also called a "will-o'-wisp", "jack-o'-lantern" , "hinkypunk", "corpse candle", "ghost-light", "spook-light", "fairy light", "friar's lantern", "hobby lantern", "ghost orb", or simply "wisp", is a ghostly light or lights sometimes seen at night or twilight over...
, and fire drakes
European dragon
European dragons are legendary creatures in folklore and mythology among the overlapping cultures of Europe.In European folklore, a dragon is a serpentine legendary creature. The Latin word draco, as in constellation Draco, comes directly from Greek δράκων,...
. All of these creatures are bound in loyal servitude to the villain Illwhyrin, but some of them are prone to fighting against the other types of enemies. For instance, differently-colored
Palette swap
A palette swap is a practice used in video games, whereby a graphic that is already used for one element is given a different palette, so it can be reused as other elements. The different palette gives the new graphic a unique set of colors, which make it recognizably distinct from the original...
rival goblin tribes will attack each other if put in close proximity.
Development
The game's development began in 1994, following the completion of Operation Body CountOperation Body Count
Operation Body Count is a 1994 first-person shooter that used the Wolfenstein 3D ray casting engine. It was developed and published by Capstone Software.- Plot :...
. It started with an idea for a "violent, first-person action game set in a fantasy universe ruled by a coven of evil witches who must be eradicated from their lairs". Along with William Shatner's TekWar
William Shatner's TekWar
William Shatner's TekWar is a 1995 first-person shooter computer game, derived from the TekWar series of novels written by William Shatner. It was designed using the Build engine....
, also made by Capstone in 1995, Witchaven was one of the first games released to use an early version of Build engine
Build engine
The Build engine is a first-person shooter engine created by Ken Silverman for 3D Realms. Like the Doom engine, the Build engine represents its world on a two-dimensional grid using closed 2D shapes called sectors, and uses simple flat objects called sprites to populate the world geometry with...
s. Generic enemies are actually clay
Clay
Clay is a general term including many combinations of one or more clay minerals with traces of metal oxides and organic matter. Geologic clay deposits are mostly composed of phyllosilicate minerals containing variable amounts of water trapped in the mineral structure.- Formation :Clay minerals...
-made models, first photographed at every angle, then turned into computer sprites
Sprite (computer graphics)
In computer graphics, a sprite is a two-dimensional image or animation that is integrated into a larger scene...
. In-game weapon models were created by using digitization. During early development, heroes were split into two classes, spellcaster or warrior. Early plans called for the player to choose a class and a gender. These features were later abandoned in favor of a predefined male hero character, Grondoval, capable of using both weapons and spells.
The game's three-level demo
Demo (marketing)
In marketing, an in-store demonstration is a promotion where samples of a product are distributed to customers within a store. The goal of an in-store demonstration is to introduce customers to the product in hopes of getting them to purchase that item...
version included features that differed from the full version. The demo version only included five weapons to wield and only six spells. Instead of a potion that cured poison, the demo version used an armour potion that increased armor value. Similarly, the fire resistance potion was replaced with a fire walk potion.
Reception
Reviewers often criticed the game's bad AIArtificial intelligence
Artificial intelligence is the intelligence of machines and the branch of computer science that aims to create it. AI textbooks define the field as "the study and design of intelligent agents" where an intelligent agent is a system that perceives its environment and takes actions that maximize its...
of enemies and poor design of repetitive levels; however, its graphics were usually praised. Regarding the game's dark theme and brutality, PC Zone
PC Zone
PC Zone was the first magazine dedicated to games for IBM-compatible personal computers to be published in the United Kingdom. Earlier PC magazines such as PC Leisure, PC Format and PC Plus had covered games but only as part of a wider remit. PC Zone was founded in 1993.The magazine was published...
recalled Witchaven being "sick, twisted, gory and depraved". Computer Gaming World
Computer Gaming World
Computer Gaming World was a computer game magazine founded in 1981 by Russell Sipe as a bimonthly publication. Early issues were typically 40-50 pages in length, written in a newsletter style, including submissions by game designers such as Joel Billings , Dan Bunten , and Chris Crawford...
called the game "less than spellbounding", and very disappointing for its lack of real gameplay immersion despite "eye-popping gore and a few cosmetic" RPG elements", concluding it to be "just another staid Doom clone". GameSpot
GameSpot
GameSpot is a video gaming website that provides news, reviews, previews, downloads, and other information. The site was launched in May 1, 1996 by Pete Deemer, Vince Broady and Jon Epstein. It was purchased by ZDNet, a brand which was later purchased by CNET Networks. CBS Interactive, which...
rated the game only 53%, commenting that "in-your-face combat is novel at first, but after a few hours of play, you'll be praying for a BFG- 9000
BFG 9000
The BFG 9000 is a futuristic weapon found in the video game series Doom. The BFG 9000 is a huge, solid metal gun that fires balls of green plasma. The most powerful weapon in the games, it is capable of destroying nearly any player or enemy in the vicinity with a single hit...
."
Legacy
A direct sequel to Witchaven was released in 1996. In this game, the witches of Char are dead, yet their legacy of evil still lives on. Grondoval's new mission is to defeat Cicae-Argoth, Illwhyrin's sister. The gameplay of Witchaven II: Blood Vengeance is heavily based on the original game, different only in story, weapon selection, and enemy variance. A third game was planned, but, before any work on it started, Intracorp bankrupted and Capstone was shut down.A black metal
Black metal
Black metal is an extreme subgenre of heavy metal music. Common traits include fast tempos, shrieked vocals, highly distorted guitars played with tremolo picking, blast beat drumming, raw recording, and unconventional song structure....
band, formed in 2006, took the title "Witchaven" from the series title.