While Shadowgate has its origins as an old adventure game on the Apple Macintosh in 1987, many gamers are probably more familiar with its NES port released in 1989. Not only did this game feature some surprisingly grisly death scenes for an NES game, but it also sported an excellent soundtrack not present in the computer versions. The interface was also slightly simplified to compensate for the hardware's limitations and a room or two cut from the computer versions, but nothing too major. We're going to give this version a play see how it compares to its remake.
10/25/2014
Spoony Plays Ultima V: Warriors of Destiny, Part 5
We dive into the Underworld once more in search of the final crown jewel and the final Shard. We also scavenge some pretty awesome equipment while we're there.
10/22/2014
Spoony Plays Halloween Special: Shadowgate (2014 remake), Part 4 (Finale)
Lots of put-the-things-in-the-slots puzzles, then we save the world!
10/19/2014
Spoony Plays Ultima V: Warriors of Destiny, Part 6 (Finale)
The Shadowlords are destroyed, the Crown Jewels recovered and we're as well-armed as the game will allow. It's time to rescue Lord British and put an end to Blackthorn's reign of terror.
Of course, before you venture into Shame and Doom, be sure you've done the following:
Port information
The various computer ports of Ultima 5 are largely the same, though again, the IBM version sorely lacks music (when unpatched). The Apple and Commodore versions all play various songs in different situations while the Amiga version just has one that loops...
The NES port of Ultima 5 is a strange case. The story is the same but the gameplay is reworked a bit to more closely resemble Ultima 6. However, it's also very slow paced and unappealing on an aesthetic level, with drab graphics and one grating, repetitive tune that plays throughout the game. The game has also been scaled down considerably, with a much smaller world to explore, much less dialog, a smaller party size (a maximum of 4) and a clunky interface. All in all, a rather badly butchered version of the game, which is rather baffling as Origin themselves were responsible for porting it!
Of course, before you venture into Shame and Doom, be sure you've done the following:
- Vanquished all three Shadowlords
- Gotten the Words of Power for Doom and Shame
- Collected all three Crown Jewels (Crown, Scepter and Amulet) and the Sandalwood Box
- Have everyone equipped with Mystic Armor, Mystic Weapons or Magic Axes, Iron Helms, Magic Shields, Rings of Protection and Spike Collars/Amulets of Turning
- Having the entire party at a high level is also a good idea. Be sure to get the Avatar to level 7 at the very least. (Ideally you'd have the entire party at max level, but it takes a lot of grinding to amass 6400 experience on six different characters.)
- Have plenty of the following spells: Vas Mani (Great Heal) and In Quas Corp (Fear). These will both be extremely useful. A few In Mani Corp (Resurrect) spells and scrolls wouldn't be a bad idea either.
Port information
The various computer ports of Ultima 5 are largely the same, though again, the IBM version sorely lacks music (when unpatched). The Apple and Commodore versions all play various songs in different situations while the Amiga version just has one that loops...
The NES port of Ultima 5 is a strange case. The story is the same but the gameplay is reworked a bit to more closely resemble Ultima 6. However, it's also very slow paced and unappealing on an aesthetic level, with drab graphics and one grating, repetitive tune that plays throughout the game. The game has also been scaled down considerably, with a much smaller world to explore, much less dialog, a smaller party size (a maximum of 4) and a clunky interface. All in all, a rather badly butchered version of the game, which is rather baffling as Origin themselves were responsible for porting it!
Spoony Plays Ultima V: Warriors of Destiny, Part 4
We venture into the Underworld in search of several important artifacts. Many fierce battles and unpleasant trials ensue, but we do manage to banish two of the Shadowlords in the process...
One optional thing you can do is enter Dungeon Despise (get the Word from Annon in Britain) and venture through it to recruit Captain Johne in its respective portion of the Underworld. He's a mage character with relatively high stats and provides a bit of backstory on the Shadowlords.
Also, like many characters in Ultima, he's based on one of Richard Garriott's friends. In this case, Ultima 5's lead programmer John Miles.
One optional thing you can do is enter Dungeon Despise (get the Word from Annon in Britain) and venture through it to recruit Captain Johne in its respective portion of the Underworld. He's a mage character with relatively high stats and provides a bit of backstory on the Shadowlords.
Also, like many characters in Ultima, he's based on one of Richard Garriott's friends. In this case, Ultima 5's lead programmer John Miles.
10/14/2014
Spoony Plays Halloween Special: Shadowgate (2014 remake), Part 3
We finally cure that banshee curse. And then I screw myself over my tossing an important item into a fire pit, forcing myself to replay the whole game from scratch because I wasn't diligent enough with my saves. There's a lesson to learn here, I feel...
10/12/2014
Spoony Plays Ultima V: Warriors of Destiny, Part 3
We gather a few more clues and then it's time to start our campaign against Blackthorn. We start by reclaiming a couple of the crown jewels of Lord British.
Ah yes, and here's where to get the two rare and expensive reagents (without having to buy them at exorbitant prices):
Nightshade is in the deepest part of Spiritwood, which lies a short distance southeast of Skara Brae. Search the coordinates I'J" by C'M" at midnight (It's marked by a group of trees much larger than all the ones surrounding it).
Mandrake Root is in the same spot as last time, a single swamp tile southeast of Minoc located at D'G" by L'G". Once again, you must search that spot at midnight.
Ah yes, and here's where to get the two rare and expensive reagents (without having to buy them at exorbitant prices):
Nightshade is in the deepest part of Spiritwood, which lies a short distance southeast of Skara Brae. Search the coordinates I'J" by C'M" at midnight (It's marked by a group of trees much larger than all the ones surrounding it).
Mandrake Root is in the same spot as last time, a single swamp tile southeast of Minoc located at D'G" by L'G". Once again, you must search that spot at midnight.
10/08/2014
Spoony Plays Halloween Special: Shadowgate (2014 remake), Part 2
This is secretly a licensed game for One Punch Man.
10/04/2014
Spoony Plays Ultima V: Warriors of Destiny, Part 2
After robbing Lord British's storeroom and doing a ton of grinding to earn back our good Karma (pictured in part above), it's time assemble our forces and get in good with the Resistance.
A short list of ways to boost Karma:
- Free the two prisoners from the stocks in Yew (+2 each)
- Freeing prisoner's in Blackthorn's castle (+2 each)
- Donate money to the temple in Cove (+1, only works once a day)
- Donate money to the beggar in Minoc (+1, only works once a day)
- Complete a shrine quest (+3 apiece)
- Donate 100 Gold at any shrine (+1, repeatable)
Once you have a skiff, the most cost-efficient way is to boost your Karma is to go back and forth between Cove and Minoc, making donations at each. Doing all the shrine quests (which requires a ship) will also earn you a grand total of 24 points, so be sure to get that done as well.
And yes, this does lend itself to a rather bizarre positive feedback loop where you can rob Lord British's storerooms, fence his goods for a mountain of cash, then convert that cash into Karma, in effect being rewarded for stealing. Somehow I don't think that's what ol' LB had in mind when he designed the Virtue system...
Ah yes, and here's an efficient way to earn Skull Keys (which unlock magic doors):
Donate to the beggar a couple of times in Minoc. Not only does this earn you good Karma once a day as previously mentioned, but he'll tell you a handy secret.
Follow Shenstone to this tree in the northwest corner of town, then search it to find five Skull Keys. They're replenished every day at noon, so stop by again if you ever need more (and you will need plenty to complete the game).
10/01/2014
Spoony Plays Halloween Special: Shadowgate (2014 remake), Part 1
Shadowgate is a remake of a classic adventure game from the old days of home computers, originally released in 1987 for the Apple Macintosh under what later came to be known as the "Macventure" line. However, many gamers, myself included, remember it for the Nintendo Entertainment System port released in 1989, which featured some surprisingly grisly death scenes (especially in spite of Nintendo's censorship policies) and one of the best soundtracks the platform ever produced.
This also falls somewhat under my "Cold Gaming" video series, as this is my first playthrough of the game. I'm going to be playing blind for the most part and only using a walkthrough when I get really stumped; after all, much of the fun of these types of games is deciphering clues and figuring out the solutions to puzzles on your own.
In addition to the other games in the Macventure line (Deja Vu: A Nightmare Comes True, Deja Vu II: Lost in Las Vegas and Uninvited), Shadowgate also produced two sequels - a Turbografx-CD exclusive called "Beyond Shadowgate" and a Nintendo 64 game called "Shadowgate 64: Trials of the Four Towers." A fourth game was also planned for release on the Nintendo 64 titled "Shadowgate Rising", but development was cancelled due to the impending release of the Gamecube.
This also falls somewhat under my "Cold Gaming" video series, as this is my first playthrough of the game. I'm going to be playing blind for the most part and only using a walkthrough when I get really stumped; after all, much of the fun of these types of games is deciphering clues and figuring out the solutions to puzzles on your own.
In addition to the other games in the Macventure line (Deja Vu: A Nightmare Comes True, Deja Vu II: Lost in Las Vegas and Uninvited), Shadowgate also produced two sequels - a Turbografx-CD exclusive called "Beyond Shadowgate" and a Nintendo 64 game called "Shadowgate 64: Trials of the Four Towers." A fourth game was also planned for release on the Nintendo 64 titled "Shadowgate Rising", but development was cancelled due to the impending release of the Gamecube.
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