Beyond Dark Castle
Encyclopedia
Beyond Dark Castle is a computer game, released for the Macintosh in 1987 by Silicon Beach Software
. It was designed by Mark Pierce and programmed by Jonathan Gay
. It is the sequel to Dark Castle
, with more levels, monsters and items, as well as a larger game map and longer levels. A second sequel, Return To Dark Castle
, was released in 2008.
While in Dark Castle, the Black Knight's chambers could be entered at any time, Beyond Dark Castle requires Duncan to collect five orbs which are scattered around the new, much larger castle. As before, the Fireball and Shield must also be acquired before the assault on the Black Knight himself.
, where Prince Duncan toppled the Black Knight's throne. In the original version, after toppling the throne, The Black Knight stands up shaking his fist, and a gargoyle drops Duncan in Trouble 3. In the newer version by Delta Tao Software
, Color Dark Castle
, after defeating the Black Knight on advanced, the Black Knight's throne falls down, off the bottom of the screen, and Duncan does a victory dance as it fades out.
When starting a new game in Beyond Dark Castle, the player sees Duncan approaching a fireplace and mantle. Duncan attempts to remove a nearby torch from the wall, only to have the whole wall turn around like a trapdoor
. Duncan finds himself in a large anteroom
, where there are five pedestals. Over the course of the game, the player collects five orbs to fill these pedestals, opening a gate that leads to the final duel with The Black Knight.
On normal and intermediate difficulties, when the Black Knight is defeated he falls back into his chair, and Duncan makes his way over to the fire place by the throne, and is taken back to the main menu, where he does a victory dance. After the score is shown, Duncan goes back though the wall and ends up back in the ante room.
On Advanced the Black Knight fall back into his chair, then turns into a little swirling ball of energy, and flies up the place where his drinks were coming from. Duncan then goes to the fireplace, and pulls on the torch, and is taken back to the main menu. This time, after doing his victory dance, the Energy ball that the Black Knight turned into comes from the top of the screen, and turns Duncan into the Black Knight. The Black Knight then pulls the torch and the wall turns around, showing a "The End" on the other side.
Silicon Beach Software
Silicon Beach Software was an early developer of software products for the Macintosh personal computer. It was founded in San Diego, California by Charlie Jackson and his wife Hallie. Jackson later co-founded FutureWave Software with Jonathan Gay, the company that produced the first version of...
. It was designed by Mark Pierce and programmed by Jonathan Gay
Jonathan Gay
Jonathan Gay is a computer programmer and software entrepreneur based in Northern California. Gay was a co-founder of FutureWave Software in 1993. For a decade, he was the main programmer and visionary of Flash, an animation editor for web pages...
. It is the sequel to Dark Castle
Dark Castle
Dark Castle is a 1986 computer game for the Macintosh published by Silicon Beach Software, later ported to various platforms, where it was published by Three-Sixty Pacific...
, with more levels, monsters and items, as well as a larger game map and longer levels. A second sequel, Return To Dark Castle
Return to Dark Castle
Return To Dark Castle is a 2008 platform game for the Macintosh. It is the third game in the Dark Castle series, following the original Dark Castle and its sequel Beyond Dark Castle , and the first to be developed by Z Sculpt. Development on the game, begun in 1996, was notoriously protracted, and...
, was released in 2008.
Features
Movement in Beyond Dark Castle is similar to Dark Castle. A helicopter backpack has been added and Duncan can now collect and drop bombs. These can be used to destroy snakes, rats, and even walls. There is now a health meter that needs to be replenished, multiple keys can be collected, and the levels now scroll (horizontally and vertically). Games can also be saved and loaded (using a unique "computer room"), and there is also a practice mode.While in Dark Castle, the Black Knight's chambers could be entered at any time, Beyond Dark Castle requires Duncan to collect five orbs which are scattered around the new, much larger castle. As before, the Fireball and Shield must also be acquired before the assault on the Black Knight himself.
Story
The game starts off with the end of Dark CastleDark Castle
Dark Castle is a 1986 computer game for the Macintosh published by Silicon Beach Software, later ported to various platforms, where it was published by Three-Sixty Pacific...
, where Prince Duncan toppled the Black Knight's throne. In the original version, after toppling the throne, The Black Knight stands up shaking his fist, and a gargoyle drops Duncan in Trouble 3. In the newer version by Delta Tao Software
Delta Tao Software
Delta Tao Software is a small software developer and publisher focusing on games for Macintosh, though some of its more popular products have been ported to Windows, Linux, and other platforms.-History:...
, Color Dark Castle
Color Dark Castle
Color Dark Castle is the first Computer Game in the Dark Castle series developed after the rights were sold from Silicon Beach Software to . Color Dark Castle is essentially a remake of the original Dark Castle, in color...
, after defeating the Black Knight on advanced, the Black Knight's throne falls down, off the bottom of the screen, and Duncan does a victory dance as it fades out.
When starting a new game in Beyond Dark Castle, the player sees Duncan approaching a fireplace and mantle. Duncan attempts to remove a nearby torch from the wall, only to have the whole wall turn around like a trapdoor
Trapdoor
A trapdoor is a door set into a floor or ceiling .Originally, trapdoors were sack traps in mills, and allowed the sacks to pass up through the mill while naturally falling back to a closed position....
. Duncan finds himself in a large anteroom
Antechamber
An antechamber is a smaller room or vestibule serving as an entryway into a larger one. The word is formed of the Latin ante camera, meaning "room before"....
, where there are five pedestals. Over the course of the game, the player collects five orbs to fill these pedestals, opening a gate that leads to the final duel with The Black Knight.
On normal and intermediate difficulties, when the Black Knight is defeated he falls back into his chair, and Duncan makes his way over to the fire place by the throne, and is taken back to the main menu, where he does a victory dance. After the score is shown, Duncan goes back though the wall and ends up back in the ante room.
On Advanced the Black Knight fall back into his chair, then turns into a little swirling ball of energy, and flies up the place where his drinks were coming from. Duncan then goes to the fireplace, and pulls on the torch, and is taken back to the main menu. This time, after doing his victory dance, the Energy ball that the Black Knight turned into comes from the top of the screen, and turns Duncan into the Black Knight. The Black Knight then pulls the torch and the wall turns around, showing a "The End" on the other side.
Levels
This game had 15 levels, like the first game, which came out of the 5 doors in the Great Hall.- Ye Roof: Computer Room, Clock Tower, Swamp, Forrest.
- West Tower: West Tower Wall, West Labyrinth, West Tower Top.
- East Tower: Black Knight's Brewery, East Labyrinth, East Tower Top.
- Underground: Basement, Catacombs, Dungeon.
- Main Hall: Ante Room, Black Knight's Showdown & The Final Battle.
Trivia
- The Christmas easter egg from Dark CastleDark CastleDark Castle is a 1986 computer game for the Macintosh published by Silicon Beach Software, later ported to various platforms, where it was published by Three-Sixty Pacific...
is still here, though in a different form. To access it, just set your Mac's date to December 25 and start a new game.
Remakes
- A version was released for the Apple IIGSApple IIGSThe Apple , the fifth and most powerful model in the Apple II series of personal computers produced by Apple Computer. The "GS" in the name stands for Graphics and Sound, referring to its enhanced graphics and sound capabilities, both of which greatly surpassed previous models of the line...
. - A version for the C64Commodore 64The Commodore 64 is an 8-bit home computer introduced by Commodore International in January 1982.Volume production started in the spring of 1982, with machines being released on to the market in August at a price of US$595...
and the AmigaAmigaThe Amiga is a family of personal computers that was sold by Commodore in the 1980s and 1990s. The first model was launched in 1985 as a high-end home computer and became popular for its graphical, audio and multi-tasking abilities...
was also released by Activision. - A colorized Mac version was planned by Delta Tao SoftwareDelta Tao SoftwareDelta Tao Software is a small software developer and publisher focusing on games for Macintosh, though some of its more popular products have been ported to Windows, Linux, and other platforms.-History:...
but dropped. - A version of Dark CastleDark CastleDark Castle is a 1986 computer game for the Macintosh published by Silicon Beach Software, later ported to various platforms, where it was published by Three-Sixty Pacific...
was made for Cell Phones, which borrows some level designs from this game. - Return To Dark CastleReturn to Dark CastleReturn To Dark Castle is a 2008 platform game for the Macintosh. It is the third game in the Dark Castle series, following the original Dark Castle and its sequel Beyond Dark Castle , and the first to be developed by Z Sculpt. Development on the game, begun in 1996, was notoriously protracted, and...
, the sequel, contains all the levels from Beyond Dark Castle, as well as many new ones.
External links
- Video review of Beyond Dark Castle in the Computer Chronicles
- Beyond Dark Castle retro review.
- Dark Castle links, including the official forum (where players can chat with Zack Black and Zack Morris of Z Sculpt, the developers of Return to Dark CastleReturn to Dark CastleReturn To Dark Castle is a 2008 platform game for the Macintosh. It is the third game in the Dark Castle series, following the original Dark Castle and its sequel Beyond Dark Castle , and the first to be developed by Z Sculpt. Development on the game, begun in 1996, was notoriously protracted, and...
).