Sinclair ZX Spectrum
Release Date: Unknown |
Genre:
The player can choose from three different characters:[3]
Wizard
Knight
Serf
The choice is not only cosmetic - each character has access to a secret passage unique to them, meaning that navigating the castle is different for each character. In addition, the Serf has momentum and will continue to run briefly, as does the Knight to a lesser extent, whereas the Wizard comes to a dead stop as soon as a direction key is released.
There are a number of carryable items scattered around the castle, and the player can carry a maximum of three at a time. Some of these are always in the same place at the start of the game, and others have several possible places where they can appear. Items include keys, which open the correspondingly coloured locked doors, the three pieces of the ACG key, and other items that affect certain enemies or are mere red herrings.
Similar to other Ultimate games, common enemies appear in each room after the player has entered and randomly attack the player, collision with these destroys them but drains a portion of health. There are also stationary poisonous fungi which will drain health constantly if the player is in contact with them. There are also enemies who cannot normally be killed and must be avoided, however certain special items will distract, repel or kill these enemies. Contact with bosses drains health as long as the player is in contact with them. These generally guard pieces of the ACG key, or attack the player.
The player has a number of lives and health can be replenished by collecting food scattered around the castle, however as health constantly drops and food is limited and replenishes slowly, the player must eventually escape or die of attrition.
Doors randomly open and close in each room, and it is possible to be briefly trapped in a room whilst the life meter ticks down. Upon death the player is replaced by a gravestone which stays in place for the remainder of the game.
Keys to use for keyboard game play:
Q - Left W - Right E - Down R - Up T - Knife Z - Pickup / Drop SPACE - Pause