Color Dark Castle
Encyclopedia
Color Dark Castle is the first Computer Game in the Dark Castle
series developed after the rights were sold from Silicon Beach Software
to Delta Tao. Color Dark Castle is essentially a remake of the original Dark Castle
, in color. Though it may seem identical at first (besides the color), Delta Tao reported that they had to redo the code from scratch; also, they added a new difficulty and an alleged "Secret Level". Since this is a remake, the sequel to it would be Beyond Dark Castle
. Another color version of Dark Castle
was announced in 2000, titled Return To Dark Castle
. As of 2007, the game was finished by Z Sculpt
Entertainment, and was made available by spring of 2008.
, being a remake, Delta Tao also added a few of their own things, such as a new difficulty "Novice" for beginner players, eliminating some of the harder levels in the game and having fewer monsters. Also, the great hall's door setup was static, as opposed to the random setup of the original. There was a new "Secret level" added, it was accessed by hitting 4 spots hidden throughout the game, without dying. They added a save system that allows one save, that can be saved, or loaded from the great hall.
After collecting the Fireball, and Shield, Duncan makes his way to The Black Knight's Throne room, where he topples the Black Knight's Throne. On Novice, Beginner, and Intermediate the Black Knight stands up shaking his fist, as a gargoyle takes Duncan to Trouble 3. On advanced The Black Knight's throne falls off the bottom of the screen, while Duncan dances, and it fades out.
On jumping into the 4th spot, you will go through the wall into the secret room.
, which is a sequel
to Beyond Dark Castle
in full color, including all the levels from Dark Castle
and Beyond Dark Castle
. It was ultimately released on March 14, 2008 and was developed by Z Sculpt
.
A remake of the original version for mobile was released in 2006. It is developed by Super Happy Fun Fun and published by Bandai
, It contains slightly remade level designs as well as updated color graphics.
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...
series developed after the rights were sold from Silicon Beach Software
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...
to Delta Tao. Color Dark Castle is essentially a remake of the original 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...
, in color. Though it may seem identical at first (besides the color), Delta Tao reported that they had to redo the code from scratch; also, they added a new difficulty and an alleged "Secret Level". Since this is a remake, the sequel to it would be Beyond Dark Castle
Beyond Dark Castle
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...
. Another color version of 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...
was announced in 2000, titled 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...
. As of 2007, the game was finished by Z Sculpt
Z Sculpt
Z Sculpt Entertainment is a two-person software company founded in 1996 by Zackary Black and Zack Morris. It develops Macintosh-only games and other software. Most of the company's activity happened in the 1990s....
Entertainment, and was made available by spring of 2008.
Features
Including almost identical gameplay as 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...
, being a remake, Delta Tao also added a few of their own things, such as a new difficulty "Novice" for beginner players, eliminating some of the harder levels in the game and having fewer monsters. Also, the great hall's door setup was static, as opposed to the random setup of the original. There was a new "Secret level" added, it was accessed by hitting 4 spots hidden throughout the game, without dying. They added a save system that allows one save, that can be saved, or loaded from the great hall.
Story
The evil Black Knight terrorizes the townspeople, our hero Prince Duncan decides to topple his throne, but in order to do that, he must travel to the four sections of the castle: Fireball, Shield, Trouble, and Black Knight.After collecting the Fireball, and Shield, Duncan makes his way to The Black Knight's Throne room, where he topples the Black Knight's Throne. On Novice, Beginner, and Intermediate the Black Knight stands up shaking his fist, as a gargoyle takes Duncan to Trouble 3. On advanced The Black Knight's throne falls off the bottom of the screen, while Duncan dances, and it fades out.
Levels
This game had 16 levels, one more than the original game, all of which came out of the 4 doors in the Great Hall. Unlike the first game the setup of the doors is static, rather than random.- Left most door: Trouble 1, Trouble 2, Trouble 3.
- Farther away door on left side: Fireball 1, Fireball 2, Fireball 3, Fireball 4.
- Middle Door: Black Night 1, Black Night 2, Black Night 3.
- Right Door: Shield 1, Shield 2, Shield 3, Shield 4.
- ????: Secret Level
Secret Level
The Secret level was announced in the Color Dark Castle F.A.Q. The F.A.Q. said you had to pull 4 secret chains, this is untrue, but one must find 4 secret spots. The first 3 spots’ order don't matter, but the fourth must be done last. It's easiest to do when the shield and the fireball have already been obtained. To activate a spot, one must find the spot, and jump at the wall. To find the secret room, one must hit all 4 spots without dying. Hitting Apple-Q, during a level, will take you back to the great hall, and it doesn't count as dying, which makes this much easier to find.- Spot 1 - Shield 3, in bottom right corner of the screen, lower platform.
- Spot 2 - Trouble 3, from the top, jump the gap, climb down the stairs, and jump to left to the small walkway, it's at the end.
- Spot 3 - Fireball 1, middle platform, right side.
- Spot 4 - Black Knight 1, bottom platform right side.
On jumping into the 4th spot, you will go through the wall into the secret room.
Remakes
At the end of the credits, the game states: "Watch out next year for Beyond Dark Castle," but this planned release was dropped due to the announcement of Return To Dark CastleReturn 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...
, which is a sequel
Sequel
A sequel is a narrative, documental, or other work of literature, film, theatre, or music that continues the story of or expands upon issues presented in some previous work...
to Beyond Dark Castle
Beyond Dark Castle
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...
in full color, including all the levels from 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...
and Beyond Dark Castle
Beyond Dark Castle
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...
. It was ultimately released on March 14, 2008 and was developed by Z Sculpt
Z Sculpt
Z Sculpt Entertainment is a two-person software company founded in 1996 by Zackary Black and Zack Morris. It develops Macintosh-only games and other software. Most of the company's activity happened in the 1990s....
.
A remake of the original version for mobile was released in 2006. It is developed by Super Happy Fun Fun and published by Bandai
Bandai
is a Japanese toy making and video game company, as well as the producer of a large number of plastic model kits. It is the world's third-largest producer of toys . Some ex-Bandai group companies produce anime and tokusatsu programs...
, It contains slightly remade level designs as well as updated color graphics.
External links
- Delta Tao Homepage Creators of Color Dark Castle.
- Color Dark Castle review From MacGamer.
- 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...
).