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Nightshade (NES)
Encyclopedia
Nightshade is an action-adventure
game released in 1991 for the Nintendo Entertainment System
. It was developed by Beam Software and published by Ultra. The game was meant to be the first part in a series, but no sequel
s were ever made; however, it served as the basis for Beam Software's 1993 game Shadowrun
.
. As the story unfolds, the city's local superhero
named Vortex
is outnumbered by gangs and killed. With the city's protector murdered, the crime grows rapidly. Soon enough the city's crime lords start fighting over control of the city, until a villain named Sutekh takes control, combining all the gangs into one. With the city completely overrun by Sutekh
and the other crime lords (Rat King, Goliath, Lord Muck
, and Ninja
Mistress), it is soon devoured in crime. A vigilante
named Mark Gray (alias
Nightshade) decides to step up and take the law into his own hands, vowing to rid Metro City of crime.
Outside of the occasional violence, the game is actually somewhat light in tone (even Nightshade himself is constantly being called "Lampshade
" by everybody) and rife with various popular culture references. The ending gives credit to people for the "bad jokes".
.
Instead of a save feature or extra lives
, the villain Sutekh would throw Nightshade into a deathtrap
. The first four traps each had a solution and Nightshade would escape back onto the streets of Metro City (minus some popularity points). The final one does not, and the player would have to start over from the beginning of the game. Additionally the game begins with Nightshade tied to a chair, next to which Sutekh has placed a small bomb. While technically not a deathtrap (the bomb, if not escaped on time, does not do lethal damage) this introduces the trap escape, problem solving element early on.
Action-adventure game
An action-adventure game is a video game that combines elements of the adventure game genre with various action game elements. It is perhaps the broadest and most diverse genre in gaming, and can include many games which might better be categorized under narrow genres...
game released in 1991 for the Nintendo Entertainment System
Nintendo Entertainment System
The Nintendo Entertainment System is an 8-bit video game console that was released by Nintendo in North America during 1985, in Europe during 1986 and Australia in 1987...
. It was developed by Beam Software and published by Ultra. The game was meant to be the first part in a series, but no 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...
s were ever made; however, it served as the basis for Beam Software's 1993 game Shadowrun
Shadowrun (SNES)
Shadowrun is a cyberpunk action role-playing video game for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System . It was adapted from the tabletop role-playing game Shadowrun by FASA...
.
Plot
The game takes place in a fictional urban city called Metro CityMetro City
Metro City can refer to:*Metro City , a R&B group*Metro City , a private housing estate and a shopping centre in Tseung Kwan O, Hong Kong*MetroCity AVM, a shopping mall in Istanbul, Turkey...
. As the story unfolds, the city's local superhero
Superhero
A superhero is a type of stock character, possessing "extraordinary or superhuman powers", dedicated to protecting the public. Since the debut of the prototypical superhero Superman in 1938, stories of superheroes — ranging from brief episodic adventures to continuing years-long sagas —...
named Vortex
Vortex
A vortex is a spinning, often turbulent,flow of fluid. Any spiral motion with closed streamlines is vortex flow. The motion of the fluid swirling rapidly around a center is called a vortex...
is outnumbered by gangs and killed. With the city's protector murdered, the crime grows rapidly. Soon enough the city's crime lords start fighting over control of the city, until a villain named Sutekh takes control, combining all the gangs into one. With the city completely overrun by Sutekh
Set (mythology)
Set was in Ancient Egyptian religion, a god of the desert, storms, and foreigners. In later myths he was also the god of darkness, and chaos...
and the other crime lords (Rat King, Goliath, Lord Muck
Muck
Muck can refer to:*Muck *Muck, Scotland, an island in Scotland*Isle of Muck, a small island connected by sand spit to Portmuck, County Antrim, Northern Ireland*Muck , a number of actions...
, and Ninja
Ninja
A or was a covert agent or mercenary of feudal Japan specializing in unorthodox arts of war. The functions of the ninja included espionage, sabotage, infiltration, and assassination, as well as open combat in certain situations...
Mistress), it is soon devoured in crime. A vigilante
Vigilante
A vigilante is a private individual who legally or illegally punishes an alleged lawbreaker, or participates in a group which metes out extralegal punishment to an alleged lawbreaker....
named Mark Gray (alias
Pseudonym
A pseudonym is a name that a person assumes for a particular purpose and that differs from his or her original orthonym...
Nightshade) decides to step up and take the law into his own hands, vowing to rid Metro City of crime.
Outside of the occasional violence, the game is actually somewhat light in tone (even Nightshade himself is constantly being called "Lampshade
Lampshade
A lampshade is a fixture that covers the lightbulb on a lamp to diffuse the light it emits. Conical, cylindrical and other forms on floor-, desk- or table top-mounted as well as suspended lamp models are the most common and are made in a wide range of materials. The term can also apply to the...
" by everybody) and rife with various popular culture references. The ending gives credit to people for the "bad jokes".
Gameplay
The game had a unique feature; along with the action sequences and point-and-click game elements, there was a "popularity meter" that would go up or down as Nightshade performed good deeds well or poorly. Higher popularity meant greater recognition by everyday denizens of Metro City and allowed Nightshade access to more areas. The game also included fighting segments, that required quick button responsesQuick Time Event
In video games, a Quick Time Event is a method of context-sensitive gameplay in which the player performs actions on the control device shortly after the appearance of an on-screen prompt. It allows for limited control of the game character during cut scenes or cinematic sequences in the game...
.
Instead of a save feature or extra lives
1-up
1-up , pronounced "one up", is a term in console video gaming that commonly refers to an item that gives the player an extra life, to complete the game. In certain games, it is possible to receive multiple extra lives at once...
, the villain Sutekh would throw Nightshade into a deathtrap
Deathtrap (plot device)
A deathtrap is a literary and dramatic plot device in which a villain, who has captured the hero or another sympathetic character, attempts to use an elaborate and usually sadistic method of murdering him/her....
. The first four traps each had a solution and Nightshade would escape back onto the streets of Metro City (minus some popularity points). The final one does not, and the player would have to start over from the beginning of the game. Additionally the game begins with Nightshade tied to a chair, next to which Sutekh has placed a small bomb. While technically not a deathtrap (the bomb, if not escaped on time, does not do lethal damage) this introduces the trap escape, problem solving element early on.
Soundtrack
- From Darkness Comes Nightshade! (Hero's Theme)
- Cancer, Eating Through the City's Heart (Underworld & Alleyways)
- Cast Iron Moustache (Lord Muck's League of Unreasonable Gentlemen's Turf)
- Ug the Human Steam-Shovel (Goliath's Thugs' Turf)
- Ashes of the Ancient Ninja Mistress, Kitchee-koo (Ninja Mistress' Turf)
- Adolescent Irradiated Samurai Rats (King Rat's Tat Men's Turf)
- The Claws of Sutekh (Sutekh's Speeches)
- 16-Ton Manglewurstle (Nightshade is Free!)
- Cloying Grasp of Evil, Inc. (Sutekh's Minions' Turf)
- Mark Gray is... Nightshade! (Nightshade Emblem)
- Captain Utterly-Invincible's Force Gloves (Scuffle)
- Absolute Bonified Legend Material Status! (Ending)
- Splork! (Game Over)