Shadow Caster

Game: Shadow Caster
Platform: PC
Release Year: 1993
Stephen's Rating: 8/10

Raven Software's Shadow Caster is a first person action adventure game. The game revolves around the mechanic of the player obtaining the ability to change shape into multiple forms. Each form has specific strengths and weaknesses which allow the player to progress through the game.

Basic Plot
You play as "Kirt", a shapeshifter who finds out he is not human and in fact from a parallel world. Your goal is to travel back to your homeworld, and seek out several obelisks which provide Kirt the ability to transform into new forms. The long term objective is to destroy the demons and free your homeworld.

Gameplay
Shadow Caster uses a pseudo 3D engine which sits somewhere between Wolfenstein 3D and Doom. The player traverses several environments and puzzles which require both the player to solve mental challenges and utilise the abilities of Kirt's different forms.

 Maorin form near the start of the game.

The different forms:

• Kirt: Human form. Weak in all aspects but can regenerate mana.
• Maorin - Large four armed cat creature which is fairly strong in battle but drowns quickly.
• Caun - Small hobbit like creature which can heal quickly, fit into small areas, jump high, and reach objects that are far away. Can also cast insect swarm.
• Opsis - A hovering eye with tentacles that can use spells effectively, such as fireballs and cold blasts. Moves very slowly in the air but is the first form to be able to fly.
• Kahpa - A decent fighter that can breathe underwater. Has a sonic and an electrical attack. Both are supposed to be extra powerful in water.
• Ssair - A hovering dragon with no legs with better attack (but weaker defense) than the Maorin. Can breathe fire and use its tail as a weapon. Very fast flier, and real Ssair, who are normally hostile, will ignore Kirt when he is in the form of one.
• Grost - The BFG-9000 of forms. Powerful, almost invulnerable, can punch through some walls and paralyse enemies.

 Grost form.

Positives
There is a somewhat lonely and mysterious ambience about the game which drew me in as a player. I often came up against challenges which took time and multiple tactics to solve.

There is nothing more satisfying than finding a new obelisk and unlocking a new form. Each form is usually more powerful than the one before (although each has strengths and weaknesses). For example, the tiny Caun has little in terms of combat abilities but he can fit through small spaces and regenerates health quickly.

Each form had its own experience system, meaning you could favour a particular form to improve its strength well beyond its natural state. This allows you to customise what forms you want to favour in the game and provides a unique playing experience.

Negatives
It has been a very long time since I played it. I do remember that the first time I played it I was too confused to get past the early stages of the game. Only after one of my friends got further did I get re-interested in trying to complete it.

Memorable Moments
Getting the Caun form for the first time was very exciting as I'd only ever gotten the Maorin after many days of play.

Feeling invulnerable as the Grost.