1987 · Silicon Beach Software · Adventure · Arcade

Beyond Dark Castle

Beyond Dark Castle is a classic platformer for the Macintosh. The game puts the player in the role of Prince Duncan who, once again, must defeat the evil Black Knight through a series of challenges leading up to the final showdown with the Black Knight himself.

Released: 1987
Platforms: Apple IIGS Commodore 64 macOS
Genres: Adventure Arcade Platformer
Developers: Silicon Beach Software
Publishers: Silicon Beach Software
Modes: Single-player
Perspective: Side view
Themes: Action Fantasy
Country: United States

About

Beyond Dark Castle is a computer game, released for Macintosh in 1987 by Silicon Beach Software. It was designed by Mark Stephen 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.

Activision published ports for the Commodore 64 and the Amiga.

›Story

This sequel to Dark Castle has our formerly nameless hero now known as Prince Duncan continuing his adventures after he toppled the Black Knight's throne and was dropped by a gargoyle in Trouble 3. With Merlin's help, Prince Duncan finds his way behind the Black Knight's throne where there is a fireplace and mantle. At the start of each new game, Duncan tries to take a torch on the wall beside the fireplace, and the entire wall spins around to reveal a large Ante Room containing 5 pedestals for holding orbs. Your mission is to collect all 5 orbs to open a gate to lead you to a final duel with The Black Knight.

Keywords

helicopter
side-scrolling
snake
high score
bats
boss fight
randomly generated dungeons
wasd movement
save point
moving platforms

Media

The articlegameplay, story, development, reception

Gameplay

Beyond Dark Castle is much more difficult than 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 Castle, 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.

Reception

Computer Gaming World said that Beyond Dark Castle was superior to its predecessor, approving of the new save and practice options. While very successful—ranking in the top five on Macworld list of bestselling Macintosh entertainment software 21 times—it was Silicon Beach's last game, as productivity software like SuperPaint was much more lucrative.