Software:NightCaster

From HandWiki

NightCaster: Defeat the Darkness is a 2002 third-person, single-player, action-adventure game for the Xbox, developed by VR1 Entertainment and published by Microsoft. Players take the role of Arran, a novice wizard whose magical power grows as he ages throughout his quest to collect spells and rid the world of eternal night. Following tepid pre-release coverage, NightCaster was released to mixed reviews. Reception of the game has remained mixed following release. A sequel, Software:NightCaster II: Equinox, was released in December 2002.

Gameplay

The player directly controls Arran from a third person perspective. Spells are aimed using the orb (who also is the guide character who provides narration and objectives). There are four classes of spells: fire, water, light, and dark. Creatures have varying degrees of vulnerability to each type of spell (a "dark" creature is more vulnerable to light spells). As the player progresses, Arran finds more spells, and can cast them at higher levels by charging them.[1]

Plot

The start of the story mode introduces the player to Arran, a young boy living in a small village. One day, Arran creeps into a forest whilst playing hide and seek with his friends, and stumbles upon a glowing floating orb. The orb informs him that he must go on a quest to defeat the evil 'Night Caster'. Arran is then placed in suspended animation (even though he still ages) by the orb, presumably so that he 'will be ready' to fight the Nightcaster.

Arran wakes up, having aged to around the mid-twenties, to find his world devastated by darkness and the legions of monsters under the reign of the Nightcaster spreading terror over the populace. Arran's parents are supposedly dead when Arran finds his home to be a smoldering wreckage, at which point the orb informs him that 'it is the Nightcaster['s doing]'. So he starts his quest facing many creatures and as he ages his spells are stronger, more effective and more expansive.

Development and release

NightCaster was developed by VR-1 Entertainment, a Boulder, Colorado based subsidiary of Pacific Century Cyber Works.[2] The game was the first console release for the studio, which had developed online games since 1998 including the Fighter Ace series.[3] Lead designer David Osbourne stated that the studio aimed to create a purely action-focused design "in the heritage [of] the traditional shooter".[4] NightCaster featured the first use of the Tesla game engine created by the developer.[5] Publisher Microsoft announced the game on 13 March 2001,[6][7] coinciding with the presentation of the game at Gamestock,[8] an industry convention displaying games in the publisher's lineup,[9] although the game was not included as part of the event's main presentation and received less attention than other titles.[10][11] The game was also showcased at the Microsoft booth at E3 in May 2001.[12] The game was the last release by VR-1 Entertainment, who were merged by PCCW into a new company, Jaleco Entertainment, in October 2002.[13]

Reception

Reception
Aggregate score
AggregatorScore
Metacritic61/100[14]
Review scores
PublicationScore
AllGameStarStar[15]
Edge3/10[16]
EGM4/10[17]
Game Informer5.5/10[18]
GameProStarStarStarHalf star[19]
GameRevolutionB−[20]
GameSpot6.8/10[21]
GameSpy63%[22]
GameZone7/10[23]
IGN7.3/10[24]
OXM (US)4.9/10[25]

Pre-release

Prior to release, press expectations for NightCaster were tempered. Hyper expressed that it at first appeared in previews "to be nothing more than a very generic fantasy game",[26] raising concerns that the game "doesn't seem to really offer anything new".[4] Electronic Gaming Monthly similarly expected "hack-and-slash gameplay in your run-of-the-mill fantasy role-playing world".[27] Reflecting the game was from an "unknown" developer, GameSpot stated that it "is not the Xbox's killer app, but doesn't have any designs to be either".[28] Similarly, XBM qualified "this may not offer the depth of some RPG games but then this isn't what NightCaster is all about", hoping its role-playing elements would prevent the game from "becoming too monotonous".[29] Several compared the game to the announced Xbox title Software:Azurik: Rise of Perathia,[30][31][32] with Game Informer and IGN describing the game as the "other action-adventure game" slated for the console.[7][10] However, some expressed that the game could fill an action-roleplaying niche in the console's launch,[33][34] although others implied the game would not be a compelling draw.[35]

Reviews

Upon release, NightCaster received "mixed" reviews according to review aggregation website Metacritic.[14][36][26][37][38]

Retrospective

Retrospective reception of NightCaster has been mixed, with many sources commenting that the game was an example of the weak Xbox launch lineup and action-adventure catalog.[39][40][41][42] Several critics restated mixed opinions about the game upon release of its sequel.[43] Xbox Nation stated the game had "ambitious RPG posturing" but was "noting more than a glorified shoot-em-up", considering the sequel repeated the same errors as the debut.[44] However, Play considered that NightCaster was a "gorgeous, addicting action game" that received a "raw deal in the press".[45] Later reviews shared similarly mixed assessments. IGN praised the game's "unique" story, "dark and ominous" tone and "interesting" combat, but expressed the game was a "little too linear" and its characters needed "more personality".[46] GamePro discussed that the game was an example of the overuse of classical elements as a fantasy trope.[47] Games Asylum considered that whilst the game was "designed to fill the role of being the Xbox's launch-day RPG", the game had more in common with Gauntlet and other western role-playing games and was poorly received.[48][49] TheGamer viewed the game "had a lot of potential", highlighting its "huge selection of spells" but failed to stand out due to being "quite short and simple in terms of level design and gameplay mechanics".[50]

References

  1. ↑ Young, Jason (2004). NightCaster: Prima's Official Strategy Guide. Prima Games. ISBN 0-7615-3742-2. https://archive.org/details/nightcasterprimas-official-xbox-strategy-guide-2004/page/n1/mode/2up?q=%22nightcaster%22. 
  2. ↑ Ahmed, Shahed (12 July 2001). "New media: Nightcaster: See new screenshots from Nightcaster for the Microsoft Xbox". GameSpot. https://www.gamespot.com/articles/new-media-nightcaster/1100-2784678/. 
  3. ↑ "About Us". Archived from the original on 4 October 2002. https://web.archive.org/web/20021004123831/http://www.vr1.com/about_us/index.html. 
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 "NightCaster". Hyper (92): 39. June 2001. https://archive.org/details/hyper-092. 
  5. ↑ IGN Staff (29 November 2001). "Lost Continents Announced: Pulp and cirumstance are the key in this intriguing title from VR1". IGN. https://www.ign.com/articles/2001/11/29/lost-continents-announced. 
  6. ↑ Gamespot Staff (13 March 2001). "Gamestock 2001: First look: Nightcaster: Check out the first screenshots of and information for the first fantasy adventure game for the Xbox". GameSpot. https://www.gamespot.com/articles/gamestock-2001-first-look-nightcaster/1100-2696004/. 
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 IGN Staff (14 March 2001). "Xbox Action-RPG Arrives: This ain't your typical Zelda-clone. Nightcaster screens inside". IGN. https://www.ign.com/articles/2001/03/14/xbox-action-rpg-arrives. 
  8. ↑ IGN Staff (20 March 2001). "A Gamestock Retrospective: Aside from free t-shirts, see what the idea editors of IGN Xbox took away from Microsoft's big show". IGN. https://www.ign.com/articles/2001/03/20/a-gamestock-retrospective. 
  9. ↑ Microsoft Source (13 March 2001). "World's Top Game Artists Showcase Creative Talents At Microsoft Gamestock 2001". Redmond, Washington: Microsoft. https://news.microsoft.com/source/2001/03/13/worlds-top-game-artists-showcase-creative-talents-at-microsoft-gamestock-2001/. 
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 "Test Drive: NightCatster". Game Informer (97): 29. May 2001. https://archive.org/details/game-informer-issue-97-may-2001/page/28/mode/2up?q=%22nightcaster%22. 
  11. ↑ IGN Staff (4 December 2001). "Nightcaster: A bevy of brand new screenshots of this intriguing game can be seen now". IGN. https://www.ign.com/articles/2001/12/04/nightcaster-2. 
  12. ↑ IGN Staff (2 June 2001). "Post E3: Microsoft: We head into the very green Microsoft booth to bring you a list of what they were showing". IGN. https://www.ign.com/articles/2001/06/02/post-e3-microsoft. 
  13. ↑ GNN Reporter (2 October 2002). "VR1 officially changes its name to Jaleco". GNN. https://gnn.gamer.com.tw/detail.php?sn=5970. 
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 "Nightcaster for Xbox Reviews". https://www.metacritic.com/game/nightcaster-defeat-the-darkness/critic-reviews/?platform=xbox. Retrieved July 7, 2013. 
  15. ↑ Marriott, Scott Alan. "NightCaster: Defeat the Darkness - Review". AllGame. Archived from the original on November 15, 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20141115012933/http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=33538&tab=review. Retrieved July 9, 2017. 
  16. ↑ Edge staff (April 2002). "NightCaster: Defeat the Darkness". Edge (109). 
  17. ↑ "NightCaster". Electronic Gaming Monthly (152): 144. March 2002. https://archive.org/details/electronic-gaming-monthly-issue-152-march-2002/page/144/mode/2up. 
  18. ↑ Leeper, Justin (February 2002). "NightCaster". Game Informer (106): 90. http://www.gameinformer.com:80/Games/Review/200202/R03.0801.1454.39772.htm. Retrieved July 9, 2017. 
  19. ↑ Dunjin Master (December 28, 2001). "Nightcaster Review for Xbox on GamePro.com". GamePro. Archived from the original on February 7, 2005. https://web.archive.org/web/20050207120847/http://gamepro.com/microsoft/xbox/games/reviews/19421.shtml. Retrieved July 9, 2017. 
  20. ↑ Sanders, Shawn (February 2002). "Nightcaster: Defeat the Darkness Review". Game Revolution. Archived from the original on February 11, 2004. https://web.archive.org/web/20040211051025/http://www.game-revolution.com/games/xbox/action/nightcaster.htm. Retrieved July 9, 2017. 
  21. ↑ Tracy, Tim (February 6, 2002). "Nightcaster Review". https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/nightcaster-review/1900-2845971/. Retrieved July 9, 2017. 
  22. ↑ Chick, Tom (February 24, 2002). "Nightcaster". GameSpy. Archived from the original on June 29, 2004. https://web.archive.org/web/20040629045434/http://archive.gamespy.com/reviews/february02/nightcasterxbox/. Retrieved July 9, 2017. 
  23. ↑ The Badger (February 18, 2002). "Nightcaster Review". GameZone. Archived from the original on October 1, 2007. https://web.archive.org/web/20071001131919/http://xbox.gamezone.com/gzreviews/r18367.htm. Retrieved July 9, 2017. 
  24. ↑ Lopez, Vincent (December 14, 2001). "Nightcaster". http://www.ign.com/articles/2001/12/15/nightcaster. Retrieved July 9, 2017. 
  25. ↑ "NightCaster". Official Xbox Magazine: 76. March 2002. 
  26. ↑ 26.0 26.1 Dry, Frank (August 2002). "Nightcaster". Hyper (106): 66. https://archive.org/details/hyper-106/page/66. 
  27. ↑ "NightCaster". Electronic Gaming Monthly (149): 184. December 2001. https://archive.org/details/electronic-gaming-monthly-issue-149-december-2001_202208/page/n187. 
  28. ↑ Kirchgasler, Chris (24 April 2001). "Nightcaster Preview". GameSpot. https://www.gamespot.com/articles/nightcaster-preview/1100-2711986/. 
  29. ↑ "NightCaster: The Age-Old Battle of Light and Dark Rests on Your Shoulders". XBM (2): 64–5. January 2002. https://archive.org/details/xbm-issue-02/page/n63. 
  30. ↑ "Gamestock Report". PC PowerPlay (61): 16. June 2001. https://archive.org/details/PCPowerplay-061-2001-06/page/n15. "Action-adventures Azurik and Nightcaster seemed traditional console far - pretty but derivative.". 
  31. ↑ Gerstmann, Jeff (14 March 2001). "Gamestock 2001: Hands-on Nightcaster". GameSpot. https://www.gamespot.com/articles/gamestock-2001-hands-onnightcaster/1100-2696108/. 
  32. ↑ Bauman, Steve (June 2001). "The Mainstreaming of Microsoft". Computer Games (127): 25. https://archive.org/details/computer-games-issue-127-june-2001. "Nightcaster is superficially similar to Azurik - they're both fantasy-themed third-person action/adventure kinds of things...". 
  33. ↑ "Nightcaster". Electronic Gaming Monthly (148): 116. November 2001. https://archive.org/details/electronic-gaming-monthly-issue-148-november-2001_202204/page/n129. "Microsoft's action RPG will attempt to fill the role-playing niche in the system's embryonic library...". 
  34. ↑ IGN Staff (5 December 2001). "Hands On: Nightcaster". IGN. https://www.ign.com/articles/2001/12/05/hands-on-nightcaster. 
  35. ↑ Kent, Steven (September 2001). "Has Xbox Gone Sour?". Next Generation (81): 9. https://archive.org/details/next-generation-24-dec-1996/NextGen%2081%20Sep%202001. "[Microsoft] did not show well against the competition's killer apps, and would gamers choose Xbox on the strength of NightCaster?". 
  36. ↑ Wolfs, Matt (June 2002). "NightCaster". Official Australian Xbox Magazine (3): 83. https://archive.org/details/official-australian-xbox-magazine-issue-03-june-2002/page/n81/mode/2up?q=%22nightcaster%22. 
  37. ↑ Halverson, Dave (April 2004). "NightCaster". Play (4): 62. https://archive.org/details/Play_Issue_004_2002_04_Fusion_Publishing_US. 
  38. ↑ Curley, Dan (April 2002). "NightCaster". XGamer (2): 92. 
  39. ↑ Frankle, Gavin (11 April 2002). "Cubism Vol. 3". https://www.ign.com/articles/2002/04/11/cubism-vol-3. Retrieved 31 August 2025. ""Every game released on the system looks wonderful and plays well, too." Ahem. Perhaps someone has yet to play [NightCaster] ... Granted, the GameCube has Universal studios to drag it down into the mire, but at least that's third party software, unlike [NightCaster]."" 
  40. ↑ Holkins, Jerry; Krahulik, Mike (2006). Penny Arcade: Epic Legends of the Magic Sword. Dark Horse Books. pp. 12. https://archive.org/details/pennyarcadevol2e0000holk/page/4. "When you launch a console with games like Azurik and NightCaster, anger and frustration are generated quite naturally." 
  41. ↑ Wilcox, Greg (2002). "Blood Omen 2". Foul: Videogame Subculture 1 (8): 20. https://archive.org/details/RetroGameMagazineOneShots/Foul%20Videogame%20Subculture%2008%20%282001%29%20Violence%20Takes%20Over/mode/2up?q=%22nightcaster%22. "There are very few good action based adventure games on the Xbox...Nightcaster? Uh, no.". 
  42. ↑ Reed, Kristan (30 April 2003). "Kung Fu Chaos review: Kristan would like the city chicken". Eurogamer. https://www.eurogamer.net/r-kungfuchaos-x. "With Microsoft published titles of the era falling into two distinct categories: Genius - Halo, Gotham; and Rubbish - Azurik, Nightcaster..." 
  43. ↑ "NightCaster II: Equinox". Game Informer (118): 105. February 2003. https://archive.org/details/game-informer-issue-118-february-2003/page/104. 
  44. ↑ Chou, Che (February 2003). "NightCaster II: Equinox". Xbox Nation (6). https://archive.org/details/xbn-006-february-march-2003/page/84. 
  45. ↑ Halverson, Dave (March 2003). "NightCaster 2". Play (15): 65. https://archive.org/details/UneditedPLAY_marktrade/PLAY_15u/page/n65. 
  46. ↑ Smith, Josh (17 March 2015). "Xbox Franchises We Want to See Resurrected: From Battletoads to Brute Force, here are the series that we'd love to see on the Xbox One". IGN. https://www.ign.com/articles/2015/03/17/xbox-franchises-we-want-to-see-resurrected. 
  47. ↑ "Elementary, As Always". GamePro (185): 38. February 2004. https://archive.org/details/GamePro_Issue_185_February_2004. 
  48. ↑ Gander, Matt (21 August 2012). "The forgotten heroes of Xbox". GamesAsylum. https://www.gamesasylum.com/2012/08/21/the-forgotten-heroes-of-xbox/. 
  49. ↑ Gander, Matt (22 November 2013). "Xbox launch games – the good, the bad and Blood Wake". GamesAsylum. https://www.gamesasylum.com/2013/11/22/the-xboxs-launch-games/. 
  50. ↑ Littlechild, Chris (23 October 2020). "10 Xbox Flops That Should Have Been Hits". TheGamer. https://www.thegamer.com/xbox-flops-should-been-hits/. 
  • MobyGames is a commercial database website that catalogs information on video games and the people and companies behind them via crowdsourcing. This includes over 300,000 games for hundreds of platforms.[1] Founded in 1999, ownership of the site has changed hands several times. It has been owned by Atari SA since 2022.

Features

Edits and submissions to the site (including screenshots, box art, developer information, game summaries, and more) go through a verification process of fact-checking by volunteer "approvers".[2] This approval process after submission can range from minutes to days or months.[3] The most commonly used sources are the video game's website, packaging, and credit screens. There is a published standard for game information and copy-editing.[4] A ranking system allows users to earn points for contributing accurate information.[5]

Registered users can rate and review games. Users can create private or public "have" and "want" lists, which can generate a list of games available for trade with other registered users. The site contains an integrated forum. Each listed game can have its own sub-forum.

History

Logo used until March 2014

MobyGames was founded on March 1, 1999, by Jim Leonard and Brian Hirt, and joined by David Berk 18 months later, the three of which had been friends since high school.[6][7] Leonard had the idea of sharing information about computer games with a larger audience. The database began with information about games for IBM PC compatibles, relying on the founders' personal collections. Eventually, the site was opened up to allow general users to contribute information.[5] In a 2003 interview, Berk emphasized MobyGames' dedication to taking video games more seriously than broader society and to preserving games for their important cultural influence.[5]

In mid-2010, MobyGames was purchased by GameFly for an undisclosed amount.[8] This was announced to the community post factum , and the site's interface was given an unpopular redesign.[7] A few major contributors left, refusing to do volunteer work for a commercial website.{{Citation needed|date=June 2025} On December 18, 2013, MobyGames was acquired by Jeremiah Freyholtz, owner of Blue Flame Labs (a San Francisco-based game and web development company) and VGBoxArt (a site for fan-made video game box art).[9] Blue Flame Labs reverted MobyGames' interface to its pre-overhaul look and feel,[10] and for the next eight years, the site was run by Freyholtz and Independent Games Festival organizer Simon Carless.[7]

On November 24, 2021, Atari SA announced a potential deal with Blue Flame Labs to purchase MobyGames for $1.5 million.[11] The purchase was completed on 8 March 2022, with Freyholtz remaining as general manager.[12][13][14] Over the next year, the financial boost given by Atari led to a rework of the site being built from scratch with a new backend codebase, as well as updates improving the mobile and desktop user interface.[1] This was accomplished by investing in full-time development of the site instead of its previously part-time development.[15]

In 2024, MobyGames began offering a paid "Pro" membership option for the site to generate additional revenue.[16] Previously, the site had generated income exclusively through banner ads and (from March 2014 onward) a small number of patrons via the Patreon website.[17]

On February 13, 2025, Freyholtz stepped down as the site lead to move onto new projects, leaving operations to Tracy Poff, a veteran coder on the site, and Atari staff.[18]

See also

  • IGDB – game database used by Twitch for its search and discovery functions

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Sheehan, Gavin (2023-02-22). "Atari Relaunches The Fully Rebuilt & Optimized MobyGames Website". https://bleedingcool.com/games/atari-relaunches-the-fully-rebuilt-optimized-mobygames-website/. 
  2. ↑ Litchfield, Ted (2021-11-26). "Zombie company Atari to devour MobyGames". https://www.pcgamer.com/zombie-company-atari-to-devour-mobygames/. 
  3. ↑ "MobyGames FAQ: Emails Answered § When will my submission be approved?". Blue Flame Labs. 30 March 2014. http://www.mobygames.com/info/faq7#g1. 
  4. ↑ "The MobyGames Standards and Practices". Blue Flame Labs. 6 January 2016. http://www.mobygames.com/info/standards. 
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Miller, Stanley A. (2003-04-22). "People's choice awards honor favorite Web sites". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. 
  6. ↑ "20 Years of MobyGames" (in en). 2019-02-28. https://trixter.oldskool.org/2019/02/28/20-years-of-mobygames/. 
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 Plunkett, Luke (2022-03-10). "Atari Buys MobyGames For $1.5 Million". https://kotaku.com/mobygames-retro-credits-database-imdb-atari-freyholtz-b-1848638521. 
  8. ↑ "Report: MobyGames Acquired By GameFly Media". Gamasutra. 2011-02-07. https://www.gamedeveloper.com/game-platforms/report-mobygames-acquired-by-gamefly-media. 
  9. ↑ Corriea, Alexa Ray (December 31, 2013). "MobyGames purchased from GameFly, improvements planned". http://www.polygon.com/2013/12/31/5261414/mobygames-purchased-from-gamefly-improvements-planned. 
  10. ↑ Wawro, Alex (31 December 2013). "Game dev database MobyGames getting some TLC under new owner". Gamasutra. https://www.gamedeveloper.com/business/game-dev-database-mobygames-getting-some-tlc-under-new-owner. 
  11. ↑ "Atari invests in Anstream, may buy MobyGames". November 24, 2021. https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2021-11-24-atari-invests-in-anstream-may-buy-mobygames. 
  12. ↑ Rousseau, Jeffrey (2022-03-09). "Atari purchases Moby Games". https://www.gamesindustry.biz/atari-purchases-moby-games. 
  13. ↑ "Atari Completes MobyGames Acquisition, Details Plans for the Site's Continued Support". March 8, 2022. https://www.atari.com/atari-completes-mobygames-acquisition-details-plans-for-the-sites-continued-support/. 
  14. ↑ "Atari has acquired game database MobyGames for $1.5 million" (in en-GB). 2022-03-09. https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/atari-has-acquired-game-database-mobygames-for-1-5-million/. 
  15. ↑ Stanton, Rich (2022-03-10). "Atari buys videogame database MobyGames for $1.5 million". https://www.pcgamer.com/atari-buys-videogame-database-mobygames-for-dollar15-million/. 
  16. ↑ Harris, John (2024-03-09). "MobyGames Offering “Pro” Membership". https://setsideb.com/mobygames-offering-pro-membership/. 
  17. ↑ "MobyGames on Patreon". http://www.patreon.com/mobygames. 
  18. ↑ "An update on MobyGames leadership". 2025-02-13. https://www.mobygames.com/forum/3/thread/269628/an-update-on-mobygames-leadership/#post-269628. 
  • No URL found. Please specify a URL here or add one to Wikidata.




Retrieved from "https://handwiki.org/wiki/index.php?title=Software:NightCaster&oldid=4221537"