Software:Shadowgate 64: Trials of the Four Towers

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Short description: 1999 video game
Shadowgate 64
North American box art
Developer(s)TNS Co., Ltd.
Infinite Ventures
Publisher(s)Kemco
Composer(s)Saori Kobayashi
Kennosuke Suemura
Platform(s)Nintendo 64
Release
  • NA: June 9, 1999[1]
  • UK: July 30, 1999
Genre(s)Adventure
Mode(s)Single-player

Shadowgate 64: Trials of the Four Towers, also known simply as Shadowgate 64, is a 1999 adventure game developed by TNS Co., Ltd. and Infinite Ventures and published by Kemco for Nintendo 64. It is a sequel to the original Shadowgate.

Gameplay

A screenshot of Shadowgate 64: Trials of the Four Towers gameplay.

Shadowgate 64 has the same first-person view of the first game, though this time the static screens of the original were replaced by full 3D roaming similar to that of first-person shooters. Despite the graphical changes, the core game is similar: the game relies mostly on solving puzzles and riddles rather than fighting enemies. The warden and dwarf-like guards are the only enemies to be found, and they have to be avoided. There are many instances in which Del can die, such as a fall from a moderate height or dropping into deep water. The player must find ways around everything through interaction with the environment.

Unlike the extensive menu-based actions of the first game, Shadowgate 64 simplifies most of these actions down to two buttons: one acts as a generic action command, while the other serves to use items.

Plot

The game takes place centuries after the first Shadowgate where Lord Jair defeated Warlock, and claimed his position to the throne. However, as the time passed the kingdom started rotting into a gathering for thieves, bandits and other evil beings. The player takes the role of the mostly unseen Del Cottonwood, a halfling who traveled in a caravan but was imprisoned by the bandits when crossing Shadowgate while his traveling partners were murdered.

While in prison, Del finds a way to break free and embark on a quest that takes him through the Four Towers. Each one contains a different task Del must complete to proceed. Del utilizes books and the help of ghosts of deceased town members to learn the story of Shadowgate. Between his trials of the towers, Del explores the bleak and desolate castle town. Doing odd-jobs for the few villagers left, Del gains access to other towers and new areas; he even is offered a way out of the castle walls, but declines.

Eventually, Del learns from Lakmir that Belzar, one of Lakmir's students, is trying to resurrect the Warlock Lord. Belzar believes he has found the legendary Staff of Ages, but what he has found is in fact the uncontrollable Staff of Thunder. Through the trial of the four towers, Del manages to get his hands on the real Staff of Ages, and uses a Dragon's Eye to activate the Staff of Thunder in an attempt to foil the Warlock Lord's resurrection. The plan is only partly successful, killing Belzar and destroying most of Shadowgate, but the evil sorcerer is still revived. Using the Staff of Ages, Del is able to invoke Jair's spirit to strike the final blow to the evil sorcerer and destroy him once and for all. Afterwards, Del is whisked away on a dragon's back towards new adventures.

Development

The game was designed by Infinite Ventures and the original NES development team.[2]

Reception

Reception
Aggregate score
AggregatorScore
GameRankings61%[3]
Review scores
PublicationScore
GameSpot4.6/10[4]
IGN6.2/10[5]
N64 Magazine43%[6]
Next GenerationStarStar[7]

Shadowgate 64 received mixed reviews from critics.[3] N64 Magazine called the game very dull and frustrating because it has many instances of instant death situations, but still praised its atmosphere.[6] Next Generation stated: "Nothing especially wrong here, but nothing you haven't seen done before (and better)".[7]

Legacy

Shadowgate Rising was an adventure game developed by Infinite Ventures for the Nintendo 64 but was never released.[8] Originally intended to be a sequel to Shadowgate 64: Trials of the Four Towers, the project was abandoned because the Nintendo 64 was soon to be replaced by the GameCube.

References

  1. ↑ "Shadowgate 64". http://ign64.ign.com/objects/003/003871.html. 
  2. ↑ Gerstmann, Jeff (May 13, 1998). "Shadowgate Lives Again". Archived from the original on October 15, 2000. https://web.archive.org/web/20001015091625/http://headline.gamespot.com/news/98_05/13_shadow/index.html. Retrieved November 14, 2022. 
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 "Shadowgate 64: Trials of the Four Towers". Archived from the original on May 12, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190512164356/https://www.gamerankings.com/n64/198608-shadowgate-64-trials-of-the-four-towers/index.html. Retrieved August 18, 2019. 
  4. ↑ Mac Donald, Ryan (June 24, 1999). "Shadowgate 64". Archived from the original on February 11, 2007. https://web.archive.org/web/20070211093238/http://www.gamespot.com/n64/adventure/shadowgate64trialoftft/review.html. Retrieved February 11, 2007. 
  5. ↑ Boulding, Aaron (June 9, 1999). "Shadowgate 64: Trials of the Four Towers". Archived from the original on September 5, 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140905021614/https://www.ign.com/articles/1999/06/10/shadowgate-64-trials-of-the-four-towers. Retrieved September 5, 2014. 
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 Bickham, Jes (August 1999). "Shadowgate 64". N64 Magazine (Future Publishing) (31): 76. 
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 Trueman, Doug (October 1999). "Shadowgate 64: Trials of the Four Towers". Next Generation (Imagine Media) (58): 109. 
  8. ↑ "Even More Shadows". January 7, 1999. https://www.ign.com/articles/1999/01/07/even-more-shadows. 
  • 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 lengthy 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]

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. 
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