Shadow Caster
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by Raven Software and Origin

(This game came out in 1993.  It uses the same 3D technology (almost) as Ultima Underworld.  It is not copy-protected.)


To install, just copy all the contents of the 5 disks into one folder and run Install.exe. (Requires approx 14 MB).

To set up the sound, re-run Install.exe from the game folder.  (Has General Midi music together with Sound Blaster sound effects).


Game Controls:
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Use LEFT mouse button to move (arrows appear as in the old Ultima games) - hold it pressed to move.
Use RIGHT mouse button as the action button.
So, select the hand or foot or ability, and Right-click in the screen to use that ability or item.
You can also use the keyboard at the same time (arrows, space bar, F1-F8).
You can also fly, or dive underwater. To move up or down, click on the vertical bar on the right side of the view.  To dive click on the very bottom of the bar. To surface click on the very top.

If you're being pushed back while fighting, place the cursor at the top of the screen and keep the left mouse button pressed while hitting with the right button (so you're moving forward, pressing on your opponent).

The Blue bar is the Power bar.  The Red bar is the Health bar.  As you gain points (by killing monsters, etc...) your max power will increase (you get a message saying so).  Human form also gets a portion of the scores earned while in non-human form.

Your character can shapeshift. Click on one of the 6 shapes to shapeshift into it. Shapeshifting uses up some Power (blue), but you gain special abilities.
You can only automatically refill Power in human form.  You also heal automatically (slowly) in human form.  Click on the red or blue bar to see the exact level.

Touch (right-click) the obelisks with red gems on top to gain extra shapeshifting forms.

(Don't try to kill the monster in the beginning of the game: Run forward and turn left, touch the obelisk, shapeshift, select the paws then hit the monster with the right mouse button).

The little wand is a fireball wand with a limited number of charges. Save it.
The little red vial is a healing potion, with a limited number of uses.
Pick them up with the right mouse button when you are close enough to them.
To use most inventory objects, they must be in your hand.
Practice manipulating objects to/from inventory/hands with left and right buttons.

You can drop items too by holding them, placing the cursor at the bottom of the view then right-clicking.

There are 6 buttons at the bottom of the view (from left to right):
Options, Map, Left hand, Right hand + 2 ability icons (depend on your current shape).

To jump, select the UP arrow (first ability icon) and right-click. You can also jump while running.

Save often (you only have 4 slots), you must reload when you die.


Shapes Special Abilities:
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Each shape has a different max health points.  When you shapeshift, your % health points remain unchanged.

Kirt (Human):  Knows martial arts (hands, kick) and can jump. Abilities: Jump, Kick, Shapeshift.
When he runs out of power, he regains his human form.  Can regenerate Power and health in human form only.

Maorin:  Big wild cat (6-foot tall, 400 pounds, 6 hands, big damage, more health, runs faster). Abilities: Jump, Cat Sight (detect hidden symbols and traps). Weakness: drowns in water.

Caun:  Small fella with pointed ears.  Heals quickly (but has less health points).  Abilites: Jump, Heal (converts power into hit points).  Caun can create light, create a special shield which makes it difficult for enemies to locate or harm them.  Ability to reach out and grab things that are some distance away, including behind bars.  Can cause a number of insects to swarm over their enemies in a stinging cloud.  (Look in the shapeshift panel for the extra abilities).

Opsis:  Large, one-eyed floating orb with tentacles (like the Gaser in Ultima games).  Can throw cold blasts, cause enemy to flee in fear or move in slow motion.  Create missiles and fire them.  Can also kill foes outright. Can increase the revealed range in the auto-map.

Kahpa:  Froggie man.  Very tough. Good in hand-to-flipper combat, and can breathe underwater.  Can create an electric shock and a sonic attack (both do extra damage in water).

Ssair:  Floating mini-dragon.  Can take big damage, and inflict same.  Powerful tail attack, and can breathe fire.

Grost:  Stone giant.  Can punch through some stone walls.  Almost immune to physical attacks, and can survive in very hot temperatures.  Can stamp its feet to cause earthquakes, and can paralyze with a touch.


View window size:
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View of the world can be increased or decreased using the two "gems" left and right of the portrait.  Largest view is called Mega-mode. In Mega-mode, click on the portrait to switch between inventory view and other view.


Cursor shapes:
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Remind you what is currently selected:
- White arrow: nothing is selected
- Black/Red crosses: Hand is selected
- Orange/Black circles: An ability from the selection bar is selected (e.g. jump or kick)
- Glowing blue cross: An ability from under the inventory boxes is selected.


Score:
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Each shape (form) you take has its own score (gains the points you win while in that form). But the human form gains some points always from the other forms.  A form's power will increase depending on its score.  So if you play most of the time in one form, it will gain most score points and will become very powerful (while the other forms remain weak).  That is your choice to make.


Function Keys:
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F1: Options (also Pauses the game)
F2: Auto-map (also Pauses the game)
F3: Left hand
F4: Right Hand
F5: Ability 1
F6: Ability 2
F7: Sound Effects On/Off
F8: Music On/Off
F9-F12... ??
