Cadaver
Originally released in 1990, Cadaver was a change of direction for
the Bitmap Brothers.
An isometric puzzle game set in a fantasy
medieval world, Cadaver casts you as Karadoc the dwarf who must visit
the hundreds of rooms while ascending the five levels of Castle Wulf.
Starting in the depths of the castle, Karadoc must solve puzzles,
kill assorted enemies, avoid deadly traps and collect the items
necessary for his exit from the current level and progress up to the
next floor of the castle.
The puzzles range from simply taking item A to point B, to disarming
booby trapped treasure chests. Completion of the levels is never
easy and Cadaver WILL cause you some frustration, but this was never
meant to be a game for the impatient or the trigger happy. There are
enemy creatures to be killed however, but the emphasis is really on
thinking your way through.
The graphics are always gorgeous, from the dank depths of the first
floor to the splendour of the Royal living areas of the upper levels.
The quality of the visuals doesnt drop for a second and the game is
always a treat visually.
There is no in game music in Cadaver, but the sound effects are
nice and clear and serve their purpose well.
The interface is also very intuative using a combination of joystick
and keyboard. Inventory space is limited but this rarely becomes a
problem and if the problem does arise then dropping an item in a room
for retrieval later is easily done.
Cadaver is not a game that will suit everyone. If you like your games
fast and furious then I suggest you look elsewhere (other Bitmap
Brothers games). If however you like a serious mental challenge and
have bags of patience, then Cadaver is a hugely enjoyable game that
should definitely not be missed.