|
Castle on Exeter is a medieval first-person action game from the creator of the Operation Trondheim series mods for Return to Castle Wolfenstein and the shooters Lend Lease and Soldier of the Empire. The game is very rare in physical form, and only those who are interested in the "reverse side" of the Russian gaming industry are well aware of it. This was created by only five people. There is also a plot based on the events of the Hundred Years War. And a dozen interesting levels that we have to go through, shaking with medieval weapons. And finally, a beautiful 3D engine. You don'thave pistols, nor do you have machine guns - instead you pull the bowstring and strike with the sword. The main character, who makes his way into the castle in order to find a dungeon and take the mayor's seal from the prisoners in it, is armed with fists, three types of swords, a bow, a crossbow and even grenades with Greek fire. Of the melee weapons, the two-handed sword is the most effective, with which you can defeat any enemy with two hits. Unfortunately, all seven types of weapons are available at once, and therefore some (fists, light swords) will hardly be used, - why, when there are things that are more effective? The bow and crossbow have a common ammo for arrows, which are picked up from the hit enemies. The first level really begins as described in "Gambling addiction" - the main character literally falls (and can get injured right away!) In a clearing not far from the bridge over the moat that surrounds the castle. And the very first fight - five guards, and this is almost the most difficult battle in the entire game! At an easy difficulty level (and there is also a medium, difficult and nightmarish one), the hero dies after three enemy bow hits. Firstly, in order not to get an arrow in the knee or another part of the body, one must not stand like an idol, but move, - in the modern jargon of gamers, this is called "strafe"; secondly, the first-aid kits here are replaced by health regeneration, and therefore nothing prevents, being wounded, to hide in a shelter and bide the time. Of course there are places. It consists of a number of not very long levels that pass either in spacious courtyards between the fortress walls, or in the same and sometimes even more spacious halls of the castle. There is nothing particularly outstanding, but some places are beautiful and make you stay longer. a dining room and a stable full of horses (fortunately, there is no way to kill or injure animals) - and one day the player will encounter an intricate system of water wheels and sluices that clearly regulate the water filling the moat. the fact that these very premises are very often connected by small corridors with no lighting at all, where nothing can be seen, including the exit from them. The castle is filled with enemy shooters and knights. The first ones are the most dangerous, since they attack from a distance, besides, they are quite accurate, and the battle with several archers at once is the most difficult element of the gameplay, although it should not cause difficulties for any experienced player, except at the third and fourth levels of difficulty. The intelligence of the enemies leaves much to be desired, but it does not cause any particular bewilderment (unlike the first full-fledged game of the author - "Lend Lease"). There are ten missions, of which nine the player gets to the dungeon in a roundabout way, and during the last one goes back, only by a short way, so he returns to the very beginning for one level and ends the campaign there. At the beginning of the game and sometimes between missions, we are shown a drawn slide- show that tells the plot. |
