Cadaver

Colonel Kurtz 2021-02-28
(7/10)
I played the demo back in the day, but left the full game on the shelf for 30 years, and that's what killed it for me. Looking at it today it's still a solid game, but the flaws in both the action and puzzle-solving elements are hard to ignore.

The action is marred by the ambiguous controls (no 2-button standard → lots of accidental switching to the inventory instead of jumping), awkward weapon throwing (there would have been nothing wrong with a little auto-aiming), and the fact that Karadoc doesn't cast a shadow.

Puzzles are not always as logical as they're claimed to be: I've come across quite a few instances of levers you mustn't pull, objects you mustn't pick up with no hint to it, and undocumented cause-effect relationships. It's pretty easy to end up in a walking dead situation and not know it, if you so much as have used a spell/potion where it wasn't absolutely necessary.

It's not bad design in itself: more like a gameplay style that's deeply rooted in its predecessors from the 1980's, and to which the modern-day gamer is just no longer used. However, it just doesn't sit well with me to give it the 8/10 that the demo compelled me to.
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mailman 2015-12-22
(8/10)
A very good game. It seems to be like 16-bit equivalent of "Knight Lore". Hard to grasp at the beginning but when you get into its world it can absorb you utterly. Hundreds of objects to interact with, a lot of puzzles to solve. Truly great game but for sure not everyone will discover its beauty since it is aimed to a specific audience that loves the challenge and can't be bothered by rather high difficulty level.
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Ronnie_ASA 2014-02-12
As a child of the 80's I owned a ZX Spectrum and Ultimate games like Knight Lore so when I saw this game in my local shop that had that same 3D isometric style I bought it, especially after seeing favourable reviews for it in the various magazines.

My views on this game haven't changed from that first view till now, its superb. The graphics and sound may be simplistic but they suit the purpose perfectly whilst the various puzzles are logical and pitched at that point of being difficult without being frustratingly so.

I would happily recommend this wee gem of a game. 9/10
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mike_tyson 2012-05-17
Cadaver is action-adventure in isometric perpspective, done in a style similar to 8-bit classics such as Knight Lore or Pentagram by 'ULTIMATE Play The Game'. This genre was super-successful on 8-bit home computers, and there were many, many fantastic games by ULTIMATE and other companies done in that style. On the Amiga, there are only very few games in this genre, Cadaver being one of the best. You just won't find the magic of the earlier ULTIMATE games here: the graphics are good and done in typical Bitmap Brothers - style, the sound sucks, the gameplay is very oldschool and the interface feels unresponsive. A decent game, but not really worth revisiting. If you like this genre I really recommend checking out the old ULTIMATE classics on the 8-bit platform of your choice instead.
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mondoshawan 2012-02-26
(5/10)
Interesting game, but I was let down by the troublesome controls. Fire both jumps, throws/attacks, and pops you into a menu that pauses the game when near items. Spacebar pops up a menu for the last item grabbed or used in the enter menu. Enter brings up your inventory.

Sound-wise it reminded me more of an Atari 2600/5200 rather than an Amiga -- congratulations sounds were very monotimbral and monophonic and there is no music. The visuals are great for an OCS game, but like so many isometric games on the Amiga, there's no shadows for objects in the air, which means it's difficult to tell where those objects are in relation to anything else. Fortunately, the positioning of objects isn't too difficult to work out, but throwing things I found to be rather difficult at best, which means attacking and manipulating things was fiddly.
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MIK UK 2011-08-24
(5/10)
I could never get enough of Last Ninja so to see a full on RPG in the same style was cool, or so I thought...

The problem was that Dungeon Master had totally re-written the rule book on RPG Dungeon Crawling two years before this and Cadaver never stood a chance with me. Maybe I missed out, but I will be going to the grave knowing I had a good innings regardless of properly playing this.
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Dastardly 2010-10-31
(9/10)
Beautiful, atmospheric, frustrating, compelling, rewarding, memorable, classic! Cadaver is all of those things and so much more. Leave your trigger finger at the door and prepare yourself for a slower paced, head scratcher. The puzzles are difficult, but extremely satisfying when solved, and not impossible as some have claimed. Ascend, as Karadoc, from the sewers up the 5 floors of Castle Wulf and learn of it's characters, history and what awaits you at the battlements. Simply brilliant.
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Lord_Maletoth 2010-08-19
(8/10)
Cadaver has some of the best atmosphere ever. Dark medieval and esotheric references can't but make it one of my favourites. Still, I must recognize that its level of difficulty is excessive and, sometimes, demented. While you could reasonably complete the first level without a walkthru, the second is already impossible! Ending up walking around the same rooms without having the faintest idea about what to do turns frustrating after a while. Awesome Bitmap Bros graphic, of course!
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comiga 2010-02-07
(7/10)
This game anoys me... Because everything about it i like, love the GFX style (remind me of an isometric Chaos engine setting)... And the game and concept... But i have never had the time to actually sit down and play it seriously Even though, it has a very good impression on me and i hope to explore it fully some day soon
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nikki_sinn 2009-11-12
(6/10)
Tried to start playin' it but I left it quickly to dedicate my playing time with more shallow games hahaha...hey i was just 13
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RichardH 2009-10-29
An excellent adventure/rpg mix using the isometric perspective. Fantastic gfx and gameplay! You could spend hours on some puzzles, yet they're always logical, so it's not as hard as everybody claims it is imo.
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Shawn Dimery 2008-07-12
(10/10)
Ive never been so addicted or frustrated with a game in my life!
The level of difficulty within this game is INTENSE! And not recommended
for casual gamers, however for all us hardcore Amiga nuts its perfect!
The puzzles are very challenging but when you stick with the problem and keep running through it in your head it comes to you, and when it does the feelings great, but, and theres a big but! As soon as you seem to crawl out of one hole you immediatly fall into another! Very demanding but extremly rewarding.
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retro_maniac 2008-06-25
Iv'e got this game mainly because of the people who made it and the gfx i guess, but as it stands cant really give a verdict as i dont have the time to play it well but i like crap like this so its proberly good
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radioman970 2008-04-10
This didn't quite grab me. I loved the graphic detail but it was a little harder than I was used to. I really didn't know what to do half the time. Call it impatience to get further in the game or go play something else. I feel like I missed out by not trying harder with it.

A definite game to revisit in my more patient adulthood. The graphics still look friggin good! Those Bitmap guys knew a thing or 2 about appealing graphics.
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elend 2007-04-06
(8/10)
Oh that was a great game. Awesome graphics in true Bitmap Brothers style.
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Allefant 2006-07-16
(10/10)
I think this is my all time favourite Amiga game. I remember as kid, when I was sitting in school thinking about how to solve a Cadaver puzzle. And in some rooms, I made huge piles of stuff to reach ledges or climb over gates that way. Quite likely I even managed to circumvent one or two puzzles with that.
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Little Monkey Lost 2006-05-17
I had this game with some compilation I bought. I regret it that I gave up and did not play very far. Was I really that stupid. I think I've missed a wonderful experience now...
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Fizza 2005-07-27
(8/10)
I loved the graphics and very much wanted to play this more than I did but for the offputting difficulty.
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Zagrebo 2005-06-09
(9/10)
Absolutely loved this when I played it back in the day. Huge, absorbing and very atmospheric with beautiful graphics.
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raven 2005-04-14
(8/10)
This was isometric fun from the Bitmaps. Hard as hell, but fun.
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Predseda 2005-02-23
(7/10)
Excellent graphics, beautiful story, a lot of puzzles and... A difficulty from hell. That is Cadaver.
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