NightCaster: Defeat the Darkness

Arran is the mage-like star of this Gauntlet-inspired action game. As a child living in the village of Perth, Arran comes across a mysterious orb that informs him of an impending evil. Known only as the Nightcaster, this fiend is slowly covering the world in darkness, and only Arran, along with the four magic essences he must acquire, can save humanity. Using the left analog stick to maneuver Arran, and the right to aim his blasts of magical energy, players must destroy swarms of beasts, demons, and the other vile creatures populating the realm. Like in the Xbox adventure title Azurik: Rise of Perathia, enemies in Nightcaster are borne of a particular element, which have strengths and weaknesses relative to particular elements. Ice beasts, to cite one such example, are particularly susceptible to fire-based spells.

Strewn throughout the game's levels are items that serve a range of purposes, the most important being the ability to grant Arran with new spells or upgrades to his existing ones. As is explained in the game, Arran's quest is a long and arduous one taking place over many years. As such he ages as the game progresses. In all, Arran will age through four significant periods: that of a child, young adult, middle-age man, and finally, an elder. His physical prowess decreases with age, but his magical ability and his arsenal of spells increases exponentially.

NPCs encountered by Arran will usually request that he perform a side-quest for them. The reward for completion of such a task is usually extra mana with which to cast spells, but can on occasion reveal a new, more powerful spell in either the Light, Dark, Water, or Fire elemental disciplines.