Shades

Shades is a video game in the action genre and published by Durell Software Ltd. originally released in 1985. It is currently playable on Commodore 64.

A curse has fallen on the island of Arulan called Shades and causes people to disappear and reappear elsewhere. What brought the curse also brought monsters and traps that make the island a dangerous place. You embody a hero determined to discover the truth and rid the island of the curse, monsters and traps, and return the island to the enchanting place it used to be. You can attempt this quest alone or you can allow three other players to attempt it as well, each taking turns at various points. There are also three skill levels to choose from.

Shades is an arcade adventure in which each screen is viewed from a high angle as you explore the island. You are armed with a sword (later you can find a crossbow) and as you move around the island you can encounter many monsters that you can avoid, fight or beg, but if the begging fails, you can either fight or run away. On each screen there are many traps and you can search for them by pressing T, but be careful because if there are many traps they won't all be revealed at first. Secret doors can also be searched by pressing E and are an important part of completing your quest. Fighting or getting hurt in traps decreases the Fitness bar but if you can avoid battles it can slowly increase if it is in the green section. Once the bar is empty, the game is over for that player.

Scattered around the island are chests containing various items to aid you in your quest. You can carry up to eight items and any item you carry can be dropped or used in various places to aid you in your quest. Items cannot be dropped on the stairs or on Los Moros, as the wind will blow them away. Picking up items or fighting monsters increases your experience and is used as a high score at the end of the game. While exploring the island, the curse Shades can hit you and transport you to a previous place you have visited. Once all players are dead, the game ends.

It is possible that we have multiple downloads available when different versions exist.