Cadash
| Industry | Video game development and publishing |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1953 |
| Headquarters | Japan |
Cadash (カダッシュ, Kadasshu) is an action RPG with platforming mechanics originally created and released by Taito in arcades in 1990. Ports followed for the TurboGrafx-16 in 1991 and the Sega Genesis in 1992. The game was later featured in Taito Memories Volume 2 for PlayStation 2 (2005) as well as the Xbox and Windows editions of Taito Legends 2 (2007). In August 2023, the original arcade edition was made available again on PlayStation 4 and Nintendo Switch through the Arcade Archives collection.
Plot
Set against a medieval fantasy backdrop evocative of epic tales like The Lord of the Rings, Cadash tells the story of Balrog, a demonic sorcerer born from a union between a human woman and a demon. From his subterranean realm beneath Cadash, Balrog orchestrates a rebellion aimed at conquering the human realms. After centuries of preparation, his armies emerge to ravage all kingdoms except Dirzir. In a bid to amplify his power through a magical ritual, Balrog abducts Princess Salassa from Dirzir’s capital city. King Dilsarl pledges his entire kingdom to anyone brave enough to infiltrate Castle Cadash and rescue her, prompting numerous adventurers to embark on this dangerous mission.
Gameplay
Cadash represents an early iteration of the "platform-RPG" hybrid genre that gained popularity in Japanese arcades during the early 1990s. It blends side-scrolling platform gameplay with RPG mechanics such as character stats, leveling, currency, and magic use.
The arcade release enables up to four players to participate simultaneously, whereas console versions support two players selecting from four distinct characters: fighter, mage, priestess, and ninja. Each character offers unique combat styles, attributes, and abilities. Progression involves defeating monsters and bosses, collecting keys to open locked doors, and accumulating gold and experience points. Villages serve as hubs where players can purchase items, weapons, armor, and extra lives (on console versions), with equipment quality improving as the game advances. Some NPCs provide valuable hints or information. The arcade edition features a time limit that can be extended by acquiring hourglasses or discovering rare bonuses. Both shops and secret areas stock medicinal herbs that restore 10 HP and antidotes that cure poison; two elixirs fully replenish health.
The game comprises five stages: stages one, two, and four each contain two distinct worlds (an aboveground and an underground section), stage three includes three worlds, while stage five is set entirely within Castle Cadash. The environments vary widely, ranging from lush meadows to dark caves and underwater zones. Enemy types include both mythological beings and original creations.
While all four characters are playable in the arcade and TurboGrafx-16 versions, the Sega Genesis port limits choices to only the fighter and mage. Character abilities differ notably among versions.
The arcade supports a four-player "link" mode by connecting two cabinets; however, this mode requires each participant to select a unique character and restricts characters on the same machine from moving off-screen simultaneously. Console editions provide a two-player cooperative mode.
Character details:
- Fighter: Sometimes referred to as "Toru" in manuals, this Conan-inspired warrior excels in strength and swordplay. He delivers powerful close-range attacks with high defense and agility when wielding certain weapons but lacks magical abilities. Initially vulnerable to ranged assaults, he can purchase shields that block projectiles. His combination of speed and melee power makes him formidable once engaged in close combat.
- Mage: The silver-haired royal sorcerer of Dirzir specializes in potent offensive spells but is physically fragile and slow-moving. He requires fewer experience points to level up rapidly and acquires new elemental spells over time. After obtaining the Wizard Staff, his mana regenerates more quickly, allowing spellcasting at half normal cost. Certain foes are resistant or immune to his magic, necessitating evasive maneuvers or melee fighting tactics. The mage is particularly effective at quickly dispatching bosses.
- Priestess: Ideal for novices due to her defensive healing magic that mitigates damage taken. She wields long-range weapons but attacks slowly, making her less effective against bosses compared to other characters. Her protective spell absorbs up to 32 damage points and prevents knockback effects. In the arcade version, she can extend playtime by 30 seconds in Japan or 60 seconds elsewhere. However, high inn costs in the Japanese release reduce her usefulness relative to overseas versions.
- Ninja: A master of ranged weaponry with superior agility and naturally high defense stats. He utilizes concealed projectiles like shurikens capable of instantly eliminating enemies on screen. His quick attack recovery time combined with fast-moving projectiles makes him highly efficient against both standard foes and bosses alike. Some weapons grant special effects such as spreading fire or piercing multiple targets. Although he requires more experience points to level up, he gains more status improvements per level and accumulates experience rapidly through swift enemy kills.
Ports
During the early 1990s, Cadash was adapted for the TurboGrafx-16 in 1991 and the Sega Genesis in 1992, with both versions eliminating the original arcade edition’s time constraint.
The TurboGrafx-16 (PC Engine) adaptation, localized by Working Designs, implemented adjustments to character attributes such as agility, defense, spell expenses, and inflicted damage to improve balance. Classes that were initially more difficult, including the fighter and mage, received enhancements to bring them closer in strength to the priestess. Hardware limitations necessitated dividing levels into separate rooms interconnected by doors, differing from the arcade's continuous level design. This iteration showcases more vivid visuals and restricts continues in solo play; however, in two-player mode, fallen teammates can be revived at inns.
The Sega Genesis version features only the fighter and mage classes and employs a darker color scheme alongside numerous gameplay modifications: the giant kelp boss was omitted, healing effects, enemy attack strength, and AI behavior were altered. Unique to this port is the ability for players to purchase elixirs that serve as extra lives.
The Japanese and American arcade releases are considerably more challenging than other editions. Players carry fewer herbs and antidotes, which come at a higher cost; lodging expenses rise sharply from 50 up to 30,000 gold after multiple stays (compared to a maximum of 5,000 gold overseas). The concealed Dragon Amulet grants only 10,000 gold instead of as much as 65,535. The priestess’s Recover Time spell extends playtime by just 30 seconds rather than a full minute. Boss characters possess substantially greater health pools, demanding more hits to be defeated.
Reception
In Japan, Game Machine ranked Cadash as the leading table arcade game unit in May 1990.
In North America, early 1990 reviews from RePlay magazine praised the arcade version of the game.
External links
- Articles with short description
- 1990 video games
- Action-adventure games
- Arcade video games
- Sega Genesis games
- Side-scrolling role-playing video games
- Taito arcade games
- TurboGrafx-16 games
- Video games about ninja
- Video games featuring female protagonists
- Virtual Console games
- Working Designs
- Video games developed in Japan
- Arcade Archives games