the cutting room mirror

Nightshade (NES)

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Nightshade is an action-adventure game where you control a detective (who fights) to put an end to crime in Metro City (and with Sutekh), unravel mysteries, collect clues, and more. The game's language is somewhat comic book-like, featuring superheroes, villains, and heroes, and makes several references throughout the story.

This game served as a spiritual predecessor to the SNES Shadowrun, which has the same developer and a similar point-and-click style.

Sub-Page#

Bugs

Unused Graphics#

There are a few unused graphics stored in the ROM data.

Items with a name in the ROM:

  • Doesn't that kill animals? COOKIE - It wasn’t designed to restore Nightshade’s health, but it can be used to feed rats, squirrels, and other animals.
  • They indeed do nothing. GOGGLES - Has no function if placed in the inventory. Looks similar to the goggles seen on the game's cover.
  • How cool. COMSET - Has no function if placed in the inventory. It seems to be something related to Communication Settings.

Items without a programmed name in the ROM (no way to access):

  • Lamp oil, rope, bombs, you want it? It's yours my friend, as long as you have enough rubies. A bomb. exists in the game, but they're all already armed and none of them can be picked up. Perhaps they planned it as a usable item and scrapped the idea later.
  • Doesn't LOOK like a snail, but whatever. A snail?
  • Hello. My name is folder. I can help you with all your daily computer needs. It looks like several file folders. Maybe it would be some collectible item in the newspaper archives.
  • Milk Eggs Cheese. They look like lists. The game has a list you can pick up and read, so maybe this was just a placeholder.
  • I am placing blocks and **** cause I'm in ******** Minecraft A pickaxe.
  • Idk Perhaps a discarded option in the settings?
  • We may never know what this rectangular shape may be. A book? A door? It looks like an open door. Maybe a discarded option in the settings?

Unused Text#

IT'S A SMALL BLUE KEY.

Probably would've been the key to open Sutekh's lair, as the gate is blue. The final game leaves the gate open, complete with the lock's latch exposed.

Unused Music#

Similar to the fight song, but with different instrumentation. Perhaps intended for the final boss.

Version Differences#

NES

Windows

pubnes1.pngpubnes2.png

The original release (and by extension the Nintendo Entertainment System - Nintendo Switch Online one) has a screen full of copyright info followed by a screen displaying the Ultra Games logo. The Windows release skips the first screen and replaces Ultra's logo with a rather generic one for Piko Interactive.