This sequel to The Cabinets of Doctor Arcana picks up on Halloween night, right where the first game leaves off. Doctor Arcana's second adventure takes the new Arcanum initiate to a legendary island to investigate the crypts and halls of an ancient castle known as Shadowspire, where new puzzling challenges await and dark secrets are guarded by deadly traps. Can you complete the Trials of the Elders?
The new game includes over 50 perplexing puzzles, mind-bending mazes, and confounding conundrums. Added features to help players as they embark upon this dark quest include an in-game Walkthru and new Mapping feature. The Art Gallery features dozens of eerie works of art by Joseph Vargo. Once again, Doctor Arcana will be ever-present to watch over players and lend his "guidance" when needed. As with the first game, Shadowspire features a haunting soundtrack by Nox Arcana.
System Requirements
OS: Windows 10, 11 (only)
Processor: 1.5 GHz
Memory: 4 GB RAM
Graphics: 2 GB Open GL 2.1, GLSL 1.2
Storage: 1 GB available space
Sound Card: 16 bit, 44.1 KHz, 2 Channel
Other: Keyboard, mouse, speakers
The Cabinets of Doctor Arcana
Doctor Arcana, master mindbender from the great beyond, presents a dark adventure game set inside the haunted mansion of a mysterious magician who vanished several years ago. Resolve a maze of riddles and perplexing puzzles to unlock doors and secret passages, or be doomed to spend eternity locked inside the inescapable mansion.
Prestige Collection
Prestige Collection includes: Installation disc for Windows & Mac, DVD case with instruction booklet, plus a Theater of Illusion CD, and Arcanum Amulet — a solid brass commemorative coin engraved and enamled on both sides with mystical symbols. Coin size 1½" diameter x ⅛" thickness.
DVD Package only
Installation disc for Windows & Mac, DVD case with instruction booklet.
System Requirements
Windows 7, 8, 10 / Apple OS X: 10.7–10.15
1.5 GHz CPU + 512 MB of RAM
1 GB hard drive space
128 MB OpenGL compatible video card
16 bit, 44.1 KHz, 2 channel sound card
4x DVD drive, keyboard, mouse, speakers
Downloads
Description
On a dark and stormy Halloween night, you find yourself standing before the gothic gates of Arcana Manor, the castle home of Doctor Arcana, the world famous magician who vanished several years ago. A strange force compels you to find a way in, but as soon as you set foot inside the mansion, the door slams shut behind you, sealing you inside the eerie manor house. A ghostly vision appears before you, presenting you with a challenge: Resolve a maze of riddles and perplexing puzzles, or be doomed to spend eternity locked inside the inescapable mansion. Do you dare accept the deadly challenge to discover the secrets that lie within The Cabinets of Doctor Arcana? Once you begin, there's no turning back.
Features
A captivating mystery set in the shadowy realm of magic and illusion.
Over 50 perplexing puzzles, mind-bending mazes, and confounding conundrums.
Original soundtrack by Nox Arcana.
In-game art gallery featuring dozens of eerie works of art by Joseph Vargo.
Detailed walkthrough from Doctor Arcana himself.
Listing Info
Published by Monolith Graphics
Format/Media: DVD
Platform: Windows/Mac
UPC: 888295833585
Release Date: October 6, 2018
SRP: $15.99
Origin
Joseph Vargo describes the origins of Doctor Arcana —
The Cabinets of Doctor Arcana is a throwback to the early computer puzzle games like The 7th Guest, Shivers and Jewels of the Oracle. I was very influenced by these types of games and used them as inspiration throughout this project. Puzzle games seem to have become a thing of the past, and that's really unfortunate because they're very fun and challenging. I felt compelled to resurrect this classic genre, so we embraced the idea of creating an old-style puzzle game and ran with it. We specifically designed The Cabinets of Doctor Arcana to have a very retro look and feel within a simple framework with minimal mouse controls. The end result is an effectively moody and entertaining game that evokes a haunting sense of nostalgia.
The concept for the game began as a feature I created for Dark Realms Magazine back in 2000. The feature was called The Cabinet of Doctor Arcana, based on the title of the classic silent horror film The Cabinet of Doctor Caligari. In each issue, the condescending Doctor Arcana presented puzzles for the readers to ponder, then insulted the integrity of anyone who correctly solved them. This jeering humor carries over into the game as well. Players are subjected to taunting remarks from Doctor Arcana throughout their adventure and lost souls who consult the in-game walkthrough, aptly named The Cheater's Compendium, will be scolded and ridiculed for doing so.
I developed the Doctor Arcana idea further on the Nox Arcana album, Theater of Illusion. The story centered around a secret society of magicians who possess actual magical powers and lurk in the hidden shadows of our world. I've always loved magic and magicians—the darker and creepier, the better. The concept seemed like a natural backdrop for an eerie adventure shrouded in mystery. In the game, players must explore this shadowy realm of magic and illusion and resolve a variety of devious puzzles to unlock Doctor Arcana's darkest secrets. The gauntlet of confounding conundrums consists of more than 50 logic puzzles, word puzzles, mazes, riddles and codes. For those seeking something more mentally stimulating than the usual arcade game or hidden object adventure, this is the game for you.
For game reviews, story details and screens, visit DoctorArcana.com
