<s>
Witchaven	B-Application
(	O
usually	O
pronounced	O
)	O
is	O
a	O
dark	O
fantasy	O
first-person	O
shooter	O
video	O
game	O
developed	O
by	O
Capstone	O
Software	O
and	O
published	O
by	O
Intracorp	O
Entertainment	O
in	O
1995	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Its	O
sword-and-sorcery	O
themed	O
story	O
tasks	O
the	O
knight	O
Grondoval	O
with	O
a	O
quest	O
to	O
seek	O
out	O
and	O
destroy	O
a	O
lair	O
of	O
witches	B-Device
in	O
their	O
titular	O
fortress	O
,	O
fighting	O
hordes	O
of	O
hostile	O
monsters	O
along	O
the	O
way	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Witchaven	B-Application
features	O
action	B-Application
role-playing	I-Application
elements	O
such	O
as	O
leveling	O
,	O
as	O
well	O
as	O
an	O
emphasis	O
on	O
melee	O
combat	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Its	O
code	O
was	O
based	O
upon	O
an	O
early	O
version	O
of	O
the	O
nascent	O
Build	B-Application
engine	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
It	O
was	O
followed	O
by	O
a	B-Application
sequel	I-Application
titled	O
Witchaven	B-Application
II	I-Application
:	I-Application
Blood	I-Application
Vengeance	I-Application
in	O
1996	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
As	O
a	O
result	O
,	O
Computer	O
Gaming	O
World	O
classified	O
it	O
as	O
an	O
action	B-Application
role-playing	I-Application
game	I-Application
,	O
albeit	O
an	O
unconventional	O
one	O
,	O
while	O
The	O
CRPG	O
Book	O
Project	O
maintained	O
that	O
it	O
"	O
is	O
not	O
a	O
full-fledged	O
RPG	O
-	O
it	O
's	O
a	O
first-person	O
shooter	O
(	O
or	O
rather	O
,	O
hack	B-Application
&	I-Application
slasher	I-Application
)	O
with	O
RPG	O
elements.	O
"	O
</s>
<s>
There	O
are	O
eleven	O
weapons	O
in	O
Witchaven	B-Application
,	O
each	O
with	O
a	O
different	O
attack	O
range	O
and	O
other	O
characteristics	O
:	O
bare	O
fists	O
,	O
a	O
dagger	O
,	O
a	O
short	O
sword	O
,	O
a	O
morning	O
star	O
,	O
a	O
broadsword	O
,	O
a	O
battle	O
axe	O
,	O
a	O
bow	O
and	O
arrows	O
,	O
throwing	O
axes	O
,	O
a	O
pike	O
axe	O
,	O
a	O
two-handed	O
longsword	O
and	O
a	O
halberd	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
There	O
are	O
several	O
types	O
of	O
scroll-based	O
spells	O
which	O
can	O
be	O
cast	O
by	O
the	O
player	O
,	O
such	O
as	O
the	O
Fireball	O
,	O
Fly	O
,	O
Freeze	O
,	O
Scare	O
,	O
Unlock	O
,	O
and	O
Nuke	O
invocations	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Other	O
items	O
are	O
the	O
ankh	B-Application
symbol	O
that	O
gives	O
the	O
player	O
the	O
maximum	O
number	O
of	O
250	O
health	O
points	O
,	O
a	O
crystal	O
staff	O
that	O
gives	O
the	O
maximum	O
number	O
of	O
300	O
armor	O
points	O
,	O
magic	O
amulets	O
activating	O
invisibility	O
or	O
scare	O
magic	O
for	O
one	O
minute	O
,	O
horns	O
that	O
enable	O
the	O
player	O
to	O
steal	O
the	O
enemies	O
 '	O
health	O
points	O
,	O
various	O
magic	O
rings	O
providing	O
different	O
types	O
of	O
protection	O
such	O
as	O
fire	O
resistance	O
,	O
and	O
scepters	O
enabling	O
the	O
player	O
character	O
to	O
walk	O
on	O
either	O
water	O
or	O
lava	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
enemies	O
the	O
player	O
must	O
contend	O
with	O
include	O
goblins	O
,	O
ogres	B-Application
,	O
imps	B-Application
,	O
skeletons	B-Application
,	O
willow	O
wisps	O
and	O
fire	O
drakes	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Illwhyrin	O
the	O
witch	B-Device
is	O
the	O
only	O
boss	O
of	O
the	O
game	O
but	O
she	O
appears	O
repeatedly	O
through	O
the	O
game	O
,	O
teleporting	O
away	O
when	O
losing	O
,	O
until	O
the	O
final	O
battle	O
at	O
the	O
25th	O
level	O
where	O
she	O
can	O
summon	O
monsters	O
;	O
the	O
game	O
ends	O
with	O
her	O
death	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
game	O
also	O
offers	O
a	O
LAN-based	O
deathmatch-style	O
multiplayer	O
mode	O
,	O
with	O
10	O
additional	O
multiplayer-only	O
maps	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
Witchaven	B-Application
,	O
the	O
player	O
is	O
cast	O
in	O
the	O
role	O
of	O
Grondoval	O
,	O
a	O
hardy	O
knight	O
in	O
service	O
of	O
his	O
homeland	O
Stazhia	O
,	O
been	O
chosen	O
by	O
his	O
master	O
,	O
Lord	O
Verkapheron	O
,	O
for	O
a	O
mission	O
to	O
rid	O
the	O
world	O
of	O
the	O
threat	O
posed	O
by	O
the	O
evil	O
Illwhyrin	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
her	O
lair	O
,	O
known	O
as	O
the	O
realm	O
of	O
Witchaven	B-Application
and	O
hidden	O
in	O
a	O
massive	O
subterranean	O
maze	O
under	O
the	O
forbidding	O
Isle	O
of	O
Char	O
,	O
Illwhyrin	O
performs	O
sinister	O
rituals	O
seeking	O
to	O
lift	O
a	O
dimensional	O
barrier	O
,	O
known	O
as	O
the	O
Veil	O
,	O
that	O
separates	O
the	O
game	O
's	O
universe	O
from	O
the	O
chaotic	O
Nether	O
Reaches	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Witchaven	B-Application
was	O
adapted	O
from	O
Wyrm	O
Works	O
 '	O
1992	O
tabletop	O
role-playing	O
game	O
supplement	O
Witchaven	B-Application
created	O
by	O
Mike	O
Pitts	O
,	O
who	O
is	O
credited	O
for	O
"	O
original	O
story	O
and	O
maps	O
"	O
in	O
the	O
video	O
game	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
concept	O
"	O
violent	O
,	O
first-person	O
action	O
game	O
set	O
in	O
a	O
fantasy	O
universe	O
ruled	O
by	O
a	O
coven	O
of	O
evil	O
witches	B-Device
who	O
must	O
be	O
eradicated	O
from	O
their	O
lairs	O
"	O
was	O
created	O
after	O
the	O
team	O
attended	O
Gen	O
Con	O
'	O
93	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
development	O
began	O
in	O
1994	O
,	O
following	O
the	O
completion	O
of	O
Operation	B-Application
Body	I-Application
Count	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
An	O
early	O
version	O
of	O
the	O
game	O
's	O
story	O
,	O
which	O
was	O
featured	O
in	O
early	O
promotional	O
materials	O
,	O
involved	O
three	O
witches	B-Device
"	O
older	O
than	O
time	O
itself	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
One	O
advertisement	O
also	O
mentions	O
how	O
"	O
it	O
is	O
rumored	O
that	O
deep	O
beneath	O
dwells	O
the	O
volcano	O
a	O
powerful	O
demon	O
,	O
giving	O
the	O
witches	B-Device
enormous	O
power	O
in	O
return	O
for	O
human	O
sacrifice.	O
"	O
</s>
<s>
Along	O
with	O
William	B-Application
Shatner	I-Application
's	I-Application
TekWar	I-Application
,	O
also	O
made	O
by	O
Capstone	O
Software	O
in	O
1995	O
,	O
Witchaven	B-Application
was	O
one	O
of	O
the	O
first	O
games	O
released	O
to	O
use	O
the	O
Build	B-Application
engine	I-Application
,	O
which	O
did	O
not	O
yet	O
allow	O
sloped	O
ceilings	O
and	O
floors	O
,	O
a	O
feature	O
that	O
3D	O
Realms	O
added	O
later	O
in	O
1995	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Witchaven	B-Application
Official	O
Strategy	O
Guide	O
published	O
by	O
Brady	O
Games	O
features	O
original	O
artwork	O
and	O
behind-the-scenes	O
with	O
the	O
game	O
's	O
creators	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
demo	O
version	O
's	O
story	O
told	O
of	O
a	O
group	O
of	O
"	O
Death	O
Magic	O
"	O
practicing	O
witches	B-Device
and	O
their	O
plan	O
to	O
activate	O
the	O
volcano	O
of	O
Char	O
that	O
has	O
been	O
dormant	O
for	O
two	O
centuries	O
,	O
causing	O
it	O
to	O
erupt	O
and	O
threaten	O
the	O
surrounding	O
areas	O
,	O
and	O
the	O
yet-unnamed	O
"	O
brave	O
Stazhian	O
"	O
hero	O
's	O
quest	O
was	O
to	O
break	O
this	O
curse	O
by	O
vanquishing	O
them	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Although	O
the	O
story	O
changed	O
before	O
the	O
game	O
's	O
release	O
,	O
the	O
sequel	O
still	O
mentions	O
an	O
eruption	O
of	O
the	O
Char	O
's	O
volcano	O
and	O
speaks	O
about	O
the	O
destruction	O
of	O
plural	O
"	O
witches	B-Device
in	O
their	O
wretched	O
lair	O
"	O
while	O
telling	O
the	O
game	O
's	O
backstory	O
;	O
similarly	O
,	O
the	O
official	O
website	O
includes	O
the	O
phrase	O
the	O
"	O
Witches	B-Device
of	O
Char	O
"	O
in	O
its	O
description	O
of	O
the	O
game	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Witchaven	B-Application
was	O
met	O
with	O
a	O
mixed	O
critical	O
reception	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Nevertheless	O
,	O
the	O
sales	O
have	O
been	O
satisfactory	O
enough	O
to	O
create	O
a	B-Application
sequel	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
PC	O
Zone%	O
gave	O
Witchaven	B-Application
a	O
score	O
of	O
88/100	O
and	O
recommended	O
it	O
as	O
"	O
packed	O
with	O
lots	O
of	O
spells	O
and	O
potions	O
to	O
play	O
with	O
,	O
the	O
usual	O
network/modem	O
options	O
,	O
triggers	O
and	O
traps	O
,	O
impressive	O
graphical	O
effects	O
-	O
and	O
if	O
you	O
're	O
looking	O
for	O
gore	O
you	O
've	O
found	O
it	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Lim	O
Choon	O
Wee	O
of	O
New	O
Straits	O
Times	O
wrote	O
"	O
I	O
love	O
Witchaven	B-Application
,	O
"	O
especially	O
praising	O
the	O
game	O
's	O
"	O
bewitching	O
"	O
graphics	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
On	O
the	O
other	O
hand	O
,	O
Petra	O
Schlunk	O
of	O
Computer	O
Gaming	O
World	O
described	O
the	O
game	O
"	O
less	O
than	O
spellbounding	O
"	O
despite	O
the	O
"	O
eye-popping	O
gore	O
and	O
a	O
few	O
cosmetic	O
RPG	O
elements	O
"	O
and	O
very	O
disappointing	O
for	O
its	O
lack	O
of	O
real	O
gameplay	O
immersion	O
,	O
concluding	O
it	O
to	O
be	O
"	O
just	O
another	O
"	O
Doom	B-Application
clone	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
According	O
to	O
Jim	O
Varner	O
of	O
GameSpot	O
,	O
"	O
Witchaven	B-Application
is	O
certainly	O
not	O
a	O
bad	O
game	O
,	O
but	O
it	O
's	O
not	O
that	O
great	O
either	O
,	O
"	O
as	O
"	O
in-your-face	O
combat	O
is	O
novel	O
at	O
first	O
,	O
but	O
after	O
a	O
few	O
hours	O
of	O
play	O
,	O
you	O
'll	O
be	O
praying	O
for	O
a	O
BFG-9000.	O
"	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
a	O
direct	O
sequel	O
titled	O
Witchaven	B-Application
II	I-Application
:	I-Application
Blood	I-Application
Vengeance	I-Application
,	O
released	O
in	O
1996	O
,	O
Grondoval	O
's	O
enemy	O
is	O
the	O
slain	O
witch	B-Device
's	O
vindictive	O
sister	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
gameplay	O
of	O
Witchaven	B-Application
II	I-Application
is	O
based	O
on	O
its	O
predecessor	O
,	O
the	O
only	O
differences	O
being	O
in	O
some	O
additional	O
weapon	O
selection	O
and	O
enemy	O
variance	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
game	O
was	O
scheduled	O
to	O
be	O
made	O
after	O
Corridor	B-Application
8	I-Application
,	O
which	O
was	O
never	O
finished	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Around	O
2006	O
,	O
a	O
former	O
Capstone	O
programmer	O
Les	O
Bird	O
released	O
the	O
source	O
code	O
of	O
Witchaven	B-Application
and	O
Witchaven	B-Application
II	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
addition	O
,	O
a	O
black	O
metal	O
band	O
Witchaven	B-Application
took	O
its	O
name	O
from	O
the	O
series	O
,	O
and	O
Techland	O
's	O
video	O
game	O
Hellraid	B-Application
was	O
described	O
as	O
a	O
spiritual	O
successor	O
to	O
Witchaven	B-Application
and	O
Hexen	B-Application
.	O
</s>
