Inner Worlds

Inner Worlds is a side-scrolling fantasy action adventure starring Nikita, a woman who can transform into a she-wolf. She sets out to track down the Gralob, a monster created by a misguided genius that has plagued the world for generations. The game follows her across three episodes as she confronts the Gralob and discovers a greater threat.

Nikita’s quest

In Episode 1, “Wizard’s World,” Nikita pursues the Gralob and seeks to free her people from its evil. After defeating it at Castle Drofanayrb, she learns in Episode 2, “World of Change,” that the Gralob is one of two brutal minions serving a more terrible threat. Although her homeland is safe from the Gralob for now, Nikita discovers that her true destiny lies ahead and sets out on a cross-country journey through new landscapes. This episode adds nine levels, along with new scrolls, potions, weapons, monsters and adventures.

In Episode 3, “Heart of the World,” Nikita learns her true destiny and begins her final adventure. She travels to a huge volcanic mountain, where the secret of Drofanayrb’s experiments lies, and must face what she finds there to banish the evil unleashed by the Wizard’s tampering with nature. The episode adds nine levels, with new weapons, monsters, treasures, graphics, music and sound effects.

Combat and transformation

Nikita can fight in human or wolf form. In human form, she needs a suitable weapon to attack; as a wolf, she can always use her teeth. Transforming costs mana, as does mauling nearby enemies in a wolf-form frenzy. Holding the attack action keeps the maul going and continues to consume mana.

As she progresses and defeats enemies, Nikita learns up to five magical spells: Stinger, Fireball, Doball, Ghibli and Lightning Bolt. Casting spells requires mana, with more powerful spells costing more. Scrolls and wands can also cast spells without using Nikita’s mana, even if she has not learned the spell. The levels contain other magical items as well.

Health and supplies

Nikita’s health is represented by the Seltzer of Life, which falls when she is hurt. If it empties, she dies and must restart at the beginning of the level or at her last save. Her mana is shown by a tree whose leaves represent the amount available; she replenishes mana by finding gems, potions or sanctuaries.

Each level contains exactly one of three types of amulet. Blue health amulets slow the loss of health when Nikita is injured, green mana amulets reduce how quickly she uses mana, and red strength amulets make her attacks more powerful. The episode map marks levels without their amulet in red rather than blue, indicating that they may be replayed to find it.

Inventory and items

Nikita’s pack has eight slots, each of which may hold multiple objects of the same type. She can use, drop or toss items, choosing whether to act on one item or all of that type in a slot. Function-key shortcuts let her use items from the corresponding pack slot.

Across the levels, Nikita collects weapons, treasures and magical objects. She can pick up objects, activate levers and switches, save at signposts, and move through doors, ladders, poles, vines and handholds. Her movement also includes jumping, crouching and climbing; jumping with an upward flip gives her a little extra height.