Did they even playtest this game?

User Rating: 3.7 | Return to Zork PC
Having loved the Zork grand inquisitor game I decided to give this game a go. Now I wasn’t expecting to much since it is an old game originally run in dos. This has to be the most incomprehensible and frustrating game I have ever played, ever. The puzzles are baffling to the extent of parody. This is why the decline of adventure games happened.

Lets try every possible permutation of object on every other permutation of object. Here is one such example. In order to get a magnet you need to stick to the talon of a vulture. (apparently vultures legs are magnetic in this game). You must go and visit a witch. Who is of absolutely no help to you the first time you see her so you have to visit again. You then show a picture of a cow, (yes it is as inexplicable as it sounds) and she gives you some bats. Which you must let loose in a forest whose glowing poo you have to follow to then find the magnet.

Seriously, this is a real puzzle. The entire game is like this. There are many things you can do in the game which will simply not allow you to finish the game. If you look past this you are left with a game with decent music, and a little amusement. It is hard to appreciate though since it is just so incomprehensible all of the time.

I think the reason I am so dissapointed in this game is because it could have been good. You can almost hear the authors defending the game in your head by chanting the mantra "Its ok because we are being creative". Heck i can be as creative. Lets see.... Pick up grass.
Wear grass as hoola skirt.
Confuse cow by reading shakespere backwards. While cow is confused steal cow's shoes. Use cows shoes to defeat troll, even though you have a sword in your inventory. See? I can be as incomprehensable as this game. I would only suggest this game if you are a masochist or you must play everything zork. Otherwise I wouldn’t wish this game on my worst enemy. Stay away unless you enjoy having to refer to walkthroughs every 2 mins.