<!--
	Title: (80 Reviews) Zork
	Author: Debra Marshall and 80 Microcomputing staff
	Source: 80 Microcomputing, v2(8)
	Date: August 1981
	Transcription by Steve Derby
-->

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<p>Zork<br>
Personal Software, Inc.<br>
Sunnyvale, CA<br>
$39.95 disk<br>
32K Model I, Level II</p>
</div>

<p class="article-dropcap">We play adventure games and become willingly enthralled by the excitement,
mystery and magic of their story. We become the hero and slay representatives
of evil. We collect our just rewards: treasure and gold, perhaps a pretty princess.
But most of all, we gain the lore of the land, and the knowledge that we have
conquered it and can walk its paths without fear. We have won and now we look for new,
unexplored adventures.</p>

Zork is complicated and sophisticated. It is an underground kingdom, but its treasures
lie above and below ground. One of its greatest treasures is its ability to react
to fairly complex commands. You can do very specific things in Zork; you are not
limited to a vague, general activity because the program recognizes only two-word
commands. When you decide to attack a nastie, or dig a hole, you should
have a definite plan of attack and weapon (which should be part of your command) —
or you may find yourself fighting the forces of evil with your bare hands, or worse.

Zork is a joy to play. There are no graphics; the screen carries a description of
your surroundings and the directions of travel that are available to you. Your number
of turns, and points acquired, are also on the screen at all times. It is up to you to
decide what to do, and how to do it. Climb trees and look around; check under rocks
and piles of leaves; read walls and books. Explore, but keep in mind that directions
change; just because you went north to get to the chasm doesn't mean you can return
simply by going south. And, please, watch out for the pickpocket.

## Reincarnation

Zork contains many areas, and consequently should be mapped. Because of its
complexity, mapping will take a lot of time, and thoroughly exploring each room
and site will take longer. A save procedure bookmarks your place in a game so you
may avoid starting from the beginning each time. This can also be used by timid
game players (or reviewers on a deadline) before attempting a potentially dangerous
move (you cavalier and stout-hearted daredevil) and manage to get yourself
killed. You have the option of being reincarnated by various games-masters. You
do lose points, however, for having proven yourself not very discriminating in your
character's choice of activities.

A 15-page instruction book accompanies the disk. The book gives background,
directions and explanations of the game, and also describes in great
detail how to load and save the game on one and two-disk systems. The instructions
are incredibly complete, they even include directions for initializing the
TRSDOS disk you will need. Take it from a rank amateur; these instructions are clear
and easy to follow.

## Staggering Possibilities

Mysteries abound in Zork. I'm not sure it can be solved — there is so much in it and
the possibilities seem staggering. Since the program lets you do pretty much what
you want to, even if the consequences are much less than desirable, it leaves open
marvelous opportunities for those of us who love to break into things to see how,
and if, they work. I've spent many hours pondering why the earth shakes when you
smash the mirror. I also have one very smashed jeweled mechanical bird for sale
to the highest bidder.

Walk carefully along the paths, and enter no dark places without a light; there
is always a Grue present in dingy spots which would love to eat you. The stars are
high and the canyon is deep. Somewhere is a key to unlock the grate under the pile
of leaves. Do not lose your mind in the loud room — the answer is there if you can
only hear it.

Above all, be ready to ask questions and to giggle. The program has answers,
and also a sense of humor.

Perhaps you can play against someone across the country on one of the modem
systems — it is being done.

There is much to explore in Zork, and a lot to play with once you're there. The
booklet describes Zork as Part 1; I truly hope that means we can expect a second
part sometime soon.
