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	Title: (Screening Room: The Rating Game) Zork III
	Authors: Eric and Tom Saberhagen
	Source: K-Power, v1(1)
	Date: February 1984
	Transcription by Steve Derby
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<span class="small-caps">hardware requirements:</span>
*Apple II/II plus/IIe, 32K (disk); also
available for IBM PC, 48K
(disk); TRS-80 I/III, 32K (disk);
Atari 400/800/1200, 32K (disk);
and Commodore 64 (disk, distributed through Commodore)*<br>
<span class="small-caps">manufacturer:</span> *Infocom, Inc.,
55 Wheeler St., Cambridge, MA
02138; (617) 492-1031*<br>
<span class="small-caps">price:</span> *$39.95*
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<img class="img-center" style="height: 3em; max-width: 90%; width: auto;" src="/public/img/articles/k-power-zork-iii-review/eight.png" alt="Rating: 8">

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Ever hear of *Zork*? It's this old game about exploring The Great
Underground Empire. Bored with *Zork*? Is *Zork II*'s disk
fried? Well, then try *Zork III*. Because if you liked *Zork*, you'll
love *Zork III*.

*Zork III* is a brilliant Infocom game (especially if you're a text-adventure
fan). It's the most intelligent text game for a microcomputer
that we've ever seen.

The object is to meet and destroy the Dungeon Master himself.
Don't expect to kill him the first time you play. (If you do,
don't tell anyone; they won't believe you.)

Your quest begins at the bottom of an endless stair with a
brass lantern at your feet. This isn't too hot, but with some exploration
you can find better places to spend your time. Some
places even change, so a room may not always be the same as
when you left it 20 moves ago.

All you do to play is type in what you want your character to
do.

When you begin to play, situations will definitely be confusing.
Soon, however, your initial problems will seem trivial compared
with the brain-racking problems that will follow. The
game, though, is exciting, and those who don't enjoy it either
don't like to think or can't tolerate being frustrated.

*Zork III* has an incredibly large vocabulary (more than 600
words), but it's still too limited to provide for many possibilities.
Nonetheless, *Zork III* is intelligent (as far as adventure games
go, that is. For example, if you command the computer to attack
and there is only one reasonable object that can be attacked, the
computer will know what is intended.

The scoring system is confusing at first. You are rewarded
with points for picking up important items. This and the number
of moves you make are factors in determining your score. If you
run into trouble, don't worry too much, the Dungeon Master is
patient; he'll reincarnate you twice before giving up and leaving
you to rot. A word of advice: Never be afraid to try the stupid
or obnoxious. Remember, if you die, you can always reboot!

<span class="small-caps">eric</span> *and* <span class="small-caps">tom saberhagen</span> *are
13 and 11, respectively, and live in Albuquerque, New Mexico.*