<!--
	Title: (The Lab Report) Zork Zero
	Source: Zzap!64, #52
	Date: August 1989
	Transcription by Steve Derby
-->

<p class="larger">Infocom, Amiga £29.99</p>

For about ten years after being formed by some MIT boffins Infocom produced
only business software. They they saw the *Colossal Cave Adventure*. The *Zork* trilogy
was the result and the company hasn't looked back since. Not until now, that is.
Currently making some radical changes to its previously text-only format
Infocom have decided to produce a *Zork* prequel in the new style.

Over 90 years ago the great wizard Megaboz cast a curse
which destroyed the ruling family: Lord Dimwit the Excessive
and his eleven brothers and sisters. No-one cried any tears over
this at the time -- Dimwit behaved like a spoilt child, having a birthday
every week and expecting a present from each of his subjects!
And he didn't earn his nickname for nothing: his coronation took
thirteen years to plan and lasted eighteen months! The problem
was that the curse was to cause the destruction of the entire
empire of Quendor in 94 years time. That apocalyptic time is
drawing painfully close, so the current King, Wurb Flathead, has
offered half the riches of the kingdom to the person who can
allay the curse.

<figure class="float-right-half">
<figcaption><strong>Exploring Dimwit's massive castle.</strong></figcaption>
<img src="/public/img/articles/zzap64-zork-zero-review/zork-zero-screen-shot-2.jpg" alt="Zork Zero screen shot">
<p></p>
<img src="/public/img/articles/zzap64-zork-zero-review/zork-zero-screen-shot-1.jpg" alt="Another Zork Zero screen shot">
<figcaption><strong>A rebus obscured by animal shapes.</strong></figcaption>
</figure>

Included in the packaging is a scrap of parchment which one of
your ancestors picked up after it fell out of Megaboz's pocket
while he was casting the infamous curse (you actually play out this
short scene before starting the adventure proper). The scrap of
paper tells how to stop the curse -- put two items belonging to each
of the twelve Flatheads in the bubbling cauldron in the Great
Hall of the castle. So you know what items to look for, useful
(and very humorous) information about the Flatheads is to be
found in the 'Flathead Calendar' which accompanies the game.

The members of the family range from the artistic Leonardo
Flathead to Thomas Alva Flathead, inventor of such useful
items as the magic room spinner and a potion which allowed
humans to talk to plants (I wonder if Prince Charles is descended
from the Flatheads?!)

Living up to Dimwit's excessive reputation, the castle is
huge, containing many secret passages and rooms. It's also full
of weird and wonderful items including a lobster, a bag of
flamingo food and (of course?!) a flamingo. To aid you (or sometimes
hinder you) a jolly jester makes the occasional appearance,
but he will only help if you're able to answer his riddles.
Once you find a way out of the castle, there's a whole kingdom
to explore. For this, the on-screen mapping facility is a welcome
feature, as are the in-built hints.

Graphics are few and far between, but when they do appear
they're of a high quality -- much better than having mediocre pictures
for every location. Plain 80 column text (difficult to read on
most TVs) is the norm however, although the detailed screen surrounds
add a touch of polish. Location and item descriptions are of a highly humorous type --
author Steve Meretzky's previous work includes *The Hitchhiker's Guide
To The Galaxy* and *Leather Goddesses of Phobos*.
Combine the brilliant text with the typically friendly Infocom
parser plus fiendishly perplexing puzzles and you have one great
adventure game, easily living up to the superb Zorkian reputation.
Hilariously funny and a considerable challenge.

<table class="larger" style="font-weight: bold; border-top: 4px solid; border-bottom: 4px solid; font-family: var(--article-sidebar), Arial, sans-serif;"><tbody>
<tr><td>ATMOSPHERE</td><td>91%</td></tr>
<tr><td>PUZZLE FACTOR</td><td>93%</td></tr>
<tr><td>INTERACTION</td><td>86%</td></tr>
<tr><td>LASTABILITY</td><td>93%</td></tr>
<tr><td>OVERALL</td><td>92%</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
