ZorkQuest. Episode 1: Assault on Egreth Castle

ZorkQuest. Episode 1: Assault on Egreth Castle description

Somewhat unexpectedly, but in 1988, is famous for its text adventure company Infocom decided to publish a series of not so much games as interactive comics, where the action was traditionally displayed by means of one only pictures. All anything, but the main component of Infocomics graphics were unattractive and outdated even for its time. The visual side of PC publications have managed to hold on and to specification CGA adapter, so even coming in at the same time edition for Apple II and Commodore 64 look at this background a little more profitable. The default colors used are few, and most of the time to witness accounts sparingly drawn black and white shapes and lines, even with occasional animation. Alternatively, you can enable Composite CGA available, particularly when running in the emulator DOSBox SVN Daum version: the image will sparkle with new, far more vivid colors, but some artifacts will reduce the clarity and intelligibility of the text.

Of the four, held on issues of the series more attention attracted and continue to attract two proudly carries in its title the name of one of the most popular gaming universes. But here, fans of the classics of Interactive Fiction expects rather a disappointment: the plot of "ZorkQuest" got nothing to do with the original trilogy, nor with the subsequent sequels, but is a story about events taking place even in the same world, but completely different, unknown characters. And frankly, the world this could be any other – if only there was a place of magic, evil monsters and things is quite a familiar fairy-tale entourage.

On the other hand, is not at all really bad, and the story of its part "ZorkQuest. Episode 1: Assault on Egreth Castle" may be worthy of attention and in addition to the poor graphics component and almost deceptive resemblance to the great "Zork". Here we are waiting for the tale of several Wanderers, reduced by fate, one a travelling caravan. The hapless merchant Hurturk, which is to deliver to destination belonging to his son-the precious cargo of silk; a mysterious beauty Asiya had gone to visit ailing grandmother; the scout Ryker, hired to protect the caravan; Probwith the old wizard and his young apprentice DIRIN, hurrying to rally the magicians of Quendor; finally, just appearing from nowhere a young man named lim... As it turns out, not accidentally broke they camp for the night near the half-ruined walls of the castle Egret, once glorious for its feasts and festivities, but for many years serving as a den of horrible monsters and control them the evil sorcerer...

As you might expect from an interactive picture book, the story unfolds almost by itself, without our special part in it: management is reduced to the possibility to put the story on pause by pressing the space bar to select the speed of the text display (1 – slow, 2 – medium, 3 – fast), and go to the next frame (A) or to scroll the story back / forward the corresponding arrows of the cursor. However, there is also a highlight: parallel branching storyline. From time to time – and from the very beginning of the game, when you meet each of our characters after the characteristic trills PC-speaker and in the upper right corner of the screen there is a curved area of the page. This means that at the moment you can press "Enter" and go to another alternative history (for example, to learn more about the past of one of the characters or – after their paths separated, to follow someone else and see what happens this time in another place). Of course, nothing to press: then the plot will continue to develop its direct way – but is somewhat shorter than one would expect. In addition, key "B" allows you to lay the bookmark, so that in future when the game is loaded to return to the same point in the narrative, but the "R" in turn, starts the whole comic first, removing the previously stored position.

In General, familiarity with the history of the castle Egret takes you about half an hour of time: not enough, but, first, Infocomics and was positioned - as a cheap and not particularly discerning iBooks offered for $ 12 apiece – several times cheaper than full-fledged games. And secondly, to view all the alternative storylines need to go, "ZorkQuest. Episode 1: Assault on Egreth Castle" more than once – unless, of course, by that time you will not cause of rejection is a very primitive picture and even more sparse sound component of this unusual and unexpected branch of the famous game universe.

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Source: Archive.org, Mobygames.com