Tuesday, 28th April 2020

Zork Grand Inquisitor
Game Zork Grand Inquisitor
Released 1997
Developer Activision
Available GOG Steam

Zork Grand Inquisitor is a classic Adventure game (both in years and status). You are an unnamed anonymous Adventurer tasked with restoring to the the land after it has been banished by the Grand Inquisitor (a glorious performance by Erick Avari). You have to find three magic objects (three's a good number) to do so.

Zork Grand Inquisitor is an older game. The resolution is limited, it's not 3D or VR. When I started playing it did feel cramped and retro but after a while, as I got into the puzzles and story I got used to the resolution and didn't mind. Your mileage may vary.

The game is very much descended from text adventures - not having played the original Zork games there's references I will have missed. But the humour and outlandish settings appealed to me a lot. If they still made games like this I would still play them.

The puzzles are fair, and inventive - particularly how you use the spells you pick up as you play. The ending is very pleasing as you get to use the spell you haven't yet used. Some of the puzzles require out of the box thinking, and give a real sense of accomplishment. The game is not super hard.

A classic game indeed.