Windows

Zork Nemesis: The Forbidden Lands

I remember when I saw the first magazine ads and screenshots for Nemesis. Yes.. you read that right - the first magazine ads.. This was back when PC gamer actually covered all the genre’s in gaming. Sigh. Anyway, I was blown away by the early promotional copy. I had never seen such rich graphics in an adventure game before. The story line looked sweet as well. " In a Desolate Corner of the Underground Empire, an evil demon torments the land. Evil rules the Forbidden lands. Here the souls of the Empire’s great Alchemists lie in perpetual hell.." Whoaa, stalking evil.. demons.. Yep, I was hooked.

Activision has done it! This is the one, this is THE game. Close your eyes, imagine the most pleasurable feeling possible, multiply it to the nth degree and you are only vaguely experiencing what is "Zork Nemesis".

Just as Infocom took the lead in text adventure games a decade and a half ago with the original Zork trilogy, Activision has continued the line of excellence with their latest twist in the Zork saga, Zork Nemesis. They have put together a game that strives for so much and succeeds. Graphics, plot, video sequences, acting and gameplay—all are above average and combine to put together one awesome graphic adventure game. I spent many long evenings engrossed in this game and found myself more than once a little disturbed with the shadowy world that they put together. If a game can truly achieve this type of reaction, then it is worth checking out. Activision scores a 95 with its outstanding latest release in the Zork series.

One thing about the puzzles this time around, is that they are much more logical than the ones in Return to Zork. Even if they stump you, you will have to admit that it makes some sense (in the context of the game's story) when you finally solve it. I felt that there were too many puzzles that made no sense in the previous game. The ones here are solid. They range from the simpler to the intensely difficult. A good range of difficulty for the average adventurer or the accomplished. Activision has put a very entertaining game together here. Don't let the lack of Zork sway you from this one, if you like adventures, you will not be disappointed by this game. Bottom Line: Less Zork and more Nemesis, but still a fantastic adventure. Puzzles range from median to tough, but most follow solid logic. Lots of fun, highly recommended for average to accomplished adventurer.

How much you enjoy Zork Nemesis as a game will depend on your affection for arcane logic puzzles, but as an immersive experience — especially if you have a souped-up computer and Windows 95 — it is often astonishing, blending freedom of movement through computer-generated landscapes with an alternately soothing and creepy ambient soundtrack.

There is enough here to keep you involved for many hours/days/months. If you thought Myst was too short (as I did) Zork Nemesis has 3 CDs full of gothic splendor, panoramic locations and video clips.

Nemesis gefällt mir aber wesentlich besser als das Vorbild Myst: Die Welt wirkt lebendiger, die Puzzles sind abwechslungsreicher. Man klickt nicht nur Bildelemente an, sondern dreht und verschiebt zumeist große Objekte per Mausbewegung. Wer auf edle, anspruchsvolle Rätselkost steht, darf sich das neueste Zork nicht entgehen lassen!

Far too many recent adventure games have been shallow and relatively easy to complete in just a few hours, but I'm delighted to report the same cannot be said about this one. Zork Nemesis is a game for savouring and there is no way that you will finish it in an afternoon.

Despite its minor shortcomings, I really can’t recommend this game enough. It has stood up to multiple plays over the years and its dark and eerie atmosphere has not diminished over time. If you like your games dark and macabre, as I do, you shouldn’t think twice about playing this one.

Activision has taken a new direction in the Zork series with the development of Zork Nemesis (also known as Zork Nemesis: The Forbidden Lands). Although Zork Nemesis is billed as a sequel to Return to Zork, the story in this game bears no authentic link to previous Zork titles except for a few passing references. Such a risk taken by the developer is likely going to stir up mixed feelings from diehard Zork fans. To gamers who are unfamiliar with the Zork series, Zork Nemesis stands well by itself as an adventure game that commands a welcomed challenge. For the first time, the grandiose view of the Zork Empire can be fully visualized inside the game, bringing scenes which once can only be described in text in the original adventures to a new level of experience. Together with a hefty dose of challenging puzzles, Zork Nemesis represents a dark side of the Zork universe that any gamer is surely enticed to experience.

While Zork Nemesis may be too graphic and intense for children, adults who loved Myst or Phantasmagoria will find a lot to like about this CD-ROM. With Broderbund Software pushing the sequel to Myst back into 1997, computer gamers might not find a better substitute than Zork Nemesis.