The Zork games were originally text-only adventures that were high on wit, invention and atmosphere. The idea of a Zork game featuring what was then state-of-the-art graphics ruffles a few feathers in the gaming community.
However, Return To Zork remains true to the spirit and style of the original games, whilst adding a beautifully realized visual element to the proceedings. It's still essentially the same style of game, as you wander from location to location solving puzzles using objects. The interface is extremely user friendly and it is easy to get to grips with, making it easier than typing away at the keyboard trying to guess the correct word [although Infocom were always good at user-friendliness].
It's similar to the Myst interface [although Return To Zork came slightly earlier than Myst].
It's a challenging game that requires a lot of thought and, if you can resist the urge to google the answers, will provide hours of puzzlement. All the trademark quirky Zork humour is still present and the American cast brings to life an eccentric fantasy world that owes as much to Mark Twain as it does to J. R. R. Tolkien. In fact, it's hard not to be taken in by the charming look of the game and it also features some good performances from the actors involved.
It should definitely be said though, that impatiently games players should probably avoid this game, as it is taxing, thoughtful
and very, very baffling at times. I only completed it with the aid of online gaming sites to help me through some of the trickiest puzzles, but then again I usually need a fair bit of help for the classic adventure games.
Anyone who loves the classic Zork games should definitely make sure they check this out. It may be a bit different to look at, but underneath the polished exterior, this is another Zork game and takes the series to a whole new level. 2 more Zork games followed, "Zork Nemesis" which was chilling and epic but not very faithful to the series and "Zork Grand Inquisitor" which took the impressive [for the time] game engine used by "Zork Nemesis" and used it to make something more faithful to the original series.
Please note, users who experience difficulty playing the game [i.e. it keeps crashing] should seek out the patch that was released for the earlier version of Return To Zork. A quick search on google should bring up what you need.
