It will take adults back to memories of early gaming, and while kids might first be bored with it, they’ll easily get hooked with the mystery and start using their problem-solving skills to solve the game. Keep reading to find out how to play, and some tips and tricks to help you finish the game.
How to Play Zork
Visit iFiction to play Zork I: The Great Underground Empire. Since this is purely a text game, you must read the text on the screen to understand what to do. Our suggestion on how to first approach the game is by just trying out some text commands. Enter what you think would be a normal response to the questions and comments that you’re asked and presented within the game. Type a command and press Enter on your keyboard to input it. You’ll either get a response that makes sense with the story, something humorous, or a reply with a message like “I don’t understand that.” Here are a few helpful commands:
INVENTORY - gives you a list of items you haveLOOK - describes your surroundingsN - Moves you north (use E, etc. for other directions)DIAGNOSE - tells you about your injuriesGET or TAKE - remove the item and add it to your inventoryREAD - Reads what is written on an item with words
Below is a link to a lot of other Zork commands.
Zork Tips and Tricks
If you find yourself a little stuck while playing (which is completely acceptable given how different it is from other online games), take a look at this Zork command list. This will hopefully get you unstuck and back into the game. There are lots of commands for moving around as well as item commands like drop, open, throw, get, etc., for interacting with things that you encounter. If you find yourself really stuck, take a peek at this Zork walkthrough. Don’t ruin the fun, though; no peeking until you’re really stuck!
Thoughts About Zork
I love it. I remember when the only type of computer games we had access to were text adventures, so Zork brings back a lot of fond memories. Also, the story line is fantastic. There was some real thought and love put into this game, and it shows. However, it definitely isn’t suitable for everyone, especially anyone who’s used to playing graphical games. With just text and therefore zero graphics, and the fact that you must then read through the game like an ever-changing book, it takes some extra effort to play than visual games that just require a few controls. However, with that being said, maybe you can take a break from your regular style of games and see just how much fun Zork can be.
