Return to Zork (1993) (VG)

User Rating:

8.1/10   

Director:

Peter Sprague

Writers:

Michelle Em (screenplay)
Veronica Milito (manual)

Plot Keywords:

Video Game | Full Motion Video

Cast

Charles Carpenter	...	Guardian / Orc Guard
Michelle Dahlin	...	Witch Itah
Matthew Grimaldi	...	Cliff Robberson
Edan Gross	...	Waif
Jason Hervey	...	Troll King / Trolls
Michael Johnson	...	Rooper / Morphius
Sam J. Jones	...	Blind Bowman
A.J. Langer	...	Rebecca Snoot
Deena Langer	...	Ms. Mavis Peepers
Elaine Lively	...	Molly Moodock
Ernie Lively	...	Moadikum Moodock
Jason Lively	...	Ben Fyshin
Lori Lively	...	Singing Tree
Robyn Lively	...	Fairy
Howard Mann	...	Lighthouse Keeper
Jo Marr	...	Canuk (as Jojo Marr)
Will McAllister	...	Trembyle
Raoul N. Rizik	...	Mayor
Harold Smith	...	Boos Myller
Peter Sprague	...	Pugney
Michael Stadvec	...	Blacksmith
Julie St. Claire	...	Holy Woman
Leonardo Surdo	...	Dwarven General
Nino Surdo	...	Dwarven Leader

Directed by
Peter Sprague

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Michelle Em		screenplay
Veronica Milito		manual

Produced by
Eddie Dombrower	....	producer

Original Music by
Teri Mason
Nathan Wang

Art Direction by
Joe Asperin

Costume Design by
Maritza Mazariego

Makeup Department
Kelly Greer	....	hair stylist
Kelly Greer	....	makeup artist

Sound Department
Michael Schwartz	....	sound engineer

Other crew
Doug Barnett	....	game designer
David Betz	....	programmer
Joseph T. Chow	....	lead programmer
Liliana M. Molina	....	script supervisor
Edward T. Purcell	....	programmer
Francisco Serret	....	programmer
David Stifel	....	programmer
William Volk	....	technical director

Quotes:

Boos Myller: Want some rye? 'Course ya do!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Strongbad_email.exe: Disc Six (2008) (V)

A Great Escape!

This game may be a little old, and maybe even outdated, but it still remains one of the most impressive and downright entertaining computer games to play.

The storyline is lighthearted (with a few dark undertones thrown in for good measure), the characters are all lovable, and RETURN TO ZORK really gets you laughing sometimes. For a game that was produced in 1993, I would have to say that the graphics and sound are still very noteworthy, even by today's standards.

The plot is just wonderful. It has you wanting to see what unfolds next in the story of the Great Underground Empire, and is very addictive (which, in this case, is a good thing!).

RETURN TO ZORK also receives kudos for its musical score. WOW! It really moves you. Even the cheap MIDI files are impressive! The musical score for RTZ is by far one of the best for any computer game this decade.

The only area RTZ falls short in, are a couple of extremely-hard-to-solve puzzles. If it weren't for a cheat guide, this game would have taken me at least a year to beat -- and I'm not kidding. The most ridiculous of these puzzles has to be one of the three mazes, which are absurd, because there is no secret to solving them....you just have to figure out how to get through (this could take a lifetime). You'll DEFINITELY need a cheat guide to get through things like this.

All in all, though, RETURN TO ZORK is a game that makes you come back for more, and leaves you wishing you lived in that truly bizarre and comical world. And if you need further proof: I have played and beat this game about six times since 1993!

Highly recommended.