February 2, 2015

Zak McKracken and the Alien Mindbenders

Lucasfilm Games, 1988


Despite the way it was marketed, this thoroughly amusing adventure game is not really for kids, as the puzzles are quite complicated. Fortunately, the solutions are invariably logical, at least within the context of the game. The story begins as some fiendish aliens are poised to invade Earth. They have taken over the phone company and are using the telephone system to make everyone stupid. In the first part of the game you play the role of a news reporter named Zak but, later on you get the aid of three more characters, which you can switch between at any time, to thwart the evil plans of the dastardly aliens.

Despite the blocky graphics and nice background music supported by PC Speaker, Zak McKracken is one of the finest adventure games I have ever played and I rate it very high.