Zak McKracken and the Alien Mindbenders
- November 16, 2018
- Lucasfilm Games
Get on SteamIn "Zak McKracken and the Alien Mindbenders," the world's IQ is diminishing due to Space Aliens' stupidity machine. Players, as reporter Zak McKracken, along with three allies, must restore intelligence by solving puzzles, uncovering alien secrets, and using point-and-click gameplay with vintage verb commands across various environments. This adventure offers hilarious encounters and challenges in a quest to save humanity from dumbness.
Mac OS
PC
Windows
Amiga
Atari St
Commodore C64
Ms Dos
Reviews
- The game features a great mix of dark humor and mystery, with memorable characters and clever writing.
- It offers unique gameplay mechanics, such as controlling multiple characters and a sense of open-world freedom, which were innovative for its time.
- Many players find it nostalgic and enjoyable, especially those who appreciate retro adventure games and the classic LucasArts style.
- The game is often criticized for its obtuse puzzles and frustrating dead ends, making it difficult to progress without a guide.
- Players frequently encounter tedious mazes and pixel hunting, which can lead to a frustrating experience.
- The lack of character development and the nonsensical story can detract from the overall enjoyment, leaving some players feeling disappointed.
- story12 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- 8 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
The story of the game receives mixed reviews, with some players finding it entertaining and humorous, particularly appreciating its nostalgic charm and clever writing. However, others criticize it for being underdeveloped and lacking engaging elements, making it difficult to stay invested. Overall, while the narrative has its fun moments and quirky characters, it often fails to fully capitalize on its potential.
“I'd recommend buying this on sale and playing through with a guide just to see the jokes and story, which were entertaining for the most part.”
“Nevertheless it is a game that packs lovely pixelated graphics, a crazy story, adorable characters, good sense of humor and it is entertaining enough to give it a try.”
“It's a great mix of well written, funny characters, a solid story with references to 'new age' beliefs and 'ancient alien' theories and a bit of mystery and conspiracy to it as well.”
“I am all for retro games, but the story sucks.”
“The story itself is just plain silly.”
“You play as Zak McKracken, a reporter for a tabloid that is hired for a story about a two-headed squirrel in Seattle.”
- graphics11 mentions
- 36 % positive mentions
- 36 % neutral mentions
- 27 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are praised for their charming pixelated style and vibrant color palette, contributing to an enjoyable retro aesthetic. Players appreciate the expansive locations and the enhanced visuals in the FM Towns version, which elevate the overall experience. While some comparisons to older LucasArts titles highlight a decline in graphical quality, the nostalgic appeal and improved editions still resonate with fans.
“We both enjoyed the retro graphics and music along with the simple gameplay and fun puzzles.”
“Nevertheless, it is a game that packs lovely pixelated graphics, a crazy story, adorable characters, a good sense of humor, and it is entertaining enough to give it a try.”
“- Lovely pixelated graphics with a fantastic color palette.”
“I've been playing various LucasArts graphic adventure games for the past week, and this is probably the worst so far.”
“This also includes the enhanced edition that makes the old graphics a little prettier and easier to tell what some things are.”
“Only play this if you're interested in LucasArts' graphic adventure history (use a guide, unless you like wasting time).”
- humor10 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game features a blend of dark humor and quirky characters, delivering several funny moments and entertaining puzzles, though some players find it tedious. While it may not reach the comedic heights of classic LucasArts titles, it offers a charming experience with a solid story and clever references, making it worth a try for fans of pixel art and humor. Overall, the humor is well-received, contributing to the game's appeal despite some criticisms.
“Great mix of dark humor and mystery.”
“Great variety in the settings, cool and funny puzzles.”
“Nevertheless it is a game that packs lovely pixelated graphics, a crazy story, adorable characters, good sense of humor and it is entertaining enough to give it a try.”
- gameplay6 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 17 % negative mentions
The gameplay features unique mechanics such as controlling multiple characters and non-linear exploration, adding depth to the experience. However, players find it frustrating due to a lack of guidance, difficulty in locating items, and an unengaging story, which can detract from the overall enjoyment. While some elements are enjoyable, the challenging nature of the gameplay may not appeal to everyone.
“Gameplay mechanics like controlling multiple characters or traveling freely everywhere were unique for back then and made the game less linear.”
“Some unique gameplay mechanics that give it extra depth.”
“It can be a fun game and elements are awesome, but the gameplay is rock hard.”
“The gameplay is annoying; there are no hints on what you should do, it’s easy to miss items, and the story isn’t entertaining enough to push through.”
- music4 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The inclusion of the enhanced "FM Towns" edition with a CD audio soundtrack has been well-received, adding a nostalgic touch to the game's retro graphics and gameplay. Players appreciate the vibrant visuals and the expansive locations, which are complemented by the improved music quality. Overall, the soundtrack significantly enhances the gaming experience.
“We both enjoyed the retro graphics and music along with the simple gameplay and fun puzzles.”
“The various locations around the world (and off the world) that one visits makes the game pretty expansive, and when running the FM Towns version included here, with more color, better graphics, and a CD soundtrack, the game can look pretty good at times.”
- grinding2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game tedious, particularly due to the financial requirements for travel and the need to chain flights, which can become frustrating as cash runs low. What begins as an enjoyable experience quickly turns into a repetitive chore.
“However, the requirement for money to travel and having to chain flights together gets tedious pretty quickly, especially once you start running low on cash and need to get more.”
“This game starts fun and quickly becomes tedious.”
