Zork Nemesis: The Forbidden Lands
- April 18, 2017
- Zombie Studios
- 2h median play time
Get on SteamIn Zork Nemesis: The Forbidden Lands, you journey through five diverse worlds to uncover the secret of Alchemy and free trapped souls from an evil demon's grasp. This immersive game features 65 innovative puzzles, Hollywood-level production with live-action video and actors, and compelling ambient music and effects. Directed by a renowned live action director, it promises a captivating and challenging experience. Will you dare to enter the Forbidden Lands and confront the Nemesis?
Mac OS
PC
Ms Dos
Reviews
- The game features engaging puzzles that provide satisfying eureka moments and require thoughtful exploration.
- The story is well-crafted, with professional acting in the cutscenes that enhances the overall experience.
- Despite its age, the game offers a unique and immersive atmosphere, making it a memorable addition to the Zork series.
- The image and sound quality are poor, making it difficult to follow the story and enjoy the cutscenes.
- Mouse sensitivity is excessively high, causing frustrating navigation issues that hinder gameplay.
- The game can be overly challenging, often requiring a walkthrough to progress, which may deter some players.
- story11 mentions
- 45 % positive mentions
- 27 % neutral mentions
- 27 % negative mentions
The story of Zork Nemesis is engaging and immersive, revolving around the plight of four alchemists trapped by an evil presence, which players uncover as they explore a richly detailed world. While some found the narrative challenging to follow, many praised the well-executed cutscenes and the balance of dark themes with whimsical elements, contributing to a memorable gaming experience. Overall, the storytelling is complemented by excellent atmosphere and varied locations, making it a standout aspect of the game.
“The story is well done and some of the acting in the cutscenes was very good.”
“The plot involves you entering an ancient, run-down temple and learning about the plight of four great alchemists who have been trapped in a state of purgatory by an evil presence called Nemesis.”
“This made it difficult for me to follow the story.”
“Even if its tone and story can get pretty dark, these qualities are ultimately what made Zork Nemesis a more memorable and, quite honestly, more engaging experience.”
“As a child (with Dutch as my first language), I never really understood the story, but now I do.”
- atmosphere4 mentions
- 75 % positive mentions
- -50 % neutral mentions
- 75 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is a blend of dark, oppressive elements and whimsical, eerie undertones, creating an immersive experience that contrasts with its comic snark. While it may not boast the best graphics due to its nostalgic roots, the engaging gameplay and story contribute to a well-crafted and atmospheric environment. Overall, players find it to be a compelling and atmospheric game.
“Excellent puzzles, fun, whimsical atmosphere, while still being a little eerie... yes, it's a throwback to 1996, so don't expect the best graphics, but the gameplay and story make it all worth it.”
“The story is nice, the acting is pretty good, and the atmosphere is immersive.”
“Its dark, oppressive, and mystical atmosphere doesn't fit with the comic snark we are used to.”
“The game tries to create a tense atmosphere, but it often feels forced and artificial.”
“Despite the beautiful graphics, the atmosphere feels hollow and lacks any real emotional depth.”
- graphics4 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 75 % negative mentions
The graphics are a nostalgic throwback to 1996, featuring pre-rendered backgrounds and live-action FMV that were once considered cutting-edge, though they may not meet modern standards. While the visuals are described as "okay for the day," the overall gameplay and story compensate for any graphical shortcomings. However, the lack of modern features like achievements and graphical settings may detract from the experience for some players.
“Excellent puzzles, fun, whimsical atmosphere, while still being a little eerie... yes, it's a throwback to 1996, so don't expect the best graphics, but the gameplay and story make it all worth it.”
“The graphics are pre-rendered backgrounds with live action FMV playing on top of them, which at the time was very exciting and cutting edge.”
“There are no achievements, trading cards, gamepad controls, graphical settings, etc. Moreover, the DOS version requires you to use keyboard commands to save (Ctrl+S), load (Ctrl+R), exit (Ctrl+Q), and set options (Ctrl+P) because there are no menus.”
“Graphics are okay (for the day).”
- music3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game's music is highly praised, featuring a haunting and beautiful soundtrack that enhances the exploration of its visually stunning environments and puzzle-solving elements. Many reviewers suggest that the soundtrack alone makes the game worth purchasing, highlighting the effective use of the game's audio resources.
“The game itself seems more like a title from the Myst series, exploring mostly empty yet beautiful locations and solving various puzzles to a haunting yet great soundtrack.”
“Also worth buying for the soundtrack alone.”
“The music and sound effects are very nice; they really made the most of the 3 or 4 CDs the game shipped on.”
- gameplay2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players note that the gameplay is engaging and reminiscent of previous experiences, offering many hours of entertainment.
“I've only just started it, but the story and gameplay are as I remember.”
“Many hours of gameplay.”
- humor2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is sparse, with only a few moments intended to lighten its otherwise somber tone. However, when present, the humor is noted to be effective and well-integrated into the challenging Zork universe.
“This game is another challenging addition to the Zork universe that takes a more somber tone punctuated with good humor.”
- stability1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Users have noted that stability issues may arise, often requiring players to seek solutions through online forums for troubleshooting.
“Be warned and ready to do some forum troubleshooting.”
“The game crashes frequently, making it nearly unplayable.”
“I experienced constant lag and disconnections during gameplay.”
