Spiritwrak

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs

GAME DESIGNER:Daniel Yu
GAME DEVELOPER:Freeware
GAME PUBLISHER:Freeware
Copyright 1996, Daniel Yu

Spiritwrak is an excellent fanmade game set in Infocom’s Zork universe. Featuring spells from the Enchanter trilogy (which appear as prayers in the game) and the quirky humor of Zork trilogy, Spiritwrak casts you as a cleric with a long-term quest set during the transition from the Age of Magic to the Age of Science.

The game is very faithful to Infocom’s universe, down to the writing style and numerous references to Zork. There are dozens of puzzles that range from the very obscure to the ingenious. The parser is slightly disappointing – some obvious synonyms are left out, and some puzzles require you to use the exact syntax the designer has in mind. Still, the game quality overall is very good, and Zork fans will enjoy off-the-wall humor and jokes. As a bonus, the game is much longer than an average freeware game, so you will possibly spend weeks on this warm nostalgic trip into the past. Unfair puzzles and obscure hints notwithstanding, Spiritwrak is a charming IF game that is true to the spirit of Infocom’s classics. Recommended!