Zak McKracken

24.04.2008

Artificial Hair Bros. claims that all adventures need is a new haircut. And those guys are not wrong about that. Didn’t you all miss the “Use”, “Give”, “Open” inventories? At least us adventure fans? Sure you did! Zak McKracken - Between Time and Space puts an end to waiting for retro fun! With over 60 HAND-DRAWN locations, loads of puns and witty puzzles, a feeling of Maniac Mansion, Indiana Jones or just Zak McKracken comes up, something which you otherwise only get by playing one of the old games. But watch out! Zak McKracken is not worthy of the title, “fan adventure”. It turned out far too well for that. Because too much love has been invested into this project.

Zachary McKracken, our amiable, scatter-brained reporter, has made his way in life, at least for his circumstances. Due to his earnings as a book author (How Zak saved the world), he could afford to run his own editorial bureau. The sales figures of his - well, let’s be honest – trash magazine, rejoicing in the name of “National Infiltrator”, are dropping – what else did we expect. Zak is therefore always on the hunt for new blockbuster stories. Whether it is a Swede stricken with lockjaw during a cookie competition, or a mole travelling through time using microwaves. He was completely wrong on one of these. Barely returned from his first save-the-world-mission, he stumbles into another equally stressful situation. And of course, the Caponians play a role again. I will not give away which one.

In the tears-of joy-jerking LucasGames style, you guide Zak using the mouse through the many locations that the game has to offer. From San Francisco via Waikiki to Mexico, Scotland or (Hallelujah!) Switzerland! As you can see, our nomadic reporter once again roams the world in his latest adventure. The locations are equipped with several items which you can use, combine with others or just look at. Interesting – in contrast to “professional” adventures, Zak has significantly more sentences of the “I don’t want to use that” or “I won’t give Item X to Person X” type in store. You will hear repetitions only after 2 hours of game time. And even then, not too often.

Also great are the developers’ many references to the old LucasGames. ´For example a LucasArts logo is visible on Zak’s coffee mug. If you take a closer look at the cup using the “look” feature, Zak comments that “there is a peculiar logo on the cup... hmmm… never seen that before.” A large Manic Mansion poster hangs in Zak’s bedroom, and at the excavation site in Mexico, the wall paintings look suspiciously like crimson tentacles. The fact that you throw a stone in a hole at this excavation location to see what is in there also shows that Indiana Jones And The Fate of Atlantis has not been forgotten. You remember the rescue of Sophia Hapgood from the labyrinth.

Generally, the graphical atmosphere is strongly based on the old LucasGames adventures. Fortunately. Guiding Zak in 3D would not have been fun. Instead, Artificial Hair Bros. have inserted lovely 3D cut sequences. Anyone who sneers can set their mind at rest. The cut sequences fit very well into the game, as does the speakers’ excellent synchronisation. Only the synchronisation of good old Annie did not convince me. In return, everything else fits.