Zork: Grand Inquisitor is the first in line of the supposed second trilogy in the series. In this Zorkian adventure, you must overcome many whimsical creatures in your quest to save the underground empire from the rule of the evil Grand Inquisitor. The storyline is about a lone adventurer (you) who must find help from several friends in the world of Flatheadia (GUE) to find some of the artifacts like the Coconut of Quendor (Beyond Zork) and other treasures to restore magic and save the world from the tyrannical yet foppish Grand Inquisitor. In this game you get to meet Antharia Jack, the person who stars in the television series based on the story of the adventure from the first three games on ZTV.
In late Augur of 966 GUE, faced with the end of magic, the second Dungeon Master played a final practical joke. He selected Dalboz of Gurth, a promising GUE Tech student, as his successor. Moments later, the Sorceress Y'Gael's shadow nearly remakes the universe in its own image with the Cubes of Foundation, but timely intervention by an Ex-Peasant (Beyond Zork) brings about the destruction of the Shadow and all of Magick. The University closes due to the non-presence of magic.
Dalboz spends the next 84 years researching methods of returning Magick to the empire. In 1050 GUE, he battles against Yannick, his former roommate and Grand Inquisitor, and leader of the Theocracy of Quendor. Dalboz looses his life and Mr. Yannick looses his hair.
In 1052 GUE, after a short stay with Sorceress Y'Gael's spirit on the Ethereal Planes of Atrii, Dalboz of Gurth's spirit comes to reside in a Rusty Brass Lantern beneath the docks in Port Foozle. (Y'Gael wanted the extra room for an office)
The soul of Dalboz, the third Dungeon Master of the Great Underground Empire, is currently trapped in a Brass Lantern underneath the Docks in Port Foozle.
It is the 34th of Frobuary of the year 1067, and you are a Frobozz Electric PermaSuck Salesperson. You must use your PermaSuck machine and all of your wits to aid Dalboz in returning Magick to the Great Underground Empire.
Here are a group of full screen captures (With the Wide Screen Bars removed of course) for your enjoyment.
Charon, Who listens to Cool Jazz
Another shot of Charon
Home of the Dungeon Master, Dalboz
The entrance to GUE Tech University
My oh my, what a lovely archipelago
The night view off the pier in Port Foozle
Interior, GUE Tech
The Zork Underground, the Subway system of the Great Underground Empire
Ahh, nothing like ending with a shot of that famous White House.
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The Grand Inquisitor - Eric Avari (StarGate) |
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Antharia Jack - Dirk Benedict (Battlestar Gallactica /The A-Team) |
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Voice: Dalboz of Gurth, The Dungeon Master - Michael McKean (Saturday Night Live) |
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Voice: Belboz / Perils of Magic - Philip Clark |
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Sorceress Y'Gael - Jordana Capra (Writer - Hooperman Starring John Ritter) |
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Wartle, Captain of the Inquisition - Rip Taylor (Comedian) |
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Inquisition Officer - Oliver Muirhead (Austin Powers II / The Amazing Spiderman) |
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Totemization Expert - Douglas Carrigan |
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Lucy Flathead - Amy Jacobson (Ohh la LA!) |
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Floyd, the Bouncer - John Gibb |
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Voice of the Inquisition / Bickering Torch - David Landen |
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Voice of the Two-Headed Hades Guard / DM Security System - Chick Venerra (Animaniacs) |
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Old Inquisition Guard / Bartender - Earl Schuman |
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Voice of the Griff - Manty Ingles |
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Voice of the Brigmoid / Sea Captain - Earl Boen (Dr. Silberman - Terminator II) |
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Voice of Marvin, the Mythical Goatfish - Roger Rose (Ski Patrol) |
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Voice of Fish Lady / Shona - Diane Pershing (She-Ra) |
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The Pop Rocks Warning / The Spell Checker - Leigh French (History of the World - Part 1) |
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Man Trapped in the Dragon / Flickering Torch - Val Bettin (The Great Mouse Detective) |
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Voice of the Invisible Bridge Guard / Doug - Donovan Freeberg |
The soundtrack to Zork: Grand Inquisitor was masterfully composed by John Beal. I have the Finale Track available to hear in RealAudio Format HERE. It is available for purchasing at Intrada.
I have made a walkthrough for this game as well, so eat your heart out.
Just don't get any blood on my Commodore 64 and everything will be just dandy.
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Within the game, try
typing the following words at appropriate places. Before trying any of
these, be sure to save your game! |
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The other Dungeon Master branding Zork games were: Zork III (Successor to Original), and Zork Zero. (First Dungeon Master / Transformer of Flathead Castle into the White House), also Beyond Zork is in a way, as the end of Magick forced the Second Dungeon Master to name Dalboz, the Third Dungeon Master. |
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The Monastery that has been transformed into the
Inquisition Headquarters can't be the same one from Zork Nemesis, as that
monastery was (apparently) not on the planet Zork. |
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You can turn the umbrella tree invisible to see the
scroll inside if you like, but it doesn’t help you retrieve the item. |
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In GUE Tech, you can change the word ‘Hallway’
invisible so that the doorway leads to the ‘Infinite’ This creates a
portal to empty space, and you are sucked through. |
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The Moss of Mareilon found in the Flood Control Dam #3
station also appears in Zork III, and Beyond Zork. |
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You can use the GOLGATEM spell on the waterway above the
Flood Control dam for a snide remark from Dalboz. |
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Inside the Inquisition headquarters, there is a display
about Zork Nemesis entitles, “The Alchemical Debauchal)” |
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If you send yourself to New Jersey through the Totemizer,
you spend the rest of your life in retirement. |
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If you play to loose with Antharia Jack in the game of
Strip Grue, Fire, and Water, you will see that Lucy is wearing a damn lot of
clothing. I haven’t gotten
the game to let me lose yet, and I’m still trying to find out exactly how
many things she’s wearing. |
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If you don’t finish Lucy’s Port Foozle time tunnel
first, The Side flash between Jack and the Inquisitor will still say that
Jack lost the girl of his life over a game of Strip Grue, Fire, Water;
proving that you actually AREN’T changing history, but just playing it
out. |
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In this game, you actually go though the mysterious front
door of the White House, thought to be a false door that in truth actually
leads to a downward sloping tunnel that must lead you to (In my personal
opinion) the opposite bank of the chasm you only walk around the western
edge of in Zork I. |
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While under the White House as Brog, you can feed him the pile of rocks if you like. It makes him happy. |
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On Flathead Mesa, after you seal the guards in the tent, one of them shouts, “Oh My God, They’ve Killed Kenny!” From the Hit show, South Park. The interesting part is that South Park had only been on for couple of weeks when this game was released. This made me think that the creators of Zork and the Creators of South Park got together during production, although I have no proof. |
Original Price: $49.95
Zork: Grand Inquisitor was named #1 PC Gamer Adventure Game for May 1998