Zak McKracken: Between Time and Space
Zak McKracken: Between Time and Space | |
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File:Zak McKracken Between Time and Space cover.jpg | |
Developer(s) | Artificial Hair Bros. |
Publisher(s) | Artificial Hair Bros. |
Engine | Visionaire Adventure Game Engine |
Platforms | |
Release date(s) |
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Genre(s) | Point-and-click adventure |
Mode(s) | Single-player |
Zak McKracken: Between Time and Space is a point-and-click adventure game, originally released in 2008. It is an unofficial fan sequel of the 1988 adventure game Zak McKracken and the Alien Mindbenders by LucasArts. It was developed without the involvement or approval of the latter.[1] It contains numerous references to the original game, including easter eggs. The game took more than seven years to complete and has since been further developed, with a director's cut released in May 2015.
Plot
Like in the original game, the player assumes the role of Zak McKracken, a frustrated boulevard reporter from San Francisco. The story begins in the night of 27 July 2009. Zak, apparently working on a new story, stows away on board of a Russian freighter that flies from Memphis to Zürich. He dozes off and awakes when the aeroplane is held in mid-air by an UFO and boarded by aliens. He is caught before he can escape.
On the next day, Zak awakes in his bed in his apartment and deems the events as an intense dream. When he notices a bump on his head, he realises that it actually happened. Since he cannot remember why he was on board, he goes on to discover what lead him there.
Development
The game was released in German for Windows in April 2008. Since the release, the developers have worked on a director's cut in which several bugs were addressed, the story was expanded and other improvements were made. The director's cut also brought the game to the Mac and Linux and was translated into English (including voices) and French.
The game uses the Visionaire Adventure Game Engine which allows game developers without substantial know-how to create point-and-click adventures. The engine is able to process graphics, animations, film sequences and audio files and provides templates for the basic controls and the inventory system (similar to SCUMM). The developers based the controls of the game on the original game. The player moves between 2D scenes and can interact with certain characters and objects. Sometimes the player will see 3D sequences in which no interactions can be made, to advance the storyline.
Reception
The original release has been received favourably by German video game critics. GameStar considered it to be one of the best freeware games.[2] Chip listed it as one the 50 best freeware games and apps of all time.[3] Peter Steinlechner of golem.de called the gameplay "cleverly built and beautifully original". He criticised the reuse of some underdeveloped puzzle mechanics of the original game and described the graphics as "not entirely ultramodern". However, he praised the dialogues and voice actors, as well as the verb-based user interface. He concluded with: "Between Time and Space is an exciting, funny and original game for which one could have asked money from fans of the genre."[4] For Timo Steinhaus of gamona.de the game does not have to "shy away from comparisons to other, professionally created adventures". He praised the gameplay, the attention to detail of the developers, the music and the voiced dialogues.[5]
References
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External links
- Pages with broken file links
- Official website not in Wikidata
- 2008 video games
- Point-and-click adventure games
- Fangames
- OS X games
- Linux games
- Windows games
- Comedy video games
- Science fiction video games
- Video games set in San Francisco, California
- Video games set in Mexico
- Video games set in Paris
- Video games set in Scotland
- Video games set in Hawaii
- Video games set in Switzerland
- Video games set in the Arctic
- Video games set in New York City
- Video games set in the future
- Video games set in outer space
- Video games set in the 1980s
- Video games developed in Germany