Zork III completes the classic all-text adventure originally written in 1979 on the DEC PDP-11. Like its predecessors, there is a considerable amount of "new" material incorporated not present in the mainframe version, all written in the graphically imaginative style with which even the Atari's Hi-Res pages cannot compete.

When Zork III begins, you are at the bottom of a long staircase (which should strike a responsive chord to those who have completed Zork II), equipped only with your lamp and your imagination. At the end, you are in the Treasure Room with all of the treasures of Zork at your, disposal, including a controlling interest in Frobozzco International. In between, you may hear, or see and hear, the fabled Dimwit Flathead, glimpse into a ritualistic scene from a to-be-hoped-for Zork IV, and speak with - or even command - the omniscient Dungeon Master himself. All along the way you will enjoy the excellent save-game implementation, command parser, and vocabulary characteristic of Infocom programs.

Zork III, with its 58 mappable locations (excluding the 8 by 8 matrix "Royal Puzzle"), is slightly smaller than its predecessors; but it is rich in subtle detail. It is perhaps the most entertaining of the three, with very logical, highly interactive puzzles. It is possible to successfully complete the game and still miss much of this detail: you may never find that peculiar set of conditions which can cause a sign to change in its inscription, hinting gently that you may have gone astray. There are numerous, amusingly tongue-in-cheek responses to inputs that otherwise get you nowhere. Overall, the game is somewhat more difficult than Zork II, due to several individually difficult puzzles, and also because of their high degree of interaction. You can easily find yourself in a no-win situation, a condition you may not realize until the game is replayed, making alternate life-and-death decisions which are available only once.

The conclusion provides an unexpected and novel twist, but to get that far requires an equally unusual approach as far as most adventures are concerned. Don't count on the seven point score system giving you any real guidance as to your true progress. It is relatively easy to have all seven points and yet find yourself in another no-win situation. The points, like other elements of the game, only prove that things are not always what they seem. Indeed, the toughest puzzles award no points, and several toughies remain unsolved even once all the points have been awarded.

Zork III represents a highwater mark for subtlety and logic, and is a Four Star must, not only for previous Zorkers but also for anyone who enjoys adventure games or pleasurable mental stimulation. The game is a separate and complete game unto itself, requiring no knowledge of Zork I and Zork II. However, for maximum enjoyment and imaginative continuity, it is recommended that they be played in sequence.