Difference between revisions of "Zak McKracken and the Alien Mindbenders (C64)"

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(Created page with "{{In Progress}} {{Infobox Game | Title = Zak McKracken and the Alien Mindbenders | BoxArt = | Platform = {{Platform|Commodore 64}} | Year = 1988 | Developer...")
 
 
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{{In Progress}}
 
 
{{Infobox Game
 
{{Infobox Game
 
  | Title    = Zak McKracken and the Alien Mindbenders
 
  | Title    = Zak McKracken and the Alien Mindbenders
−
  | BoxArt    =  
+
  | BoxArt    = Zak McKracken and the Alien Mindbenders - C64 - UK.jpg
 
  | Platform  = {{Platform|Commodore 64}}
 
  | Platform  = {{Platform|Commodore 64}}
 
  | Year      = 1988
 
  | Year      = 1988
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'''''Zak McKracken and the Alien Mindbenders''''' is LucasArt's second adventure game to use the SCUMM engine, and their last adventure game to be released on the Commodore 64. The story revolves around Zak McKracken, a journalist who one day has a bizarre dream, and decides to investigate it. His investigation ultimately leads him to discover that alien gangsters have taken over the phone company and intend to use an ancient apparatus on the planet Mars to turn the entire human race into morons.
 
'''''Zak McKracken and the Alien Mindbenders''''' is LucasArt's second adventure game to use the SCUMM engine, and their last adventure game to be released on the Commodore 64. The story revolves around Zak McKracken, a journalist who one day has a bizarre dream, and decides to investigate it. His investigation ultimately leads him to discover that alien gangsters have taken over the phone company and intend to use an ancient apparatus on the planet Mars to turn the entire human race into morons.
  
−
While far more expansive in scope than the previous [[Maniac Mension (C64)]], Zak McKracken is more akin to other adventure games from this era than LucasArt's subsequent efforts, as the solutions to the puzzles are often extremely obtuse, and any slight mistake can make it impossible to proceed in the game. Still, it has enough of the company's trademark humor and polished game design to make it a worthwhile experience.
+
While far more expansive in scope than the previous [[Maniac Mansion (C64)]], Zak McKracken is more akin to other adventure games from this era than LucasArt's subsequent efforts, as the solutions to the puzzles are often extremely obtuse, and any slight mistake can make it impossible to proceed in the game. Still, it has enough of the company's trademark humor and polished game design to make it a worthwhile experience.
  
 
==Screenshots==
 
==Screenshots==
 +
{| align="center" |
 +
|
 +
{{Screenshot
 +
| Image      = Zak McKracken and the Alien Mindbenders - C64 - Title Screen.png
 +
| Description = The title screen.}}
 +
{{Screenshot
 +
| Image      = Zak McKracken and the Alien Mindbenders - C64 - Boss.png
 +
| Description = Got some problems you want to tell us about, Zak?}}
 +
{{Screenshot
 +
| Image      = Zak McKracken and the Alien Mindbenders - C64 - Intro.png
 +
| Description = Some of the surreal imagery from the intro sequence.}}
 +
{{Screenshot
 +
| Image      = Zak McKracken and the Alien Mindbenders - C64 - Apartment.png
 +
| Description = Exploring Zak's apartment.}}
 +
{{Screenshot
 +
| Image      = Zak McKracken and the Alien Mindbenders - C64 - Space Gangsters.png
 +
| Description = The titular alien mindbenders plot their dastardly deeds.}}
 +
{{Screenshot
 +
| Image      = Zak McKracken and the Alien Mindbenders - C64 - Shop.png
 +
| Description = This shop sells several important items you'll need on your journey.}}
 +
|}
  
 
==Music==
 
==Music==
 +
Zak McKracken's soundtrack, while still a little bare-bones compared to most of LucasArts's later games, is still easily their most expansive C64-era soundtrack, boasting a catchy and memorable main theme tune, along with a couple of variations used for game overs and when you beat the game. The other themes tend to be shorter and more repetitive, and the space gangsters' theme gets pretty shrill in places, but otherwise, it's not a bad showing for a soundtrack from this era.
  
 
==Recording==
 
==Recording==
 +
{{TrackListBegin
 +
| Arranger    = Y}}
 +
{{TrackListEntry
 +
| Track      = 1
 +
| Title      = Zak's Theme
 +
| Composer    = {{TrackListComposer|Matthew Kane}}
 +
| Arranger    = {{TrackListArranger|Chris Grigg}}
 +
| DurationMin = 1
 +
| DurationSec = 24
 +
| Game        = Zak McKracken and the Alien Mindbenders
 +
| Platform    = C64
 +
| Recording  = 01 - Zak McKracken and the Alien Mindbenders - C64 - Zaks Theme.ogg
 +
}}
 +
{{TrackListEntry
 +
| Track      = 2
 +
| Title      = Airport Muzak
 +
| Composer    = {{TrackListComposer|Matthew Kane}}
 +
| Arranger    = {{TrackListArranger|Chris Grigg}}
 +
| DurationMin = 1
 +
| DurationSec = 9
 +
| Game        = Zak McKracken and the Alien Mindbenders
 +
| Platform    = C64
 +
| Recording  = 02 - Zak McKracken and the Alien Mindbenders - C64 - Airport Muzak.ogg
 +
}}
 +
{{TrackListEntry
 +
| Track      = 3
 +
| Title      = Airport Muzak Too
 +
| Composer    = {{TrackListComposer|Matthew Kane}}
 +
| Arranger    = {{TrackListArranger|Chris Grigg}}
 +
| DurationMin = 2
 +
| DurationSec = 23
 +
| Game        = Zak McKracken and the Alien Mindbenders
 +
| Platform    = C64
 +
| Recording  = 03 - Zak McKracken and the Alien Mindbenders - C64 - Airport Muzak Too.ogg
 +
}}
 +
{{TrackListEntry
 +
| Track      = 4
 +
| Title      = Mars Theme
 +
| Composer    = {{TrackListComposer|Matthew Kane}}
 +
| Arranger    = {{TrackListArranger|Chris Grigg}}
 +
| DurationMin = 0
 +
| DurationSec = 22
 +
| Game        = Zak McKracken and the Alien Mindbenders
 +
| Platform    = C64
 +
| Recording  = 04 - Zak McKracken and the Alien Mindbenders - C64 - Mars Theme.ogg
 +
}}
 +
{{TrackListEntry
 +
| Track      = 5
 +
| Title      = Space Song
 +
| Composer    = {{TrackListComposer|Matthew Kane}}
 +
| Arranger    = {{TrackListArranger|Chris Grigg}}
 +
| DurationMin = 1
 +
| DurationSec = 6
 +
| Game        = Zak McKracken and the Alien Mindbenders
 +
| Platform    = C64
 +
| Recording  = 05 - Zak McKracken and the Alien Mindbenders - C64 - Space Song.ogg
 +
}}
 +
{{TrackListEntry
 +
| Track      = 6
 +
| Title      = Pop Goes the Weasel
 +
| Composer    = {{TrackListComposer|Traditional}}
 +
| Arranger    = {{TrackListArranger|Chris Grigg}}
 +
| DurationMin = 0
 +
| DurationSec = 6
 +
| Game        = Zak McKracken and the Alien Mindbenders
 +
| Platform    = C64
 +
| Recording  = 06 - Zak McKracken and the Alien Mindbenders - C64 - Pop Goes the Weasel.ogg
 +
}}
 +
{{TrackListEntry
 +
| Track      = 7
 +
| Title      = Game Over
 +
| TitleLink  = Game Over - Zak McKracken and the Alien Mindbenders
 +
| Composer    = {{TrackListComposer|Matthew Kane}}, {{TrackListComposer|Frédéric Chopin}}
 +
| Arranger    = {{TrackListArranger|Chris Grigg}}
 +
| DurationMin = 1
 +
| DurationSec = 44
 +
| Game        = Zak McKracken and the Alien Mindbenders
 +
| Platform    = C64
 +
| Recording  = 07 - Zak McKracken and the Alien Mindbenders - C64 - Game Over.ogg
 +
}}
 +
{{TrackListEntry
 +
| Track      = 8
 +
| Title      = Victory
 +
| TitleLink  = Victory - Zak McKracken and the Alien Mindbenders
 +
| Composer    = {{TrackListComposer|Matthew Kane}}
 +
| Arranger    = {{TrackListArranger|Chris Grigg}}
 +
| DurationMin = 1
 +
| DurationSec = 55
 +
| Game        = Zak McKracken and the Alien Mindbenders
 +
| Platform    = C64
 +
| Recording  = 08 - Zak McKracken and the Alien Mindbenders - C64 - Victory.ogg
 +
}}
 +
{{TrackListEnd}}
 +
  
 
===Credits===
 
===Credits===
Line 24: Line 139:
 
** ''Music and Sound Effects:'' {{Credits|Matthew Kane}}
 
** ''Music and Sound Effects:'' {{Credits|Matthew Kane}}
 
** ''Music and Sound Effects:'' {{Credits|Chris Grigg}}
 
** ''Music and Sound Effects:'' {{Credits|Chris Grigg}}
 +
* '''Manual Credits:'''
 +
** ''Original Music:'' {{Credits|Matthew Kane}}
 +
** ''Sound Effects:'' {{Credits|Matthew Kane}}
 +
** ''Sound Effects:'' {{Credits|Chris Grigg}}
 +
** ''Sound Effects:'' {{Credits|David Warhol}}
  
 
([[:File:Zak McKracken and the Alien Mindbenders - C64 - Credits.png|Source]])
 
([[:File:Zak McKracken and the Alien Mindbenders - C64 - Credits.png|Source]])
 +
 +
[[Matthew Kane]], the game's co-designer, composed the game's music early in development using a Roland synthesizer, with the music later being programmed to run on the C64 by [[Chris Grigg]]. Grigg is not credited in the game's other ports, indicating that he was not involved with the actual music composition. The game's manual also reveals that [[David Warhol]] worked on the game's sound effects, making this the earliest known instance where Lucasfilm Games outsourced their sound production duties (even if only partly, in this case) to [[Realtime Associates]].
 +
 +
The song titles are taken, where available, from Matthew Kane's sheet music. The two exceptions are the songs used for game overs and when you beat the game, which do not appear as part of the sheet music, likely because they're just variations of the main theme.
  
 
===Game Rip===
 
===Game Rip===
 
{{Rips
 
{{Rips
 
| Formats = {{Format|SID}}
 
| Formats = {{Format|SID}}
−
| File    =  
+
| File    = Zak McKracken and the Alien Mindbenders (C64).zip
 
}}
 
}}
  
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==Releases==
 
==Releases==
 +
{| align="center" |
 +
|
 +
{{Publication
 +
| Title      = Zak McKracken and the Alien Mindbenders
 +
| BoxArt      =
 +
| Platform    = {{Platform|Commodore 64}}
 +
| Publisher  = {{Publisher|LucasArts|Lucasfilm Games, LLC.}}
 +
| Released    = 1988-10-??
 +
| Country    = USA
 +
}}
 +
{{Publication
 +
| Title      = Zak McKracken and the Alien Mindbenders
 +
| BoxArt      = Zak McKracken and the Alien Mindbenders - C64 - UK.jpg
 +
| Platform    = {{Platform|Commodore 64}}
 +
| Publisher  = {{Publisher|LucasArts|Lucasfilm Games, LLC.}}
 +
| Released    = 1989-??-??
 +
| Country    = UK
 +
}}
 +
{{Publication
 +
| Title      = Zak McKracken and the Alien Mindbenders
 +
| BoxArt      = Zak McKracken and the Alien Mindbenders - C64 - Germany.jpg
 +
| Platform    = {{Platform|Commodore 64}}
 +
| Publisher  = {{Publisher|LucasArts|Lucasfilm Games, LLC.}}
 +
| Released    = 1989-??-??
 +
| Country    = Germany
 +
}}
 +
|}
  
 
==Links==
 
==Links==

Latest revision as of 14:38, 16 April 2021

Zak McKracken and the Alien Mindbenders
Zak McKracken and the Alien Mindbenders - C64 - UK.jpg
Platform: Commodore 64
Year: 1988
Developer: Lucasfilm Games, LLC
Buy: Amazon

Zak McKracken and the Alien Mindbenders is LucasArt's second adventure game to use the SCUMM engine, and their last adventure game to be released on the Commodore 64. The story revolves around Zak McKracken, a journalist who one day has a bizarre dream, and decides to investigate it. His investigation ultimately leads him to discover that alien gangsters have taken over the phone company and intend to use an ancient apparatus on the planet Mars to turn the entire human race into morons.

While far more expansive in scope than the previous Maniac Mansion (C64), Zak McKracken is more akin to other adventure games from this era than LucasArt's subsequent efforts, as the solutions to the puzzles are often extremely obtuse, and any slight mistake can make it impossible to proceed in the game. Still, it has enough of the company's trademark humor and polished game design to make it a worthwhile experience.

Screenshots

Zak McKracken and the Alien Mindbenders - C64 - Title Screen.png

The title screen.

Zak McKracken and the Alien Mindbenders - C64 - Boss.png

Got some problems you want to tell us about, Zak?

Zak McKracken and the Alien Mindbenders - C64 - Intro.png

Some of the surreal imagery from the intro sequence.

Zak McKracken and the Alien Mindbenders - C64 - Apartment.png

Exploring Zak's apartment.

Zak McKracken and the Alien Mindbenders - C64 - Space Gangsters.png

The titular alien mindbenders plot their dastardly deeds.

Zak McKracken and the Alien Mindbenders - C64 - Shop.png

This shop sells several important items you'll need on your journey.

Music

Zak McKracken's soundtrack, while still a little bare-bones compared to most of LucasArts's later games, is still easily their most expansive C64-era soundtrack, boasting a catchy and memorable main theme tune, along with a couple of variations used for game overs and when you beat the game. The other themes tend to be shorter and more repetitive, and the space gangsters' theme gets pretty shrill in places, but otherwise, it's not a bad showing for a soundtrack from this era.

Recording

# Title ComposerArranger Length Listen Download
01 Zak's Theme Matthew KaneChris Grigg 1:24
Download
02 Airport Muzak Matthew KaneChris Grigg 1:09
Download
03 Airport Muzak Too Matthew KaneChris Grigg 2:23
Download
04 Mars Theme Matthew KaneChris Grigg 0:22
Download
05 Space Song Matthew KaneChris Grigg 1:06
Download
06 Pop Goes the Weasel TraditionalChris Grigg 0:06
Download
07 Game Over Matthew Kane, Frédéric ChopinChris Grigg 1:44
Download
08 Victory Matthew KaneChris Grigg 1:55
Download


Credits

(Source)

Matthew Kane, the game's co-designer, composed the game's music early in development using a Roland synthesizer, with the music later being programmed to run on the C64 by Chris Grigg. Grigg is not credited in the game's other ports, indicating that he was not involved with the actual music composition. The game's manual also reveals that David Warhol worked on the game's sound effects, making this the earliest known instance where Lucasfilm Games outsourced their sound production duties (even if only partly, in this case) to Realtime Associates.

The song titles are taken, where available, from Matthew Kane's sheet music. The two exceptions are the songs used for game overs and when you beat the game, which do not appear as part of the sheet music, likely because they're just variations of the main theme.

Game Rip

Format

Download

SID.png

Download

(Info)


Ripping Commodore 64 music is beyond the scope of this Wiki.

Releases

  USA.svg   USA
BoxMissing.png
Title: Zak McKracken and the Alien Mindbenders
Platform: Commodore 64
Released: 1988-10-??
Publisher: Lucasfilm Games, LLC.
  UK.svg   UK
Zak McKracken and the Alien Mindbenders - C64 - UK.jpg
Title: Zak McKracken and the Alien Mindbenders
Platform: Commodore 64
Released: 1989-??-??
Publisher: Lucasfilm Games, LLC.
  Germany.svg   Germany
Zak McKracken and the Alien Mindbenders - C64 - Germany.jpg
Title: Zak McKracken and the Alien Mindbenders
Platform: Commodore 64
Released: 1989-??-??
Publisher: Lucasfilm Games, LLC.

Links

Retrieved from "https://www.vgmpf.com/Wiki/index.php?title=Zak_McKracken_and_the_Alien_Mindbenders_(C64)&oldid=134987"