Enchanter (video game)

Infocom

Industry	Video game development
Founded	1979 (1979)
Founder	Marc Blank, Dave Lebling, and others
Headquarters	United States
Products	Interactive fiction games, including Enchanter

Enchanter is an interactive fiction title created by Infocom, which debuted on August 10, 1983. Crafted by designers Marc Blank and Dave Lebling, it marked Infocom's ninth release and the company’s initial venture into fantasy following the Zork trilogy, originally conceived as Zork IV. Boasting a parser vocabulary exceeding 700 words, it represented the most sophisticated interactive fiction experience available at the time. The game was succeeded by the 1984 follow-up, Sorcerer.

Plot

Players assume the role of an apprentice Enchanter tasked with halting Krill, a formidable sorcerer who is unleashing disorder. Starting with only a limited set of weak spells, the player must locate more potent magic inscribed on scrolls while evading Krill’s awareness, as his responses intensify with growing threats.

Gameplay

The spellcasting mechanics in Enchanter draw inspiration from Ursula K. Le Guin's Earthsea novels and the Vancian magic system found in Dungeons & Dragons. Spells need to be memorized prior to use and are executed through verb commands entered into the parser (for example, typing FROTZ BOOK to cause an object to emit light).

Notes

An altar used for sacrifices in Enchanter was alluded to within Zork III, which was initially intended to be part of the Zork series but eventually evolved into its own trilogy known as "The Enchanter Trilogy," comprising 1984's Sorcerer and 1985's Spellbreaker. Infocom classified Enchanter as having a "Standard" level of difficulty. Unlike other entries in the Zork franchise, this game does not explicitly mention grues. There are 17 distinct ways for the player character to perish during gameplay.

Legacy

In 1993, Japanese company SystemSoft produced a graphical adaptation for the NEC PC-9801 platform titled Enchanter: Wakaki Madōshi no Shirén (エンチャンター ～若き魔導士の試練～, Enchantā ～Wakaki Madōshi no Shirén～; lit. "Enchanter: The Trial of the Young Sorcerer"). The contemporary open-source interpreter Frotz takes its name from a spell featured in Enchanter, as does the Blorb format used for multimedia resources in interactive fiction. Various IF development tools have also adopted names derived from spells within this series.

Reception

By late 1984, sales of Enchanter had reached roughly 50,000 units, eventually totaling around 75,000 copies including those sold as part of the trilogy collection. Computer Gaming World lauded it as "typically excellent," consistent with Infocom’s reputation for quality. The magazine Ahoy! appreciated its cleverness and unexpected elements but suggested that seasoned players might find it less demanding. John J. Anderson in Creative Computing praised its craftsmanship and meticulous design. Compute! emphasized its engaging challenge and narrative continuity despite some humor being somewhat overt. Ron Boerger from Space Gamer recommended it highly for enthusiasts of text-based role-playing adventures.

External links

• Packaging at the Gallery of Zork
• Walkthrough