Zyll
Encyclopedia
Zyll was a pioneering text-based
game written for the IBM PC Jr. and released in 1984. It was written by Marshal Linder and Scott Edwards, two IBM
employees, and marketed as an adventure game
.
Zyll used to destroy the primary character's homeland. During the course of the game, various monsters would appear to do battle.
Players could choose the role of a warrior, thief, or wizard. Each role had different attributes, skills, and weaknesses. Players could also choose between using three types of armor, three different weapons, and two types of shields. Players choosing the role of wizard were able to choose between five different spells. The game featured a two player mode which allowed players to work cooperatively or competitively. In two player mode, each player used half of the keyboard
for their commands.
Zyll had a function key
interface based on the arrangement of the keys on a PC/XT
keyboard. In the same year of Zyll's release, IBM released new AT keyboard
s which changed the arrangement of the function keys by placing them at the top of the keyboard.
After banishment, Zyll accidentally discovered the magical "Black Orb" upon throwing a failed potion to the ground. The ancient texts said that anyone possessing the Black Orb would become more powerful than all of the other sorcerers.
Zyll used his new found powers to take revenge against the Land of Magic and Enchantment by stealing the "Great Treasures" that had been hidden in secret vaults for many years. He eventually turned the once prosperous country into a dark and barren wasteland.
Players are given the role of a daring adventurer who has decided to steal the Black Orb from Zyll in order to return the Land of Magic and Enchantment to its previous splendor. Upon obtaining the Black Orb, the player must collect at least four of the stolen Great Treasures in order to be instantly transported to the Land of Magic and Enchantment. Game-play begins with the player being transported to Zyll's home, the Castle Mitain.
Text game
A text game or text-based game is a video game that uses text characters instead of bitmapped or vector graphics. Text-based games were common from 1970 to 1990, but are still used today.- Overview :...
game written for the IBM PC Jr. and released in 1984. It was written by Marshal Linder and Scott Edwards, two IBM
IBM
International Business Machines Corporation or IBM is an American multinational technology and consulting corporation headquartered in Armonk, New York, United States. IBM manufactures and sells computer hardware and software, and it offers infrastructure, hosting and consulting services in areas...
employees, and marketed as an adventure game
Adventure game
An adventure game is a video game in which the player assumes the role of protagonist in an interactive story driven by exploration and puzzle-solving instead of physical challenge. The genre's focus on story allows it to draw heavily from other narrative-based media such as literature and film,...
.
Gameplay
The goal of Zyll was to search out and find the Black Orb, which the evil sorcererMagician (fantasy)
A magician, mage, sorcerer, sorceress, wizard, enchanter, enchantress, thaumaturge or a person known under one of many other possible terms is someone who uses or practices magic that derives from supernatural or occult sources...
Zyll used to destroy the primary character's homeland. During the course of the game, various monsters would appear to do battle.
Players could choose the role of a warrior, thief, or wizard. Each role had different attributes, skills, and weaknesses. Players could also choose between using three types of armor, three different weapons, and two types of shields. Players choosing the role of wizard were able to choose between five different spells. The game featured a two player mode which allowed players to work cooperatively or competitively. In two player mode, each player used half of the keyboard
Computer keyboard
In computing, a keyboard is a typewriter-style keyboard, which uses an arrangement of buttons or keys, to act as mechanical levers or electronic switches...
for their commands.
Zyll had a function key
Function key
A function key is a key on a computer or terminal keyboard which can be programmed so as to cause an operating system command interpreter or application program to perform certain actions...
interface based on the arrangement of the keys on a PC/XT
PC/XT
PC/XT has multiple possible meanings:* "PC/XT" may simply be shorthand for the IBM Personal Computer XT.* "PC/XT" may also be intended to mean "the IBM Personal Computer and/or the IBM Personal Computer XT"....
keyboard. In the same year of Zyll's release, IBM released new AT keyboard
AT keyboard
The AT keyboard was a keyboard with 84 keys introduced with the IBM PC/AT computer. It succeeded the 83-key PC/XT keyboard and therefore did not have many of the features seen on modern keyboards such as arrow keys and dual ctrl and alt keys. It was later replaced with the 101-key Enhanced keyboard...
s which changed the arrangement of the function keys by placing them at the top of the keyboard.
Storyline
The story begins in the "Land of Magic and Enchantment" where a young man named Zyll was unsuccessfully attempting to become a master of black magic. His ultimate goal was to become "Ruler of the Realm", an ambition for which he was eventually banished.After banishment, Zyll accidentally discovered the magical "Black Orb" upon throwing a failed potion to the ground. The ancient texts said that anyone possessing the Black Orb would become more powerful than all of the other sorcerers.
Zyll used his new found powers to take revenge against the Land of Magic and Enchantment by stealing the "Great Treasures" that had been hidden in secret vaults for many years. He eventually turned the once prosperous country into a dark and barren wasteland.
Players are given the role of a daring adventurer who has decided to steal the Black Orb from Zyll in order to return the Land of Magic and Enchantment to its previous splendor. Upon obtaining the Black Orb, the player must collect at least four of the stolen Great Treasures in order to be instantly transported to the Land of Magic and Enchantment. Game-play begins with the player being transported to Zyll's home, the Castle Mitain.