Zorro (1985 video game)

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Zorro
C64 Zorro Cover art.jpg
Commodore 64 cover
Developer(s) Datasoft
Publisher(s) U.S. Gold
Designer(s) James Garon [1]
Artist(s) Kelly Day [2]
Platform(s) Amstrad CPC, Apple II, Atari 8-bit, Commodore 64, ZX Spectrum
Release1985: Atari, Apple, CPC, C64
1986: Spectrum
Genre(s) Puzzle-platform
Mode(s) Single-player

Zorro is a puzzle-platform game written by James Garon and published by Datasoft in 1985. [1] Versions were released for the Apple II, Atari 8-bit family, Commodore 64, and Amstrad CPC. A ZX Spectrum port was published in 1986 by U.S. Gold.

Contents

Gameplay

Gameplay screenshot (Atari 8-bit) Zorro (1985 video game) Atari 8-bit PAL screenshot.png
Gameplay screenshot (Atari 8-bit)

The player's task is, as the title character, to get to the heavily guarded fort and free his beloved from the clutches of the evil Sergeant Garcia. Gameplay is very similar to another Datasoft platformer - Bruce Lee, however Zorro has a slower pace and more puzzles. These mainly involve collecting items from a specific room in the city, then carrying them and using them in the appropriate place (such as heating up a branding iron in a fireplace and using it on a bull). The game features 20 different locations, including catacombs under the city, an underground lake, and The Ole Hotel.

Reception

Zorro received mixed reviews. In 1986, Julian Rignall wrote in Zzap!, "If you like this sort of game then you could well be pleased with this, but if you like your action a little faster and hotter then you might find yourself bored playing Zorro." [3] The game was also reviewed in Computer and Video Games : "Graphically this rather standard platform game is not over impressive." [4]

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References

  1. 1 2 Hague, James. "The Giant List of Classic Game Programmers".
  2. "Zorro". Atari Mania.
  3. 1 2 Zorro review in Zzap! issue 10, February 1986, p. 38, ISSN 0954-867X here
  4. "Software Reviews". Computer and Video Games: 21. February 1986.