# Which version of Zak McKracken do you suggest I play? **URL:** \ **Category:** Adventure/Lucasfilm Games\ **Created:** [September 16, 2017, 6:26am UTC](https://forums.thimbleweedpark.com/t/which-version-of-zak-mckracken-do-you-suggest-i-play/1644 "2017-09-16T06:26:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Someone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b77776/32.png) [@Someone](https://forums.thimbleweedpark.com/u/Someone)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2017, 10:27am UTC](https://forums.thimbleweedpark.com/t/which-version-of-zak-mckracken-do-you-suggest-i-play/1644/61 "2017-09-17T10:27:59Z")
> [@Ema](#): > > I think the 9-verb UI was implemented along with inventory icons for MI2, then back ported to the VGA version of MI1. Exactly. 🙂 It was backported for the FMTowns- and the VGA-CD-version of MI1. ---
**Author:** ![milanfahrnholz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/cab0a1/32.png) [@milanfahrnholz](https://forums.thimbleweedpark.com/u/milanfahrnholz)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2017, 11:48am UTC](https://forums.thimbleweedpark.com/t/which-version-of-zak-mckracken-do-you-suggest-i-play/1644/62 "2017-09-17T11:48:35Z")
I guess I played the 12 verb version then, because I have never seen the inventory icons for MI1 until I played the classic version on the Special Edition. ---
**Author:** ![seguso](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/forums.thimbleweedpark.com/seguso/32/1232_2.png) [@seguso](https://forums.thimbleweedpark.com/u/seguso)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2017, 12:24pm UTC](https://forums.thimbleweedpark.com/t/which-version-of-zak-mckracken-do-you-suggest-i-play/1644/63 "2017-09-17T12:24:35Z")
> [@LowLevel](#): > > Can you compare its difficulty with other popular PnC adventure games (excluding MM, which I didn’t play either)? Zak is twice as hard as monkey 2. I haven’t finished it, far from it. I started over after 20+ years, and I haven’t even been able to even reach the point I had reached . It needs a lot of dedication. ---
**Author:** ![LowLevel](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/forums.thimbleweedpark.com/lowlevel/32/48_2.png) [@LowLevel](https://forums.thimbleweedpark.com/u/LowLevel)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2017, 12:30pm UTC](https://forums.thimbleweedpark.com/t/which-version-of-zak-mckracken-do-you-suggest-i-play/1644/64 "2017-09-17T12:30:17Z")
> [@seguso](#): > > It needs a lot of dedication. Thanks for the information. It’s not a reassuring one, because in this period I prefer more casual adventure games, but I could consider Zak a parallel long-term goal while playing also other games. ---
**Author:** ![Someone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b77776/32.png) [@Someone](https://forums.thimbleweedpark.com/u/Someone)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2017, 2:06pm UTC](https://forums.thimbleweedpark.com/t/which-version-of-zak-mckracken-do-you-suggest-i-play/1644/65 "2017-09-17T14:06:06Z")
> [@LowLevel](#): > > … because in this period I prefer more casual adventure games, but I could consider Zak a parallel long-term goal while playing also other games. Hint: In that case it’s important to write down some notes of what you have done and what you have _seen_. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![ZakPhoenixMcKracken](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/forums.thimbleweedpark.com/zakphoenixmckracken/32/41_2.png) [@ZakPhoenixMcKracken](https://forums.thimbleweedpark.com/u/ZakPhoenixMcKracken)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2017, 4:16pm UTC](https://forums.thimbleweedpark.com/t/which-version-of-zak-mckracken-do-you-suggest-i-play/1644/66 "2017-09-17T16:16:19Z")
> [@Someone](#): > > what you have seen. 🙂 And what you have _heard_ 😀 ---
**Author:** ![milanfahrnholz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/cab0a1/32.png) [@milanfahrnholz](https://forums.thimbleweedpark.com/u/milanfahrnholz)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2017, 4:19pm UTC](https://forums.thimbleweedpark.com/t/which-version-of-zak-mckracken-do-you-suggest-i-play/1644/67 "2017-09-17T16:19:18Z")
To be honest on my last playthrough I just photographed/filmed those parts with my phone. Made it much faster and easier. ---
**Author:** ![LowLevel](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/forums.thimbleweedpark.com/lowlevel/32/48_2.png) [@LowLevel](https://forums.thimbleweedpark.com/u/LowLevel)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2017, 4:28pm UTC](https://forums.thimbleweedpark.com/t/which-version-of-zak-mckracken-do-you-suggest-i-play/1644/68 "2017-09-17T16:28:44Z")
About the visual clues, can I just take screenshots or it’s necessary to take notes? I don’t mind taking notes but if a screenshot is also a good solution I might prefer that. ---
**Author:** ![milanfahrnholz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/cab0a1/32.png) [@milanfahrnholz](https://forums.thimbleweedpark.com/u/milanfahrnholz)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2017, 4:30pm UTC](https://forums.thimbleweedpark.com/t/which-version-of-zak-mckracken-do-you-suggest-i-play/1644/69 "2017-09-17T16:30:46Z")
You know, take the advantage that you play in 2017. It makes stuff easier especially if you´re not much of a drawer. ---
**Author:** ![Someone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b77776/32.png) [@Someone](https://forums.thimbleweedpark.com/u/Someone)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2017, 4:33pm UTC](https://forums.thimbleweedpark.com/t/which-version-of-zak-mckracken-do-you-suggest-i-play/1644/70 "2017-09-17T16:33:28Z")
> [@LowLevel](#): > > About the visual clues, can I just take screenshots or it’s necessary to take notes? Well, the answer to that would include a little spoiler. 🙂 I would say it this way: In Monkey Island 2 there is this “bone song”. How would you write the song down (if Guybrush wouldn’t do that already)? Would you do a screenshot every line, would you film it or would you write it down? ---
**Author:** ![LowLevel](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/forums.thimbleweedpark.com/lowlevel/32/48_2.png) [@LowLevel](https://forums.thimbleweedpark.com/u/LowLevel)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2017, 4:44pm UTC](https://forums.thimbleweedpark.com/t/which-version-of-zak-mckracken-do-you-suggest-i-play/1644/71 "2017-09-17T16:44:02Z")
OK, thanks, I’ll take notes for that kind of information that wouldn’t be convenient to keep/save as screenshots. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![LogicDeLuxe](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/forums.thimbleweedpark.com/logicdeluxe/32/15335_2.png) [@LogicDeLuxe](https://forums.thimbleweedpark.com/u/LogicDeLuxe)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2017, 4:51pm UTC](https://forums.thimbleweedpark.com/t/which-version-of-zak-mckracken-do-you-suggest-i-play/1644/72 "2017-09-17T16:51:52Z")
> [@LowLevel](#): > > About the visual clues, can I just take screenshots or it’s necessary to take notes? I don’t mind taking notes but if a screenshot is also a good solution I might prefer that. In some instances, you need to take note of certain sequences. You would need to take a video for that, if you prefer that over writing a few words down. ---
**Author:** ![ZakPhoenixMcKracken](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/forums.thimbleweedpark.com/zakphoenixmckracken/32/41_2.png) [@ZakPhoenixMcKracken](https://forums.thimbleweedpark.com/u/ZakPhoenixMcKracken)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2017, 5:44pm UTC](https://forums.thimbleweedpark.com/t/which-version-of-zak-mckracken-do-you-suggest-i-play/1644/73 "2017-09-17T17:44:11Z")
@LowLevel, begin the game, then you’ll find the best way. There are visual things to remember. Back then, I had to write them down. Now you can ~~cheat~~ use your mobile and take a picture. ---
**Author:** ![Nor\_Treblig](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/forums.thimbleweedpark.com/nor_treblig/32/216_2.png) [@Nor\_Treblig](https://forums.thimbleweedpark.com/u/Nor_Treblig)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2017, 6:02pm UTC](https://forums.thimbleweedpark.com/t/which-version-of-zak-mckracken-do-you-suggest-i-play/1644/74 "2017-09-17T18:02:24Z")
> [@ZakPhoenixMcKracken](#): > > Now you can ~~cheat~~ use your mobile and take a picture. Text editors also work great for most of this stuff. ---
**Author:** ![ZakPhoenixMcKracken](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/forums.thimbleweedpark.com/zakphoenixmckracken/32/41_2.png) [@ZakPhoenixMcKracken](https://forums.thimbleweedpark.com/u/ZakPhoenixMcKracken)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2017, 6:07pm UTC](https://forums.thimbleweedpark.com/t/which-version-of-zak-mckracken-do-you-suggest-i-play/1644/75 "2017-09-17T18:07:44Z")
> [@Nor\_Treblig](#): > > Text editors also work great for most of this stuff. Paper and pencil are still the best tools 😅 ---
**Author:** ![Someone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b77776/32.png) [@Someone](https://forums.thimbleweedpark.com/u/Someone)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2017, 8:44pm UTC](https://forums.thimbleweedpark.com/t/which-version-of-zak-mckracken-do-you-suggest-i-play/1644/76 "2017-09-17T20:44:11Z")
> [@ZakPhoenixMcKracken](#): > > Paper and pencil are still the best tools 😅 Yep. I still make notes with pen and paper. It’s faster and quicker (especially if you run the game in fullscreen mode). ---
**Author:** ![Sushi](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/forums.thimbleweedpark.com/sushi/32/163_2.png) [@Sushi](https://forums.thimbleweedpark.com/u/Sushi)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2017, 11:02pm UTC](https://forums.thimbleweedpark.com/t/which-version-of-zak-mckracken-do-you-suggest-i-play/1644/77 "2017-09-17T23:02:10Z")
NOOOO!!! Don’t use a walkthrough. You know you’ll have to wait another 25 years for another P&C game from Fox, Winick & Gilbert. So what if you get stuck for a few days or weeks. Mind that most of us played it as kids, which adds to the difficulty. And even then, we beat the game. Anyway, regarding the version: just buy the GOG, so you are absolved for downloading the C64 version and running that in SCUMMVM, which is the closest you can get to how it was intended to be played. Don’t let the extra colors or music of the other versions fool you- they look equally dated today anyway and less charming than the only version you are sure of that it was Gary putting the pixels one by one with a joystick and David programming those sound effects: C64! ---
**Author:** ![Sushi](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/forums.thimbleweedpark.com/sushi/32/163_2.png) [@Sushi](https://forums.thimbleweedpark.com/u/Sushi)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2017, 11:15pm UTC](https://forums.thimbleweedpark.com/t/which-version-of-zak-mckracken-do-you-suggest-i-play/1644/78 "2017-09-17T23:15:57Z")
> [@Someone](#): > > “bone song”. How would you write the song down (if Guybrush wouldn’t do that already)? Funny you should mention that. I remember hitting pause and transcribing the whole bone song the very first time I played MI2. After all Guybrush literally says “I’d better write this down”. (I think I even had to remember the two or three verses before he said this). Only later, I saw he actually transcribed it himself. In Zak, that wasn’t possible with that technology… oh wait he did - with the “I’d better make a drawing of that map I saw.” So I did before figuring out an early puzzle that will make him draw the map for you. I guess it proves I was raised in a time before auto-mapping, auto-transcribing, auto-saving and auto-solving puzzles and auto-completing the game. ---
**Author:** ![Someone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b77776/32.png) [@Someone](https://forums.thimbleweedpark.com/u/Someone)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2017, 11:18pm UTC](https://forums.thimbleweedpark.com/t/which-version-of-zak-mckracken-do-you-suggest-i-play/1644/79 "2017-09-17T23:18:19Z")
> [@Sushi](#): > > oh wait he did - with the “I’d better make a drawing of that map I saw.” Yes, but only there. I don’t like these auto-mapping features because it makes the puzzles easier (or in some cases obsolete). ---
**Author:** ![milanfahrnholz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/cab0a1/32.png) [@milanfahrnholz](https://forums.thimbleweedpark.com/u/milanfahrnholz)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2017, 11:22pm UTC](https://forums.thimbleweedpark.com/t/which-version-of-zak-mckracken-do-you-suggest-i-play/1644/80 "2017-09-17T23:22:13Z")
I find it a little annoying that you have to to go through the entire Sphinx with both Annie and Zak. If she looks at the map she says something like “Zak better write this down” but only he writes it down himself, which doesn´t seem to make too much sense when people mindlink during the rest of the game. But that´s really a minor nitpick. [Previous page](https://forums.thimbleweedpark.com/t/which-version-of-zak-mckracken-do-you-suggest-i-play/1644.md?page=3) [Next page](https://forums.thimbleweedpark.com/t/which-version-of-zak-mckracken-do-you-suggest-i-play/1644.md?page=5)