# Zak McKracken and the Alien Mindbenders playthrough and hints **URL:** \ **Category:** Adventure/Lucasfilm Games\ **Created:** [May 18, 2018, 2:55pm UTC](https://forums.thimbleweedpark.com/t/zak-mckracken-and-the-alien-mindbenders-playthrough-and-hints/2704 "2018-05-18T14:55:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 18
**Author:** ![tasse-tee](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/forums.thimbleweedpark.com/tasse-tee/32/4002_2.png) [@tasse-tee](https://forums.thimbleweedpark.com/u/tasse-tee)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2018, 2:49pm UTC](https://forums.thimbleweedpark.com/t/zak-mckracken-and-the-alien-mindbenders-playthrough-and-hints/2704/341 "2018-05-21T14:49:08Z")
> [@PiecesOfKate](#): > > I’ve not really got very far because I’m being really cautious. I’m worried about buggering it up because I’m so aware there are dead ends! If you save often, you can feel free to try out actions / travelling without having to worry about ending up in a dead end. Then you can have a save file where you take the shortest path, spend the lowest amount of money etc, where you apply the solutions you’ve found. That way you don’t have to restart from the beginning just because you couldn’t work out the puzzles quickly enough. That’s the approach I’ve chosen, anyway. 🙂 playing the game \> worrying about consequences ---
**Author:** ![Someone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b77776/32.png) [@Someone](https://forums.thimbleweedpark.com/u/Someone)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2018, 2:50pm UTC](https://forums.thimbleweedpark.com/t/zak-mckracken-and-the-alien-mindbenders-playthrough-and-hints/2704/342 "2018-05-21T14:50:14Z")
> [@tasse-tee](#): > > That’s the approach I’ve chosen, anyway. 🙂 > playing the game \> worrying about consequences That’s the right spirit! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![tasse-tee](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/forums.thimbleweedpark.com/tasse-tee/32/4002_2.png) [@tasse-tee](https://forums.thimbleweedpark.com/u/tasse-tee)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2018, 2:51pm UTC](https://forums.thimbleweedpark.com/t/zak-mckracken-and-the-alien-mindbenders-playthrough-and-hints/2704/343 "2018-05-21T14:51:11Z")
> [@Someone](#): > > That’s the right spirit! 🙂 I’m conscious that some people might be “purists” here and see my method as cheating 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Frenzie](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/forums.thimbleweedpark.com/frenzie/32/4416_2.png) [@Frenzie](https://forums.thimbleweedpark.com/u/Frenzie)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2018, 2:51pm UTC](https://forums.thimbleweedpark.com/t/zak-mckracken-and-the-alien-mindbenders-playthrough-and-hints/2704/344 "2018-05-21T14:51:40Z")
> [@Someone](#): > > There is a way to deal with that. 🙂 Drop me a note if you need further information. Not yet. But it makes conceptual sense. Kinda like how in Dune you start by having to fly around in your ornithopter and by the end you have mental control of the whole planet. That being said, I imagine it has more to do with the secret room in this case. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Someone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b77776/32.png) [@Someone](https://forums.thimbleweedpark.com/u/Someone)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2018, 2:56pm UTC](https://forums.thimbleweedpark.com/t/zak-mckracken-and-the-alien-mindbenders-playthrough-and-hints/2704/345 "2018-05-21T14:56:33Z")
> [@Frenzie](#): > > That being said, I imagine it has more to do with the secret room in this case. 😉 Well, more with The King 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Frenzie](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/forums.thimbleweedpark.com/frenzie/32/4416_2.png) [@Frenzie](https://forums.thimbleweedpark.com/u/Frenzie)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2018, 2:57pm UTC](https://forums.thimbleweedpark.com/t/zak-mckracken-and-the-alien-mindbenders-playthrough-and-hints/2704/346 "2018-05-21T14:57:38Z")
> [@Someone](#): > > Well Hush. I’m not reading whatever it says. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![PiecesOfKate](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/forums.thimbleweedpark.com/piecesofkate/32/93_2.png) [@PiecesOfKate](https://forums.thimbleweedpark.com/u/PiecesOfKate)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2018, 3:05pm UTC](https://forums.thimbleweedpark.com/t/zak-mckracken-and-the-alien-mindbenders-playthrough-and-hints/2704/347 "2018-05-21T15:05:48Z")
> [@tasse-tee](#): > > If you save often, you can feel free to try out actions / travelling without having to worry about ending up in a dead end. Yeah, that’s basically what I’m doing 🙂 > [@tasse-tee](#): > > I’m conscious that some people might be “purists” here and see my method as cheating 😛 I’m a stickler for rules and even _I_ don’t do that. I’d never finish a game 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Someone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b77776/32.png) [@Someone](https://forums.thimbleweedpark.com/u/Someone)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2018, 3:06pm UTC](https://forums.thimbleweedpark.com/t/zak-mckracken-and-the-alien-mindbenders-playthrough-and-hints/2704/348 "2018-05-21T15:06:53Z")
> [@tasse-tee](#): > > I’m conscious that some people might be “purists” here and see my method as cheating 😛 No, it’s not cheating! It’s the opposite: You are playing like an adventure game pro! 🙂 And in Zak you have to explore the world a little bit more than in other adventure games. It doesn’t matter if you explore the different countries now or later. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![PiecesOfKate](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/forums.thimbleweedpark.com/piecesofkate/32/93_2.png) [@PiecesOfKate](https://forums.thimbleweedpark.com/u/PiecesOfKate)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2018, 3:27pm UTC](https://forums.thimbleweedpark.com/t/zak-mckracken-and-the-alien-mindbenders-playthrough-and-hints/2704/349 "2018-05-21T15:27:34Z")
Mt Rainier looks like a Sierra background! Maybe this is why I’m being so cautious 😉 No cliff edges – check ✅ No shards of metal – check ✅ No death-snog aliens – check ✅ (spoilered in case I mean WHEN people play Space Quest) ---
**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:** [May 21, 2018, 3:28pm UTC](https://forums.thimbleweedpark.com/t/zak-mckracken-and-the-alien-mindbenders-playthrough-and-hints/2704/350 "2018-05-21T15:28:57Z")
> [@tasse-tee](#): > > That’s the approach I’ve chosen, anyway. 🙂 > playing the game \> worrying about consequences Listen to her @PiecesOfKate! She sounds like a real expert after just one day of Zak, giving excellent advice (Make us proud, Katie!) ---
**Author:** ![Someone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b77776/32.png) [@Someone](https://forums.thimbleweedpark.com/u/Someone)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2018, 3:31pm UTC](https://forums.thimbleweedpark.com/t/zak-mckracken-and-the-alien-mindbenders-playthrough-and-hints/2704/351 "2018-05-21T15:31:12Z")
> [@PiecesOfKate](#): > > (spoilered in case I mean WHEN people play Space Quest) Don’t forget the sandworms and other spontaneously appearing aliens! ---
**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:** [May 21, 2018, 3:33pm UTC](https://forums.thimbleweedpark.com/t/zak-mckracken-and-the-alien-mindbenders-playthrough-and-hints/2704/352 "2018-05-21T15:33:08Z")
> [@PiecesOfKate](#): > > > [@tasse-tee](#): > > > > If you save often, you can feel free to try out actions / travelling without having to worry about ending up in a dead end. > > Yeah, that’s basically what I’m doing 🙂 > > > [@tasse-tee](#): > > > > I’m conscious that some people might be “purists” here and see my method as cheating 😛 > > I’m a stickler for rules and even _I_ don’t do that. I’d never finish a game 😉 Is it too soon to tell them there is a check near the end that says “sorry, you have saved too many times, you are a cheater and you’re dead! (And we wiped all your save gamea too)” ? 🤪 ---
**Author:** ![PiecesOfKate](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/forums.thimbleweedpark.com/piecesofkate/32/93_2.png) [@PiecesOfKate](https://forums.thimbleweedpark.com/u/PiecesOfKate)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2018, 3:35pm UTC](https://forums.thimbleweedpark.com/t/zak-mckracken-and-the-alien-mindbenders-playthrough-and-hints/2704/353 "2018-05-21T15:35:31Z")
Current thoughts: I hope I didn’t waste that egg. Dammit, I thought the tree branch might lift up the floorboards. But I think I probably need a dollar, based on the newspaper article. Maybe. ---
**Author:** ![Someone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b77776/32.png) [@Someone](https://forums.thimbleweedpark.com/u/Someone)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2018, 3:36pm UTC](https://forums.thimbleweedpark.com/t/zak-mckracken-and-the-alien-mindbenders-playthrough-and-hints/2704/354 "2018-05-21T15:36:23Z")
> [@PiecesOfKate](#): > > I hope I didn’t waste that egg. What have you done with it (so far)? ---
**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:** [May 21, 2018, 3:37pm UTC](https://forums.thimbleweedpark.com/t/zak-mckracken-and-the-alien-mindbenders-playthrough-and-hints/2704/355 "2018-05-21T15:37:54Z")
> [@tasse-tee](#): > > I’m conscious that some people might be “purists” here and see my method as cheating 😛 We’re only purists in _what_ you should play \*cough\* _C64_ \*cough \*, not _how_ you should play. In hindsight, we only didn’t save more than a few games stated because of save and load times, disk space and disk errors 😱 ---
**Author:** ![PiecesOfKate](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/forums.thimbleweedpark.com/piecesofkate/32/93_2.png) [@PiecesOfKate](https://forums.thimbleweedpark.com/u/PiecesOfKate)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2018, 3:38pm UTC](https://forums.thimbleweedpark.com/t/zak-mckracken-and-the-alien-mindbenders-playthrough-and-hints/2704/356 "2018-05-21T15:38:30Z")
> [@Someone](#): > > What have you done with it? I used it in the microwave to distract the hostess. I’m only wondering because I’d already used the bathroom distraction (by the way who ‘turns on’ a sink?) so I probably didn’t need both if I’d been quick enough. ---
**Author:** ![Someone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b77776/32.png) [@Someone](https://forums.thimbleweedpark.com/u/Someone)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2018, 3:39pm UTC](https://forums.thimbleweedpark.com/t/zak-mckracken-and-the-alien-mindbenders-playthrough-and-hints/2704/357 "2018-05-21T15:39:42Z")
> [@PiecesOfKate](#): > > … so I probably didn’t need both if I’d been quick enough. So you think you are? 😉 ---
**Author:** ![PiecesOfKate](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/forums.thimbleweedpark.com/piecesofkate/32/93_2.png) [@PiecesOfKate](https://forums.thimbleweedpark.com/u/PiecesOfKate)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2018, 3:40pm UTC](https://forums.thimbleweedpark.com/t/zak-mckracken-and-the-alien-mindbenders-playthrough-and-hints/2704/358 "2018-05-21T15:40:21Z")
> [@Someone](#): > > So you think you are? 😉 Oh, perhaps not then 😉 ---
**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:** [May 21, 2018, 3:42pm UTC](https://forums.thimbleweedpark.com/t/zak-mckracken-and-the-alien-mindbenders-playthrough-and-hints/2704/359 "2018-05-21T15:42:24Z")
> [@PiecesOfKate](#): > > > [@Someone](#): > > > > What have you done with it? > > I used it in the microwave to distract the hostess. I’m only wondering because I’d already used the bathroom distraction (by the way who ‘turns on’ a sink?) so I probably didn’t need both if I’d been quick enough. I’m sure you and @tasse-tee can “turn on” anything if you put your minds to it… (sorry, 😳) Well, imagine a boy who learned English mainly from playing Zak and turning on everything… ✋ ---
**Author:** ![Someone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b77776/32.png) [@Someone](https://forums.thimbleweedpark.com/u/Someone)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2018, 3:45pm UTC](https://forums.thimbleweedpark.com/t/zak-mckracken-and-the-alien-mindbenders-playthrough-and-hints/2704/360 "2018-05-21T15:45:05Z")
> [@PiecesOfKate](#): > > Oh, perhaps not then 😉 Load a savegame and try it! 😉 More specific spoiler: This is one of the more difficult puzzles because it relies on timing and you have to do the same thing twice in a row (distract the stewardess). [Previous page](https://forums.thimbleweedpark.com/t/zak-mckracken-and-the-alien-mindbenders-playthrough-and-hints/2704.md?page=17) [Next page](https://forums.thimbleweedpark.com/t/zak-mckracken-and-the-alien-mindbenders-playthrough-and-hints/2704.md?page=19)