# 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:** 30
**Author:** ![yrface](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/forums.thimbleweedpark.com/yrface/32/11793_2.png) [@yrface](https://forums.thimbleweedpark.com/u/yrface)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2018, 10:52pm UTC](https://forums.thimbleweedpark.com/t/zak-mckracken-and-the-alien-mindbenders-playthrough-and-hints/2704/581 "2018-05-23T22:52:59Z")
> [@nihilquest](#): > > I’m the kind of guy who gets confused in a small underground passage if there is more than one exit. This is not something I want to replay immediately. I must admit I gave up Sunday night after getting stuck in the Mayan maze and realizing I just don’t feel like making a map right now (Don’t drink and Zak). Maybe this weekend I’ll bust out the graph paper and keep playing. ---
**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 23, 2018, 11:28pm UTC](https://forums.thimbleweedpark.com/t/zak-mckracken-and-the-alien-mindbenders-playthrough-and-hints/2704/582 "2018-05-23T23:28:09Z")
> [@yrface](#): > > Maybe this weekend I’ll bust out the graph paper and keep playing. yes, you should! Don’t let a little maze hold you back. ---
**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:** [May 24, 2018, 4:20am UTC](https://forums.thimbleweedpark.com/t/zak-mckracken-and-the-alien-mindbenders-playthrough-and-hints/2704/583 "2018-05-24T04:20:10Z")
> [@yrface](#): > > the Mayan maze Yes, but David Fox is a gentleman. He thought of a way to keep track of the doors you enter in, in the game… ---
**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 24, 2018, 7:36am UTC](https://forums.thimbleweedpark.com/t/zak-mckracken-and-the-alien-mindbenders-playthrough-and-hints/2704/584 "2018-05-24T07:36:56Z")
Diablo ! (I’m replaying that at the moment, too) ---
**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:** [May 25, 2018, 2:08am UTC](https://forums.thimbleweedpark.com/t/zak-mckracken-and-the-alien-mindbenders-playthrough-and-hints/2704/585 "2018-05-25T02:08:09Z")
I liked the simplicity of this game. (I have never tried Diablo 2 and 3.) I never understood what the witch was saying (“I sense a soul in search of answers.”). ---
**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 25, 2018, 5:57am UTC](https://forums.thimbleweedpark.com/t/zak-mckracken-and-the-alien-mindbenders-playthrough-and-hints/2704/586 "2018-05-25T05:57:33Z")
> [@Nor\_Treblig](#): > > I liked the simplicity of this game. (I have never tried Diablo 2 and 3.) > > I never understood what the witch was saying (“I sense a soul in search of answers.”). I am replaying Diablo before playing Diablo2 for the first time. I chose another class; it’s harder than I remembered. Or I just suck at playing a mage/wizard. I always thought this Cairn character soundsed a lot like Sean Connery. ---
**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:** [May 25, 2018, 12:19pm UTC](https://forums.thimbleweedpark.com/t/zak-mckracken-and-the-alien-mindbenders-playthrough-and-hints/2704/587 "2018-05-25T12:19:36Z")
> [@Sushi](#): > > Or I just suck at playing a mage/wizard. Isn’t it normal that barbarian and warrior classes are easier to play in RPG-like games, while wizards require more intelligent/tactical play? ---
**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 25, 2018, 12:46pm UTC](https://forums.thimbleweedpark.com/t/zak-mckracken-and-the-alien-mindbenders-playthrough-and-hints/2704/588 "2018-05-25T12:46:40Z")
There are definitely games in which mages are comparatively overpowered. I never played Diablo, but I did play Diablo 2 with an assassin. ---
**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 25, 2018, 1:09pm UTC](https://forums.thimbleweedpark.com/t/zak-mckracken-and-the-alien-mindbenders-playthrough-and-hints/2704/589 "2018-05-25T13:09:00Z")
> [@Nor\_Treblig](#): > > > [@Sushi](#): > > > > Or I just suck at playing a mage/wizard. > > Isn’t it normal that barbarian and warrior classes are easier to play in RPG-like games, while wizards require more intelligent/tactical play? Apparently, the curve is steeper. Meaning if you survive long enough, wizards are very powerful and easier to play. Luckily Diablo has a mechanism of restarting the game with your character stats and inventory, but that kind of feels like cheating… ---
**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:** [May 25, 2018, 2:48pm UTC](https://forums.thimbleweedpark.com/t/zak-mckracken-and-the-alien-mindbenders-playthrough-and-hints/2704/590 "2018-05-25T14:48:39Z")
> [@Sushi](#): > > Luckily Diablo has a mechanism of restarting the game with your character stats and inventory Hm, I still have a savegame from 1999 and one from 2001… (I wonder if it is possible to get stuff like split/merge rights without Leader badge…) ---
**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 25, 2018, 5:17pm UTC](https://forums.thimbleweedpark.com/t/zak-mckracken-and-the-alien-mindbenders-playthrough-and-hints/2704/591 "2018-05-25T17:17:42Z")
I haven’t had much time to play more, but two more quick observations: The maze that was mentioned earlier was mildly tedious. It wasn’t long enough to be a true annoyance, but there was too much pixel hunting. The way to obtain the shard at the end of the maze was cute. ---
**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:** [May 25, 2018, 7:46pm UTC](https://forums.thimbleweedpark.com/t/zak-mckracken-and-the-alien-mindbenders-playthrough-and-hints/2704/592 "2018-05-25T19:46:05Z")
Also the overall structure is quite easy to recognise. > [@Frenzie](#): > > there was too much pixel hunting What do you mean in particular? ---
**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 25, 2018, 8:08pm UTC](https://forums.thimbleweedpark.com/t/zak-mckracken-and-the-alien-mindbenders-playthrough-and-hints/2704/593 "2018-05-25T20:08:10Z")
Mexico Maze Time. Let’s see how it goes, and how messy my map ends up looking… ---
**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 25, 2018, 8:47pm UTC](https://forums.thimbleweedpark.com/t/zak-mckracken-and-the-alien-mindbenders-playthrough-and-hints/2704/594 "2018-05-25T20:47:06Z")
> [@Nor\_Treblig](#): > > What do you mean in particular? At first I thought I was going to have to map it until I realized there was a pixel hunting method that didn’t require that. ---
**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 25, 2018, 9:06pm UTC](https://forums.thimbleweedpark.com/t/zak-mckracken-and-the-alien-mindbenders-playthrough-and-hints/2704/595 "2018-05-25T21:06:27Z")
> [@Frenzie](#): > > a pixel hunting method only if you are lucky… and it doesn’t work if for _whatever_ reason you need to revisit the maze. But in general you can also just wander around the mazes and stumble upon an exit too. ---
**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:** [May 25, 2018, 9:55pm UTC](https://forums.thimbleweedpark.com/t/zak-mckracken-and-the-alien-mindbenders-playthrough-and-hints/2704/596 "2018-05-25T21:55:51Z")
> [@Nor\_Treblig](#): > > What do you mean in particular? I believe to find the torch to lit up ---
**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:** [May 25, 2018, 10:15pm UTC](https://forums.thimbleweedpark.com/t/zak-mckracken-and-the-alien-mindbenders-playthrough-and-hints/2704/597 "2018-05-25T22:15:42Z")
> [@Sushi](#): > > But in general you can also just wander around the mazes and stumble upon an exit too. That’s true and something I did when playing the first times, having no idea what’s going on. Those mazes look HUGE this way. If you map them out they actually aren’t complex. > [@ZakPhoenixMcKracken](#): > > I believe to find the torch to lit up Maybe the first time when you don’t know what to look for. But maybe he doesn’t know there is another helping item? Mild spoiler: Actually it’s not _another_ item. Next spoiler: Turn it on. ---
**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 25, 2018, 10:52pm UTC](https://forums.thimbleweedpark.com/t/zak-mckracken-and-the-alien-mindbenders-playthrough-and-hints/2704/598 "2018-05-25T22:52:57Z")
> [@Nor\_Treblig](#): > > But maybe he doesn’t know there is another helping item? > Mild spoiler: > Next spoiler: 😮 I didn’t know that either!! Or I forgot all about it. After so many years, this game continues to amaze me! ---
**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:** [May 25, 2018, 11:21pm UTC](https://forums.thimbleweedpark.com/t/zak-mckracken-and-the-alien-mindbenders-playthrough-and-hints/2704/599 "2018-05-25T23:21:46Z")
> [@Sushi](#): > > I didn’t know that either Really? How did you manage to keep track of the doors you entered without getting lost? ---
**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 25, 2018, 11:30pm UTC](https://forums.thimbleweedpark.com/t/zak-mckracken-and-the-alien-mindbenders-playthrough-and-hints/2704/600 "2018-05-25T23:30:16Z")
I knew to use it to light the torches but I forgot/didn’t know you could also turn on the lighter (for some time before it becomes too hot) - the light spot isn’t that big either… I always used the what is verb to find torches in the dark and I usually got lost anyway! 😂 REAL BIG SPOILER: I definitely need to check out that room inside the Sfinx with my lighter [Previous page](https://forums.thimbleweedpark.com/t/zak-mckracken-and-the-alien-mindbenders-playthrough-and-hints/2704.md?page=29) [Next page](https://forums.thimbleweedpark.com/t/zak-mckracken-and-the-alien-mindbenders-playthrough-and-hints/2704.md?page=31)