Overview and Gameplay
King Graham returns to find Daventry Castle and his family missing, abducted by the wizard Mordack. Guided by Cedric the owl, Graham explores Serenia and later regions while collecting objects, speaking with characters, and solving inventory-based puzzles.
This NES adaptation of Sierra’s computer adventure uses interconnected areas rather than action stages. Progress depends on careful exploration, item trading, remembered clues, and choosing the correct object for each obstacle. The game awards points for discoveries and puzzle solutions, with a maximum score of 260.
Controls And Mechanics
- Directions: Move Graham or position the menu pointer.
- A: Confirm choices, perform the selected action, and advance text.
- B: Cycle through common interaction commands or cancel an operation.
- Select: Open the icon-based command bar.
- Start: Pause or resume play.
Deaths, missed objects, and one-way transitions can make later puzzles impossible, so frequent saves and passwords are important. The game is strictly single-player.
Version Notes
The NES version converts the mouse-driven computer interface to a gamepad. It retains the main story and puzzle structure while simplifying graphics, audio, scenes, and some locations. Long-term progress uses passwords instead of battery-backed saving.
Release And Credits
- NES release: 1992
- Developer: Novotrade Software Kft.
- Publisher: Konami
- Original platform: DOS computers
