Spellbreaker
1667026
212542076
2008-05-15T05:49:30Z
Alan De Smet
32727
Revert last; Infobox VG isn't really designed to hold other infoboxes.
{{Infobox VG
|title = Spellbreaker
|image = [[Image:Spellbreaker Coverart.png]]
|developer = [[Infocom]]
|publisher = Infocom
|designer = [[Dave Lebling]]
|engine = [[Z-machine|ZIL]]
|released = Release 63: [[September 16]], [[1985]]
Release 87: [[September 4]], [[1986]]
|genre = [[Text adventure]]
|modes = [[Single player]]
|ratings =
|platforms = [[Amiga]], [[Apple II family|Apple II]], [[Atari 8-bit family|Atari 8-bit]], [[Atari ST]], [[Commodore 64]], [[MS-DOS]]
|media = [[Floppy disk#The 3.BD-inch micro floppy diskette|3½"]] or [[Floppy disk#The 5.BC-inch minifloppy|5¼" disk]]
|requirements = No special requirements
|input = [[Computer keyboard|Keyboard]]
}}
{{Zork_universe}}
'''''Spellbreaker''''' is an [[interactive fiction]] [[computer game]] written by [[Dave Lebling]] and released by [[Infocom]] in [[1985]], the third and final game in the "Enchanter Trilogy". Like most of Infocom's games, it was released for many of the time's popular computer platforms, such as the [[Commodore 64]], [[Atari ST]] and [[Apple II]]. It is Infocom's eighteenth game.
==Plot==
Over the course of events in the trilogy's earlier games (''[[Enchanter (computer game)|Enchanter]]'' and ''[[Sorcerer (computer game)|Sorcerer]]''), the player's character has progressed from a novice wizard possessing a few weak spells to the leader of the Circle of Enchanters. Now the very foundations of [[Magic (gaming)|Magic]] itself seem to be failing, and the leaders of all the [[Guild]]s in the land have gathered to demand answers. In the midst of this impassioned meeting, the crowd is suddenly transformed into a group of toads and newts! Everyone present is affected except for the player and a shadowy figure who flees the hall.
In the course of investigating the mystery, the player learns new, powerful spells that must be used in novel ways. But since magic is no longer dependable, each spell has a chance of failing. The only objects that can help to shore up the effectiveness of sorcery are the [[Cubes of Foundation]], each of which can transport the player to a different location and strengthen certain spells.
Eventually the player discovers a terrible secret: the shadowy figure responsible for all this chaos is a dark twin. Even with magic, every action has an equal and opposite reaction; and with every spell cast, the player's opposite has grown stronger. Finally, this evil being seizes the magic cubes and uses them to construct a portal which will bestow near-infinite power. The only way to defeat the [[doppelgänger]] is to [[sabotage]] the portal, an action which also leads to the destruction of all magic.
==Feelies==
''Spellbreaker'' was no exception to Infocom's long-standing tradition of including extra items in the game package. The [[feelies]] for this game included:
*A ''Frobozz Magic Magic Equipment Catalog, Special Crisis Edition''
*An Enchanter's Guild pin
*Six "Enchanter cards", [[baseball card]]-like items each containing a picture and information about legendary wizards
In keeping with another Infocom tradition, these feelies also provided a measure of protection against [[Copyright infringement of software|software piracy]]. At one point in the game, Belboz would ask a question whose answer could be found on one of the Enchanter cards.
==Notes==
As the final game of a series, ''Spellbreaker'' was intended to be very difficult. Labeled as an "Expert"-level game, it is widely regarded as one of Infocom's toughest releases. Some players even criticized it as an effort to boost sales of the [[InvisiClues]] hint system. Perhaps due to its legendary difficulty, ''Spellbreaker'' was never as popular as either of its predecessors in the Enchanter trilogy, despite a fair deal of critical acclaim.
One of the game's innovations among Infocom's works was the ability to "name" objects. As the player collects twelve "featureless white cubes", it becomes increasingly difficult to differentiate between them. The game, however, provides a [[burin]] with which the player can "write" a word or phrase on a cube, and thereafter refer to the cube by that inscription.
During development, ''Spellbreaker''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s [[working title]] was ''Mage''.
==Taglines==
''An unknown evil causes magic to fail and threatens your world with total annihilation. Only the most inspired enchanter can hope to uncover and destroy this dark force...''
''Break a mysterious curse!''
==External links==
*{{moby game|id=/spellbreaker}}
*[http://www.csd.uwo.ca/Infocom/spellbreaker.html ''Spellbreaker'' overview and information]
*[http://gallery.guetech.org/spellbreaker/spellbreaker.html Scans of the ''Spellbreaker'' package, documentation and feelies]
*[http://hometown.aol.com/graemecree/infobugs/spellbre.htm The Infocom Bugs List entry for ''Spellbreaker'']
[[Category:1985 video games]]
[[Category:Interactive fiction]]
[[Category:Amiga games]]
[[Category:Apple II games]]
[[Category:Atari 8-bit family games]]
[[Category:Atari ST games]]
[[Category:Commodore 64 games]]
[[Category:DOS games]]
[[Category:Zork]]
[[Category:Infocom]]