Codename Obscura (ZX Spectrum Next)

About the game

ZX Spectrum Next Version

Codename Obscura is a text adventure game with retro style graphics for the ZX Spectrum Next home computer,  developed in Adventuron 8-bit compatibility mode. 

Game Intro

It's the year 1987. As an undercover operative Sinus for the T.U.R.T.L.E organization, (Tactical Unit for Rapid and Thorough Lethal Espionage), you have recently been assigned to a task in Italy. A few weeks ago, your colleague, operative Onyx, was sent to Aurelia, a small village in Northern Italy. His task was to gather intelligence and uncover the dealings of the enigmatic Count Schwarzberg. Rumored to be entangled with crime organizations, including the infamous Italian mafia, the Count's activities have so far remained veiled in secrecy.

Your boss, Ember, has recently received a backup and assistance request from agent Onyx. So they need *you* now, operative Sinus, to be urgently redirected to Aurelia to assist and evaluate the situation.

How to play

This game uses a very simple parser to match commands.

• Type LOOK (or L) to refresh the screen and get a description of the current location.
• Type EXAMINE (or X) 'objectname' to closely inspect an item. For example: EXAMINE COIN
• Type GO 'direction', where direction can be N, S, E, W, U, D (also NORTH, SOUTH, EAST, WEST, UP, DOWN). For example: W or GO WEST
• Type INVENTORY (or I) to see the inventory of objects you are currently carrying.
• Type TAKE 'objectname' (or GET) to pick up an object. For example:  TAKE NEWSPAPER
• Typing SAY (or TALK or ASK) might get you some answer from a character in the game (depending on situation).
• Type DROP 'objectname' to drop an object. For example: DROP COIN
• Type WEAR 'objectname' to wear something and UNWEAR to take it off. For example: UNWEAR TOGA
• Type SAVE to save your current game.
• Type LOAD to load a previously saved game.
• Type QUIT to restart the game.
• Type CREDITS to see credits.
• Type HINT, and depending on your progress and current location, the game might give you some advice as to what to try next.

Note: There are some other verbs understood by the game also, left to be discovered. But in a true retro style, and to ensure 8-bit compatibility, there is no need to use longer than two word commands, although the game will in certain situations also understand longer sentences.

Type HELP to see this list of commands in the game again.

Background information

The very first version of this game was developed back in the year 1987. but it never got released, in any form, because it became much too demanding for the ZX Spectrum 48K memory.

The game has now been implemented in Adventuron 8-bit compatibility mode that enables translation to the ZX Spectrum Next computer via ZX DAAD Engine. 

Credits

CODENAME OBSCURA

Story, art and music (beeps) by Mika Kujala (C) 1987, 2023

Powered by the fabulous Adventuron system created by  Chris Ainsley (https://adventuron.io). Translated to ZX Spectrum Next by ZX DAAD Engine.

ZX DAAD is a text adventure engine developed by Tim Gilberts for Spanish development studio Aventuras AD.