Usurper, The: The Mines of Qyntarr
Sir-Tech Software 
1985
- Language:
- English
- Authors:
- Scott Thoman
- Platforms:
- Apple II, PC
- Genres:
- Fantasy, misc.
- Entered by:
- Amby, Gunness
- Added:
- 12-04-2011
- Edited:
- 02-08-2018
Synopsis
The Mines of Qyntarr is an adventure into a bizarre underground realm where nearly anything can happen. You have volunteered to be the hero. You must recover the lost Orb of Qyntarr, then locate the invisible castle of the evil King Aken and kill the king.
Notes
The publishing history of the game is a bit unclear, but it is certain that it was intended to be part of a series.
Most likely the Apple II version was released in 1985 - this is corroborated by the fact that the game is mentioned in 1984 Sir-tech catalogue and that the Apple II disk label reads 1985 [more at MOCAGH].
The same catalogue bills this as "Book Three of the six-part USURPER Saga" and adds, "So why did we release it first? Ah-h... that's the first riddle".
In 1988, the game was published for the PC, this time as "Book one". Presumably Sir-tech had skipped the plans for two prequels at that point and simply released it as the first in a series.
But as the game was released at the end of the commercial text adventure era, no further games were ever released in the Usurper series.
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This game must have one of the most contrived parser conceits in the history of text adventures; the fact that it comes very near to the start of the game merely exacerbates the problem. I make no apologies in informing you that to light the lantern you must "ignite lighter with thumb" and then "light lamp with lighter." This is made even worse by the fact that it appears to never work the first time and you need to repeat the command. More obvious options to light the lighter all appear to be rejected.
I should perhaps have tempered my above criticism with the observation that, once the aforementioned light puzzle vexation is overcome the game settles down into a rather good slice of traditional puzzle fest. It is large and complex but not unfair with an above average (lighter puzzle not withstanding) parser.