Yet there's much more to this quest than passing barriers. You confront a variety of enemies, such as statues, mummies, and fireballs, all of which are killed in a specific way. A system of upgrading weapons from touch attack swords to long range attack guns make this possible. These upgrades, along with the essential health, ammunition, and torches to light the way, can be puchaced with gems found throughout the game.
Wong Chung's genius doesn't end there. He provides the player with a system of experience, which is obtained through killing enemies and discovering items. This system sets a limit on the number of heath, torches, and ammo you can hold, adding more challenge to the game and an rpg-ish feel.
The game is one of few first-rate ZZT games that does without a developing plot. Yet it need not have one, for it is a game of exploration, not narration. His bright colored graphics also set proper mood for the contrasting enviroments you will traverse through. With The Mercenary, Wong Chung Bang's creativity has produced, quite simply, quality, five-star ZZT-gaming.
