zenji Commodore 64 game

Zenji (Video Game)

Overview: Zenji is a puzzle game created by Matthew Hubbard and published by Activision in 1984. The game was released for multiple platforms including the Atari 5200, Atari 8-bit family, ColecoVision, Commodore 64, MSX, and ZX Spectrum.

Gameplay: In Zenji, players engage in a maze-based challenge where they control a "disembodied, Mandarin-style head." The goal is to connect various maze segments that are randomly rotated in order to align them with a glowing artifact referred to as "the source." This artifact serves as the focal point for each maze. Players move through the maze segments and attempt to rotate them so that the green light from the source can illuminate the region, indicating a correct alignment. Successfully connecting all maze segments before a timer expires rewards players with points and allows them to advance to the next stage. As the game progresses, mazes become more complex and introduce hazards that threaten the player's progress.

Reception: Zenji received positive reviews from various sources:

• A review from Compute! Gazette for the Commodore 64 edition stated that Zenji is undeniably enjoyable, despite the enigmatic nature of the source. The review also mentioned the potential for multiplayer gameplay with up to 8 players, though lacking documentation.
• Gregg Williams reviewed Zenji for Computer Gaming World and praised it for its geometric puzzles and Othello-like gameplay. Williams considered it a potential classic that offers great value for the money.
• The ColecoVision version of Zenji received a 90% rating from Computer and Video Games in 1989.