Zak McKracken and the Alien MindbendersZak McKracken and the Alien Mindbenders

Game Details:  Sci-Fi, 1988

Links:  Moby Games, Steam, Adventure Gamers

Walkthrough Updated:  6/10/2002

Suggested Listening:  Caught Up in the Panic (Ash 25)

Zak McKracken and the Alien Mindbinders is an early comedy game from LucasArts, using their SCUMM interface, made famous by a long series of games from the same company, beginning with Maniac Mansion. You play as Zak and several of his friends, who uncover a plot by aliens to dumb down humans through the telephone system.

San Francisco

Zak

Open the desk drawer and take the kazoo, then close the drawer again. Try to pick up the green card under the desk, but you will end up pushing it further away. Open the dresser drawer on the left and take the phone bill. Pick up Sushi in the fish bowl, and pick up the torn wallpaper next to the door. Use your phone bill to get the card from under the desk, then open the door and leave the room. Pick up the seat cushion next to the TV to tidy the room. Pick up the power cord and use it on the power outlet. Pick up the left seat cushion, then take the remote control and use it to watch the news on TV. Head right and take the small key from next to the door, then open the door and go outside.

Walk left and push the doorbell of the bakery 3 times, then pick up the stale bread. Go back into your apartment. Take the bread knife from over the counter. Open the refrigerator and pick up the egg, then go to your bedroom. Pick up the corner of the rug and use the butter knife on the loose floor boards to bend it. Leave the apartment again.

Go right to the next street then up to 14th Avenue. Enter Lou's Loans. Go over to the sell window and sell the bent butter knife for $1500. Now buy the golf club, tool kit, wet suit, hat, guitar and nose glasses. Leave the shop and go right to the Bob E Pinz store. Open your tool kit and use the wire cutters on the bobby pin sign to get it. Return left and go up to return to 13th Avenue.

Enter your apartment again. Open the cabinet under the sink and take the box of crayons to get a yellow crayon. Use your monkey wrench on the pipe here, then put your stale bread in the sink and turn on the switch. Pick up the breadcrumbs, then turn off the switch again. Use your monkey wrench on the pipe to fix it, then use Sushi on the sink to get the empty fish bowl. Leave your apartment.

Enter the door just to the right. Pick up the application from the left, then try to open the counter door, but the man won't let you through. Put on your nose glasses and hat, then open the counter door and use the computer. Leave the office and remove your nose glasses and hat. Use your yellow crayon with the application. Use your small key to open the mailbox outside your apartment, then put the application inside. Walk right and use the kazoo to wake up the bus driver. Walk into the bus and use your cashcard in the reader. Give your cashcard to the devotee to get a book. Now walk left to board the plane.

Plane

Zak

After the stewardess gives out the peanuts, stand up and go to the bathroom at the back of the plane. Pick up the toilet paper and put it in the sink, then turn on the sink and press the call button. Head right to the front of the plane. Open the microwave, put the egg inside, close the microwave and turn it on. Go back to your seat and wait for the stewardess to start cleaning up, then pick up the front seat cushion and pick up the lighter from the ground. Open all the overhead bins and take the oxygen tank from one of them. Now wait for the plane to land.

Seattle

Zak

Head right to leave the airport, then walk over towards the squirrel in the cave. Give your peanuts to the squirrel. Now take the branch from the tree and use it on the loose dirt above the cave. Enter the cave. Use your tree branch to get the bird nest (locate it with the "what is" tool). Now use the bird nest and tree branch on the fire pit. Use your lighter on it and you will have light. Go right and use your yellow crayon on the strange markings, then go through the doorway. Use your remote control and take the crystal. Return to the airport and use the terminal to buy a ticket to San Francisco, then board the plane.

San Francisco

Zak

Leave the airport to return to your street, then go up to 14th Avenue. Read the note on the red door, then put the blue crystal in the slot in the door. After meeting Annie, you can now switch between characters. Leave Annie's apartment and return to 13th Avenue. Go to your apartment and use the small key on the mailbox, then get the fan club letter. Return right to stand next to the bus, then switch to Annie.

Annie

Lift up the blotter on the desk, then take the cashcard. Leave your apartment and head to the bus.

Zak

Use your kazoo to wake us the bus driver.

Annie

Board the bus and use your cashcard in the reader.

Zak

Board the bus and use your cashcard in the reader. At the airport, use the terminal to buy a ticket to Miami, then board the plane.

Miami

Zak

Give your book to the bum to get a bottle of whiskey. Use the terminal to buy a ticket to Cairo, then board the plane.

Cairo

Zak

Use the terminal to buy a ticket to Kinshasa, then board the plane.

Kinshasa

Zak

Leave the airport and keep walking through the jungle maze until you reach a village. Enter the hut on the left and give your golf club to the shaman, then watch the dance and write down the order that the 3 men crouch at the end (a sequence of 6 crouches). Return east to the jungle and make your way back to the airport. Use the terminal to buy a ticket to Katmandu, then board the plane.

Katmandu

Zak

Leave the airport and give your book to the guard on the right, then head inside. Walk right and talk to the Shaman, then go back outside and continue right to a haystack. Use your lighter on the hay, then quickly head to the left and into the other building. Take the prison key from the wall, then go back outside. Take the flagpole from the wall here, then use your cashcard in the yak to return to the airport. Use the terminal to buy a ticket to London, then board the plane.

London

Zak

Use the terminal to buy a ticket to San Francisco, then board the plane.

San Francisco

Use the terminal to buy a ticket to Lima, then board the plane.

Lima

Zak

Leave the airport and walk through the jungle maze until you reach a valley. Read the sign, then use your bread crumbs on the bird feeder. After the bird arrives, use the blue crystal on it. As the bird, fly right to the huge carving, and into the eye on the left. Pick up the scroll, then fly back and give it to Zak. Switch back to Zak and quickly return to the jungle before the aliens arrive. Make your way back to the airport, then switch to Melissa.

Mars

Melissa

Open the door to the shuttlebug and head inside. Pick up the boom box, then open the glove compartment and take the fuse and the cashcards. Pick up the digital audio tape from the player in the middle. Turn on the oxygen valve to fill your supply, then go outside. Give Leslie her cashcard and the fuse, then walk left and enter the hostel.

Leslie

Enter the shuttlebug and turn on the oxygen valve to fill your supply, then go outside. Walk left to the monolith and use your cashcard on the slot to get a token. Go just to the right and enter the hostel, then use your token on the metal plate to the right of the door. Take the burnt fuse and use your new fuse with the fuse box. Push the button above the fuse box to close the Mars door. Push the button on the right and enter the room on the right. Take the vinyl tape from the right locker, then open it and take the flashlight. Pick up the covers from the lower bunk bed, then pick up the broom alien. Go further right and take the ladder, then return to the entrance room. Give your vinyl tape to Melissa. Push the right button, then the main button to open the Mars door. Take the fuse and return outside.

Use your alien broom on the sand just here to reveal some solar panels. Go right to a huge face. Use your ladder on the door, then press the buttons in the same order you saw the men crouch in Kinshasa. Go through to the great chamber and go to the massive door.

Melissa

Exit the hostel and go right to the huge face. Pick up the ladder and go inside, then walk to the massive door. Use the ladder on the pedestal on the left. In your inventory combine the vinyl tape and digital audio tape. Use this in the boom box, then turn on the boom box and select Record. Push the crystal sphere at the top of the pedestal, then turn off the boom box. Climb down the ladder again.

Leslie

Pick up the ladder and head through the doorway. Turn on your flashlight, then go through the purple doorway. Go left and through a blue doorway, then right through another purple doorway. Turn on both the large switches, then wait for the gauges to enter the green. Take off your helmet. Go right, then far right, far right and far left to return to where Melissa is waiting. Turn off your flashlight.

Melissa

Take off your helmet, then switch to Zak.

Lima

Zak

Use the terminal to buy a ticket to Mexico, then board the plane.

Mexico

Zak

Leave the airport and walk through the jungle maze until you reach a temple. Go through the lower left entrance to find a maze. Throughout the maze, use the "what is" tool to find the torches, then light them with your lighter. Go through the upper right doorway, then the far right, far right, far right and middle doorways to find the statue room. Switch to Leslie.

Mars

Leslie

Return to the great chamber and walk right to the second statue. Read the strange markings on it and remember the symbol you see. Switch back to Zak.

Mexico

Zak

Use your yellow crayon on the strange markings, and draw the symbol Leslie just saw. Pick up the crystal shard, then return left to the maze. Go through the left, left, middle, far left and far right doors to leave the maze. Head left to the jungle and make your way back to the airport, then switch to Annie.

San Francisco

Annie

Use the terminal to buy a ticket to London, then board the plane. After arriving, switch to Zak.

Mexico

Zak

Use the terminal to buy a ticket to Mexico, then board the plane.

London

Zak

Give the whiskey, flagpole, scroll, wire cutters, and both crystal shards to Annie. Use the terminal to buy a ticket to Miami, then board the plane.

Miami

Zak

Use the terminal to buy a ticket to the Bermuda Triangle, then board the plane.

Bermuda Triangle

Zak

Wait for a while and you will end up on a space ship. Write down the order the pilot presses the buttons. After he leaves, press the small button on the right and go through to meet the King. Give him your fan club card, then write down the order the alien presses the buttons. Walk right and read the Lotto-O-Dictor, and write down the winning numbers. Return left and push the buttons the pilot pushed, then quickly step over the line on the left. When you are falling, put on the wet suit, then use your parachute.

In the water, use your kazoo to call the dolphin, then use the blue crystal on the dolphin. As the dolphin, swim down and pick up all the seaweed until you find a glowing object. Pick it up, then go up to the surface and give it to Zak. Switch back to Zak and wait to get captured. You will eventually end up back on the streets.

San Francisco

Zak

Wait until the commands return, then remove your wetsuit. Put on the hat and nose glasses, and enter the office. Open the counter door and go to the back room, then open the cabinet to get your items back. Go outside and remove the hat and nose glasses again. Walk right, then head up to 14th Avenue, and into Lou's Loans. Go to the buy window, and buy a lotto ticket (buy the sign above the window that says Lotto). Enter the 4 digits you wrote down from the Lott-O-Dictor. Leave the shop and switch to Annie.

London

Annie

Leave the airport and give the bottle of whiskey to the sentry. Pull the switch in his hut, then use your wire cutters on the fence and head through. Use the flagpole and two crystal shards on the altar stone, then read your scroll and pick up the yellow crystal.

Mars

Leslie

Return through the doorway to the maze. Go to the far right, then right through the blue doorway and far right again to find a map room. Look at the markings beneath the sphinx and write them down, then leave the map room again. Go left through the purple doorway, left through the yellow doorway and far left to exit the maze.

San Francisco

Zak

Open the door and enter Lou's Loans - you will receive the lotto prize. Leave the shop and head back to 13th Avenue. Use your kazoo to wake the driver, then use your cashcard in the reader to reach the airport. Use the terminal to buy a ticket to Miami, then board the plane.

Miami

Zak

Use the terminal to buy a ticket to Cairo, then board the plane.

Cairo

Zak

Leave the airport and walk to the far leg of the sphinx. Use your yellow crayon on the strange markings and complete the picture you just saw on Mars. Go through the secret entrance. In the sphinx maze, go through the doors with the sun symbol above them. You will eventually find a larger doorway with a pair of eyes to go through, and will find a room containing several buttons. Try to read the hieroglyphics, but you can't understand them.

London

Annie

Walk right to the guard house then left to the airport. Use the terminal to buy a ticket to Cairo, then board the plane.

Cairo

Annie

Leave the airport and enter the sphinx maze, again going through the sun doors to meet up with Zak. Read the hieroglyphics and push the buttons in the order indicated. Read the strange markings and write them down. Give the yellow crystal to Zak, then leave this room. Go through the far right door 6 times, then the far left door twice. Go west to the desert, then continue west to the pyramid and head inside.

Zak

Use your yellow crayon on the torn wallpaper to draw the maps, then leave this room. Go through the far right door 6 times, then the far left door twice. Go west to the desert, then north to the airport. Use the terminal to buy a ticket to Kinshasa, then board the plane.

Kinshasa

Zak

Leave the airport and keep walking through the jungle maze until you reach the village. Enter the yellow hut and give him the yellow crystal. Use the yellow crystal to teleport to the Egyptian pyramid.

Cairo

Zak

Pull the lever on the far left wall.

Annie

Head through the only doorway towards the right (in the dark), then go left and up the stairs to meet up with Zak.

Zak

Use the yellow crystal to teleport to the Mars face chamber.

Mars

Zak

Use your yellow crayon on the strange markings and complete the picture from the sphinx room. Go through the right doorway and turn on your lighter. Go through the green doorway, then far right, far right and far left. Turn off the lighter.

Melissa

Go to the great chamber, then right to the next massive door. Turn on the boombox and press play, and the door will open.

Zak

Go to the great chamber, then right to the next massive door. Go through the doorway, then head right through the only door. Pick up the ankh, then return left and far left to return to Melissa.

Melissa

Go to the great chamber, then right to the next massive door. Turn on the boombox and press play, and the door will open.

Zak

Go to the great chamber, then right to the next massive door. Go through the doorway, then head right through the only door. Use your ankh in the panel to remove the force field. Pick up the golden key (the smaller one), then push the red button on the back of the machine. Leave this room and head far left to return to Melissa. Give Melissa the golden key. Use your duct tape on your fish bowl, then put on the fish bowl, wet suit and oxygen tank. Go the great chamber, then far left to the outside. Enter the shuttlebug and turn on the oxygen valve. Leave the shuttlebug and go left to the monolith. Use your cashcard in the slot to get a token, then walk to the tram.

Leslie

Put on your helmet. Go the great chamber, then far left to the outside. Enter the shuttlebug and turn on the oxygen valve. Leave the shuttlebug and walk left to the tram.

Melissa

Put on your helmet. Go the great chamber, then far left to the outside. Enter the shuttlebug and turn on the oxygen valve. Leave the shuttlebug and go left to the monolith. Use your cashcard in the slot to get a token, then walk to the tram. Use your token in the tram.

Leslie

Use your token in the tram.

Zak

Use your token in the tram.

Leslie

Walk to the pyramid and use the broom alien on the pile of sand.

Zak

Walk to the pyramid and use your bobby pin sign with the key hole. Head inside and go through the first doorway to the right.

Melissa

Walk to the pyramid, head inside, and go through the first doorway to the right to join Zak.

Leslie

Head inside and turn on your flashlight. Go through the first doorway to the right to join Zak and Melissa. Push the sarcophagus feet to reveal a set of stairs on the left.

Melissa

Walk up the stairs on the left.

Zak

Walk up the stairs on the left.

Leslie

Walk away from the sarcophagus to close the stairs.

Melissa

Use your golden key in the box on the right, then push the button.

Zak

Quickly take the white crystal (if you are not fast enough, get Melissa to push the button and try again). Use the yellow crystal to teleport to the Peruvian eye cave.

Lima

Zak

Take off the fish bowl, oxygen tank and wet suit. Pick up the candelabra, then use the yellow crystal to teleport to the Egyptian pyramid.

Cairo

Zak

Use the glowing object on the base, then the candelabra on the glowing object. Use the blue, white and yellow crystals on the candelabra. Pull the right big switch.

Annie

Pull the left big switch.