Zork Nemesis = Fifth Element ???
Mitch Lasky
Was anyone else struck by the amount of overlap between the structures of
the game Zork Nemesis and the movie "Fifth Element"? Of course, it's not
as if Z:N invented earth, air, fire and water -- but it went way beyond
that IMHO. Like the temple in the wasteland, and the Arabic themes and
music. The activating-the-stones finale of Fifth Element maps almost
exactly to the master puzzle in the temple in Z:N. The idea that a perfect
woman is the "fifth element" is present in both, as is the idea that the
"real" fifth element is love (and neither of those ideas come from the
alchemical literature, chemical weddings notwithstanding). That the Gary
Oldman character in Fifth Element is named "Zorg" almost made me think that
it was a wink or an homage. Any takers?
Tom Pancoast
"Mitch Lasky" <mla...@mindspring.com> wrote:
I believe they both got the idea about the fifth element from a common source,
although I don't know what sources that would be. I think there were romantic
writings (poetry, or something similar) that said love was the fifth element,
but I don't remember them specifically, so hopefully someone else will give us
detail.
The arabic themes are just a common way to invoke mystery and magic.
I think you are stretching the similarity between the four stones and the
final ending. Really it comes down to four symbols representing the four
elements, which is an obvious theme in a movie about alchemy,
I definately remembered Zork Nemesis when I saw the movie, but didn't feel
quite as strong a connection between them. There is one more similarity that
you left out, though...
They were both very very good. :)
----------------------------------------
tpan...@pobox.com (Tom Pancoast)
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Johnny Lamar Rhyne
Really it comes down to four symbols representing the four
>elements, which is an obvious theme in a movie about alchemy,
>
>I definately remembered Zork Nemesis when I saw the movie, but didn't
feel
>quite as strong a connection between them. There is one more
similarity that
>you left out, though...
>
>They were both very very good. :)
finding the four elements, or symbols of them, is the key to winning
the game.
For Example: An old NES game named CYTALIS(SP?), where you have to
find four swords to combine into a fifth, more powerful one, which is
capaible of killing the finally enemy.
An old game named Shadow of the Comet. At the end you have to use
symbols of the four elements,( air=aquamarine, earth=diamond,
fire=flint, and water=a piece of Halley's comet) to shut the space-tiem
portal.
Final Fantasy and Final Fantasy 2: Use Four Cystals or Orbs.
I'm sure there are others with the same theme or idea, btu right now I
can't think of any.
--
Mr. H.R. Bradshaw(Deceased)
Head Minister, Ministry of Silly Walks
*Is your life in a rut? Then head down
to your local silly walks recruiter today.*
Join now and we will send you a free Shrubbery.
Jesse Dorland
>
> This may be off topic, but there are a quite a few games where
>finding the four elements, or symbols of them, is the key to winning
>the game.
>
> For Example: An old NES game named CYTALIS(SP?), where you have to
>find four swords to combine into a fifth, more powerful one, which is
>capaible of killing the finally enemy.
>
The game was Crystalis, published (in the US, anyway) by SNK. It is an
excellent adventure game, and one of the best for any platform, even today.
> An old game named Shadow of the Comet. At the end you have to use
>symbols of the four elements,( air=aquamarine, earth=diamond,
>fire=flint, and water=a piece of Halley's comet) to shut the space-tiem
>portal.
>
> Final Fantasy and Final Fantasy 2: Use Four Cystals or Orbs.
>
Actually, FF2 has 8 crystals. In the first half (or around there) of the
game, you are led to believe that only 4 crystals exist. However, when Kain
rejoins your party, he tells you of 4 other crystals, the "Dark Crystals",
which are located inside the earth (the "Underworld").
Come to think of it, if you get right down to the technical stuff, there are 9
crystals. The moon ship uses the Flight crystal to leave earth and return to
it. But generally speaking, there are 8.
-Jesse
>
>I'm sure there are others with the same theme or idea, btu right now I
>can't think of any.
>--
>
>Mr. H.R. Bradshaw(Deceased)
>Head Minister, Ministry of Silly Walks
>*Is your life in a rut? Then head down
>to your local silly walks recruiter today.*
>
>Join now and we will send you a free Shrubbery.
>
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Howard Denison
Mitch Lasky wrote:
>
> Was anyone else struck by the amount of overlap between the structures of
> the game Zork Nemesis and the movie "Fifth Element"? Of course, it's not
> as if Z:N invented earth, air, fire and water -- but it went way beyond
> that IMHO. Like the temple in the wasteland, and the Arabic themes and
> music. The activating-the-stones finale of Fifth Element maps almost
> exactly to the master puzzle in the temple in Z:N. The idea that a perfect
> woman is the "fifth element" is present in both, as is the idea that the
> "real" fifth element is love (and neither of those ideas come from the
> alchemical literature, chemical weddings notwithstanding). That the Gary
> Oldman character in Fifth Element is named "Zorg" almost made me think that
> it was a wink or an homage. Any takers?
Kent Halac
Zork Nemesis was the first thing that I thought of when I started
watching this movie also. At least ZN did not have an appearance
by Luke Perry.
Kent