ECHOES OF ATLANTIS

Prepare to embark on a thrilling, six-part retro adventure for the ZX Spectrum 48K/128K. ECHOES OF ATLANTIS is a text-based graphic journey that plunges you into the world of forbidden archaeology and ancient mysteries.

ECHOES OF ATLANTIS for the ZX SPECTRUM

Travel back thousands of years and step into the awe-inspiring halls of the Library of Alexandria, where the discovery of a mysterious papyrus sets you on an unforgettable quest. Unearthed from a hidden tomb in Egypt, the secrets contained within this fragile scroll whisper of an ancient world lost to time. But this is only the beginning.

Your journey will take you across the ancient world, from bustling markets to forgotten ruins, as you uncover the truth behind the legendary civilization of Atlantis. Along the way, you’ll meet allies and adversaries, solve intricate puzzles, and piece together the fragments of a story lost to the ages.

But beware! A shadow looms over your quest—a sinister Egyptian priest will stop at nothing to keep the knowledge of the lost civilization buried. His motives remain shrouded in secrecy, but danger follows his every step, forcing you to stay one step ahead to survive.

Do you have what it takes to unlock the secrets of Atlantis and bring its forgotten knowledge back into the light? The past is calling—will you answer?

ECHOES OF ATLANTIS: The journey of a lifetime awaits inside your ZX Spectrum!

---

This sprawling adventure is divided into six chapters, each uncovering a crucial piece of the narrative. At the end of each chapter, you'll unlock a password granting access to the next part of your journey. However, the choice of how to play is entirely yours and you can choose one of the following gameplay options:

1. Unravel the sequential story: Immerse yourself in the traditional experience, completing each chapter in order and piecing together the overarching mystery of Atlantis.
2. Explore freely, out of sequence: If you’re eager to tackle each chapter as a standalone adventure, you can do so! Read the synopsis for any chapter and access its unique password. Be warned, though—playing out of order means you’ll lose much of the rich context woven through the narrative.

To preserve the surprise, passwords for each chapter are initially hidden. Simply highlight the spoiler area beneath each synopsis to reveal the code and dive into the next chapter without having to go through the one before.

Whether you choose to follow the story step by step or explore each chapter as a self-contained mystery, ECHOES OF ATLANTIS promises a thrilling adventure brimming with ancient secrets, cunning puzzles, and epic discoveries.

---

SYNOPSIS

NOTE: The following synopsis for each chapter contains only a few pieces of the whole story and you need to play each chapter one by one, in order to have a better grasp of the overall narrative.

----

CHAPTER ONE – ALEXANDRIA

[ *SPOILERS* ]

Your quest begins in the vibrant city of Alexandria, home to the legendary Library and the towering Lighthouse of Faros. While unraveling secrets hidden in the scrolls of the Library, you encounter Ágora, a mysterious girl with her own connection to the ancient world.  Your mission is far greater—and more dangerous—than you imagined.

PASSWORD for Chapter II:
SPOILER:*(download the "Passwords.Pdf)*

-

CHAPTER TWO - SAHARA

The story so far... [ *SPOILERS* ]
Your journey continues as you uncover one of the fabled lost cities of Atlantis, hidden and forgotten along the northern rim of the Sahara Desert. Its haunting emptiness speaks of a civilization that vanished long ago, its people mysteriously evacuated to an unknown destination. As you wander through the ruins, deciphering the remnants of their advanced knowledge, danger strikes once again.

The relentless Egyptian Priest, sworn to stop your quest, tracks you down and attacks with deadly intent. Though he fails to take your life, his determination forces you to push forward, unraveling more of Atlantis's secrets. Among the ancient ruins, you discover a remarkable relic of their lost technology—an intact Vimana, a legendary flying craft.

Mastering its controls, you take to the skies, soaring through the Pillars of Hercules and across the vast Atlantic. Your destination: a cluster of islands we now know as the Azores. Here, on a windswept rock cliff overlooking the endless ocean, you face the Egyptian Priest in a final, climactic confrontation. Armed with a deadly Atlantean ray weapon, you disintegrate your foe, ending his pursuit once and for all.

With go back to the desert city of Atlantis aboard another submarine vehicle found inside a sunken pyramid in the Azores. In Atlantis you reach its central tower and activate a Stargate device. You are enveloped in its shimmering energy and teleported to an unknown destination.



PASSWORD for Chapter III:
SPOILER *(download the "Passwords.Pdf)*

-

CHAPTER THREE - ANTARCTICA

The story so far... [ *SPOILERS* ]
Your adventure takes a dramatic turn as you arrive at the frozen remains of what was once the thriving capital of Atlantis, a city that flourished when Antarctica was a lush, verdant paradise. But the comet that devastated the world obliterated this great civilization, plunging it into icy ruin and forcing humanity to start anew with no memory of what came before.

As you explore its icy halls, you discover a sophisticated building where six cryo-pods stand, each containing an ancient figure in suspended animation. Activating the system, you awaken one of the sleepers—one of the six Sages, ancient scientists revered as sacred guides by the early civilizations.

The awakened Sage reveals a shocking truth: after the cataclysm, these Sages traveled the world to restore lost knowledge and guide humanity’s rebirth. However, their mission required patience. Choosing to sleep in cryo-pods, they awaited the right time to continue their work. But something is wrong—one of the pods is empty, one Sage is missing, and the remaining pods have been sabotaged.

The awakened Sage unveils a new mission: to recover six Crystal Shards scattered across the world. These shards, ancient Atlantean data storage devices, hold the knowledge and keys to restoring the original Atlantian civilization from exile. Together, you and the Sage set out on a journey to recover them, determined to save both the past and the future.

Leaving the frozen capital behind, you travel by boat, sailing north to the southern shores of what is now Patagonia. There, you meet a reclusive hermit, a guardian of a Sacred Box who has waited centuries for the Sages to return. Taking the box, the hermit leads you to another Stargate hidden deep within the wilderness.

Stepping through, you are transported to the hermit’s distant island home, far to the north in the middle of the ocean, where the next stage of your journey awaits.



PASSWORD for Chapter IV:
SPOILER *(download the "Passwords.Pdf)*

-

CHAPTER FOUR – RAPA-NUI

The story so far... [ *SPOILERS* ]
Your journey takes you to the remote island of Rapa-Nui, a mysterious land scattered with massive stone statues—the Moai—that seem to silently guard ancient secrets. Accompanied by the awakened "Anunnaki" Sage, you reach an ancient "Anunnaki" observation post. In its control room, long-dormant screens flicker to life and you see video footage of Ágora, the young girl you encountered in Alexandria, now appearing on a distant river island. Could she hold a key to unraveling  a piece of the puzzle?

In the same control room, you learn of another crucial Crystal Shard, hidden beneath the waves in a sunken city. With the help of the island's inhabitants, you secure a sailboat and leave Rapa-Nui, embarking on a daring journey across the open sea. After many days of travel, you arrive at the underwater ruins near, what is now, the Japanese coast— you arrive at the legendary submerged city of Yanaguni.

Using a specialized diving vehicle, you descend into the depths, navigating the ancient city's sunken corridors and recover the next Crystal Shard, which the Sage carefully stores, ensuring its safety as you prepare for the next step of your mission.

The Sage, ever attuned to the relics' energies, reveals the location of another shard—thousands of miles from your current position. Boarding the submarine, you set out on a new course, as your quest continues and the submarine in auto-pilote takes you toward the unknown.



PASSWORD for Chapter V: 
SPOILER *(download the "Passwords.Pdf)*

-

CHAPTER FIVE – THE LAND OF THE MAHABHARATA

The story so far... [ *SPOILERS* ]
Your journey takes you deep into the lush, untamed jungles of a vast continent, a place steeped in ancient legends and once home to the civilization of the Mahabharata—modern-day India. This is a land teeming with beauty and danger, where every step forward is a test of survival and ingenuity.

Together with the "Anunnaki" Sage, you navigate treacherous river currents, dodge towering waterfalls, leap across perilous chasms, and fend off fierce predators like tigers and giant spiders. Along the way, ancient Atlantean relics and secrets begin to emerge, revealing tantalizing clues about the lost civilization's global influence.

At one point, you and the Sage are forced to separate, embarking on a mini solo adventure through the dense jungle. Alone, you must use your wit and courage to overcome natural obstacles and unravel puzzles hidden in the wilderness. Eventually, you reunite with the Sage, and your combined efforts lead you to a remarkable discovery—a massive Vimana hangar hidden high in the mountains.

Inside the hangar, you find yet another vital Crystal Shard Key, carefully preserved and waiting to be recovered. The Sage secures the shard, and the ancient Vimana is powered up, its engines roaring to life for the first time in millennia.

As the craft lifts off, you soar over the jungles and into the skies, heading westward. Soon, the vast expanse of the Sahara Desert stretches out beneath you once more, as your adventure brings you closer to unraveling the full mystery of Atlantis.



PASSWORD for Chapter VI ( THE END CHAPTER ):
SPOILER *(download the "Passwords.Pdf)*

-

CHAPTER SIX – GIZA ( The Final Chapter )

The story so far...
The Vimana descends into the vast expanse of the Sahara Desert, landing in what seems to be an empty and desolate location. At first, there is no indication of where to go or why the craft brought you here. But soon, you and the Sage uncover a hidden entrance—a colossal underground Egyptian temple carved into the rock, concealed within a massive natural cave system that stretches beneath the desert sands, far from the reach of any caravan traveler above.

As you explore the ancient halls of this secret temple, a chilling discovery awaits. The Egyptian Priest, though long dead, left a message behind, anticipating your arrival. His message reveals startling truths: the origins of his mission, his deep ties to the South Pole, and his purpose and plan regarding the fate of the original Atlantean civilization. For the first time, you understand his true motives and the desperate reasons he sought to stop you from obtaining any knowledge.

But the temple is not just a place of revelation—it is a labyrinth of deadly traps and intricate puzzles. The shadows of the past seem to come alive, and with every step, the weight of your mission grows heavier. Among the echoes of the temple, you learn that Ágora’s fate is inexplicably linked to yours, and that her survival may rest in your hands.

Then, disaster strikes. As you press deeper into the temple, the Sage, your companion and guide throughout this perilous journey, falls into a hidden trap and vanishes before your eyes. Worse still, he takes with him all the Crystal Shard Keys you’ve worked so hard to recover. With the keys gone, the Sage lost, and the temple’s secrets looming large, you are left completely alone, forced to summon every ounce of courage and ingenuity to figure out your next move.

This is the ultimate test. The temple holds the final answers you seek, but it will not yield them easily. The future of humanity—and the truth of Atlantis—rests in your hands. Will you solve the mysteries, overcome the dangers, and fulfill your mission? Or will the secrets of the past remain buried forever beneath the sands of time?



This is the final part of the adventure and so from here on, no more Spoilers of course.
It´s up to you to complete the game.

----------------------

TIPS FOR PLAYING THE GAME

As a classic ZX Spectrum text-based adventure, Echoes of Atlantis uses a text parser to interpret your commands. 

While this adds depth and complexity to the gameplay, it can occasionally lead to frustrating moments when the parser doesn’t fully recognize your input. To help you navigate this epic adventure smoothly, here are some essential tips:

1. Use Full or Longer Words in Commands
   The game’s parser relies on comparing your input to a large vocabulary of verbs and nouns. To minimize confusion, try to type at least 3 to 6 letters for each word in your command, especially for longer words. For instance:
   
   
   • Instead of "UNLO DOO," type "UNLOCK DOOR".
   • Instead of "GET TO," type "GET TOKEN". Typing out full words or using more characters reduces the chance of the parser confusing similar terms and responding with “You can’t”, when in reality you could.
   
   
2. Be Patient with the Parser
   
   Even if you have the right idea, the parser might not always interpret partial inputs correctly. If you receive a “You can’t do that” response, it’s often worth rephrasing your command or typing it more fully to ensure accuracy. For example:
   
   
   • If “OPEN BOX” doesn’t work, ( and you have a Key in your inventory ), try “UNLOCK BOX”  first.
   
   
3. Experiment with Synonyms
   
   The text parser recognizes many commands, but it may favor certain terms over others. If a specific action doesn’t seem to work, try synonyms. For example:
   
   
   • Instead of “PUSH BUTTON,” you might try “PRESS BUTTON”.
   
   
4. Save Progress Regularly Text adventures often involve trial and error. Save your game frequently, especially before trying risky actions or exploring new areas. This way, you can backtrack if needed without losing too much progress.
   Echoes of Atlantis, does not have many death-trap moments, as I always thought that is really frustrating for the player, but at the beginning of the adventure, particularly in the "ALEXANDRIA" and "SAHARA" chapters I and II, there are a couple of death traps, which make sense for the adventure. So if you don´t want to start over each chapter from scratch when you fall into one of the traps, I do recommend you save the game regularly, every two or three puzzles you solve, at least.
   
   
5. Pay Close Attention to Clues The game’s descriptions often hint at what actions are possible or necessary. Read all text carefully to pick up on key details and possible verbs or nouns to use in commands. 
   Echoes of Atlantis is a more complex game than you usually find for the ZX Spectrum, because in this case, there are moments where characters move from one place to the other, some can follow and track you down, others join you and travel with you and so on.
   So, if you are traveling with a friend, like it will happen at some point in this game when you meet the old Sage, if you are stuck in a puzzle try, "TALK TO SAGE" as characters sometimes give out clues and perform important actions when you speak to them in key moments of the adventure.
   
   
6. In many locations there are several hidden objects that are important. Some may be inside other objects, so make sure you examine what you find. Many times things you can collect are just that, but don´t forget to examine the environments around you. Also, some actions you do on one location,  open puzzles on another one you've already visited, or will visit. Each puzzle is not locked to each room and many puzzles affect other puzzles which are not located where you currently are.
   
   
7. Have a Notebook to note down useful commands, discovered locations, or puzzle solutions as you play. This will save time and help you track your progress across the sprawling adventure.
   A list with all the command verbs is provided when you download the game, along with high res versions of the maps, but nevertheless, there´s many ways to draw the maps from each chapter, and you might enjoy illustrating your own too, which I recommend because the maps I did, can be improved if you add some more details to them by making them more personal.
 

By keeping these tips in mind, you’ll be better prepared to tackle the puzzles, dangers, and mysteries of Echoes of Atlantis. Remember, the key to success lies in patience, creativity, and careful input. Good luck, adventurer—the ancient world awaits!

---

A non-linear adventure for the ZX Spectrum

One of the most unique aspects of Echoes of Atlantis is its non-linear gameplay structure. While the main narrative follows a linear progression—much like reading through the chapters of a book—the way you explore the world, solve puzzles, and reach key story points is entirely up to you. 

This open-ended approach creates a sense of freedom rarely seen in classic ZX Spectrum adventures. Much less in adventure games created using GAC-Graphich Adventure Creator, as reviewers back in the day even claimed this couldn´t be done. But it can. All my GAC adventure games for the Spectrum have that characteristic.

Open-World Exploration

In Echoes of Atlantis, most of the time, you won’t be confined to a single path. Each game map is designed with multiple routes to progress, with 2 to 5 different ways to navigate through many of the story’s locations. This means that your journey can vary slightly each time you play, offering  a new possible route with every replay. 
Many times, you don´t need to solve a specific puzzle in front of you to be able to progress or do something else. If you find more than one puzzle to solve in the map, it does not matter in what order you solve them. The only exceptions for this is when the story-narrative depends on you solving a specific key-narrative mystery to progress.

Expansive Worlds

For this game, the size of the game map varies as the adventure unfolds:

• Larger, Open Maps: The opening chapters, Alexandria and Sahara, feature expansive maps with over 60 rooms, allowing for a broad exploration experience and plenty of opportunities to solve puzzles in your own order.
  
• Tighter, Focused Maps: As the story progresses into chapters like Antarctica, Rapa-Nui, Mahabharata, and Giza, the maps become smaller to emphasize a more detailed and controlled narrative. Even so, these sections retain non-linear elements, ensuring no part of the game feels overly restrictive.

The open-world feel of Echoes of Atlantis gives the game a nice replay value. With multiple paths to reach the same narrative points, no two playthroughs need to be, or feel, exactly the same. Whether you’re uncovering a hidden route, solving puzzles in a new order, or discovering alternate ways to access key locations, every session can bring a fresh perspective on the story.

By blending expansive maps, multi-path exploration, and a narrative that evolves organically with player choices, my goal with Echoes of Atlantis was to push the boundaries of what a ZX Spectrum adventure can offer, when designed with GAC. Prepare to lose yourself in a richly designed world, where every decision you make shapes your journey through the mysteries of Atlantis.

---

This game was designed, programmed and illustrated by Luis Peres between December of 2023 and January of 2025 and it was created using the GRAPHIC ADVENTURE CREATOR - GAC , for the ZX Spectrum.

---

Visit www.icreateworlds.net for more illustration work.