ScummVM stands for Script Creation Utility for Maniac Mansion Virtual Machine. With ScummVM you can play classic point-and-click adventures on a lot of different platforms. And S60 (3rd edition) is one of these platforms.
Review conditions
I installed ScummVM version 0.11.1 on my Nokia N80. As you can see the program is far away from version 1.0.
Installation
The installation is easy as usual. Download the binaries for Symbian S60 version 3 (3.1 Megabyte for version 0.11.1) and install the sis-file on your mobile. Be sure that installing unsigned software is enabled.
First view
When you start ScummVM the program automatically switches to landscape mode. The main menu is shown and of course there are no games at this time. In the options you can select different settings for graphics, audio and others. But in my opinion the default settings are optimal. You should just select a path for your save games. And now let’s add a game…
Main features
For installing a game you just have to copy the game folder from your Computer to your mobile. When you click Add game… a file browser opens where you can select the game folder you chose previously. ScummVM detects the game and adds it to the list in the main menu. You also can select different settings for each game (Edit game…). ScummVM supports a lot of classic games – you can find a compatibility list on the official website – allthough the program version is only 0.11.1.
Now you just have to click Start and you can enjoy the selected game. I intensively played Zak McKracken on my Nokia N80 and the performance is great. The old school midi sound is very good and funny too. (Auto) Saving and Loading works perfect if you selected a save path.
Handling
Handling is a little bit tricky, but the longer you play the more you get used to it. You navigate the cursor via the direction keys. The left button is a left click, with the right button you can cancel sequences and so on (should be Escape). With 9 the cursor jumps to three different positions for faster navigation of the cursor. You can open the ScummVM menu for loading, saving, quitting, etc. via *.
The console is opened via #. You can close the console or the ScummVM menu via the C button. Advanced options can be controlled by pressing the call button. Then CTRL is activated and 2 turns the landscape mode off, 3 inverts the screen (only in landscape mode) and 4 turns off full screen. With 1 in CTRL mode you change the input type. But I don’t recommend switching to the other two input types because you can’t control the cursor then. After changing advanced options don’t forget to disable the CTRL mode again with the call button. Via the options you can also assign different keys yourself.
Weaknesses
There where a few crashes, but not while I was playing. My installation always crashed after starting ScummVM and clicking Options at first. When I clicked another button before Options worked normally.
It would be very useful if you could use alphabetic characters in the default input type for quickly selecting the action you want to do. But except these minor weaknesses I couldn’t find others.
Conclusion
I bought Zak McKracken years ago together with a magazine. If you liked these classic point-and-click adventures like me you have to try out ScummVM. But be aware: Don’t get addicted. The weaknesses are nothing compared to the fun you get with these classic games. And ScummVM is still in development and at early state. I have to give ScummVM 5 of 5 stars!
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