The Price of Magik

The Price of Magik is the third and final chapter in Level 9 Computing's Time and Magik trilogy, following Lords of Time and Red Moon . The light of the Red Moon, captured in a crystal by the magicians of Baskalos, is the source of all magic. Its guardian, Myglar, has turned insane and is draining the crystal's energy for his own selfish purposes . You must enter his vast mansion, defeat him, and reclaim the crystal before its magical energy is exhausted forever. The game is a text adventure with static illustrations, featuring a powerful parser that understands over 1,000 words . Players can learn 18 three‑letter magic spells, each requiring a specific focus or talisman to operate . The game introduces new commands including OOPS (to undo one move) and RAM SAVE/RAM RESTORE (to save to memory instantly) .

Amstrad CPC

Released in 1986 by Level 9 Computing for the Amstrad CPC . The CPC version features the same 1,000-word parser as other ports, allowing complex inputs like "take all except the boozlbug then go north and kill the slug" . It includes over 200 locations, all with static illustrations—though critics note the graphics lack definition and can sometimes be misleading . The game features a "Sanity" meter that decreases as you learn spells, and independent wandering characters that can be communicated with (e.g., "WEREWOLF, EAT BREAKFAST") . A notable feature of this version is the Lenslok copy protection system—a plastic prism device required to decode scrambled letters on screen before the game starts . Critical reception was positive: Amtix called it "another smashing success," while Amstrad Action praised its "size, originality, and chart-topping challenge" .