===============================================================================

                               FAQ/Walkthrough for
                                THE ABYSSAL ZONE

===============================================================================


GUIDE INFORMATION
-----------------

Author:   Tom Hayes
E-mail:   thayesguides(at)gmail(dot)com
System:   Apple II
Updated:  10th June, 2008
Version:  1.1


CONTENTS
--------

1. Introduction
2. Walkthrough
3. Item List
4. Maps
5. Copyright Information


VERSION HISTORY
---------------

1.1:  10th June, 2008     (Format update)
1.0:  10th January, 2008  (First version)


===============================================================================

1.                                Introduction

===============================================================================


Made by Salty Software in 1984, The Abyssal Zone is an interactive fiction game
for the Apple II. After escaping from a volcanic island at the start of the
game, the rest of the game is mainly an underwater adventure where you will
need to find a way to avoid a shark, open Davey Jones' locker, escape a cave
maze and many other tasks. Typical of some early adventures, there is a limited
parser that only accepts two words; for example, "look tree" will be understood
but "look behind tree" will not. This makes the game much easier than it could
have been. It's not a bad early adventure game, but is over very quickly.


===============================================================================

2.                                Walkthrough

===============================================================================


TROPICAL ISLAND 1
-----------------

The game starts on the beach of the island. You only have a limited time before
the volcano erupts. Move SOUTH twice to the forest and GET the FEATHER from the
molting toucan. Move WEST twice and SOUTH twice. There is no use climbing the
tree with vines here as it only leads to a red herring item in the game: a can
of shark repellant. Instead, continue WEST and CLIMB the TREE here to GET the
SPEAR from the branch. Climb DOWN and move EAST, NORTH four times to the beach
and then EAST. GET the BOTTLE of suntan oil. Move EAST three times and GET the
SAND-DOLLAR. Move WEST to the start point and then move NORTH to the reef.
THROW the SPEAR at the shark to frighten it and continue NORTH to Eli's reef.


ELI'S REEF
----------

Move NORTH, WEST, NORTH twice and WEST to see Davey Jones' locker. The locker
won't open as the hinges are rusty, so USE the suntan OIL and then OPEN the
LOCKER. GET the diving SUIT and WEAR the SUIT as this will protect you from the
shark that is swimming around the reef. Move EAST. LOOK at the VASE-SPONGE and
GET the FLASHLIGHT from inside it. Move EAST, NORTH and EAST to see a clam.
TICKLE the CLAM using the feather from the toucan on the island and it will
open. GET the FISH from the clam. Move WEST, SOUTH twice and EAST to see Eli
the moray eel. GIVE the FISH to him and he will let you inside his cave (which
will be dark unless you have the flashlight). GET the TANK of helium. Move
SOUTH, WEST, and NORTH three times. WEAR the TANK of helium. Move DOWN and GET
the PENDANT from the mermaid. Continue DOWN to arrive at the abyssal plains.


ABYSSAL PLAINS
--------------

Move NORTH three times to enter the plane. GET the flight RECORDER. Move SOUTH
twice and then move WEST to see the grouper. Move in any direction and the
grouper will swallow you. It dives down to the ocean floor and releases you
into an area filled with plankton. Move NORTH and then WEST twice to return to
the rocky ledge near the plane. Move WEST three times and NORTH to enter the
grouper's cave. All of the items that the grouper stole are here, so GET the
PENDANT, RECORDER and the SAND-DOLLAR. Leave the flashlight and the suntan oil.
WEAR the PENDANT. Move SOUTH, EAST and NORTH to see a frog guard. Continue
NORTH (the frog will let you pass if you are wearing the pendant), WEST and
NORTH twice to enter the shell house. GET the KNIFE on the table. Move SOUTH to
exit the shell house and then go UP twice to arrive on the surface.


TROPICAL ISLAND 2
-----------------

Move NORTH to the small island. You can explore the reef flat to the east of
the island but there is nothing to find there except for an angelfish and a
barracuda. PLAY the RECORDER to hear a word to say to Lucia the seahorse. Climb
UP the palm tree, GET the COCONUT and EAT the COCONUT. Climb DOWN, move SOUTH
to leave the island and then go DOWN twice to return to the abyssal plains.


ABYSSAL PLAINS
--------------

Move NORTH to the shell house and GET the helium TANK. Move SOUTH, EAST twice
and NORTH to see the Atlantean guard. Say the word HIPPOCAMPUS and the seahorse
will become uncontrollable (this will only work if the flight recorder has been
played on the tropical island). You automatically pass the guard and arrive in
the region of the blue-holes. Move NORTH and DOWN to enter the limestone cave.
Move NORTH, EAST, NORTH, UP, EAST, SOUTH, NORTH, WEST and NORTH to arrive at
the tongue of the ocean. Move DOWN and WEST to see another shell house. Move
NORTH and GIVE the SAND-DOLLAR to the guard. Move NORTH into the shell house to
see four buttons on the panel. PUSH 3 to see a cable extend from a crystal.
Move SOUTH three times, EAST and then NORTH to arrive at the trench. LOOK at
the CRYSTAL (this can only be done after pressing the third button in the shell
house) and then CUT the CABLE using the knife to complete the game.


===============================================================================

3.                                Item List

===============================================================================


CAN OF SHARK REPELLANT
  Found in the forest by climbing the tree with the vines. It can be used on
  the shark at the reef, but it doesn't make the shark go away.


CHAIN MESH SUIT
  Found in the locker at Eli's reef. It is worn to be protect against the reef
  shark.


COCONUT
  Found at the top of the palm tree on the tropical island. It is eaten on the
  tropical island.


DIAMOND BLADED KNIFE
  Found in the shell house. It is used to cut the power cable to the crystal.


DIVERS FLASHLIGHT
  Found in the vase-sponge at Eli's reef. It is used to provide light in Eli's
  cave. After being lost, it is found again in the grouper's cave.


FEATHER
  Found in the forest in the area with the toucan. It is used to tickle the
  clam at Eli's reef.


FLIGHT RECORDER
  Found in the cockpit of the plane. It is played on the tropical island to
  reveal the word that must be said to pass the Atlantean guard.


LIFELESS FISH
  Found in the clam at Eli's reef. It is given to Eli the moray eel.


NECKLACE/PENDANT
  Found on the mermaid. After being lost, it is found again in the grouper's
  cave. It is worn to pass the frog guard.


OLD BOTTLE/NOTE
  Found by examining the sea-fan on the sandy portion of Eli's reef. It is not
  used.


SAND-DOLLAR
  Found one on the beach one screen east from the sign. After being lost, it is
  found again in the grouper's cave. It is given to the guard at the entrance
  to the Atlantean monitoring system.


SPEAR
  Found in the forest by climbing the tree one screen west from the tree with
  the vines. It is thrown at the shark one screen north from the beach sign.


SUNTAN OIL
  Found on the beach two screens west from the sign. It is used at Eli's reef
  in the area with the locker. After being lost, it is found again in the
  grouper's cave.


TANK OF HELIUM
  Found in Eli's cave. It is used to rise to the tropical island.


===============================================================================

4.                                   Maps

===============================================================================


MAP 1: FOREST
-------------

                                               *1
            _______    _______    _______    ___|___    _______     _______
           |       |  |Suntan |  |       |  |       |  | Sand  |   |       |
           | Beach |--|Bottle |--| Beach |--| Sign  |--|Dollar |---| Beach |
           |___ ___|  |___ ___|  |_______|  |___ ___|  |___ ___|   |___ ___|
               |          |                     |          |           |
            ___|___    ___|___               ___|___       |        ___|___
           |Forest |  |Forest |             |Forest |      |       |Forest |
           |Border |--|Border |             |Border |      |       |Border |
           |___ ___|  |___ ___|             |___ ___|      |       |___ ___|
               |          |                     |          |           |
            ___|___    ___|___               ___|___    ___|___     ___|___
           |       |  |       |             |       |  |       |   |       |
           |Forest |--|Forest |-------------|Toucan |--|Forest | +-|Forest |-*2
           |___ ___|  |___ ___|             |___ ___|  |___ ___| | |_______|
               |          |                     |          |     |
               |          |                  ___|___    ___|___  |
               |          |                 |Middle |  |       | |
               |          |                 |Forest |--|Forest |-+
               |          |                 |___ ___|  |___ ___|
               |          |                     |          |
               |          |          +----------+          |
               |          |          |                     |
               |          |          |          +----------+
            ___|___    ___|___    ___|___    ___|___
           |       |  |       |  |       |  |       |
           |Forest |  |Forest |--|Forest |--|Monkey |
           |___ ___|  |___ ___|  |___ ___|  |_______|
               |          ^          |
 _______    ___|___       |       ___|___
|       |  |       |      |      |       |
|Forest |--| Tree  |------+      |Volcano|
|___ ___|  |___ ___|             |_______|
   u|         u|
 ___|d__    ___|d__
|       |  | Shark |
| Spear |  |Repelnt|
|_______|  |_______|


*1: Leads to the Coral Reef on map 2.
*2: Leads to two additional forest areas that are not necessary to visit.


MAP 2: CORAL REEF
-----------------

                                    *1
                                     |
                       _____________d|______________
                      |                             |
                      |           Mermaid           |
                      |___ __________ __________ ___|
                          |u         |u         |u
                       __d|___    __d|___    __d|___
                      | Jelly |  | Jelly |  | Jelly |
                      | -fish |--| -fish |--| -fish |
                      |___ ___|  |___ ___|  |___ ___|
                          |          |          |
                       ___|___    ___|___    ___|___
                      | Reef  |  | Reef  |  |       |
                      | Edge  |--| Edge  |--| Clam  |
                      |_______|  |___ ___|  |_______|
                                     |
 _______    _______               ___|___
|       |  | Vase  |             |  Sea  |
|Locker |--|Sponge |-------------| Whips |
|___ ___|  |___ ___|             |___ ___|
    ^          |                     |
 ___|___    ___|___    _______       |       _______
| Tube  |  | Fire  |  |Seafan |      |      | Eli's |
|Sponge |--| Coral |  | Base  |      |      | Cave  |
|_______|  |___ ___|  |___ ___|      |      |___ ___|
               |          |          |          |
            ___|___    ___|___    ___|___    ___|___
           | Fire  |  |       |  |  Sea  |  | Cave  |
           | Coral |--|Seafan |--|Urchins|--|Entrnce|
           |_______|  |___ ___|  |_______|  |_______|
                          |
                       ___|___
                      | Eli's |
                      | Reef  |
                      |___ ___|
                          |
                       ___|___
                      | Coral |
                      | Reef  |
                      |___ ___|
                          |
                         *2


*1: Leads to the Abyssal Plains on map 3.
*2: Leads to the Sign on map 1.


MAP 3: ABYSSAL PLAINS
---------------------

            _______
           |       |
           |Coconut|
           |___ ___|
               |d
            __u|___    _______
           |       |  | Reef  |
           |Island |--| Flat  |
           |___ ___|  |___ ___|
               |          |         *1
            ___|___    ___|___    __d|___
           | Near  |  | Reef  |  | Blue  |
           |Island |->| Flat  |  | Holes |
           |___ ___|  |_______|  |___ ___|
               |                     |
               |                  ___|___
               |                 | Blue  |
               |                 | Holes |
               |                 |___ ___|
               |                     |
               |          +----------+
 _______    ___|___    ___|___    _______
|Inside |  | Outer |  |       |  |Inside |
| house |  | Slope |  | Guard |  | Ship  |
|___ ___|  |_______|  |___ ___|  |___ ___|
    |     _/d             |          |
 ___|___u/  _______    ___|___    ___|___
| Shell |  |       |  |       |  |Sunken |
| House |--|Trench |--|Trench |--| Ship  |
|___ ___|  |___ ___|  |_______|  |_______|
    |          |
 ___|___    ___|___               _______
|       |  |Lobster|             |Inside |
|Trench |--| Boat  |             | Plane |
|_______|  |___ ___|             |___ ___|
               |                     |
 _______    ___|___               ___|___
|Grouper|  | Frog  |             |Outside|
| Cave  |  | Guard |             | Plane |
|___ ___|  |___ ___|             |___ ___|      +----------+
    |          |                     |          |          |
 ___|___    ___|___    _______    ___|___    ___|___    ___v___
|       |  |       |  |       |  | Rocky |  |       |  |       |
|Trench |--|Trench |--|Trench |--| Ledge |<-| Maze  |--| Maze  |
|_______|  |_______|  |_______|  |___ ___|  |___ ___|  |___ _ _|
                                     |          |          ^ |
                                     |          +--------+ | +--------+
                                     |                   | |          |
                                  ___|___               _v_|___    ___|___
                                 |Abyssal|             |       |  |       |
                                 |Plains |------------>| Maze  |--| Maze  |
                                 |___ ___|             |_______|  |_______|
                                    u|
                                    *2


*1: Leads to the Limestone Cave and Final Area on map 3.
*2: Leads to the Mermaid on map 2.


MAP 4: LIMESTONE CAVE AND CRYSTAL AREA
--------------------------------------

 _______
|Inside |
| House |
|___ ___|
    |
 ___|___    _______
|       |  |       |
| Guard |  |Crystal|
|___ ___|  |___ ___|
    |          |
 ___|___    ___|___
|Trench |  |Trench |
| Ledge |--| Ledge |
|_______|  |___ ___|
               |u
            __d|___
           |       |
           |Tongue |
           |___ ___|
               |
            ___|___    _______
           |       |  |       |
           | Maze  |--| Maze  |
           |_______|  |___ ___|
                          ^
                          +-----+
            _______    _______  |
           |       |  |       | |
           | Maze  |--| Maze  | |
           |___ ___|  |___ ___| |
               |d         |     |
               |          | +---+
            __u|___    ___v_|_
           |       |  |       |
           | Maze  |  | Maze  |
           |___ ___|  |_______|
               |
 _______    ___|___
|       |  |       |
| Maze  |--| Maze  |
|___ ___|  |_______|
    |
 ___|___
|       |
| Maze  |
|_______|


===============================================================================

5.                          Copyright Information

===============================================================================


This file is Copyright 2008 Tom Hayes. As it can be difficult to keep track of
websites that haven't posted the latest version of this file, please do not
distribute it without my permission. Send an e-mail to me if you would like to
post this file on your website and you will likely receive a positive response.
If you do post the file, please keep it in its original form with all of the
sections intact and credit the author (Tom Hayes) as the writer of the file.
The latest version of this file can be found at www.gamefaqs.com.