A downloadable game

Mission ODESSA is a hack/translation of the 1986 Italian text-only adventure "Missione ODESSA", originally developed by JACKSON SOFT and programmer Paolo Giorgi for the ZX Spectrum, inspired by Frederick Forsyth's political thriller "The Odessa File".

The original game was also released for the Commodore 64. In 2010, the author released an official English version for the C64. This Spectrum English hack/translation is based solely on the original Italian ZX Spectrum version.

You play as David Liebermann, a secret agent sent on a covert mission to Berlin shortly after the end of World War II. Your goal is to infiltrate a crumbling former Nazi stronghold and recover sensitive documents linked to ODESSA — a rumored post-war network for ex-SS officers. Time is against you, and danger lurks around every corner. Choose your path, manage your inventory wisely, and uncover the truth hidden behind enemy lines.

Mission ODESSA stands out for its historical setting, atmosphere of tension, and complex structure. With over 50 distinct locations and a variety of puzzles, it’s a challenging and immersive example of Italian interactive fiction from the 1980s.

Navigation commands:

n / north / go north
e / east / go east
s / south / go south
w / west / go west
u / up / go up
d / down / go down

Interaction commands:

attack / assault / beat / hit / kill
dig
drop / put down
escape / leave / run / run away
give
insert / put
load, unload (to load or unload an item)
move
open, close
push / press
rotate / turn
sit / sit down
sleep
smile
speak / talk
take / get
turn off / switch off
turn on / switch on / light

Informational commands:

a / about / info / information
h / help / commands
i / inventory / items
l / look / see / examine / observe / read
ts / typing speed

Special commands:

exit / quit / resign / abort / end
load / save (to load or save the state of the game).
restart
ts normal / typing speed normal
ts slow / typing speed slow
ts slower / typing speed slower
ts slowest / typing speed slowest

What is done in the hack:

A full English translation of all in-game text.
Carefully polished and enhanced prose for clarity and immersion.
Synonyms and improved interaction logic.
A new "help" screen with interactive command reference.
An "about" screen with game info and credits.
Optional setting for typing speed (useful for emulator speed adjustments).
Many bug fixes from the original version.

Tools used:

ChatGPT and DeepSeek, for translation suggestions.
Google Translate, for translation.
HxD hex editor, for text and code editing.
Spectrum SCR Editor, for the loading screen editing.
ZX-Paintbrush, also for the loading screen editing.
Fuse and Speccy emulators.
trizbort.io for maps creation.

Historical background – What is ODESSA?

ODESSA is an acronym derived from the German Organisation Der Ehemaligen SS-Angehörigen, meaning Organization of Former SS Members. According to post-war reports and literature — including Frederick Forsyth’s novel "The Odessa File" — it was believed to be a secret international network that helped SS officers flee Germany after World War II, often to South America or the Middle East, using false identities and forged documents.

The organization’s existence remains a matter of historical debate, but it has become a recurring theme in fiction and investigative journalism, symbolizing the lingering shadows of the Nazi regime in post-war Europe.

The game’s introduction features Simon Wiesenthal, a real-life Holocaust survivor and renowned Nazi hunter who devoted his post-war life to tracking down fugitive war criminals. His inclusion lends a historical weight to the story, blurring the line between fiction and reality.

Interestingly, the player character’s name — David Liebermann — closely resembles Yakov Liebermann, the Wiesenthal-inspired protagonist of The Boys from Brazil (1978), where the role was portrayed by Laurence Olivier, who had met Wiesenthal in real life. Wiesenthal’s name and legacy have appeared in several works of fiction, including "The ODESSA file", which directly inspired this game.

More historical background information:

ODESSA Wikipedia page.
Simon Wiesenthal Wikipedia page.
Frederick Forsyth Wikipedia page.
The ODESSA file movie Wikipedia page.
The ODESSA file movie IMDb page.

Obsolete.gr is not affiliated with JACKSON SOFT or Paolo Giorgi, the original developer of the Italian version; copyright for the original game remains with them.

Translation and hacking was done by Vag.

Frederick Forsyth (1938–2025), author of "The Odessa File", passed away on June 9, 2025. This translation is humbly dedicated to his memory.

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