Here's another hacky way to test if the NPC is in another room. I'm pretty sure this will work in 8-bit mode.
   : match "test me" {
      : goto "new_room";
      : if (is_beside "npc") {
         : print "The npc is there.";
      }
      : else {
         : print "The npc isn't there.";
      }
      : goto "old_room";
      : done;
   }