King's Quest (2015 video game)

King's Quest

Cover art
Developer(s) The Odd Gentlemen
Publisher(s) Sierra Entertainment
Distributor(s) Activision
Director(s) Matt Korba
Producer(s) Lindsey Rostal
Designer(s) Matt Korba
Artist(s) Evan Cagle
Nathan Fulton
Writer(s) Matt Korba
Lindsey Rostal
Composer(s) Ben Stanton
David Stanton
Series King's Quest
Engine Unreal Engine 3
Platform(s) Microsoft Windows
PlayStation 3
PlayStation 4
Xbox 360
Xbox One
Release date(s)
Genre(s) Adventure
Mode(s) Single-player

King's Quest is an ongoing episodic video game series developed by The Odd Gentlemen, published by Sierra Entertainment and distributed by Activision for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360 and Xbox One. It is a new re-imagining of the long-running King's Quest series. While it is an adventure game like the previous games in the series, the interface is not fully point-and-click (the PC version only uses point-and-click for the dialogue and first person scenes).[6]

The game is one of several attempts at resurrecting or rebooting the King's Quest franchise since 1998, and its first chapter was released some 32 years after King's Quest I. The new chapters are seen as neither a remake nor necessarily a sequel but a "re-imagining" (the original games are considered to be part of the canon of the new series, as each chapter will take place between those games, but previous games may be reinterpreted in completely new ways.)[7][8]

Gameplay

Unlike the classic King's Quest video games, the new King's Quest is not a point-and-click adventure. Instead, it is an adventure game that tasks players to control Graham, who ventures to different places to become a knight. The movement of Graham can be completely controlled by players.[6] According to Matt Korba, the game's creative director, the game's controls focuses on "one-button context." As a result, the game does not have any complicated interfaces or controls.[7] Throughout the game, players can interact with different objects in the environment. For instance, players can pick up, gather, and inspect different scenery items.[9] They can switch to first-person perspective when inspecting them.

The game is narrated by the old Graham and his granddaughter Gwendolyn. Player's actions in the game change the narrative. For instance, performing certain actions unlocks additional dialogue. When players make wrong decisions and die, Graham replies with phrases such as "That’s what would have happened if I did that," before players re-spawn. Players also make decisions throughout the game that are divided into three different approaches, bravery, wisdom, and compassion.[9] Actions performed by players have consequences and impact the game's story, and as a result, change the game's overall experience. Most of these choices are game play-based. According to Korba, all the choices made by Graham are heroic, and there is no way for players to build a "bad" Graham.[7]

The first section of the game is linear, i.e., levels open sequentially. Players are free to explore levels, and the game does not feature any prescribed or predetermined paths.[7] Players can also use a variety of methods to complete their objectives, and are tasked to solve various puzzles in the game, even though there are no fixed solutions to these puzzles.[10] Players can also have conversations with anyone in the game.[9] The game features branching dialogue.[7] In addition, the game features some action sequences, quick-time events, and on-rail platform elements.[11]

Plot

In King's Quest, King Graham shares his previous adventures with his curious granddaughter, Gwendolyn. It is through these tales that Gwendolyn learns about the life led by her grandfather.

Along with new stories, the series re-imagines certain events, elements and backstories from previous games.[12] Some of Graham's backstory even differs from that given in Sierra's previous material. Rather than having grown up in Daventry, he is now an outsider that has recently come to the land. The main tale of Chapter I, according to Graham, is from the time when he was but a lad, before he was a knight, and before he came to Daventry for the first time. He has only read about Daventry from travel guides he used to read as a child, and could not wait to see its famous landmarks for himself (the kingdom is reimagined as a bustling walled city surrounding Castle Daventry, where as in the original game the castle was a lonely keep, surrounded by mostly wilderness).

Classic games as well as The King's Quest Companion are reused for references and reimagined events as such places from the expanded universe. Chapter 3: Once Upon A Climb completely reimagine the story of King's Quest II: Romancing the Throne by taking the story of the princess trapped in the tower by an evil witch Hagatha, but now there are two princesses trapped in the same tower, trapped along with the witch who is herself a princess as well. Graham himself becomes trapped with them in the tower, and has to figure out how to escape. The player ends up choosing between the two princesses (both who will end up the 'canon' Valanice for the player based on whoever is chosen) to be his wife. The synopsis suggests that original story players may remember was only a fairy tale, and that the new series tells the real and more complicated story.[3]

Development

There have been multiple other attempts to create another sequel or a reboot following 1998's King's Quest: Mask of Eternity, all of which never went past the announcement or concept stages. In August 2014, Activision announced that they had revived the Sierra brand, and had passed development responsibilities for a new game over to The Odd Gentlemen.[13] The game was split into separate chapters because it would be too long to release all at once.[14] The script for the first chapter alone is 640 pages long, including multiple branching paths, the Easter eggs, the narration, trying to use or combine the wrong objects, and dialogue trees.[12] Each chapter is longer and more involved than a regular episodic series such as those made by Telltale Games.[15] The game uses vocal performances by actors such as Christopher Lloyd, Wallace Shawn, Tom Kenny, Josh Keaton, Maggie Elizabeth Jones, and Zelda Williams.[16][17]

Release

The game is to be released in five parts in 2015 and 2016, with an optional playable Epilogue only included in King's Quest: The Complete Collection edition. If the first series with Graham does well, future King's Quest series (similar to 'seasons') by The Odd Gentlemen would follow other members of the royal family.[6]

Chapter Directed by Written by Episode release date
Chapter I: "A Knight to Remember" TBA TBA July 28, 2015[1]
Graham's journey to knighthood begins in this chapter. It takes place before the original King's Quest as memories of the present day Graham (who is now aged), narrated to his granddaughter Gwendolyn.
Chapter II: "Rubble Without a Cause" TBA TBA December 15, 2015[2]
Graham recounts his first adventure as the newly crowned king of Daventry saving the kingdom from invading goblins.
Chapter III: "Once Upon a Climb" TBA TBA April 26, 2016[3]
Graham recounts the tale of how he met his beloved Valanice. Climbing a tower, Graham finds two princesses - Vee and Neese - trapped by the witch Hagatha.
Chapter IV: "Snow Place Like Home" TBA TBA September 27, 2016[4]
After Graham's son, Alexander, escapes his life of enslavement to Manannan they celebrate by taking the family on vacation. However, they find the resort has been transformed into a snowy palace of lethal traps by an icy queen and a sphinx.
Chapter V: "The Good Knight" TBA TBA October 25, 2016[5]
Epilogue: "TBD" TBA TBA TBA

Reception

Aggregate review scores
Game Metacritic
Chapter I: A Knight to Remember (PC) 82[18]
(PS4) 77[19]
(XONE) 80[20]
Chapter II: Rubble Without a Cause (PC) 67[21]
(PS4) 68[22]
(XONE) 71[23]
Chapter III: Once Upon a Climb (PC) 78[24]
(PS4) 79[25]
(XONE) 80[26]

Chapter I: A Knight to Remember

Chapter I: A Knight to Remember received positive reviews. Aggregating review website Metacritic gave the Microsoft Windows version 82/100 based on 23 reviews,[18] the PlayStation 4 version 77/100 based on 22 reviews[19] and the Xbox One version 80/100 based on 26 reviews.[20]

Chapter II: Rubble Without a Cause

Chapter II: Rubble Without a Cause received mixed reviews. Aggregating review website Metacritic gave the Microsoft Windows version 67/100 based on 7 reviews,[21] the PlayStation 4 version 68/100 based on 12 reviews[22] and the Xbox One version 71/100 based on 11 reviews.[23]

Chapter III: Once Upon A Climb

Chapter III: Once Upon A Climb received positive reviews. Aggregating review website Metacritic gave the Microsoft Windows version 78/100 based on 4 reviews,[24] the PlayStation 4 version 79/100 based on 9 reviews[25] and the Xbox One version 80/100 based on 8 reviews.[26]

Chapter IV: Snow Place Like Home

Chapter IV: Snow Place Like Home received generally mixed reviews. Chris Carter from Destructoid gave this chapter a 9/10 for being "A hallmark of excellence. It may have some flaws, but they are negligible to what is otherwise a supreme title.", while Chandler Wood from Playstation Lifestyle had some mixed feelings about the chapter, giving it 5.5 being happy with "Some great cultural references and lines/Seeing Graham continue to grow" but generally disliking the "Cold and dull environment/Boring and dated puzzle design/Lack of meaningful choices/Underplays capabilities showcased in prior chapters".

Chapter V: The Good Knight

Chapter V: The Good Knight received generally positive reviews. Chris Carter from Destructoid gave this chapter 8.5/10 for an "Impressive effort with a few noticeable problems holding it back. Won't astound everyone, but is worth most people's time and cash.". Chandler Wood from Playstation Lifestyle was pleased with this chapter this time around, giving the game 8/10, praising the "Deep subjects of mortality, life accomplishments, and what we leave behind/Callbacks to King's Quest through the years/Conclusion that pulls the whole saga into context and finishes it out nicely" although being unhappy with the "sudden memory loss" and "some puzzle design is flawed".

References

  1. 1 2 3 Porter, Matt (June 30, 2015). "King's Quest: A Knight to Remember Release Date Announced". IGN. Retrieved June 30, 2015.
  2. 1 2 3 Sarkar, Samit (December 1, 2015). "King's Quest finally gets second chapter in mid-December, here's why it took so long". Polygon. Retrieved December 1, 2015.
  3. 1 2 3 Porter, Matt (March 14, 2016). "King's Quest Chapter 3 Coming Next Month". IGN. Retrieved March 14, 2016.
  4. 1 2 Dunning, Jason (September 21, 2016). "King's Quest Chapter 4: Snow Place Like Home Launches on September 27". PlayStation LifeStyle. Retrieved September 21, 2016.
  5. 1 2 Perez, Daniel (October 14, 2016). "King's Quest tells the final chapter of Graham's story on October 25". Shacknews. Retrieved October 14, 2016.
  6. 1 2 3 Futter, Mike (August 16, 2014). "[Update] Sierra's New King's Quest Won't Be Point-And-Click, Will Be Adventure". Game Informer. Retrieved August 16, 2014.
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 Juba, Joe (March 6, 2015). "Passing The Hat: An In-Depth Look At The New King's Quest". Game Informer. Retrieved March 6, 2015.
  8. ↑ Morganti, Emily (March 13, 2015). "King's Quest preview". Adventure Gamers. Retrieved March 13, 2015.
  9. 1 2 3 Todd, Brett (July 28, 2015). "King's Quest Chapter 1: A Knight to Remember Review". Retrieved July 29, 2015.
  10. ↑ Sarkar, Samit; McElroy, Justin (July 28, 2015). "King's Quest: 'A Knight to Remember' Review: My Kingdom for a Horse". Retrieved July 29, 2015.
  11. ↑ Carter, Chris (July 28, 2015). "Review: King's Quest: A Knight To Remember". Retrieved July 29, 2015.
  12. 1 2 Hryb, Larry (July 25, 2015). "MNR 549 Gamescom and King's Quest Interview". Retrieved July 29, 2015.
  13. ↑ "Sierra And King's Quest Are Coming Back From The Dead". The International House of Mojo. August 12, 2014. Retrieved August 17, 2014.
  14. ↑ Calandra, Nick (June 17, 2015). "King's Quest - Recapturing the Magic and Charm of the Original Game Interview". Retrieved July 29, 2015.
  15. ↑ Samit Sarkar. "King's Quest finally gets second chapter in mid-December, here's why it took so long". Polygon.
  16. ↑ Makuch, Eddie (May 11, 2015). "King's Quest Revival Has a Seriously Impressive Voice Cast". GameSpot. Retrieved May 12, 2015.
  17. ↑ Lemne, Bengt (May 11, 2015). "Behind the scenes with King's Quest voice cast". Gamereactor. Retrieved May 12, 2015.
  18. 1 2 "King's Quest Chapter 1: A Knight to Remember Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved July 29, 2015.
  19. 1 2 "King's Quest Chapter 1: A Knight to Remember Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved July 29, 2015.
  20. 1 2 "King's Quest Chapter 1: A Knight to Remember Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved July 29, 2015.
  21. 1 2 "King's Quest Chapter 2: Rubble Without a Cause Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved December 15, 2015.
  22. 1 2 "King's Quest Chapter 2: Rubble Without a Cause Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved December 15, 2015.
  23. 1 2 "King's Quest Chapter 2: Rubble Without a Cause Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved December 15, 2015.
  24. 1 2 "King's Quest Chapter 3: Once Upon a Climb Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved April 26, 2016.
  25. 1 2 "King's Quest Chapter 3: Once Upon a Climb Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved April 26, 2016.
  26. 1 2 "King's Quest Chapter 3: Once Upon a Climb Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved April 26, 2016.
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