The King’s Quest series is a real nostalgia storm for those who have experienced the legendary golden age of adventure games.
If you haven’t heard this name before, don’t be surprised. Because the roots of the series are so deep that the original games were released even before many of us were born. The basic logic of the story is actually very clear and attractive. We step into a magical world and set out to find three magical objects to return the kingdom to its former glory. The series is a great example that is committed to reviving the genre with modern touches while remaining faithful to the old pure roots of the adventure genre.
Let’s take a look at the origins of this legend and its long journey. Sierra On-Line released the first King’s Quest game, Quest for the Crown, all the way back in 1984. It was such a visually innovative work for its time that it offered players a huge world to explore and solve puzzles. We’re talking about a history of more than 30 years! The series was silent for a long time after releasing its eighth game, Mask of Eternity, in 1998, but finally they announced the expected return. I have great news for new friends who will play A Knight to Remember as the ninth member of the series. You definitely don’t need to swallow the previous eight games to enjoy this game.
The developers have prepared a wonderful experience that will satisfy old fans while newcomers to the genre can adapt immediately. However, if you say “I’m curious about the past,” you can grab the old games from GOG and dive into this magical world from the very beginning.
What kind of atmosphere awaits us in this new game?
The first thing that catches your eye is definitely the graphic design and that enchanting visual art style. When the production company Odd Gentlemen shared a video about the production process of the game, I can say that we all were left speechless. The art team literally dug a well with a needle to catch the modern visuality without breaking the spirit of the old games. They painted every leaf in the game with watercolor by hand and transferred these handmade visuals to three-dimensional models. When you watch the video, you immediately notice how much effort the team has put into the game and how impressive a visual feast they have created.
In addition, following today’s trends, the producers will publish the game in parts. Because they will bring the game to us on a very wide range of platforms such as PC, PS4, PS3, Xbox One and Xbox 360, both those who keep their old consoles and owners of new generation devices will be able to enjoy this experience.
And when it comes to the gameplay mechanics, we see a great balance of exploration, puzzle solving and storytelling. We freely move around the maps, which are non-linear, that is, they do not lock us into a single path, and we compete with creative puzzles that will challenge our minds. In addition, the producers have thought of all of us with flexible difficulty levels. If you say “I want to sit back and enjoy the story, don’t bother me with those old-fashioned difficulties that keep me going back to the same point,” you can close these dead ends. But if you say “I’m an old-school player, I like challenges,” you can open those features and really slap a classic King’s Quest that is faithful to its roots.
Like all good things, this production has its pros and cons. Let’s quickly summarize what we noticed:
The best parts of the job
- Difficulty on your terms. The option to open and close dead ends offered by the producers allows you to shape the game entirely according to your own will.
- Clever mini-puzzles. The team has sprinkled a series of cleverly designed mini-puzzles throughout the story that are both entertaining and make you say, “Wow, that’s a good thought.”
- Free map design. They’ve created a world that you can easily navigate, but still gives you that sense of exploration.
Details that could spoil our fun
- Old-school graphics. That high-pixel vintage style that developers have chosen to evoke a sense of nostalgia may seem a bit outdated to the new generation of eyes looking for smooth graphics.
- No waiting for episodes. Since the developers will release the game in pieces, you’ll have to be patient to see the continuation of the story while waiting for the next episodes.
In short, King’s Quest is not only a game series. But one of the greatest living legacies in the history of games. A Knight to Remember is a very successful production that combines the spirit of the old classic game with modern technology and serves as a bridge to the new generation of players. The developers really deserve praise for taking such ownership of the legacy of the series. If you are interested in the adventure genre in any way or are thinking of making a serious start in this genre, you should definitely give King’s Quest series a chance!