It’s been seventeen years since we last saw an official King’s Quest game. Let that soak in for a bit. Now consider it’s been twenty three years since we last saw a good King’s Quest game.
It’s certainly not for lack of trying on Sierra’s part. King’s Quest was still a ripe IP when that grand mis-step Mask Of Eternity came out, but the series began such a long history of failed sequel attempts you certainly wouldn’t be blamed if you just assumed it was cursed. Vivendi Games, Silicon Knights, and TellTale have all had their hands on the title at some point or another, and each one wound up being abandoned before completion.
Now a 9th game in the series is finally here, and it’s being brought to you by The Odd Gentlemen, the relatively small team behind Neil Gaiman’s debut into gaming: Wayward Manor.
The game follows a style very similar to the modern day adventure games we see from studios like TellTale and Double Fine, though I will mention that even in the brief time I saw King’s Quest there was a much heavier emphasis on puzzles than you would find in anything TellTale has released lately.
When we find King Graham he’s noticeably past his prime. The story is framed in a style similar to The Princess Bride or Big Fish, where King Graham relays a tale to his granddaughter Gwendoline who will subconsciously retain his story and use its lessons to solve her own problems. For example in the game’s first chapter Gwendoline comes to Graham having just entered a fencing tournament. Graham begins to tell her a story of a time he too won a tournament but the player is able to choose how he spins the story. Did he win with a bold act of bravery, a cunning use of wisdom, or by tapping into his compassionate side and making a friend?
Each time Graham relays his story he can use either bravery, compassion, or wisdom, and in turn Gwendoline will take a similar approach to her own problems. This will effectively shape her personality as the game continues, helping to determine which of the game’s several endings you’ll see.
For the most part each puzzle shown in the demo seemed to have multiple solutions which is a refreshing change of pace for a game of this type. At one point when Graham has to cross a river, he can go to a lot of trouble to knock down a tree and make his way across, but clever players may also notice a shallow section that can simply be strolled through. Some solutions may work faster than others, but it looks like a lot of care has been taken to ensure that the solution you choose won’t ultimately feel like the “wrong” one.
The world and characters are charming. The game walks the very fine line of being safe for the family while telling the types of jokes adults can laugh at as well. The series also features an exceptional voice acting cast, including Doc Brown himself: Christopher Lloyd, Wallace Shawn, and Tom Kenny of Spongebob Squarepants fame.
Keen eyes will notice plenty of homages and nods to King’s Quest’s history. Sometimes it’s something small like the way Graham moves (or falls off cliffs), sometime’s it’s more overt like coming across a recreation of the main village in King’s Quest V. If you’ve enjoyed the series in the past you’ll almost certainly see something familiar. Again the game rides a fine line but doesn’t feel like it delves into gratuity with its fan service.
The game will be split into five chapters, similar to a TellTale title. Unlike TellTale though there will be a set release schedule for each chapter, rather than just being surprised every few months by a new release for that game you forgot you purchased. While the same plot does run all the way through the game, the way the individual stories are told to Gwendoline make for excellent breaking points.
You can expect to be playing King’s Quest’s first chapter this July.
