An (almost) pure gem!!!

Posted on 2010-02-11 22:17:34 by StageLXdk:

The Space Quest series, oh where to begin?!? It all started back in 1986 with Space Quest I: The Sarien Encoounter, but since this release is the latter part of the series, I'll only talk about those games.
Space Quest IV was the first game in the series to use Sierra's new icon based UI, and feature full VGA 256 colors! A big leap in the series, which had had a typing-based interface, read more and EGA 16 colors. The CD-ROM version also featured full voice and oddly enough different timing for when sudden enemies appeared on-screen (play, you'll understand).
Roger is hanging at a local bar, retelling his previous adventures, for those who want to listen, (as long as Roger buys) when suddenly the Sequel Police enter and drag Roger outside. They are about to kill him, when a time portal suddenly appears and two mysterious figures leap out and rescue our confused hero who is sent to future, Space Quest XII to be exact! Here, his adventure begins, sending through several Space Quests, some real games, and some TBA's (yeah, like that's ever gonna happen!) Space Quest X included :-)
It's very funny game, and a must-buy for point-and-click fans, or any sci/fi-slash-comedy-slash-adventure fans alike.
Space Quest V sees Roger Wilco attending StarCon Academy, getting his own ship (a huge vacuum cleaner) and doing battle with androids, slime pirates and space monkeys. Giving the plot away would spoil a lot of fun, but this is Rogers best adventure yet! Gorgeous graphics, easy UI, a very funny script, and the most absurd Space Quest sequences yet. A space monkey getting wiped away from the command screen aboard a spaceship with a windshield wipe is priceless! Including the dry sound of rubber against glass! You'll also have a crew this time, with surprising depth.
This deal is worth it for this game only. And you'll get the best mix of the original Star Trek theme with the Space Quest theme. A true classic. A masterpiece!
Last, we have Space Quest VI. Hhhmmm......well, it's got Roger Wilco in it. Let's see, what else...??? Honestly this wasn't a very good game. It was Space Quest, sure, but somehow it felt disconnected to the series. The graphics had been upgraded in the cartoony way and that's not a compliment. They were flat and lifeless, compared to the previous games, plus half the game took place inside a human body with absurdly difficult puzzles and akward gameplay (entering that virtual computer world-thingy was a pain). But it was Space Quest and you really wanted to love it but somehow it felt wrong. The UI took up almost half the screen, and the narrator is a matter of taste (utter hate from my side). Sure, it has its moments, like a fairly well-done Picard parody, and I'll admit I smiled at times reading Rogers observations of his surroundings and more than a few puzzles hits the mark, but it's still by far the weakest game in the series.
Each game has a set of qualities (SQVI not so many) but combined in one package, this is a gem from a time long forgotten. A time when adventure games ruled the PC. A time when the next videogame fix didn't revolve around getting frags, but solving puzzles. Using the little cells! I guarantee you'll feel a helluva lot better when you've taken a bathtube, a needle, a pair of pliers, tape and a rubber string, combined it all together to use it for for retrieving a key. Now that's a game fix right there!:-) And Space Quest will have you hooked instantly! It's goofy storyline, funny characters, wonderful jokes (the planet Kiz Urazgubi; didn't get that one 'till much later) and the utter idiotic protagonist whom you'll love instantly! I chose to forget the last entry, hence the full five stars. IV and V are masterpieces!
Roger Wilco, we salute you!
All in all: just buy it!!!!:-D