Why are you reading this?? Go experience some of the most poignant moments in PC adventure gaming history and play King's Quest NOW!! Have you not played games 1 through 3 yet?? Then, play those first! Played them already? Then play these! Already finished? Play them again!!
How's your fairy tale knowledge? Good? You better hope so! Have you played King's Quest 1 yet? What's wrong with you?! Play King's Quest 1 now! Are you done yet?? Play King's Quest 2, then! Now! Then, play King's Quest 3! I expect you to be properly educated in moon logic by the time you're done with these titles! Embrace all that was of the Williams' legacy! Yesssss! Roberta is our lord and savior... all hail her husband, Ken....
It may not be along the same lines as King's Quest or even Space Quest, but for fans of Arthurian legends and games that play similar to KQ4 or SQ3, this game is fantastic. I was thrilled when I discovered its existence, and loved every minute of it.
...and more I got! With a bigger world that's even more fleshed out than the previous game. There were one or two points that made me roll my eyes, including some horribly scripted bosses (which even the developers regretted in hindsight), but those aside, this one was just as worth experiencing as the first.
I somehow completely overlooked the Gothic franchise when it first arrived in the USA those many years ago, like so many others. I only discovered the game when I was looking online through forums and videos for a fantasy-based gaming experience with a fun magic system and plenty of depth. It has both of these and much more, with a world that feels much more fleshed out than many current games could claim to boast. Yes, there are quirks to the game system, and sometimes things won't function as intended, but all in all, it's worth the time to dive into this adventure.
Yes, some of the floors are made up of re-used wall textures that do not often fit with the theme of the level, but I can look past all that after having spent my time in the depths of this dungeon! I originally told myself I'd only play a few hours of Stonekeep, but after exploring several floors in what I can only declare was a fantastic romp of an adventure, I needed more. This game is brimming with FMV enemies and allies, powerful spells, and unexpected danger! Definitely worth playing.
It started so strong, with references to the original game, including a near-perfect replicated shot from inside a top-floor window overlooking the grounds. This scene alone got me excited. I immediately noticed how well the characters controlled, and I had little trouble utilizing a program such as JoytoKey to map a controller (though the keyboard and mouse option are likely completely fine if that's your preference). Beyond that, the story and overall experience are a mess. It's nearly impossible to feel properly alone in the dark when there's a new character standing around every corner attempting to add some obscure bits of information to the plot. Need more than the cryptic clues that NPC 1, 2 or 3 gave you? Just turn around and crack open one of seemingly dozens of books strewn about the game world. Each is guaranteed to dump an excess of lore into your lap after you've read through the ten, fifteen, or even fifty-odd(!) pages found in each book. This would almost be enough to make you think this would lead to an excellently crafted story, but sad to say, the ending is about as tangible as the nonexistent clues to beating a number of the bosses.
PROs: The game is beautiful, artistically. The visuals can be a bit bland in some cases, but the execution is golden. Moving from panel to panel as you play the game and progress the story lends a great feel to the whole experience, and it's probably the one reason I'd say you should pick this game up. Other than that, a great majority of the CONs: The story feels like it's lacking something... The entire game centers around a high-tech problem that a group wants to get rid of by using decidedly low-tech solutions (guns and bombs) despite having access to some high-tech individuals. The gameplay includes the ability to sneak and hide, but you'll never need to use it due to the lackluster A.I. Enemies won't actively shoot until they've reached a specific distance from you, making it possible to just fire away at them before they get close enough. Lastly, there are quick time events. There was a time when the gaming industry realized that no one enjoyed QTE's, and they moved away from the mechanic, but for some reason, the devs of this game never quite got that message. Overall, the visual style alone makes me want to keep an eye out on the developer's future projects, but I can't recommend this game until elements with the gameplay are patched.
