The Coles could have rested on their laurels and produced another clone of their widely popular Quest for Glory 1-4 and glided on nostalgia, but instead they decided to expreiment with new mechanics, similar to what they tried to do in Quest for Glory 5 (which had mixed reviews), and for that alone they deserve respect. However, unlike QfG5, Hero-U is a lot more successful. Long time QfG fans will find the familiar sense of humor, continuation of the world building of Gloriana, puzzles with multiple solutions, and RPG elements. However, where the older games were essentially adventure games with RPG elements, Hero-U tips a lot more towards RPGs with a bit of visual novel thrown in. And it works quite well! Also the combination of a huge map and a real time system gives you a sense of urgency we last saw in QfG2, which is something that new comers might find a little bit daunting at first. Time management becomes just as important as exploration and puzzle solving. Do you continue searching the catacombs, or do you call it a night since it's late and you have class in the morning? This kind of decision making keeps the game from becoming just a repetetive "school sim". The game is not prefect. There are still some bugs, the game world can sometimes feel too open ended, and some puzzles can get a bit frustrating especially since time is ticking (travelling from one location to another takes time) which limits your ability to meander around. All in all, it's a rewarding game that encourages multiple playthroughs and a worthy successor to the QfG name. I for one cannot wait for its promised sequel!
