King's Quest (2015 video game)

Gameplay

Unlike the classic King's Quest video games, the new King's Quest is not a point-and-click adventure. Instead, it is an adventure game that tasks players to control Graham, who ventures to different places to become a knight. The movement of Graham can be completely controlled by players. According to Matt Korba, the game's creative director, the game's controls focuses on "one-button context." As a result, the game does not have any complicated interfaces or controls. Throughout the game, players can interact with different objects in the environment. For instance, players can pick up, gather, and inspect different scenery items. They can switch to first-person perspective when inspecting them.

The game is narrated by the old Graham and his granddaughter Gwendolyn. Player's actions in the game change the narrative. For instance, performing certain actions unlocks additional dialogue. When players make wrong decisions and die, Graham replies with phrases such as "That’s what would have happened if I did that," before players re-spawn. Players also make decisions throughout the game that are divided into three different approaches, bravery, wisdom, and compassion. Actions performed by players have consequences and impact the game's story, and as a result, change the game's overall experience. Most of these choices are game play-based. According to Korba, all the choices made by Graham are heroic, and there is no way for players to build a "bad" Graham.

The first section of the game is linear, i.e., levels open sequentially. Players are free to explore levels, and the game does not feature any prescribed or predetermined paths. Players can also use a variety of methods to complete their objectives, and are tasked to solve various puzzles in the game, even though there are no fixed solutions to these puzzles. Players can also have conversations with anyone in the game. The game features branching dialogue. In addition, the game features some action sequences, quick-time events, and on-rail platform elements.

Plot

In King's Quest, King Graham shares his previous adventures with his curious granddaughter, Gwendolyn. It is through these tales that Gwendolyn learns about the life led by her grandfather.

Along with new stories, the series re-imagines certain events, elements and backstories from previous games. Some of Graham's backstory even differs from that given in Sierra's previous material. Rather than having grown up in Daventry, he is now an outsider that has recently come to the land. The main tale of Chapter I, according to Graham, is from the time when he was but a lad, before he was a knight, and before he came to Daventry for the first time from Llewdor. He has only read about Daventry from travel guides he used to read as a child, and could not wait to see its famous landmarks for himself (the kingdom is reimagined as a bustling walled city surrounding Castle Daventry, where as in the original game the castle was a lonely keep, surrounded by mostly wilderness).

Classic games as well as The King's Quest Companion are reused for references and reimagined events including places from the expanded universe. Chapter 1's prologue reimagines events from King's Quest I: Quest for the Crown and focuses on the Mirror of the three treasures as the main treasure Edward sent Graham on to become king of Daventry (as it had been the only treasure stolen from him), the events of the dragon's lair from the King's Quest 1 are completely reimagined as an action sequence involving being chased by the dragon, and having to make a final choice on how to distract the dragon to escape back up the well to the surface. Later chapters put further focus on the mirror, and point out that he went on separate adventures throughout his life for other treasures as well (including the Shield and Chest), and wants to go on adventures to find even more lost treasures of Daventry even in his old age to save his legacy.

The main is about Graham coming to the kingdom to take part in a Knight Tournament to become a Knight of Daventry, and the winner will also be in the running to become the next king. The story involves Graham having to defeat each of the other knights at various challenges. He befriends one of the knights Achaka, who teaches him how to properly use his bow, but witnesses his death to the dragon (Achaka is often seen to be his 'best' and lost friend throughout the series, even as much as seeing his ghost in the final chapter). Ultimately he defeats the last knight Manny at a game of Wits, and banishes the evil knight from the kingdom.

Chapter 3: Once Upon A Climb completely reimagines the events from King's Quest II: Romancing the Throne by taking the story of the princess trapped in the tower by an evil witch Hagatha, but now there are two princesses trapped in the same tower, trapped along with the witch who is herself a princess as well. Graham himself becomes trapped with them in the tower, and has to figure out how to escape. The player ends up choosing between the two princesses (both who will end up the 'canon' Valanice for the player based on whoever is chosen) to be his wife. The synopsis suggests that original story players may remember was only a fairy tale, and that the new series tells the real and more complicated story.

Chapter 4: Snow Place Like Home reimagined elements of King's Quest III: To Heir is Human. In the end Manny is defeated again including the details of the events of how Alexander was stolen with the Royal Family actually directly witnessing it happening, to elements of Alexander's stay in Llewdor that Manannan fled there soon after the kidnapping with Alexander moved into a mansion there and taught multiple slaves along Alexander and Mordon (later "Mordack") magic in preparation to conquer Daventry, and replace the king with Alexander on the throne. Manny was still a harsh master, leading to Alexander to escape by turning his master into a cat, and returning to a rather peaceful Daventry (no dragons rampaging the land). Alexander entered the castle not long after the Royal Family (including a rather safe Rosella) finishing up sorting its laws, his sister and Graham had played a fun game of don't blink, and a discussion that they should go on vacation over the winter holiday. They are surprised by Alexander's return, and ultimately decide to go on that trip and take him with them to get to know him better. They ultimately end up traveling to a mysterious Ice Labyrinth and discover that one of the two princesses (who became Valanice) had become Icebella (reimagining some of the details from KQ5). This Icebella is ultimately killed by Manny (in the form of a Sphinx). Manny is defeated again by Alexander, who again uses a magic cookie to transform him back into a cat. In the end one of Icebella's ice guardian creations picks up her crown and declares herself the new Icebella (forshadowing the Icebella Graham would later encounter during his quest in KQ5). Mordon ends dropping his slave name, and changes his name to Mordack further foreshadowing KQ5. Some of Alexander's dialogue also forshadows events of King's Quest 6, such as him mentioning he saw in a crystal ball that he would encounter a minotaur in a labyrinth in the future, and that he is into women with olive skin, and green eyes.

Chapter 5: The Good Knight' takes place late in Graham's life as an elderly man. He has one last encounter with Manny, a chance to prove he is still sound of mind, strong. There are further nods to reimagined events of King's Quest V such that rather than stonework, the location where Graham and Mordack had their magical duel had wooden floor boards, which he hid under after casting the fire spell and escaped (but not before Graham left his mark across Mordack's face, likely from the tiger form). There are also some reimagined nods to King's Quest 6: Heir Today, Gone Tomorrow material as well, including the idea that Graham is thinking about his death, and traveling to the Realm of the Dead to go before Samhain (rather than Daventry's afterlife Dimension of Death from King's Quest 8). There is even a moment during the story that it shows the gates to Realm of the Dead in classic VGA form. Graham is forced to save his kingdom, but is poisoned in the process, and Manny tries to take out his final revenge on the king, but not before Mordon/Mordack has pity on Graham (as he had been manipulated and abused by Manannan as well throughout his life) and saves the king. The former rivals become friends.

Graham's appearance is also reimagined in the series throughout the timeline as well, as he begins skinny, gains muscles in Chapter 3. While fresh face, slowly grows stubble, to a beard, to a long grey beard at the end of his life, to show his progression over time.

The present events take place in the last weeks or months of Graham's life while he is bedridden from the poison in CHapter 5. He is telling several of the stories of his life to his grand daughter to teach her lessons, and hopefully make her a better Queen when he passes on. He changes the laws so that his Granddaughter can be the heir to the throne. By the last story his mind is starting to go, and he starts seeing the ghost of his long lost friend Achaka. He starts forgetting many of the details of his story, having to have Gwendolyn fill in the gaps whenever possible, and even put together the pieces to tell the final outcome of the story. That knight he passes away but left a letter for his granddaughter to read, telling her to find her own legacy, and not live off of his.

In the Epilogue, Gwendolyn presumably now Queen (though its not explained what happens with Queen Valanice, but she is still living in the castle) goes on her very first adventure in the kingdom, on a hunt for yarblesnoofs (a turkey-like lizard/dinosaur creature). During her adventure she meets and befriends Taskia, the granddaughter of Achaka, who had come to Daventry to defeat a dragon to avenge her grandfather. The dragon turns out to only be a baby, and is innocent. They end up befriending the dragon, and head back to the castle.

Development

There have been multiple other attempts to create another sequel or a reboot following 1998's King's Quest: Mask of Eternity, all of which never went past the announcement or concept stages. In August 2014, Activision announced that they had revived the Sierra brand, and had passed development responsibilities for a new game over to The Odd Gentlemen. The game was split into separate chapters because it would be too long to release all at once. The script for the first chapter alone is 640 pages long, including multiple branching paths, the Easter eggs, the narration, trying to use or combine the wrong objects, and dialogue trees. Each chapter is longer and more involved than a regular episodic series such as those made by Telltale Games. The game uses vocal performances by actors such as Christopher Lloyd, Wallace Shawn, Tom Kenny, Josh Keaton, Maggie Elizabeth Jones, and Zelda Williams.

Release

The game was released in five parts in 2015 and 2016, with an optional playable Epilogue only included in King's Quest: The Complete Collection edition. If the first series with Graham does well, future King's Quest series (similar to 'seasons') by The Odd Gentlemen would follow other members of the royal family.

Chapter I: A Knight to Remember

Chapter I: A Knight to Remember received positive reviews. Aggregating review website Metacritic gave the Microsoft Windows version 82/100 based on 23 reviews, the PlayStation 4 version 77/100 based on 22 reviews and the Xbox One version 80/100 based on 26 reviews.

Chapter II: Rubble Without a Cause

Chapter II: Rubble Without a Cause received mixed reviews. Aggregating review website Metacritic gave the Microsoft Windows version 67/100 based on 7 reviews, the PlayStation 4 version 68/100 based on 12 reviews and the Xbox One version 71/100 based on 11 reviews.

Chapter III: Once Upon A Climb

Chapter III: Once Upon A Climb received positive reviews. Aggregating review website Metacritic gave the Microsoft Windows version 78/100 based on 4 reviews, the PlayStation 4 version 79/100 based on 9 reviews and the Xbox One version 80/100 based on 8 reviews.

Chapter IV: Snow Place Like Home

Chapter IV: Snow Place Like Home received generally mixed reviews. Chris Carter from Destructoid gave this chapter a 9/10 for being "A hallmark of excellence. It may have some flaws, but they are negligible to what is otherwise a supreme title.", while Chandler Wood from Playstation Lifestyle had some mixed feelings about the chapter, giving it 5.5 being happy with "Some great cultural references and lines/Seeing Graham continue to grow" but generally disliking the "Cold and dull environment/Boring and dated puzzle design/Lack of meaningful choices/Underplays capabilities showcased in prior chapters".

Chapter V: The Good Knight

Chapter V: The Good Knight received generally positive reviews. Chris Carter from Destructoid gave this chapter 8.5/10 for an "Impressive effort with a few noticeable problems holding it back. Won't astound everyone, but is worth most people's time and cash.". Chandler Wood from Playstation Lifestyle was pleased with this chapter this time around, giving the game 8/10, praising the "Deep subjects of mortality, life accomplishments, and what we leave behind/Callbacks to King's Quest through the years/Conclusion that pulls the whole saga into context and finishes it out nicely" although being unhappy with the "sudden memory loss" and "some puzzle design is flawed".