King's Quest | Chapter 1 review
At long last, Sierra Entertainment has returned to the point-and-click adventure games that were their bread and butter for so long. While many gamers approached the resurrected King’s Quest with nostalgia, I didn’t have that connection. Instead, I saw an attempt by a studio (The Odd Gentleman) to revive a classic franchise. And with the original developer’s blessing, it’s safe to call the game a success even after only playing the first chapter.
Much of the game’s success hinges on its characterization and storytelling, and King’s Quest sets its tone through a fun narrative frame. We see an aging King Graham as he recalls his favorite adventures, sharing them with his spirited granddaughter, Gwendolyn. In his first adventure, Graham aspires to become a knight in the kingdom of Daventry…but he lacks the speed, skill, or wisdom to succeed in a tournament against other would-be defenders of the kingdom. That’s quite a lot to overcome in pursuit of a dream, but Graham won’t take “No” for an answer (no matter how many times he hears it).
A knight to remember
Chapter 1 focuses specifically on the knighthood tournament and Graham’s efforts to earn a place among the defenders of Daventry. Without the brains or brawn to complete the challenges by traditional means, he uses his wit instead; while the results are often comical, they also establish an endearing protagonist who will carry (and narrate) the rest of the game.
This is where characterization takes a starring role. To help rebuild the King’s Quest franchise, The Odd Gentlemen recruited a phenomenal cast highlighted by Christopher Lloyd and Wallace Shawn. This entourage delivers excellent performances across the board, and I spent most of the game chuckling from both the on-screen comedy and the endless supply of cringe-worthy dad/granddad jokes from King Graham.
Minor character add even more layers of life to the world, and everyone’s got at least one major quirk without ever coming across as “overdone.” Conversations are charming and relevant, forcing players to stay invested—I never knew when an offhand remark would be a key hint to solving a puzzle later on.
Additionally, the visual style combines modern tech with nostalgic technique, and it’s hard to make a proper comparison. (But if you twisted my arm, the best I could say would be a combination of Telltale’s art style and the world of Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons.) Everything about Daventry is bright and fresh, and it feels like a new world to explore. I’ve always been drawn to vivid fantasy realms, and King’s Quest nails that.
Adventure with purpose
Mechanically, King’s Quest is pretty straightforward as far as adventure games go. Discover a new puzzle; backtrack to search for clues or items; (eventually) come back to solve it. It’s a tried-and-true gameplay loop that provides a sense of accomplishment. And while a few puzzles felt particularly difficult, those hiccups are few and far between, and the game is generous about hints and repetition.
The gameplay does require a bit of patience, however. Graham’s not the fastest walker, but the game responds well to quick-time events (of which there are more than a few). The movement speed is only a problem when traversing between areas of the map, but it’s an adventure game—I found myself backtracking a lot.
Even so, there’s a lot to love about King’s Quest. While I certainly lacked any sense of connection with the old Sierra adventure games, I can’t wait to press on and experience more of Graham’s adventures as he ascends from an aspiring young adventurer to a weathered old king.
Author’s note: In case the title of this post wasn’t clear, I decided to review the chapters of King’s Quest individually. The narrative is delivered in an episodic format, these chapters aren’t like the episodes of a Telltale game. Each episode lasts upwards of 5 hours, and they feel more like self-contained stories than parts of a greater story. So keep an eye out for the rest over the course of this month!
In a nutshell
It’s clear that The Odd Gentlemen did their homework. King’s Quest is a brilliant rebirth of a beloved franchise, and the presence of Sierra Entertainment on the project is a stamp of approval. King’s Quest splits its time between basking in nostalgia and establishing a new identity, and the successes far outshine the flaws. I walked away charmed and excited for the next chapter.
You’ll enjoy King’s Quest if you played games liked Broken Age or Life is Strange.
PROS
+ Nostalgic touches
+ Excellent characterization
+ Abundant “Dad humor”
+ High fantasy world
CONS
- Unequal puzzle complexity
- Outdated graphic style
- Borderline “walking sim”