The Good and the Bad - Space Quest Edition.

[Tawmis]

Every game has something good and something bad about it...

So what would you say is good AND bad about the following...

Space Quest 1 EGA -
Space Quest 1 VGA -
Space Quest 2 -
Space Quest 3 -
Space Quest 4 -
Space Quest 5 -
Space Quest 6 -

[Rath Darkblade]

Let's get this party started.

Space Quest 1 EGA.
Good: Cool idea. Original story without it becoming derivative of other space-related stuff (except the bar in Ulence Flats, which is reminiscent of Star Wars. Scum and villainy). GREAT death scenes.
Bad: Nothing much.

Space Quest 1 VGA -
Pretty much as above, except for more 80s-style graphics!

Space Quest 2 -
Good: Again, original story and nothing derivative! Even better death scenes. Love seeing Roger getting tormented.
Bad: The plant maze. Put one foot wrong and you're fertilizer. Very annoying.

Space Quest 3 -
Good: Great original story. The one reference to Terminator doesn't spoil it. Love seeing other planets. And, obviously, gruesome death scenes (which are the SQ signature move).
Bad: Too easy to die. But I guess that's the point.

Space Quest 4 -
Good: As before, great original story! Love seeing Roger's history and son. Great death scenes.
Bad: Can't remember much bad about this. Oh, yeah -- the "escape from space police" puzzle, which killed my Roger waaaaay too many times.

Space Quest 5 -
Good: I like the "Star Trek" and "Alien" references. Unfortunately, I never got very far in this game, so I can't comment.
Bad: The female-Terminator schtick. That's where I'm stuck -- I've never been able to get away from her.

Space Quest 6 -
Good: Roger + Narrator dynamic. Interesting new direction for SQ. I love the Street Fighter and Terminator references (although "Terminator" references in SQ are getting a bit stale by now, and leaving me cold. Cold ... get it? YEAH!)

Oh! And yes - the whole Internet/Superhighway thing was hilarious. And the office, and the "filing system" -- and "Sis Inny"!!!

The journey through Stella's innards borders between good and bad. It means more gruesome death scenes (good!), but it's also gross. Ick.

Bad: The Roger/Stella Santiago thing is a bit strange. I thought Roger was married? Or was that in another timeline, and in this timeline, he's single again? (Like Larry? But without Larry's sexism?)

[notbobsmith]

SQ1:
GOOD: I like that the series started out as a parody of old sci-fi movie serials rather than the Star Trek parody it would later become.
BAD: Slot machine relying on random chance.

SQ1 remake:
I've never played the remake. I do think it is funny that the ship in the beginning looks like a roast turkey.

SQ2:
GOOD: Not much stands out. Pretty much the same as SQ1 in terms of humor and overall gameplay.
BAD: Like Rath said, the plant maze. I think I am going to bring up any walking/climbing puzzle like this.

SQ3:
GOOD: Lots of sight gags in the salvage ship. (Jupiter 2, the pod from 2001, etc.)
BAD: CONTINUITY ERROR! The whistle was free. There's no need to send the Terminator to collect on the debt.

SQ4:
GOOD: Time travel means going to different sequels. Clever Fourth Wall breaking.
BAD: The escape from the sequel police was annoying, though I think I played it when it was already patched.

SQ5:
GOOD: Roger getting to be captain due to a computer error and the somewhat crazy crew.
BAD: No talkie=No Gary Owens.

SQ6:
GOOD: Yay! Gary Owens is back.
Bad: Very Star Trek heavy with the references. I know TNG was on at the time and it's not really bad. I just which the references were a bit less one sided.

[Rath Darkblade]

SQ1:
BAD: Slot machine relying on random chance.

...and that's why they say "Save Early, Save Often" about Sierra games!

SQ3:
BAD: CONTINUITY ERROR! The whistle was free. There's no need to send the Terminator to collect on the debt.

Was it? *looks it up* Oh yeah, that's right! The Two Guys goofed. It makes for more suspense, I suppose, but the Terminator could've been sent for any number of other reasons. Maybe Sludge Vohaul could've "booked" the Terminator some time in SQ2 to "avenge his death" or something ... and the Terminator is doing this because he's getting paid. Would that work?

[goatmeal]

SQ3:
BAD: CONTINUITY ERROR! The whistle was free. There's no need to send the Terminator to collect on the debt.

Was it? *looks it up* Oh yeah, that's right! The Two Guys goofed. It makes for more suspense, I suppose, but the Terminator could've been sent for any number of other reasons. Maybe Sludge Vohaul could've "booked" the Terminator some time in SQ2 to "avenge his death" or something ... and the Terminator is doing this because he's getting paid. Would that work?

But wouldn't the continuity error be the perfect [unintentional] statement for the end result of a dystopian future full of bureaucratic & corporate mix-ups ?

Yes, the whistle was free but there was a SNAFU in the 'billing dept.' -- try telling that to the killing machine sent after your hide !

[Collector]

SQ2:
GOOD: Not much stands out. Pretty much the same as SQ1 in terms of humor and overall gameplay.
BAD: Like Rath said, the plant maze. I think I am going to bring up any walking/climbing puzzle like this.

Ahem... http://wiki.sierrahelp.com/index.php/SQ2_Root_Monster_Maze_Gauntlet

[notbobsmith]

SQ3:
BAD: CONTINUITY ERROR! The whistle was free. There's no need to send the Terminator to collect on the debt.

Was it? *looks it up* Oh yeah, that's right! The Two Guys goofed. It makes for more suspense, I suppose, but the Terminator could've been sent for any number of other reasons. Maybe Sludge Vohaul could've "booked" the Terminator some time in SQ2 to "avenge his death" or something ... and the Terminator is doing this because he's getting paid. Would that work?

But wouldn't the continuity error be the perfect [unintentional] statement for the end result of a dystopian future full of bureaucratic & corporate mix-ups ?

Yes, the whistle was free but there was a SNAFU in the 'billing dept.' -- try telling that to the killing machine sent after your hide !

It was a missed opportunity in SQ6 where Roger has some mementos from previous games. A throwaway line about "...not reading the fine print" could have fixed it. They could even have made a joke about it. "There! For all you nitpickers complaining about continuity... we fixed it!"

[Tawmis]

SQ2:
GOOD: Not much stands out. Pretty much the same as SQ1 in terms of humor and overall gameplay.
BAD: Like Rath said, the plant maze. I think I am going to bring up any walking/climbing puzzle like this.

Ahem... http://wiki.sierrahelp.com/index.php/SQ2_Root_Monster_Maze_Gauntlet

Nightmare fuel.