Favorite Gabriel Knight Game - Why?

[Tawmis]

All right - let's get this section of the forum rolling by discussing your favorite GK game - and why it's your favorite. After we get a reply or two in here I will give my answer (because I know you're sitting on the edge of the chair wanting to know, right?)

[AndreaDraco]

Gabriel Knight is my favorite series of all times, so it's pretty hard to narrow down to only one game, but I guess that - if I have to choose - this game would be The Beast Within, because it has all the qualities I look for in an adventure game or, better, in a story regardless of the medium.

Complex and compelling characters, each and every one of them masterfully rounded up and detailed; enthralling, deep background story which involves one of my favorite historic figures, Ludwig II; breathtaking plot and thought-provoking themes: Apollonian and Dionysian, freedom and sexuality, moral ambiguity and responsibility. And the glue that holds all these qualities together is the top-notch writing of Jane Jensen, which in this particular chapter achieved her greatest result.

Plus, The Beast Within has Friedrich Von Glower, a character which I loved from the very beginning, when he says: "Gabriel. Like the angel" - from that single line, I know I would love him! The multi-layered relationship he has with Gabriel is perhaps, with Gabe and Grace's one, the perfect example of the series' depth, a depth I never found in any other adventure.

All in all, The Beast Within is a powerful and magnificent work of art. I can't hear the Opera arias without having goosebumps; I can't walk in the woods without having to put a blanket on my knees and I can't watch the ending sequence without being touched.

As for the other games, they share the same greatness of The Beast Within, but this one will always hold a special place in my heart.

[Tawmis]

Excellent write up as to why you loved TBW!

For myself, it has to be GK1. I guess I really loved the smarmy/charmy/slightly slimey feeling that Gabriel had when it came to women. I loved how he could be a smooth talker, and yet at the same time, when needed, really show his smarts. He could easily go back and forth from the way he'd hit on Grace, to the sweet son in front of his mother. I also thought his relationship with Mosley was the best in GK1 - the banter that the two shared was great! I could be partial because it was Tim Curry who did the voice, and Mark Hamill (a childhood hero - I mean, come on! - he was Luke Skywalker!) played Mosley!

And New Orleans is some place I have always been interested in and Voodoo itself is very interesting!

I think the banter between Gabe/Grace and Gabe/Mosley disappeared in the next installments of GK, and I missed it. (I mean, he does um, do the deed with Grace in GK3, and he does tease Mosley in GK3 - but it seemed to be not as well written and not so tongue and cheek as the original).

That said, I loved TBW VERY, VERY much. I actually really liked Dean Erikson as Gabriel Knight.

The third was, if I had to say it, my least favorite.

[AndreaDraco]

Story-wise, beside GK2, I would say that the first chapter and the third share the same (very, very high ) score.

Character-wise, I agree with you, Tawmis, that GK1 has more vivid, life-like interactions between Gabriel and Mose. But, as far as Grace-Gabriel, I think that GK3 really overcomes the previous chapters (ah... that finale! )

The thing I liked the most in GK1 - I mean: the real gem that, once I discovered it, totally blew me away - is that Gabe can talk to his parents' grave. I realized it on my third playthrough and I was really touched.

The character I mostly miss from GK1 is without a doubt Grandma Knight

[JasefWisener]

As I've mentioned before, The Beast Within is my absolute favorite Sierra game. GKI is also a favorite, but I'm just not a great fan of GKIII.

As a side note, Jane Jensen is my favorite game designer, and I love all her novels (read them all).

[Tawmis]

The thing I liked the most in GK1 - I mean: the real gem that, once I discovered it, totally blew me away - is that Gabe can talk to his parents' grave. I realized it on my third playthrough and I was really touched.

Whoa?! What? Seriously?

I have played GK1 like a million times and never knew this!

[AndreaDraco]

You have to use the Exclamation Mark icon.

All the tombs in the Wright grave can be addressed by Gabriel. Touching, and meaningful.

[Tawmis]

You have to use the Exclamation Mark icon.

All the tombs in the Wright grave can be addressed by Gabriel. Touching, and meaningful.

Once I get my new external drive all set up (my previous crashed and I have been spending my days restoring data) - I will have to give this a try!

[Collector]

Leave it to the man that found such a bizarre statement from the narrator by trying to talk to a coffee maker to find that.

Tawm, don't forget about the GK1 DOSBox installer.

[AndreaDraco]

Leave it to the man that found such a bizarre statement from the narrator by trying to talk to a coffee maker to find that.

I'm innocent! Really: it happened by mistake, it wasn't my fault!



Nah, the truth is that, during my second playthrough, I realized that I want to complete every bit of GK1, read every line, enjoy every descriptions - so I tried, I tried, I tried

[Collector]

LOL

[misslilo]

I'm with tawmis on this one - GK1 all the way.

I too was fascinated by New Orleans and all the voodoo stuff.
I think Jensen really captured that slow laid back atmosphere down there filled with secrets and mysterious people.

I actually knew about Gabriel being able to talk with his parents grave, because I have a habit to touch, talk, interact with everything and everybody!

I didn't like GK2 very much - probably because of the new format, so I was actually happy, when GK3 came out, and I saw they went back to the former style even if it was 3D.

[AndreaDraco]

I actually knew about Gabriel being able to talk with his parents grave, because I have a habit to touch, talk, interact with everything and everybody!

I didn't like GK2 very much - probably because of the new format, so I was actually happy, when GK3 came out, and I saw they went back to the former style even if it was 3D.

I totally understand. The possibility to touch/feel/look everything/everybody is a feature that I definitely want in Gray Matter, mainly because Jane's writing is so brilliant, and her descriptions so vivid that that's a real pleasure to interact with such a rich environment.

Anyway, GK2 has an unbeatable story, in my opinion

[JasefWisener]

Anyway, GK2 has an unbeatable story, in my opinion

I completely agree. Have you by any chance read the novelization?

[AndreaDraco]

Damn no! They never arrived here in Italy, and I'm currently searching for a good offer on eBay or Amazon