SQ: The Best/Worse Part Of This Game Was...

[Tawmis]

The Best/Worse Part Of This Game Was...

Well - the idea here is - every game (or series, where there was more than one) had some GREAT moments, but there were some, no matter how great the rest of the game was - that had some stinkers. (For example, GK3 over all was an amazing game; but ask anyone about the mustache puzzle of the game, and they will probably all groan).

So I want to see what everyone's Best/Worse moments were for a game... and if there's a series - name Best and Worse for each one, if you're so inclined.

[Rath Darkblade]

I only played SQ1-3 through to the end, so I'll deal with those:

SQ1 best part: the idea! It's a great idea.
SQ1 worst-and-best part: constantly dying.

SQ2 best part: Roger's many deaths (and hilarious death messages).
SQ2 worst part: Roger's many (sometimes annoying) deaths.

SQ3 best part: Roger's many deaths (and hilarious death messages).
SQ3 worst part: Roger's annoying deaths (when you haven't saved!)

[Tawmis]

Do you plan on playing the other SQ games? I'd recommend them!

SQ1 best part: the idea! It's a great idea.
SQ1 worst-and-best part: constantly dying.

I was always amused by the deaths in Space Quest because they were typically funny.

SQ2 best part: Roger's many deaths (and hilarious death messages).
SQ2 worst part: Roger's many (sometimes annoying) deaths.

It was only annoying to me, if I was so involved in the game that I forgot to make frequent saves.

SQ3 best part: Roger's many deaths (and hilarious death messages).
SQ3 worst part: Roger's annoying deaths (when you haven't saved!)

SQ3 was my favorite of the series. Loved putting the ship together in the beginning.

[Datadog]

The Sarien Encounter
Best: The Spider-Droid/Orat puzzle. Like KQ1, I enjoy solving a puzzle by having a thing follow me.
Worst: The skimmer sequence. Still not fun to muscle through after all these years.

Vohaul's Revenge
Best: HOLD BREATH. PUT GEM IN MOUTH. This is a parser interface at its best.
Worst: Maybe one of the mazes? Nah, on reflection, this game's actually pretty good.

Pirates of Pestulon
Best: Escaping the garbage ship and discovering the galaxy for the first time.
Worst: AstroChicken, maybe? You don't actually have a story until you get bored and try to beat it.

The Time Rippers
Best: The bargain bin at the game shop. Still one of the funniest spaces to click around.
Worst: I'd cut the part where Maebot calls Roger a "sicko" after being so supportive with his cross-dressing.

The Next Mutation
Best: I love the supporting cast in this one. Roger has an awesome crew.
Worst: That they got sponsored by Sprint, and then featured a plot point where their communications don't work.

The Spinal Frontier
Best: The elevator in Delta Burksilon is Josh Mandel unleashed.
Worst: Datacorder puzzle.

[Tawmis]

The Sarien Encounter
Best: The Spider-Droid/Orat puzzle. Like KQ1, I enjoy solving a puzzle by having a thing follow me.
Worst: The skimmer sequence. Still not fun to muscle through after all these years.

You enjoy little buddies in your games?

And I agree - the skimmer is annoying. Arcade sequences in Adventure games in general are annoying.

Vohaul's Revenge
Best: HOLD BREATH. PUT GEM IN MOUTH. This is a parser interface at its best.
Worst: Maybe one of the mazes? Nah, on reflection, this game's actually pretty good.

No bad moments?

Pirates of Pestulon
Best: Escaping the garbage ship and discovering the galaxy for the first time.
Worst: AstroChicken, maybe? You don't actually have a story until you get bored and try to beat it.

I can agree on that damn bouncy Astrochicken.

The Time Rippers
Best: The bargain bin at the game shop. Still one of the funniest spaces to click around.
Worst: I'd cut the part where Maebot calls Roger a "sicko" after being so supportive with his cross-dressing.

Surprised the worse wasn't the rollerskating area...

The Next Mutation
Best: I love the supporting cast in this one. Roger has an awesome crew.
Worst: That they got sponsored by Sprint, and then featured a plot point where their communications don't work.

Was there really a Sprint reference? I don't remember that!

The Spinal Frontier
Best: The elevator in Delta Burksilon is Josh Mandel unleashed.
Worst: Datacorder puzzle.

I think the worse was that Street Fighter knock off thing... that was in SQ7 right? Or was that the demo? I distinctly remember that...

[Datadog]

No bad moments?

Probably an aggravating moment like the root maze or the tunnel maze, but it's hard for me to pinpoint something SQ2 does that shouldn't ever in be in a game. Of course, I'd have to play it again to be sure.

Surprised the worse wasn't the rollerskating area...

I was turned around on it when I saw this NSFW clip of two guys discovering the Skate-o-Rama for the first time and exploding into joyful glee when they figured out how to beat it (before they lose again).

Was there really a Sprint reference? I don't remember that!

Every time you talk to StarCon from your ship, every chat ends with an actual sponsored Sprint logo appearing on your viewscreen. It's sadly not even put up as a joke.

I feel there's a lost fourth-wall opportunity here, where the writers could have really upsold Sprint as a gag by having Quirk change service providers as part of his evil scheme, and the final puzzle be "switch back to Sprint to save the galaxy".

I think the worse was that Street Fighter knock off thing... that was in SQ7 right? Or was that the demo? I distinctly remember that...

That was in the SQ6 arcade at the beginning. But if you remember it for its difficulty, that's because the mini-game is rigged to make you lose until you acquire the cheat code from Elmo.

[MusicallyInspired]

SQ1: The Sarien Encounter
Best: The art. Best in the entire series, IMO. Love Mark's interpretations of sci-fi machinery and spaceships. The Deltaur, the one-man+droid ship you get, the Arcada interiors, etc.
Worst: Skimmer sequence. At least you can skip it in the remake. I prefer the original, though. But I do enjoy the alternate interpretation with new viewing angles at the same time, however.

SQ2: Vohaul's Revenge
Best: I like Labion. Exploring an alien jungle planet was really appealing to me.
Worst: The asteroid hallways are all the same. That's one thing I'm proud of in the remake we did at IA when we made it look more interesting.

SQ3: The Pirates of Pestulon
Best: Fixing the ship and exploring the galaxy. By far. Nothing else in the game comes close to this feeling.
Worst: Astrochicken. Though, I like the idea of just stumbling upon the plot point. Feels very organic. Goes well with the open design of the entire game. I just wish it wasn't in a game that's really annoying.

SQ4: Roger Wilco & the The Time Rippers
Best: Time travel! Ken Allen OST! Artwork! Gary Owens! There's too many to list just one thing.
Worst: Hmmmmmmm......

SQ5: The Next Mutation
Best: It's quite funny, despite there being no Scott Murphy involved.
Worst: I really dislike StarCon and its uniforms. I don't mind that it's a Star Trek parody at all. I think I just really liked the nameless space organization design of Roger's original costume and StarCon ruined that. Als, no Scott Murphy.

SQ6: The Spinal Frontier
Best: It's one of the funniest in the entire series.
Worst: The end sequence inside Stellar's body is quite lackluster and soulless (ironically) because of Josh Mandel's absence. At least Scott was involved, though. I also don't like the StarCon logo on Roger's uniform or the gold trim on the shoulders. I really dislike how they've retconned Roger's original janitor position and uniform to be his "original position with StarCon Fleet". No no no. StarCon wasn't around before SQ5, thank you. None of that. Roger's uniform is a grey jumpsuit with purple sleeves and a small black triangle on the right side.

[Tawmis]

No bad moments?

Probably an aggravating moment like the root maze or the tunnel maze, but it's hard for me to pinpoint something SQ2 does that shouldn't ever in be in a game. Of course, I'd have to play it again to be sure.

The root maze is definitely annoying...

Surprised the worse wasn't the rollerskating area...

I was turned around on it when I saw this NSFW clip of two guys discovering the Skate-o-Rama for the first time and exploding into joyful glee when they figured out how to beat it (before they lose again).

The dude in the blue shirt talks too much and way too loud.

Was there really a Sprint reference? I don't remember that!

Every time you talk to StarCon from your ship, every chat ends with an actual sponsored Sprint logo appearing on your viewscreen. It's sadly not even put up as a joke.

I clearly need to pay more attention...!

[Tawmis]

SQ1: The Sarien Encounter
Best: The art. Best in the entire series, IMO. Love Mark's interpretations of sci-fi machinery and spaceships. The Deltaur, the one-man+droid ship you get, the Arcada interiors, etc.

Interesting so the art is your favorite thing on the first game? (Mind you, I thought all the EGA games were incredible, considering what they were doing with so few colors!)

SQ3: The Pirates of Pestulon
Best: Fixing the ship and exploring the galaxy. By far. Nothing else in the game comes close to this feeling.

Agreed. I think that's the core reason of why SQ3 remains my favorite. You really get a sense of accomplishment.

SQ5: The Next Mutation
Best: It's quite funny, despite there being no Scott Murphy involved.
Worst: I really dislike StarCon and its uniforms. I don't mind that it's a Star Trek parody at all. I think I just really liked the nameless space organization design of Roger's original costume and StarCon ruined that. Als, no Scott Murphy.

Well, to be fair, Roger's original design ... he was just a janitor. So he may have been a contractor and not an actual employee of StarCon.

[MusicallyInspired]

Well, to be fair, Roger's original design ... he was just a janitor. So he may have been a contractor and not an actual employee of StarCon.

No no. Don't defend it and explain it away and rationalise it . Besides, there was no StarCon in SQ1VGA where everyone had coloured sleeves like you but in different colours. There were some people with Roger's uniform in SQ2 on XOS4 too. So, no. It was a retcon. And a bad one.

[adeyke]

(Standard disclaimer about not liking deaths and dead ends).

SQ1
I especially liked: Much of it. No individual thing stands out to me, but I have good feelings towards the game.
I disliked: The skimmer sequence, and especially the slot machine. It's just tedious and requires savefile scumming.

SQ2
I especially liked: The background graphics of Labion. It looks so lush and verdant.
I disliked: The maze monster and later on the squid cave. Also, space station at the end was just rather dull (lots of walking through empty hallways).

SQ3
I especially liked: A lot of it. Having your own ship and being able to choose where you want to go is pretty exciting. There's also some great music.
I disliked: The robot fight at the end. Astro Chicken isn't too bad once get the hang of it, but the fight is annoying.

SQ4
I especially liked: The concept of time traveling through the series is clever and amusing.
I disliked: The deadly chase sequence in the mall is really annoying, as is the robot maze at the end. Also, getting that laptop + battery + adapter is a major sidequest, but the actual payoff for it is really disappointing.

SQ5
I especially liked: Having a crewed ship. I don't think it fits Space Quest, but it was a new experience to have people you could potentially give orders to, especially once you also got the cloaking device and science officer.
I disliked: That the game abandoned its own style in favor of just being a Star Trek pastiche. Also, that ship maze at the end is terrible.

SQ6
I especially liked: I'm hard-pressed to find positive things to say about it. The idea of jacking into cyberspace is interesting, though the execution fell flat.
I disliked: Most of it. it continues with the Star Trek pastiche style. The story is focused on a character we aren't given any reason to care about. The plot doesn't make sense. The narrator is downright abusive. Most of the art just looks gritty and unappealing.

[MusicallyInspired]

me, but I have good feelings towards the game.
I disliked: The skimmer sequence, and especially the slot machine. It's just tedious and requires savefile scumming.

Not if you know "the code". And the remake obviously has that alternate puzzle solution for that with the extra inventory object. But yes, I disliked that about PQ1 as well (and LSL1 if I ever play it). Don't like the poker games.

I disliked: The robot fight at the end. Astro Chicken isn't too bad once get the hang of it, but the fight is annoying.

Ah yes I forgot about Nukem Dukem Robots. That's a nuisance.

The narrator is downright abusive.

Come on, how can this be a bad thing for Space Quest. It's also nothing new. The narrator has been berating Roger (and the player) since Space Quest 1. Actually, it's part of why I think the game is one of the funniest Space Quests. (I'm assuming you're referring to how abusive he is to Roger)

[adeyke]

me, but I have good feelings towards the game.
I disliked: The skimmer sequence, and especially the slot machine. It's just tedious and requires savefile scumming.

Not if you know "the code". And the remake obviously has that alternate puzzle solution for that with the extra inventory object. But yes, I disliked that about PQ1 as well (and LSL1 if I ever play it). Don't like the poker games.

"The code"?

The narrator is downright abusive.

Come on, how can this be a bad thing for Space Quest. It's also nothing new. The narrator has been berating Roger (and the player) since Space Quest 1. Actually, it's part of why I think the game is one of the funniest Space Quests. (I'm assuming you're referring to how abusive he is to Roger)

I didn't get that impression from other SQ games. They do mock you when you die, and they mock the character of Roger Wilco*, but I think SQ6 goes beyond that. I think it's the only game where the narrator and Roger directly interact, so there are plenty direct insults. Also, there are just insults everywhere, whether you're doing some stupid, something sensible, or just doing something they didn't bother programming a specific response to (which includes a lot of things, even just looking at some inventory items). I do think there are many times when the game crosses over from laughing with the player to laughing at the player. For exam

* That's actually a weird thing about Space Quest. Roger's canon characterization is that he's lazy and incompetent, but you see very little of that while you're actually controlling him. At least, in those playthroughs where he doesn't die.

[Tawmis]

(Standard disclaimer about not liking deaths and dead ends).

I think this was the first one where you didn't include it does a good job of avoiding it. Because SQ is chalk full of deaths.

SQ1
I disliked: The skimmer sequence, and especially the slot machine. It's just tedious and requires savefile scumming.

Agreed on both.

SQ2
I disliked: The maze monster and later on the squid cave. Also, space station at the end was just rather dull (lots of walking through empty hallways).

I thought that it was cool (the empty hallways) because it showed that the ship was at least bigger than "only screens required for the game."

SQ4
I especially liked: The concept of time traveling through the series is clever and amusing.

Space Quest is the perfect game to really make good use of time travel and the things they could do with it...

Although I kind of always wished we'd see Roger's son again.

SQ5
I especially liked: Having a crewed ship. I don't think it fits Space Quest, but it was a new experience to have people you could potentially give orders to, especially once you also got the cloaking device and science officer.
I disliked: That the game abandoned its own style in favor of just being a Star Trek pastiche.

It did become a Star Trek parody... I would have loved to see way more Sci Fi references (I mean other than a downed TIE in Space Quest III)...

[adeyke]

SQ2
I disliked: The maze monster and later on the squid cave. Also, space station at the end was just rather dull (lots of walking through empty hallways).

I thought that it was cool (the empty hallways) because it showed that the ship was at least bigger than "only screens required for the game."

Except that those screens are just empty. The station is pretty bizarre. There are hallways, there are closets with single useful items each,a collection of cages, and a restroom for (and containing) bizarre aliens. There's no sense that station actually has a function or that the various room are designed for some use.

SQ5
I especially liked: Having a crewed ship. I don't think it fits Space Quest, but it was a new experience to have people you could potentially give orders to, especially once you also got the cloaking device and science officer.
I disliked: That the game abandoned its own style in favor of just being a Star Trek pastiche.

It did become a Star Trek parody... I would have loved to see way more Sci Fi references (I mean other than a downed TIE in Space Quest III)...

There are SF references throughout all the games (even later ones).

But I really couldn't call SQ5-6 parodies. There's more to a parody than just humor. It needs to be humor about the thing it's parodying, such as by exaggerating it or changing its context to reveal its absurdity. For the most part, SQ doesn't do this. Its use of ST elements isn't really transformative, and it isn't commenting on ST via their use. The two exceptions that come to mind are the replicator (with its advertisting jingle and Soylent Green reference) and its viewscreen with Sprint advert (which is really just a case of money interfering with art). For about everything else (Starfleet and its color-coded uniforms, LCARS displays, communicators, shields, cloaking devices, transporters, holodecks, etc.), SQ is just using it directly as it was in ST.