Steam and GOG sales

[Rath Darkblade]

The KQ games are on sale as part of the summer sale.

King's Quest 4 - 6 - 50% off - $4.99 US
https://www.gog.com/game/kings_quest_4_5_6

King's Quest 7 & 8 - 50% off - $4.99 US
https://www.gog.com/game/kings_quest_7_8

...and that's what I'm wondering about. I finished KQ1, 2, 3, 5 and 6, but not 4. I also never played 7 and 8.

I won't ask if they're "worth it", because I can guess what kind of answer I'll get! Instead, I am wondering: should I play KQ8? I've heard nothing but glowing reports of the KQ series, all the way from KQ1 to KQ7. Unfortunately, reports of KQ8 are ... not-so-hot. So ... yes, if I want just KQ7, there's no way to get it without KQ8.

Is KQ8 worth playing? Or is it just, to use a D&D term, an encumbrance?

[DeadPoolX]

I'd definitely recommend KQ4. I believe it was the first SCI game from Sierra as well, but I may be mistaken. Regardless, it was a major step up from KQ3, it's a fun game, and the last parser-interface KQ title.

I never liked KQ7. The animation reminded me of Dragon's Lair (the original arcade game, not the cartoon) and the game itself felt almost childish to me. I didn't give KQ7 much of a chance, however, so I may not be the best person to give you feedback on this game. I know Maia played KQ7 and liked it, but she's far more tolerant of game design issues than I am.

KQ8 is a decent action-game with light RPG elements, but it has almost nothing to do with the previous KQ games. On its own, it's not a bad game, but it shouldn't have been a King's Quest game. At the very least, it should've been sold as a "game within the KQ universe" but not as the main line of KQ titles.

The biggest drawback today would be the horrendous graphics. It was designed for use with 3Dfx cards and their proprietary API called Glide. You can find Glide Wrappers today that essentially emulate using a Glide-enabled video card, but I have no idea how well they work. You really don't want to run the game in software mode. Even back when the game was released, software mode looked terrible (although this was par for the course with most games of that period when run in software mode) and today it'd probably be nauseating.

Personally, I'd avoid both. Neither feel like classic Sierra Online adventure games (although at least KQ7 is an adventure game...) and you might be better off "ending" the serious with KQ6. That said, it's your choice and there is a sale on now, so if you're curious, now's the time to buy the KQ7+KQ8 package.

[Rath Darkblade]

Hmm, OK. I looked up a review for KQ7 and KQ8, and ........... you're right, DPX. *sigh*

KQ7 apparently starts out not just with Disney-like graphics, but also a Disney-like ... song? About how the princess wants to go adventuring? And there are many deaths you can't escape, but it doesn't matter because you can just try again from the same point ... and a land called "Ooga-Booga"??? Did they run out of names for lands, or something?

KQ8 ... looks horrendous. It's like they took a pre-Morrowind RPG (or generic medieval setting) and slapped the KQ name on it. King Graham's apparently lost anything that connects him with the Graham of KQ5, etc., and now just sounds like a generic upper-class British twit. The mechanics are awkward, and ... sorry, I just don't know what to say here.

Of the other three (i.e. KQ4, 5 and 6), I've played and beaten KQ5 and KQ6. I tried KQ4 ages and ages ago, but always got stuck in the "whale tongue" bit. Not sure what to do there, though.

[JasefWisener]

7 is great, but I never played 8.

[Tawmis]

KQ4 is my favorite of the KQ series (I know, I know, everyone loves KQ6).
Mask of Eternity (there is no KQ8 in my book) is... horrible. So the thing is the old AGI/SCI are dated, yes - but in a ... cute way. MoE is dated 3D Polygon graphics. Similar to Tomb Raider (the original). May have been fun then, now it's an eye sore. (Although MoE wasn't fun then, at least to me). That said - YOU may however, like it - because they implemented some QfG aspects - that you run around and fight things with a sword.
KQ7 is different, but good. It's literally Sierra's attempt to snag a Disney like audience because of the animation. Quite well done.

[Rath Darkblade]

It's OK. I've had a look at some gameplay in KQ7 and KQ8, and it just didn't "grab" me (sorry). KQ8, as I mentioned, looks horrendous - like Elder Scrolls 2 (Daggerfall). It's also impossible to figure out what you need to do or where to go. The voice acting, as mentioned, is atrocious and ... sorry.

By the way, the KQ8 3D-polygon graphics remind me a lot of the graphics of Gabriel Knight 3 (which, it seems, a lot of people also hated). Is that right?

[Tawmis]

It's OK. I've had a look at some gameplay in KQ7 and KQ8, and it just didn't "grab" me (sorry). KQ8, as I mentioned, looks horrendous - like Elder Scrolls 2 (Daggerfall). It's also impossible to figure out what you need to do or where to go. The voice acting, as mentioned, is atrocious and ... sorry.
By the way, the KQ8 3D-polygon graphics remind me a lot of the graphics of Gabriel Knight 3 (which, it seems, a lot of people also hated). Is that right?

I feel like the GK3 graphics are miles ahead of the Mask of Eternity. (What is this KQ8 you reference?)

And KQ7 is good. It's a good story, the animation is very Disney. Over all not a bad game at all.
Has some returning character(s) in it (other that the Graham family).

[Collector]

Yes, KQ4 is the very first SCI game. The AGI version was co-developed along side of the SCI release. At the time SCI had high hardware requirements, so Sierra produced the AGI for those with hardware could not meet the demands of SCI.

[BBP]

I like KQ7 a lot, it's a pretty looking game with sweet music and some great puzzles. Plus you may remember it ended 4th place in our favourite Sierra death poll!

[Rath Darkblade]

Hmm. Then I might try KQ7 after all, then. Thanks!

By the way, the KQ7 inventory system looks - at first glance - to be something like SQ6. Is that right?

[Rath Darkblade]

Welp, I took the plunge and got both the KQ4-6 pack and KQ7. (It also includes MoE, but I don't think I'll install it).

Wish me luck! *grabs his suitcase and dives into Daventry ........ again*

Incidentally, these two seem worth taking a look at ...

https://www.gog.com/game/the_bards_tale
https://www.gog.com/game/the_bards_tale ... rd_edition

Does anyone know about these?

[Tawmis]

Incidentally, these two seem worth taking a look at ...
https://www.gog.com/game/the_bards_tale
https://www.gog.com/game/the_bards_tale ... rd_edition
Does anyone know about these?

I have both. I've not played the first one (the original Bard's Tale is a great series).

For the second - Bard's Tale IV - I don't have the Director's Cut. I supported this Kickstarter - so I have the standard edition.

I've not touched in about three or four (or five? Maybe six? It's been awhile) years - because when I played it - it was very buggy. Also I think my system was barely managing to run it even on the lowest settings.

So, they've probably updated/patched it - and made it smoother.

But I wouldn't know.

The first run left a salty taste in my mouth, so I never gave it another chance.

[Rath Darkblade]

OK. Thanks, Tawm!

I'm just wondering - why did it leave a salty taste? Was it that bad? I admit, I've only seen the pictures and promo video on GOG, but it seems interesting to me. Then again, I've never played The Bard's Tale.

By the way, after buying the KQ games yesterday, I tried to start them - just to make sure they work. They all work, except for MoE (but I probably wouldn't have enjoyed it anyway).

In KQ5, is there a way to put on subtitles? I can't understand a word that Cedric says.

[Tawmis]

OK. Thanks, Tawm!
I'm just wondering - why did it leave a salty taste? Was it that bad? I admit, I've only seen the pictures and promo video on GOG, but it seems interesting to me. Then again, I've never played The Bard's Tale.
By the way, after buying the KQ games yesterday, I tried to start them - just to make sure they work. They all work, except for MoE (but I probably wouldn't have enjoyed it anyway).
In KQ5, is there a way to put on subtitles? I can't understand a word that Cedric says.

For the new Bards Tale (Bards Tale IV) - as I said, with how buggy it was - and killing my CPU even at all settings set to as low as they could be - the game was utterly unplayable. So after a week of struggling, I just uninstalled it and never went back to it. As I said, they've probably applied patches and updates since the Kickstarter's release version.

As for KQ5, not that I am aware of for subtitles.

As for MoE - what issue do you see?

[Rath Darkblade]

For the new Bards Tale (Bards Tale IV) - as I said, with how buggy it was - and killing my CPU even at all settings set to as low as they could be - the game was utterly unplayable. So after a week of struggling, I just uninstalled it and never went back to it. As I said, they've probably applied patches and updates since the Kickstarter's release version.

Aw, too bad. It sounds like it would be a good game.

As for KQ5, not that I am aware of for subtitles.

Again, too bad. I was looking forward to playing KQ5 - last time I played it was over 20 years ago. IIRC, there were subtitles then.

As for MoE - what issue do you see?

I ... don't know? I tried to start a new game, and after a decent pause (30 seconds) or so) I saw a kind of 3D map of the world. Five seconds later, the picture began to blink and flicker. It freaked me out (I hate blinking things!!), so I closed it down with Task Manager.

Is that normal?