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Sierra games or series better than KQ?

Started by Sir Perceval of Daventry, September 06, 2011, 07:27:00 AM

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Baggins

One thing about SQ is underlying all the humor the series has a more or less consistent scifi universe that for the most part as realistic and serious as Star Trek as far as it's dangerous nature, and it's backstories.

So that being said, SQ4 pulling the whole going back into time to an AGI universe with monochrome characters feels a little inconsistent. Especially if you consider that later games actually acknowledge some of the continuity established in the SQ1 remake. In some cases some reference elements of both versions.  Yet the SQ1 remake tries to acknowledge SQ4 (timepod for example)! Parodoxes ensue!
Well, ya, King's Quest is on Earth. Daventry is very old city from a long time ago. It's in ruins now and people aren't quite sure exactly where it used to be. There are some archaeologists searching through the ruins, they think they know its Daventry. But its somewhere on Earth."-Roberta Williams http://kingsquest.wikia.com/wiki/File:Daventryisearth.ogg

MusicallyInspired

You're taking it too seriously. Yes SQ had seriousness, which was a great feature, but it's also comedy through and through. So it doesn't really matter how they approach consistency.

Big C from Cauney island

Yea, SQ was always a funny series.  I really thought 4 was incredible, going back in time. I loved the galleria, getting a job, and buying the sq4 hint book. Also, floating in that middle space.

Baggins

#23
But that's the thing it wasn't consistent on the humor, SQ4 is arguably a very bleak and dark game in the series... It was least funny, it's actually sort of depressing. It's also kinda scary in many places.

The cd version helped tone it down a little bit with the addition of the narrator.

SQ5 almost was too serious as well, it felt almost too much like a strict star trek episode. Actually I've read that Scott Murphy criticizes SQ5 because of that reason.

I seriously feel 1-3 (including VGA remake) are the funniest games in the series, an least serious. Something was lost in the later games.

SQ6 though I think got back to the series humor in a more proper way.
Well, ya, King's Quest is on Earth. Daventry is very old city from a long time ago. It's in ruins now and people aren't quite sure exactly where it used to be. There are some archaeologists searching through the ruins, they think they know its Daventry. But its somewhere on Earth."-Roberta Williams http://kingsquest.wikia.com/wiki/File:Daventryisearth.ogg

MusicallyInspired

Why does it need to be consistent? SQ4 was still quite hilarious, despite its serious main plot, I thought it was quite refreshing. I don't really find SQ3 all that terribly funny, though. It has a silly plot, for sure. Probably the most zany and silly of them all. But the writing never made me more than chuckle a little bit. It excelled in atmosphere and gameplay, though. SQ4's writing was incredibly funny to me. SQ5 was very funny too, but in a completely different way. SQ6, again, hilarious. Actually I consider to be the most funny of them all, but different style again. I can't stand the storyline or the characters, though. It doesn't feel like Space Quest to me at all.

Blackthorne

Baggins doesn't understand the concept of humor.  It's just not in his genes.



Bt
"You've got to keep one eye looking over your shoulder
you know it's going to get harder and harder as you
get older - but in the end you'll pack up, fly down south, hide your head in the sand.  Just another sad old man, all alone and dying of cancer." - Dogs, Pink Floyd.

Baggins

#26
Speak for yourself  ;)... I just happen to find English humor funnier! Monty Python is great. Different styles some styles I find funnier than others.

Some people don't get Lucasarts style humor. I do know many people who found Lucasarts games funny didn't find Space Quest's humor that funny!

Scott Murphy has been on record that he didn't get SQ5's style of humor and thought it relied on star trek too much.

The funniest parts of SQ4 were in the SQX period.
Well, ya, King's Quest is on Earth. Daventry is very old city from a long time ago. It's in ruins now and people aren't quite sure exactly where it used to be. There are some archaeologists searching through the ruins, they think they know its Daventry. But its somewhere on Earth."-Roberta Williams http://kingsquest.wikia.com/wiki/File:Daventryisearth.ogg

MusicallyInspired

Scott Murphy never watched an episode of Star Trek in his life so he can't really appreciate it. It was a very different type of humour with Crowe alone at the helm, but it still worked very well.

That said, I also think it relied on Star Trek too much. I hate StarCon.

Baggins

#28
The Galactic Enquirer is very funny piece of literature though! There are quite a few funny moments in the game, One of my favorites is how you defeat W-D40. Quirk's total spoof on Kirk down to the toupee!\

BTW, one of the 'continuity errors' in SQ1VGA vs. SQ4 AGI is actually supposed to be an intended sight gag I believe.

Let me explain, in SQ4 you go back in time, to SQ1 era. But the game more or less tries to explain that its been some time since Roger left the settlement. In that time several businesses went bankrupt and closed down. It's been a while since the bartender saw you last. The pod appears in the time zone almost directly north of the bar.

In SQ1VGA it has the timepod appear almost the same exact point in time Roger leaves the planet, at the same location Roger leaves from (north lot of Tiny's so it appears in a different location than in SQ4). Now the sight gag, is that the mugger shows up angry that you stole his ship! Who should appear just in time for him to take revenge? Roger! (obviously a serious of unfortuntae events that doesn't occur in SQ4, but would have been totally funny if it had!)
Well, ya, King's Quest is on Earth. Daventry is very old city from a long time ago. It's in ruins now and people aren't quite sure exactly where it used to be. There are some archaeologists searching through the ruins, they think they know its Daventry. But its somewhere on Earth."-Roberta Williams http://kingsquest.wikia.com/wiki/File:Daventryisearth.ogg

DawsonJ

#29
Baggins, there's a 'continuity error' in your comments - KQ 1&4 or SQ 1&4? ;)

MusicallyInspired

Well, that's more a problem with the SQ1 remake than SQ4. Scott didn't even like the remake. It's looked down upon by many for many reasons, that being only one. I consider that just one of its quirks. That said, it was a nice little tribute to make to the series. It's only meant to make people go "Ah cool!" Which brings me back to don't take it so seriously.

Baggins

#31
Well obviously, the same can be said about KQ1 Remake and the PQ1 Remake. KQ1SCI causes several of continuity errors with KQ3 for example too. PQ1VGA changes dates and also changes the sex and name of an important character who is murdered in PQ2!

The same sort of thing happens with QFG1 remake in its series. Corey Cole doesn't like the remake as much as the original version actually. Yet the QFG1 remake actually does add continuity to the series, that QFG5 acknowledges (the Black Bird, is more than just a easter egg joke to "Bogey"). Though Sam the begger is older in QFG5 much like in the original version of Hero's Quest.

Ya in general, the remakes shouldn't be considered the 'proper' storyline! If you are wanting to follow the proper story, you need to play the originals and work your way up. Though as mentioned some of the later games, definitely do make references to elements out of the remakes. Especially in Space Quest.

Amusingly, the Space Quest Companion played with the remake and the original, and tried to make both exist. It explained it had something to do with all the time travel Roger experienced, was causing paradoxes in the timeline! It actually explains this paradox in a very funny manner.

Another interesting tidbit, is in the Space Quest 1 remake's Hintbook, either Scott Murphy or Mark Crowe who wrote the book, actually acknowledges the Space Quest companion apparently. Or the Space Quest Companion acknowledged the rather obscure alien name from the Hintbook (as the name doesn't appear in the game)... They use the name for the alien in the underground city, Tenuctipin. There are some interesting discussions about their reason for developing the game as well, IIRC.
Well, ya, King's Quest is on Earth. Daventry is very old city from a long time ago. It's in ruins now and people aren't quite sure exactly where it used to be. There are some archaeologists searching through the ruins, they think they know its Daventry. But its somewhere on Earth."-Roberta Williams http://kingsquest.wikia.com/wiki/File:Daventryisearth.ogg

Blackthorne

Yep.  There IS such a thing as being too pedantic.

They're GAMES.  It's better to enjoy them without busting out every neuron in your cerebellum.


Bt
"You've got to keep one eye looking over your shoulder
you know it's going to get harder and harder as you
get older - but in the end you'll pack up, fly down south, hide your head in the sand.  Just another sad old man, all alone and dying of cancer." - Dogs, Pink Floyd.

Baggins

#33
Ya, that's probably the biggest problem with POS and AGDI games, they try to tie everything together... Overkill..

Tolkien was that way as well with his universe. But its just a series of books...

Games and books are  'just entertainment'!

I know Roberta Williams would be offended by the whole 'just games' remark for her games (or adventure games in general), though (actually she routinely said that view offended her in many interviews hah hah)!

Nice, joke, btw, but thinking about things won't 'bust neurons'.. thinking actually does the opposite, it strengthens neurons! ;)... Imagination and thinking are 'good for you'!

Now drugs and chemical tonics, those can bust neurons! So can apparently watching too much TV?  :rofl:
Well, ya, King's Quest is on Earth. Daventry is very old city from a long time ago. It's in ruins now and people aren't quite sure exactly where it used to be. There are some archaeologists searching through the ruins, they think they know its Daventry. But its somewhere on Earth."-Roberta Williams http://kingsquest.wikia.com/wiki/File:Daventryisearth.ogg

Lambonius