I never got around to playing either game. How many references and immersive details will I miss out on? I could probably dig up KQ7 somewhere if I had to.
Well, the intro to the game has a lot to do with how KQ7 ended. :)
But you don't NEED to. Especially not MoE.
Princeless Bride. While we make a few references to MoE, they're limited and don't really affect the plot very much. Princeless Bride on the other hand has a quite few important developments that affect our plot, so if you haven't played that one yet, you'll be wondering what a few things are.
I will say that I DO think the game can be played without playing either of those, but for a fuller idea of everything, yeah, KQ7.
I was going to post, but then you two summed it up perfectly. :P
So, yes, there are references to KQ7 which do not require you to have played the game, but for the full experience you probably should.
For MoE, though... to be honest, I can only remember one reference, and that was actually King Graham telling another character about the events of MoE. So there's actually no need for me to even summarise the plot for you because Graham will do that for you if you get to that bit. XD So you really don't need to play it.
tslaccount for someone who really liked KQ7 I would suggest picking it up not because TSL has a lot of references to it but because its just a fun game, MOE was an Okay game in my opinion but not the greatest, but if you like action adventure you'll probably enjoy it.
Below are links to where you can pick up the entire series for 30$ without DRM plus being able to install it on any computer and have it work.
http://www.gog.com/en/gamecard/king%E2%80%99s_quest_7_8
http://www.gog.com/en/gamecard/king%E2%80%99s_quest_4_5_6
http://www.gog.com/en/gamecard/kings_quest_1_2_3
I'm not affiliated with Gog.com just a huge fan of there service.
Yeah if you have a more modern system getting things from GOG is definitely the easiest route to take. If you want just KQ7 and MoE they're only $10 and they both played just fine for me on Windows 7.
I can vouch for KQ7 and MoE running flawlessly on windows 7 from gog. As everyone else mentioned, I'd definitely recommend KQ7, as there are plenty of plot details from that in TSL. MoE is really up to you. If you've played it, you'll notice things here and there, but nothing that's extremely plot sensitive.
Great, thanks for the replies. I have the old KQ collection discs that go up to 7, so I'll try and install them.
(Posted on: April 07, 2011, 12:46:20 AM)
Thanks for the advice, everyone.
I played through it. Very mixed bag. Kq6 was definitely the pinnacle.
I think a lot of the distaste came from the awful animation. Poor Roberta Williams, you know she must've felt bad at some of the subpar material that was in KQ7. The voice acting was decent, but the bizarre Looney Toons slapstick and horrible artwork really detracted from the overall story. Good music, though. Mark Seibert always brings his best.
It's pretty obvious that a lot of 90s game studios must've outsourced to the same cheap animation studio, as they got the notorious Zelda CGI games as well.
Quote from: dark-daventry on April 06, 2011, 11:23:08 AM
MoE running flawlessly
I thought this statement was a bit off, since the game tends to crash at random, even under ideal conditions.
Quote from: Roivas on April 08, 2011, 12:22:56 PM
Quote from: dark-daventry on April 06, 2011, 11:23:08 AM
MoE running flawlessly
I thought this statement was a bit off, since the game tends to crash at random, even under ideal conditions.
Not for me; when I have a good computer, I'm able to run MoE without any significant hiccups. Perhaps flawlessly was the wrong word to use, but the point is that I experienced no crashes or any other significant issues that hindered game-play for me.
Quote from: dark-daventry on April 08, 2011, 12:51:14 PM
Quote from: Roivas on April 08, 2011, 12:22:56 PM
Quote from: dark-daventry on April 06, 2011, 11:23:08 AM
MoE running flawlessly
I thought this statement was a bit off, since the game tends to crash at random, even under ideal conditions.
Not for me; when I have a good computer, I'm able to run MoE without any significant hiccups. Perhaps flawlessly was the wrong word to use, but the point is that I experienced no crashes or any other significant issues that hindered game-play for me.
Maybe that's just my horrible luck with PC games coming to the forefront. I've crashed nearly every game I've ever played and kinda stayed away from the computer games for a long time to avoid all the crashing problems I would regularly run into. So far my GoG version of KQ8 has crashed on me 10 times and I have only just gotten into the Realm of the Dead.
Quote from: Roivas on April 08, 2011, 12:55:56 PM
Quote from: dark-daventry on April 08, 2011, 12:51:14 PM
Quote from: Roivas on April 08, 2011, 12:22:56 PM
Quote from: dark-daventry on April 06, 2011, 11:23:08 AM
MoE running flawlessly
I thought this statement was a bit off, since the game tends to crash at random, even under ideal conditions.
Not for me; when I have a good computer, I'm able to run MoE without any significant hiccups. Perhaps flawlessly was the wrong word to use, but the point is that I experienced no crashes or any other significant issues that hindered game-play for me.
Maybe that's just my horrible luck with PC games coming to the forefront. I've crashed nearly every game I've ever played and kinda stayed away from the computer games for a long time to avoid all the crashing problems I would regularly run into. So far my GoG version of KQ8 has crashed on me 10 times and I have only just gotten into the Realm of the Dead.
What are your computer's specs?
Quote from: dark-daventry on April 08, 2011, 01:01:41 PM
What are your computer's specs?
A dual core Intel with 2gb of RAM and a 8600 GE NVIDIA video card. So not great, but my PC isn't a slouch either. Sadly, I'm also running Vista Home Premium. It works... kinda.
Quote from: Roivas on April 08, 2011, 01:11:16 PM
Quote from: dark-daventry on April 08, 2011, 01:01:41 PM
What are your computer's specs?
A dual core Intel with 2gb of RAM and a 8600 GE NVIDIA video card. So not great, but my PC isn't a slouch either. Sadly, I'm also running Vista Home Premium. It works... kinda.
From what I can glean, the only possible problem there would be Vista; I don't think MoE should have any issues running on that machine of yours. Have you tried running the game in compatibility mode? Or as an administrator? sometimes those solutions work. You could also try changing the graphics settings. If all else fails, go to the Gog.com forums and see if anyone else has the same issue as you; I had some issues with Gabriel Knight: Sins of the Fathers, and the gog.com forums got me a fix within minutes.
My laptop has similar specs (but 4 Gb RAM), and MoE runs amazingly slowly on it. :-\
Hmm. Snabbot, do you have the gog.com version? I don't have my desktop on hand to test the performance out at the moment unfortunately. I left that back in my dorm room. I'm on my macbook at my house... No need to carry a desktop everywhere I go. I can't recall any serious issues with Mask running on my desktop, but I think I only played through the first level. I'll have to revisit that someday soon.
Quote from: tslaccount on April 06, 2011, 04:01:20 AM
I never got around to playing either game. How many references and immersive details will I miss out on? I could probably dig up KQ7 somewhere if I had to.
At this point, the ONLY reason to play those games is to have a complete idea of the story going into TSL. Otherwise, avoid them like the plague; they're both terrible. Well, I suppose Mask of Eternity had a few redeeming qualities back in the day, but it hasn't aged well.
Well, I suppose Mask of Eternity had a few redeeming qualities back in the day, but it hasn't aged well.
[/quote]
Ehhh... even for the time MoE was pretty outpaced by the other games on the shelf. Ocarina of Time came out the same year on the N64 and was even superior to MoE in terms of graphics in spite of being on a much more inferior console in terms of graphic ceiling.
References to Rosella's "carefree spirit" and her impending marriage to Edgar will make a whole lot more sense if you're familiar with KQ7.
There are fewer references to Connor and the Mask of Eternity (a conversation with the pawn shop owner comes to mind). Mask of Eternity is a God-awful game and I'd recommend avoiding it if at all possible (yes, I played it in full when it first came out, as well as all the other games. Two words: avoid it).
I don't think you should play Mask of Eternity before or after anything at all. Never would be a better idea.
I know I'm beating a dead horse, but I've gotta say it. MoE should have been called, "Connor's Journey to Hell and Back." Not only literally for the character, but also for the User! The plot and cheat mode were great; EVERYTHING ELSE was torture. From Connor himself to the controls and camera to the first-person-shooter aspects. One problem being the dreaded Windows ME (A.K.A. Windows Vista 1.0) time period in which it came out, meaning NO program was stable. Other than a short time in Daventry and the occasional reference, the game had no connection to King's Quest. "KQ Meets Doom" is a good comparison.
I'm sooo happy that TSL isn't made in MoE's vain.
KQ7 was buggy, but enjoyable and funny. I've bought KQ7 (in one form or another) 3 times, and it was totally worth it each time, especially since GOG got it running fat and sassy on my Win7 laptop.
KQ7 is my least favorite KQ... It's so juvenile, and has the worst and most silly villain.... I also don't like the art direction.
KQ8 has grown on me, I've beaten it like 4-5 times now. It's one of my top favorite KQ games after KQ6. It also has one of my favorite soundtracks in the series after
kQ4 and KQ6. I agree though the bugs (which apparently more of a problem on vista and earlier) take away from the enjoyment.
That said no you don't need to play it for TSL. In fact you really don't need to play any previous game in the series to enjoy other games in the series. All the official games are all pretty much stand alone, with only a few groupings that connect to each other. KQ3, KQ5 and KQ6 are sort of a group. KQ4 and KQ7 are sort of a pair. KQ5 and KQ6 make up kind of a pair. But the stories and lands are so separate that it's not required to play previous games.
Granted the way TSL is constructed it probably helps to have played KQ6 and KQ7, it draws on those the most.
Quote from: Baggins on May 15, 2011, 07:18:44 PMGranted the way TSL is constructed it probably helps to have played KQ6 and KQ7, it draws on those the most.
I would add KQ3 to that as well.
Well I'm not sure how true it's sticking to KQ3 in that it's reinterpretation and internal explanation (including flash backs) in TSl is quite stand alone. It seems to me one might come out of learning less from the original kQ3 since TSl is a bit loose with the original facts and reinterprets things differently.
Or another way it putting it I don't think there is anything substantial in the original KQ3 that would explain anything in TSL. Considering TSl offers in some cases a more detailed or dramatic explanation of those events, albeit reinterpreted, at various points during the chapters. That being said KQ3 is largely simple by today's standards, so TSL embellishes things making things more complicated and detailed.
TSL also makes references to KQ2, but due to simplicity of that game it really doesn't offer insight or understanding to what is shown or discussed in TSL. TSL also contains some dramatic reinterpretations of that game in places, which the original will not help you understand.
We do take our own interpretation and spin on KQ3, but I would definitely recommend playing that one to get a better understanding of some things in TSL, if someone were asking.
Basically, when you get down to it, MoE is the only King's Quest game that does not show up in a noticeable way or have a larger influence over the plot of TSL.
Quote from: KatieHal on May 15, 2011, 08:17:17 PMBasically, when you get down to it, MoE is the only King's Quest game that does show up in a noticeable way or have a larger influence over the plot of TSL.
You mean "does not," right?
LOL, er, yes! I'll go fix that...
Right now, it's highly based on KQ1-3, 5 in the world of KQ6, having started with continuation from KQ7. Add a little KQ8, in the explanations. Interestingly, it's kind of a reversal of KQ4, with Graham saving Rosella this time.
All in all, an awesome conclusion to an amazing set of games. TellTale won't give us this kind of all-inclusive, drool-worthy story. That's for sure!
The real KQ was not a series meant to have a conclusion, it was highly fluid and evolving series that changed directions with each game, based on technological innovations and changing development teams. The reason why the games took place in new lands each time, gave the series room to explore new places separated from Daventry proper. It followed people's of Daventry, largely the royal family to offer connected reason for exploring other places, but it wasn't leading to any specific conclusion. Connor was intact added to inject new blood, and new ideas for continuing the series, not to bring closure to the series.
Infact I'd argue the only game in the series to have an ending that more or less has a well developed closing theme and denouement would be KQ6, since it ends with Alexander's marriage, and end to his 'adventures' from Daventry. KQ7's ending was far more open. Unfortunately KQ8's ending is anticlimactic with no denouement at all.
At least Telltale is taking the KQ back to it's routes if they go back to the 'further adventures' format.
It's nice to not have a conclusion if you know there will be a next one. I don't think they should ever stop the series. I think there's alot of danger the family can face and conquer :)
According to what I've read in interviews with Roberta Williams, the games weren't supposed to be reliant on one another. Also, after that horrible buyout of Sierra, all of the adventure games were cut from production, meaning they wanted a whole new take on Sierra games. Hence Roberta's vision of MoE, which she didn't even get to finish, according to an interview with Ken Williams. But, a "conclusion", though unofficial, for KQ would be unique and amazing... Especially if TellTale does something with KQ like they did with Monkey Island, namely, take an existing game, split it into pieces, then release it as 'new material.'
For more information regarding Sierra's buyout, and more or less destruction, here's a link with interviews and more details:
http://www.gog.com/en/news/from_monochrome_to_monarchy_kings_quest_history_final_episode/pp/972a67c48192728a34979d9a35164c1295401b71
QuoteHence Roberta's vision of MoE, which she didn't even get to finish, according to an interview with Ken Williams
Oh its much more complicated than that, much more. Ken Williams doesn't even cut the surface. It's a tale of technical hangups, failures by Dynamix to bring out the game engine on time, delays caused by the lack of engine to build the game on (at the last minute they had to spend a long time building a new one from scratch). Plus a game that was going way outside of budget and time issues. A total change to the art style, and to accomodate higher polygons (so the graphics wouldn't be out of date in 1998). It went a year over the estimated release date.
They had to make an engine from scratch (thanks to dynamix), which cut into their developmental time to incorporate scripted events, better cutscenes, more bosses, battles, action sequences, etc (that they had planned), this meant at least two levels were cut.
Even Roberta claims in interviews that she was starting to get tired of working on it for that long, the initial prediction was to finish it in 2 years (not counting extra year of design ideas), it got pushed to 3. Had she gotten the engine that Dynamix was supposed to finish on time, she might have made it.
Ken Williams says Roberta took inspiration from Duke Nukem when designing the game, it very well might have ended up being Duke Nukem Forever!