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Kotaku's Scathing Review

Started by Ikzai, July 13, 2010, 05:00:45 AM

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wilco64256

I totally love the new games too, they're loads of fun.  At any given moment I typically have at least 5 or 6 things preordered from my local game store.  But nothing gives me that same feeling as a great point-and-click, questing around, puzzle solving, hyperspace-arsenal-pockets using, icon changing adventure game.
Weldon Hathaway

dark-daventry

Quote from: wilco64256 on July 13, 2010, 10:29:30 PM
I totally love the new games too, they're loads of fun.  At any given moment I typically have at least 5 or 6 things preordered from my local game store.  But nothing gives me that same feeling as a great point-and-click, questing around, puzzle solving, hyperspace-arsenal-pockets using, icon changing adventure game.

I agree 100%! And I can relate to having a lot of things reserved.
Founder of the (new) Left Handed Alliance Of Left Handed People (LHALHP)

Gay and proud of it!

Avid Adventure Game fan

StormSpirit86

I didn't have any problems with the pathfinding... I think the review is unfairly harsh.

Do you like retro games? If you do check my YouTube channel, you might like it! :)

http://www.youtube.com/user/StormSpirit86

I_am_so_nifty

Quote from: Baggins on July 13, 2010, 06:17:10 AM
My opinion of the music? ... I don't think there has been anything particularly hummable or memorable just yet.

I don't know, that dark part where Valanice followed Alexander kind of got stuck in my head a bit. In a good way.
This is Nifty, Royal Heir.

I'm like, an adult now or something? Sounds fake, but okay.

Fierce Deity

That review was like a pistol whip at a blind kid.  :-\

I liked the first episode, but like everybody else, I'm expecting an improvement with episode 2. The only thing that really bothered me was one voice actor that worked on two characters in the game. Other than him though, I don't mind the other voice actors at all. Here's to Kotaku eating their words when episode 2 comes out.  8)
Freudian Slip - "When you say one thing, but mean your mother."

Hituro

Yeah I didn't care for the review either.  I felt like the reviewer hated King's Quest games.  I thought the path-finding was fine.  I mean... it's not like Graham was walking through a pac-man maze or something.  And yeah the voice acting could be better in spots but I mean, it's a fan made game so I'm not upset with that.  I think everything was awesome.  My only gripe about the game is some inconsistencies and the long winded narrator.  That's the only thing I didn't like, and those issues I can get over because if the story is great I won't care.  Plus, it's friggin King's Quest! :D

kiralee

I'm afraid that I have to agree with Mr. Plunkett's assessment of the narrator, Amy Kurlyo.  Part of the great joy of playing an adventure game is to be able to click on everything, and hear little wry witticisms.  Unfortunately, Amy's wry merely came off as rude and inane.  Yes, I know that one can turn off the voice.  But I don't want to have to.  Unfortunately, after ten minutes of listening to Amy scold and berate me in an extremely uncomical way turning her narration off was the only way I could continue playing the game.  And ordinarily I love a mean narrator, because they make you laugh at yourself. 

Baggins

#27
I think there were few "wry witticisms" in KQ5 and KQ6 narration, except in death comments. Can anyone think of where the narrator cracked a joke anywhere in those games outside of death comments? There also might have been hidden jokes if attempting to click items on random individuals, and locations, but not in the normal hand, eye, talk, walk situations.

Well, ya most items in the pawn shop in KQ6 were nudges back at sierra (try talking to the stuffed bear), and previous King's Quest games. But other than that centralized location :)?

I can't think of one situation where the narrator talked the player character directly, or "attacked them", nor had the character break the fourth wall to acknowledge the narrator.

I know it was common in Space Quest (most narration is humor related, the narrator insults Roger Wilco often, and Wilco responds frequently) but not in King's Quest. King's Quest dialogue actually seemed to be played pretty straight and serious.

Several of the negative reviews I've read on various websites and blogged have actually pointed out this fact... well the reviews weren't necessarily negative, that was just one of their criticisms, beyond the episode being "too short".

Here is an example, http://www.avault.com/reviews/pc/silver-lining-episode-1-pc-review/.

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

sahara

#28
Oh, my.  It seems like the basis for most of the criticism in the review is issues with writing and the fact that Episode 1 had few adventure puzzle gameplay elements.  These are areas where a "fan" or indie team should not necessarily be at a disadvantage.  Even strong voice acting isn't something that would require an exorbitant budget.  How could you have possibly expected a good review when what you have so far released has next to no adventure puzzle gameplay in it?  It's a shame because a lot of the dramatic storytelling elements are in place and set the scene well.  

I think the team shot themselves in the foot with the manner of the Episode 1 rollout (perhaps people were expecting something more closely resembling a complete game?) ... but all is not lost... there's still an opportunity to get the rest right.  Lesson learned.  


kindofdoon

Quote from: StormSpirit86 on July 14, 2010, 04:39:28 AM
I didn't have any problems with the pathfinding... I think the review is unfairly harsh.



In some places, such as the crossroads with the Sing-Sing Tree, the pathfinding works well. In other places, such as the village, pathfinding seemingly does not exist. It's hit-and-miss, from my many playthroughs.

Daniel Dichter, Production/PR
daniel.dichter@postudios.com