Episode 2 review (spoiler-free)

[KQ5Fan]

I don't even know where to start praising you guys. Everything about this was such a huge step up from everything in Episode 1.

Music - Amazing. Austin Haynes is the boss.
Voice Acting - Very solid. I'll admit that it wasn't the GREATEST, but it didn't have me in disbelief very often.
Graphics - Incredible. Everything looked so good in this episode.
Story - 10/10. It just keeps getting better and better. Simply put, it's original, creative, thoughtful, and interesting, and, most importantly, is leaving me dying for the next episode.
New locations - Simply fantastic. I liked them better than the locations from KQ6, to be honest. You guys really made this game your own.
New walking animation/Faster walk - Again, you guys really nailed it. It looks perfect.
New options - Again, another great idea from you guys to let players choose how they want to play the game. I enjoyed this game so much more with short narrations and no narrator audio (although I realize that was in the first episode).
New Puzzles: I can't tell you how happy I was that they were in here. And for those of you wondering, yes, there are lots of them, and yes, they're not too easy. Some of them are quite hard, in fact.
The Length: Much, much, much better. I'd say it took me around 6-7 hours. Partly because I was trying and enjoying each and every little thing, partly because some of the puzzles really had me that stumped.

Nitpicks:

Short narrations: Sometimes weren't so short. I'm not sure if that had to do with the narrations containing important information for the game, but I noticed a few when replaying Episode 1 that were fairly long.
Graham's new walk: Is perfect for his casual look in his adventurer's cap, but like I said, I replayed Episode 1 before I played Episode 2 and it looks a little weird in his King's Clothing because of how formal the clothing is. Maybe it's just me, I don't know.

But aside from that, I really, really, really, really, really, really enjoyed it. I'll admit, I had my doubts when Episode 1 first came out, but you guys really proved me wrong with this episode. So for all of you wondering whether or not this Episode has been worth the long wait: Trust me, it is.

Overall: It's not a great fan-made game; it's simply a great adventure game. Honestly, at this point in time, it's looking like it could easily surpass the quality of King's Quest VI by far. And that's not something you guys should take lightly; I'm generally a pretty harsh critic.

[kindofdoon]

I fully second this. All hail Phoenix Online!

[daventry]

It seems in the Trailer, they still dont have the Lip Syncing right, that Genie sure loves showing his Teeth.  

Are you Allowed to Post Any Screens, the New Game Settings and In-Game Screens.  

Was there a Trailer for Episode 3 After the Credits.  

Maybe its just me but, in the Trailer it looked like the Graphics was Sharper then in Episode 1.  

[KQ5Fan]

It seems in the Trailer, they still dont have the Lip Syncing right, that Genie sure loves showing his Teeth.  

Are you Allowed to Post Any Screens, the New Game Settings and In-Game Screens.  

Was there a Trailer for Episode 3 After the Credits.  

Maybe its just me but, in the Trailer it looked like the Graphics was Higher then in Episode 1. 

1. It didn't really bother me that much - it was only off sometimes, and KQ games never really had accurate lip syncing anyways.

2. No.

3. 

Btw, Daventry, meet the question mark: "?"

Question mark, meet Daventry!

[daventry]

Thanks, cant wait for Episode 2  

Sadly i will be going away this Weekend to some Vacation Place that has Small Buildings build high up in the Trees, so i will be back Sunday.  

So does Ken and Roberta have Episode 2 already

If TSL is the Closing Book on the KQ Series with All Questions Answered and Vivendi decides to make an Actual KQ9 how in the world are they gonna pull it off when TSL is as Close to KQ9 as you can get. 

[kindofdoon]

In my opinion, if there is an official King's Quest after TSL, it will be developed by Phoenix Online, and published by Activision (or whomever holds their IP a decade from now).

[B'rrr]

Naw, if Activision is continuing the series they can just ignore TSL and it's story and bring out a new game saying it is KQ9. That would make TSL an alternate timeline.

I am glad you enjoyed the game KQ5Fan 

[kindofdoon]

Phoenix Online has the knowledge, the experience, the script, the leftover resources, and clearly the level of interest to do another KQ game very well. Activision would be smart to tap the potential of PO.

Then again, this is pretty idealistic...

[KQ5Fan]

Not to mention that with funding they could actually get it done quickly.

And I'm sure that lots of people would be willing to buy another game when they see how good this one is.

[KatieHal]

Thanks guys! It seriously makes my day to hear you enjoyed it so much!!

And yeah, as they said, they aren't allowed to post spoilers or new screens, etc. You guys will see them for yourselves soon enough!

As for the future of the KQ franchise, as before it's still anyone's guess what happens to it officially. I'd love to be able work on an official one, of course, but we'll see what the future holds.

ETA: Oh yes, and re: short narrations. Some were kept long because there's important information in them, others because they involve a moving camera. So no, not EVERY narration has a short version, but a good number of them do.

[Cez]

 

[wilco64256]

Yes this will probably come up more than once, but some of the narrations couldn't be shortened due to camera tracking.  We'd probably get a lot of confused people if a single line played about an object and the camera continued to pan past that object for several seconds while you couldn't do anything.

[atec123]

Thanks guys! It seriously makes my day to hear you enjoyed it so much!!

And yeah, as they said, they aren't allowed to post spoilers or new screens, etc. You guys will see them for yourselves soon enough!

As for the future of the KQ franchise, as before it's still anyone's guess what happens to it officially. I'd love to be able work on an official one, of course, but we'll see what the future holds.

ETA: Oh yes, and re: short narrations. Some were kept long because there's important information in them, others because they involve a moving camera. So no, not EVERY narration has a short version, but a good number of them do.

whatever happens, I hope if an official one is made, it is by you guys.  with the current condition of activision, I trust you guys much more.  especially if it is made by you guys UNDER activision as an official game. especially since if they made it it would be KQ9 and ignore your story and that would kinda suck.

[TheReturnofDMD]

Thanks guys! It seriously makes my day to hear you enjoyed it so much!!

And yeah, as they said, they aren't allowed to post spoilers or new screens, etc. You guys will see them for yourselves soon enough!

As for the future of the KQ franchise, as before it's still anyone's guess what happens to it officially. I'd love to be able work on an official one, of course, but we'll see what the future holds.

ETA: Oh yes, and re: short narrations. Some were kept long because there's important information in them, others because they involve a moving camera. So no, not EVERY narration has a short version, but a good number of them do.

whatever happens, I hope if an official one is made, it is by you guys.  with the current condition of activision, I trust you guys much more.  especially if it is made by you guys UNDER activision as an official game. especially since if they made it it would be KQ9 and ignore your story and that would kinda suck.

And if theirs was made it official, everyone else's story would be ignored and that would kinda suck too.
Better that the story be in everyone's hands rather than one.

[atec123]

Thanks guys! It seriously makes my day to hear you enjoyed it so much!!

And yeah, as they said, they aren't allowed to post spoilers or new screens, etc. You guys will see them for yourselves soon enough!

As for the future of the KQ franchise, as before it's still anyone's guess what happens to it officially. I'd love to be able work on an official one, of course, but we'll see what the future holds.

ETA: Oh yes, and re: short narrations. Some were kept long because there's important information in them, others because they involve a moving camera. So no, not EVERY narration has a short version, but a good number of them do.

whatever happens, I hope if an official one is made, it is by you guys.  with the current condition of activision, I trust you guys much more.  especially if it is made by you guys UNDER activision as an official game. especially since if they made it it would be KQ9 and ignore your story and that would kinda suck.

And if theirs was made it official, everyone else's story would be ignored and that would kinda suck too.
Better that the story be in everyone's hands rather than one.

yes, but at the time at least, I don't think activision has anything really planned for King's Quest.  I think TSL seems worthy of being an official KQ game.

[Fierce Deity]

And if theirs was made it official, everyone else's story would be ignored and that would kinda suck too.
Better that the story be in everyone's hands rather than one.

Who's "everybody else"? And what story should be in "everyone's hands rather than one"? I'm slightly confused. I thought we were talking about the possibility of Phoenix making King's Quest commercially. As it stands, Activision is sitting on the IP waiting for it to either hatch or melt into a smoldering oblivion. If there's any chance of the game being made commercially again, I'd rather see it be done. It doesn't matter by who, but Phoenix seems to be a likely candidate do to their exposure to the media. Not to mention, Activision dropped their C&D so that Phoenix could allow their hard work come to fruition.

I understand if some may disapprove of Phoenix' standing in this hypothetical situation, but it's a reality. I've been keeping tabs on the Tokyo Game Show this week, and was disappointed to hear that Ninja Theory will be working on the new Devil May Cry game (not to mention, they made Dante look like Edward Cullen). As much as I wish they wouldn't destroy what used to be a great series, there's nothing I can do about it.  

[TheReturnofDMD]

And if theirs was made it official, everyone else's story would be ignored and that would kinda suck too.
Better that the story be in everyone's hands rather than one.

Who's "everybody else"? And what story should be in "everyone's hands rather than one"? I'm slightly confused. I thought we were talking about the possibility of Phoenix making King's Quest commercially. As it stands, Activision is sitting on the IP waiting for it to either hatch or melt into a smoldering oblivion. If there's any chance of the game being made commercially again, I'd rather see it be done. It doesn't matter by who, but Phoenix seems to be a likely candidate do to their exposure to the media. Not to mention, Activision dropped their C&D so that Phoenix could allow their hard work come to fruition.

I understand if some may disapprove of Phoenix' standing in this hypothetical situation, but it's a reality. I've been keeping tabs on the Tokyo Game Show this week, and was disappointed to hear that Ninja Theory will be working on the new Devil May Cry game (not to mention, they made Dante look like Edward Cullen). As much as I wish they wouldn't destroy what used to be a great series, there's nothing I can do about it.  

Anybody else who may have a differing view, or different vision of the series, will be SOL. And yes, we are. Activision isn't too sitting on it, seeing as they just allowed for the release all of the previous games to gog.com That's more than Vivendi ever did. I don't see the need for it be commercial again. It's not going to be a WOW level game, especially if it remains a pure adventure game--It's going to be a niche product whether it's commercial or not.
And exposure should have no better as to whether someone should be allowed to do something. Popularity, or a good PR team have nothing to do with quality.

What does Activision dropping their C&D have to do with anything? Vivendi/Activision also allowed ADGI to continue work on their games.

And you say it's a reality, but isn't. They don't have the rights. If they did, it would suck to see one vision (and that of KQ being a psychological/teenage thriller, none the less) be the ONLY vision.

[KatieHal]

I don't really think of our game as a 'pshychological/teenage thriller', but to each his own.

Anyways. IF, and it's a big if of course, Phoenix did own the IP, I would personally love and really hope to be able to work out fan licenses with fan groups. I think what AGDI and IA, among others, have done is great, and I hope they can keep on doing it. I'm looking forward to the SQ2 and KOS games from IA, I really enjoyed the remakes AGDI did. So for whatever record there is, if that's what happened, that's what I would hope to be able to do.

[wilco64256]

I'm not sure what you mean by other groups being SOL on their visions.  To my knowledge, TSL has been the only effort to actually continue the series for many years.  Everything else has been either fan remakes of existing games, or in-between type games like the Kingdom of Sorrow project that IA is working on (which I'm really looking forward to BTW).  The only other fan project that's been a continuation of the series is the VGA remake of our game, which still just counts as a remake and not a new idea at all.

I also fully agree with what Katie said above - I'm a huge fan of the remakes that AGDI and IA have done on all of the Sierra franchises they've tackled.  I'm excited to see the new Space Quest work from IA as well.

[TheReturnofDMD]

I'm not sure what you mean by other groups being SOL on their visions.  To my knowledge, TSL has been the only effort to actually continue the series for many years.  Everything else has been either fan remakes of existing games, or in-between type games like the Kingdom of Sorrow project that IA is working on (which I'm really looking forward to BTW).  The only other fan project that's been a continuation of the series is the VGA remake of our game, which still just counts as a remake and not a new idea at all.

Let's say I embarked on a sequel project of my own. In the hypothethical situation of you guys owning the IP, I would be SOL as your KQ9 would be THE KQ9, amiright?