Quest for Glory

[Discoalucard]

I mentioned this in the Space Quest thread, but here it is:

www.hardcoregaming101.net/questforglory/questforglory.htm

Quest for Glory is basically a series of RPGs using the interface of Sierra graphic adventures. As a result, I think they've aged much better than your typical point n' clicks of the day, because there are way less obtuse puzzles or mindless deaths. The quality of the game world, the characters, and the writing is all fantastic too - each game takes place in a completely different location, based on real world culture and folklore. My personal favorites are QFG1 and QFG4, with a bit more love for me on QFG4, because I love the setting.

I still think needs a drastic read-over, and I still need to re-encode the MP3s, but otherwise I think it's about done. Also, Sac mentioned that KQ8 felt more like a QFG game than QFG5. I haven't played it yet, but it just came in the mail, so maybe I'll give it a bit of a play to see what the deal is.

[TheChosen]

'tis good. Quest for Glory rocks.

This series also has a fan-made game, the "Quest for Glory 4½". Never tried it myself though and I couldnt find any download links as the maker site seems to be long gone.

[Jave]

Now this brings back memories. Fun times at my neighbour's house, getting hopelessly lost, while he'd be shaking his head and yelling "Right Turns Only!"

[Discoalucard]

I googled the fan stuff, and it seemed like it resulted in unfinished tribute games, or simply things that ripped off various assets from QFG...nothing like the quality remakes for KQ1-3 or QFG2. Too bad. As I mentioned before, I'd love a remake of QFG5 done like QFG4.

[onoff456]

Great job Kurt. Hey I spotted a QFG2 pic on page 3 (along with the QFG5 pictures). It's at the bottom of the page.

If I had the chance to improve on the article I would take the time to mention the song Erana's Peace (the one that plays in the meadow in QFG1) as one of the most memorable songs in the game. Personally I think it stands out and deserves a mention on the QFG1 section (rather than to be listed as part of the QFG4 song pack). Also I would mention the cameo appearance of the Three Stooges as part of the last paragraph that describes the game's humor (a screen shot would be nice).

As a side note, the series was originally known as "Hero's Quest". However, once it was published, Sierra ran into some problems with a board game company who had already trademarked the name. It was then changed to "Quest for Glory", and then re-released. All subsequent games used the Quest for Glory moniker.

That board company was Milton Bradley. It's mentioned in one of their early InterAction magazines. Sierra published their game very close around the time Milton Bradley released their board game. This was pre-Internet, so it took a while for MB to notice and then a bit more for Sierra to update their product. Hero's Quest has nothing to do with the game, but it's a great board game BTW.

The VGA one features the usual handdrawn backgrounds, which are generally quite faithful to the originals.

Did you mean "hand drawn"?

Some other minor aspects have been changed in ways that become a bit annoying. For instance, there's no place like Erana's Peace where you can just rest for a bit and end up with fully restored health.

I think you can rest the night at the oasis in the desert.

In addition to the usual earth, fire, wind and water elements, he insists that there's a fifth element based on pizza. (Too bad there weren't any Pizza Elementals back in Quest for Glory II.)

I can tell you played QFG2 Remake in "simplified map" mode.

Quest for Glory IV is undoubtedly one of the best games in the series, having taken the template of the first game, and improved on practically every aspect, while keeping down some of the aggravating issues from its other sequels.

QFG4 is the most buggy game of the series and they were serious enough to interfere with gameplay (as in not letting you progress the game). The game is also very finicky with memory requirements and would crash often. I think this may not be such a big issue today considering DOSBox takes care of hardware problems. People who download the game from the Internet will most likely (and unknowingly) have the patched version in their hands as well. It might have been a good game but it had a lot of aggravating technical issues on its own.

[Discoalucard]

I'm pretty sure I mentioned the technical issues somewhere in. I played in DOSBox on my old CD copy, along with all of the patches I could find, and still ran into issues. One, I got stuck tossing rocks in the swamp area (and per a FAQ, needed to grab some goo to "reset" from the position, so I could walk away without it crashing), and the other, I got trapped in one of the rooms in the castle, and it just kept looping over and over, Lost Woods style, except I don't think it was intentional. (It's where the treasure chest is, in a bedroom.) I remember there being annoying issues when I played it years ago, but I don't think I suffered from anything that bad.

There are some other things I've read about but never actually found, like the Laurel and Hardy in QFG3. I think I mentioned them, though.

And did they stick a Pizza Elemental in the QFG2 remake? I honestly never even tried it in the standard mode, just because I was so sick of navigating it in the original game.

[Sac (a.k.a Icaras)]

Yes, there is. It was located very quickly, to the dismay of the AGDI staff (Check their forums, people should have screenies of it)

There's actually a ton of extra content to the Quest for Glory 2 remake. If, like me, you played the absolute hell of QfG2 back in the day, you'll find it really quick.

Oh yes, I also think the Quest for Glory IV section should make mention that Dr Cranium is a reference to Dr Brain, a edutainment title that Corey Core worked on (A bloody good one, too. it's worth checking out!). His section actually plays quite a bit like the 1st game.
That said, I seem to remember the game made the reference fairly obvious.

EDIT: Oh yes! I almost forgot. In quest for Glory 2 (Original, I've never tried in the remake) it IS possible to ride/walk from Shapier to Rasier. You can even do this on day one of the game.
Of course, as you lack required items, the guards won't let you in.
I can't remember the exact method of doing this, as I haven't played the game in ages.

[Discoalucard]

I remember just walking through the desert and eventually finding Raseir, back when I first played it, mostly because I didn't know what I was doing when I first got it.

[onoff456]

Kurt I am curious: What MIDI device are you using to play your adventure games? I've noticed the article makes little mention of the music for most of the games (except QFG4). In fact, QFG4 gets a superlative endorsement in the music area. The music in the other games hardly get mentioned. I think your article is weak in this area.

I noticed some songs are listed on the song packs, but no memorable tunes are mentioned in the actual article. This is were I have objections. For example, Erana's Peace is listed on QFG4's songs pack, but that song belongs in the QFG1 section. Yes I know it shows on QFG4 but that song is one of the highlights of the first game, not the fourth. The Battle Theme from QFG1 is another song that stands above that game's soundtrack. The battle motif is used to some extent as variations in future games. It's a shame none of this is commented.

For QFG2 it would be a good idea to mention the Arabic music style, just like it was said in QFG3 being African themed. QFG2 has a very good soundtrack as well (for example Aziza's Theme). The Title Theme does a great job setting the mood of the game from the beginning. Unfortunately it's only listed as part of the song pack buried at the bottom of the page.

You hint at QFG3's being the weaker of the soundtracks, and personally I think it is. It might be a good idea to mention the game's heavy use of percussion instruments doesn't translate well to computer soundcards. However it sounds pretty good in high end synthesizers like the Roland Sound Canvas or MT-32. You know how much Sierra supported those devices. Might make for an interesting factoid.

I know QFG4 is your favorite so I am not touching that one. LOL In addition to the rock style I kind of like the russian/gypsy like melodies employed (like when you are visiting the town's different areas).

For QFG5 the article says the game uses cinematic style but it doesn't say that it's a complete departure from the usual themes that were used throughout the first four games. It sounds good but also a bit generic because of it. It should also be said the music here is not MIDI like the previous games. The new title theme is very good and although longtime fans will probably prefer the original it works very well.

I apologize if I sounded too harsh, that isn't my intention. Its just that I really enjoyed the music in all games yet it seems to me only one game gets credit for it.

[Discoalucard]

I grew up playing it on my old Soundblaster, and that's what I set the synth to for most of the games in DOSBox. For some reason, a lot of them don't sound right when set to General MIDI, but only certain games.

I had added a bit about the music to QFG1, although I'm still sticking in the QFG4 version of Erana's Peace too, just because it has an awesome rock ballad theme to it.

As for QFG3...I even downloaded a bunch of the MP3s off of Sierra Studios, and even those versions don't sound right at all.

QFG2 has some decent music, but so much of it is so silent. Same goes with any either SCI0 game though.

Anyway, I edited a few things, and tossed in a few different screenies too. The QFG2 shots at the last page are intentional - I just dig the ending of that game.

[Lord Dalek]

So when can we expect a King's Quest article? I have a desire to see insults of Roberta Williams' "moon-logic".

[Discoalucard]

It's not the highest on my list. Leisure Suit Larry and Gabriel Knight are up next, then maybe (maybe) on to "Conquests" and Laura Bow, or possibly even Manhunter, if I get in the mood.

Also, I bought Mask of Eternity but can't even get the installer working on XP. Drat!

[onoff456]

The article looks better now. Thanks.

I grew up playing it on my old Soundblaster, and that's what I set the synth to for most of the games in DOSBox. For some reason, a lot of them don't sound right when set to General MIDI, but only certain games.

Early Sierra games supported the Roland MT-32 device whose MIDI setup became the precursor of the General MIDI (GM) format. The instruments in MT-32 are arranged in a different order from GM. The MIDI channel devoted to percussion in the MT-32 is different (which GM uses for melody). The MT-32 unit was also programmable and Sierra used this feature to great extent by including custom sounds in their games. That's why a game with MT-32 support sounds weird when played through a GM sound card. Most people today use the default Microsoft GM Midi Synth that comes with Windows so the problem may still show up when playing old games.

[akumajobelmont]

An old Erana's Peace remix I've loved from way back... enjoy!!!

www.vgmix.com/comment.php?mode=view_comments&type=song&band_id=188&song_id=52&template=script_comment.tpl

[Ace Whatever]

Another great article. I still have fond memories of playing QFG1 VGA with my friend (and not-so-fond ones of fumbling around in 4).

One question that's been nagging me since forever: In 1 VGA there was a clearing near the town where you'd be attacked by goblins. Their numbers would increase every time you go there. After winning you'd see the goblins lying around and your character would bow towards the screen. I guess this was supposed to be a spoof of bar fights or something. Searching the goblins would give comments about how they must've been in a poker game. Was this a reference to anything or just randomness?