When it comes to the various series of adventure games that Sierra made back in the day, on a surface level, the only thing that separates all of them from each other is the theme/genre that each series takes on. King’s Quest and Quest for Glory would take on medieval fantasy, Gabriel Knight would take on supernatural mystery, Police Quest would take on crime investigations, and Leisure Suit Larry would take on the concept of being a man-whore. Aside from that though, you would most likely expect most of the games to play the exact same as each other, and for the most part, you would be right, but upon actually playing these games, you would then see that each one has their own little differences that would separate them from each other. Not only that, there would also be games that do innovate on the genre bit by bit, while also adding in their own quirks to make them more likable. Take, for example, the first installment in a series that would take the adventure game genre beyond the stars, Space Quest: The Sarien Encounter.
On its surface level, you would expect Space Quest to be exactly like every other Sierra adventure game, but this time, it takes place in space. At least, that’s what I was expecting, as I had never played any Space Quest game before this. But, I had seen the entirety of Space Quest IV for a video that I had made a while back, and based on what I had seen, it looked like it played exactly as I expected it to, so it didn’t make me wanna get to it any sooner. But, eventually, when I decided that I was tired of playing LSL games for now, I wanted to check out what Space Quest had to offer, and after playing it… yeah, it is mostly your typical adventure game from Sierra’s library, but it does have several little features and new additions that do make it stand out, especially when compared to the two King’s Quest games that were already out, making this better then those games in my eyes.
The story consists of a powerful Star Generator being stolen by a powerful alien race to destroy the galaxy, and it is up to Roger Wilco, a lowly, pathetic janitor, to travel the stars to destroy the generator to stop them, which is a pretty simple story that is given plenty of depth thrown in text boxes, so it is a pretty good story for 1986, the graphics are basically exactly the same as other Sierra games beforehand, but this time with a more sci-fi feel, while also making sure to “borrow” plenty from Star Wars along the way, the music, as per usual, is basically non-existent, with the only audio being from brief sound effects and some rare music tracks, and they grate my ears whenever they pop up, so not a big fan of them, the control is also exactly the same as other Sierra games at the time, so nothing more to add there, and the gameplay is a generic Sierra adventure romp, but with some new additions that make it a little more charming and “fun”.
The gameplay is your typical adventure game affair, where you take control of Roger Wilco, or Sardines as I named him, travel through plenty of different spaceships, planets, and buildings/caverns throughout the land, look around at everything you can find and type in text commands to hope to make some progress or interact further with whatever you are looking at, gather plenty of different, useful items that will be essential with helping you proceed further to stop the Sarien threat, and die over… and over… and over… and OVER again, because these games are extremely specific with commands, making you salty in the process. I wouldn’t blame anyone for thinking that this game is just like every other Sierra game out there at that time, because for the most part, it is, but there are some features that do add some variety, along with some charm the other games didn’t have.
Out of all of the Sierra games that I have played so far, I think this one may have my favorite world and characters out of all of them, for no particular reason other than I just prefer sci-fi settings and themes a lot more. There is only so much charm to be found in a real world setting, and the medieval setting is one that has its quirks and charming elements, but it is one that I don’t typically gravitate towards that often. So, despite how barebones that this sci-fi world was, I was able to appreciate it and like it more, and the stuff they do with it in this installment is pretty charming. What helps this charm carry throughout the game is with the dialogue that is present, which, for the most part, is pretty straightforward, but there are several lines and moments in the game that are actually pretty funny. There is one part of the game where you are flying in a pod, and there is a button in it that says “Do Not Push”, so obviously, I pushed it immediately, and I ended up crashing straight into the world of King’s Quest. It may not be that much of an easter egg, but it is one that is very cute and funny to find.
Alongside that, the main gameplay does feature some sections that do branch out from the typical adventure gameplay… or at least, as much as Sierra would allow it to branch out. Near the end of the game, you gain a ray gun that you can actually use to fire at enemies, which does add an aspect of combat into the game, so that is pretty neat to see in a point ‘n click adventure game from 1986. However, as expected, it is completely barebones, where you have to fire it immediately upon seeing an enemy, or else they kill you. And even then, I only had to use it once or twice throughout the entire section. That kinda sucks, but hey, at least they tried something new for once? Alongside this, this is also the first game from Sierra to have a minigame in it, where you are piloting a skimmer that you have to ride all the way to this town to continue your quest, while avoiding all of these boulders along the way. This is pretty cool to see, but there is one major problem with it……….. it is easily the worst part of the game.
You remember how, in the Leisure Suit Larry III review, I complained about that one minigame where you ride down the rapids and have to avoid all those rocks to avoid death, and it was extremely difficult due to you getting very little time to react to these rocks before you slammed right into them? This minigame has essentially the exact same issue, and it still completely sucks. I can’t believe they did this shit twice, and apparently didn’t learn their lesson the first time. I will say though, it isn’t as bad here, as you are allowed to take multiple hits before you end up dying, but given how likely it is you will hit these boulders, it probably won’t take too long before you do end up dying. Aside from that though, the other problems that this game would have would be the ones you would expect from this type of game, that being the text commands being extremely precise sometimes, and how it is definitely a guide game.
Overall, despite a shitty minigame and the other problems you have come to expect from this game, Space Quest, for me at least, is a step up from other Sierra adventure games like the first two King’s Quest titles, and I found it charming enough to where I ended up having a good enough time with it. I am looking forward to seeing what the rest of this series has to offer from here on out, as these games usually get better and better with each installment, and I would recommend it for anyone else who is a big fan of Sierra’s classic adventure games, as it should give you everything you could want and expect from it. Although, it does kinda suck that at the end of my entire adventure, I ended up being awarded with… a golden mop. I saved the entire galaxy, and I am still recognized as a janitor? Life really is unfair…
Game #388
On its surface level, you would expect Space Quest to be exactly like every other Sierra adventure game, but this time, it takes place in space. At least, that’s what I was expecting, as I had never played any Space Quest game before this. But, I had seen the entirety of Space Quest IV for a video that I had made a while back, and based on what I had seen, it looked like it played exactly as I expected it to, so it didn’t make me wanna get to it any sooner. But, eventually, when I decided that I was tired of playing LSL games for now, I wanted to check out what Space Quest had to offer, and after playing it… yeah, it is mostly your typical adventure game from Sierra’s library, but it does have several little features and new additions that do make it stand out, especially when compared to the two King’s Quest games that were already out, making this better then those games in my eyes.
The story consists of a powerful Star Generator being stolen by a powerful alien race to destroy the galaxy, and it is up to Roger Wilco, a lowly, pathetic janitor, to travel the stars to destroy the generator to stop them, which is a pretty simple story that is given plenty of depth thrown in text boxes, so it is a pretty good story for 1986, the graphics are basically exactly the same as other Sierra games beforehand, but this time with a more sci-fi feel, while also making sure to “borrow” plenty from Star Wars along the way, the music, as per usual, is basically non-existent, with the only audio being from brief sound effects and some rare music tracks, and they grate my ears whenever they pop up, so not a big fan of them, the control is also exactly the same as other Sierra games at the time, so nothing more to add there, and the gameplay is a generic Sierra adventure romp, but with some new additions that make it a little more charming and “fun”.
The gameplay is your typical adventure game affair, where you take control of Roger Wilco, or Sardines as I named him, travel through plenty of different spaceships, planets, and buildings/caverns throughout the land, look around at everything you can find and type in text commands to hope to make some progress or interact further with whatever you are looking at, gather plenty of different, useful items that will be essential with helping you proceed further to stop the Sarien threat, and die over… and over… and over… and OVER again, because these games are extremely specific with commands, making you salty in the process. I wouldn’t blame anyone for thinking that this game is just like every other Sierra game out there at that time, because for the most part, it is, but there are some features that do add some variety, along with some charm the other games didn’t have.
Out of all of the Sierra games that I have played so far, I think this one may have my favorite world and characters out of all of them, for no particular reason other than I just prefer sci-fi settings and themes a lot more. There is only so much charm to be found in a real world setting, and the medieval setting is one that has its quirks and charming elements, but it is one that I don’t typically gravitate towards that often. So, despite how barebones that this sci-fi world was, I was able to appreciate it and like it more, and the stuff they do with it in this installment is pretty charming. What helps this charm carry throughout the game is with the dialogue that is present, which, for the most part, is pretty straightforward, but there are several lines and moments in the game that are actually pretty funny. There is one part of the game where you are flying in a pod, and there is a button in it that says “Do Not Push”, so obviously, I pushed it immediately, and I ended up crashing straight into the world of King’s Quest. It may not be that much of an easter egg, but it is one that is very cute and funny to find.
Alongside that, the main gameplay does feature some sections that do branch out from the typical adventure gameplay… or at least, as much as Sierra would allow it to branch out. Near the end of the game, you gain a ray gun that you can actually use to fire at enemies, which does add an aspect of combat into the game, so that is pretty neat to see in a point ‘n click adventure game from 1986. However, as expected, it is completely barebones, where you have to fire it immediately upon seeing an enemy, or else they kill you. And even then, I only had to use it once or twice throughout the entire section. That kinda sucks, but hey, at least they tried something new for once? Alongside this, this is also the first game from Sierra to have a minigame in it, where you are piloting a skimmer that you have to ride all the way to this town to continue your quest, while avoiding all of these boulders along the way. This is pretty cool to see, but there is one major problem with it……….. it is easily the worst part of the game.
You remember how, in the Leisure Suit Larry III review, I complained about that one minigame where you ride down the rapids and have to avoid all those rocks to avoid death, and it was extremely difficult due to you getting very little time to react to these rocks before you slammed right into them? This minigame has essentially the exact same issue, and it still completely sucks. I can’t believe they did this shit twice, and apparently didn’t learn their lesson the first time. I will say though, it isn’t as bad here, as you are allowed to take multiple hits before you end up dying, but given how likely it is you will hit these boulders, it probably won’t take too long before you do end up dying. Aside from that though, the other problems that this game would have would be the ones you would expect from this type of game, that being the text commands being extremely precise sometimes, and how it is definitely a guide game.
Overall, despite a shitty minigame and the other problems you have come to expect from this game, Space Quest, for me at least, is a step up from other Sierra adventure games like the first two King’s Quest titles, and I found it charming enough to where I ended up having a good enough time with it. I am looking forward to seeing what the rest of this series has to offer from here on out, as these games usually get better and better with each installment, and I would recommend it for anyone else who is a big fan of Sierra’s classic adventure games, as it should give you everything you could want and expect from it. Although, it does kinda suck that at the end of my entire adventure, I ended up being awarded with… a golden mop. I saved the entire galaxy, and I am still recognized as a janitor? Life really is unfair…
Game #388