Seven of the finest adventure games ever, for half what you would expect to pay.
Anyone who has played PC games for more than 10 years now should be intimately familiar with this well-loved series. If you haven't, then know this; It is no overstatement to say that King's Quest and its sequels were one of a handful of series that made PC gaming what it is today. Adventure games are rare today, but in the days when PC games were ported to consoles, and not the other way around, the point-and-click Adventure was king, and King's Quest was king of the point-and-click adventures.
So, it was with great anticipation that I received and installed this classic compilation of the first SEVEN King's Quest titles. First off, the emulation is both functional and accessible, if not exactly perfect at all times. The games look, sound, and move just as you will remember them.
It's hard to rate the whole game in terms of graphics or sound, as we're talking about a series that spans about 10 years of technology. You can't really compare KQ I, rendered in all of its original EGA glory, to the hand-painted beauty of the King's Quest V and VI. Sound also varies, but it all seems true to the originals, and it all evokes a sort of misty-eyed nostalgia for a relative old-man gamer such as myself.
The games themselves vary. They are all basically fairy tale-type stories, driven by the characters exploration and interaction with the world around him/her. Explore the many places in the land, talk to the various people and other creatures, collect and use (usually innocuous) items to solve puzzles and progress in the game. King's Quest puzzles often require obscure and illogical solutions, which can lead to frustration. However, any frustration is typically disarmed by the charm and humor of the games. Still, if you don't have patience for a slow pace, these may not be for you.
Whether or not the adventure genre is your thing, it's hard to argue the value, as the box sells for 10 to 20 US dollars in most areas. If you play PC games because the FPS graphics are better than the XBOX 360, or if you have never like adventure games, KQ Collection is probably not for you. If you enjoy a good story, or are an adventure fan in general, and you haven't tried out King's Quest, I highly recommend it. If you are an old-school King's Quest fan, this game definitely needs to be in your collection, as it will provide you hours of fun and good memories. These games have largely aged well, and as a Collection, they provide great entertainment, and a chance at experiencing some of the most important PC gaming history.