DOS

Space Quest: Collection Series

Written by  :  Unicorn B. Lynx (64776) Written on  :  Sep 24, 2003 Platform  :  DOS Rating  :

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Summary

One of Sierra's finest creations

The Good

Space Quest is a great example of "light" adventure - nothing to take too seriously, just games to have fun with. The series feature typical Sierra-like gameplay, flowing and versatile, with few puzzles and many suspenseful situations where quick thinking was required. Space Quest is one of the first examples of humorous science fiction, and undoubtedly the finest adventure series in this genre. Its influence is noticeable even in present day - the modern comedy masterpiece Anachronox owes a lot of its charm to Sierra's classic series.

A brief overview of the games:

SQ 1 - A fantastic beginning for the series, that already contains all the elements typical for later Space Quests: humor, parody, mild social criticism, fresh, entertaining gameplay, and plenty of suspense. The remake, one of those great Sierra products of the early nineties, is the version I usually play, because of its excellent graphics, music, atmosphere, and updated interface.

SQ2 - Considered by many fans the low point of the series, it is actually not bad at all. It is adventurous, very suspenseful, classic in its design, and at times feels more like an action-adventure than like a puzzle-solving game. Its only downside is the lack of typical Space Quest humor.

SQ3 - One of the finest examples of EGA art, the third game is in a certain sense a milestone in the development of the series: it is decidedly more humorous, its satiric elements are clearer and richer, and its gameplay more versatile and elegant.

SQ4 - Many fans (including me) consider this game the best of the series. It is the most perfect incarnation of everything that made the series great: flowing gameplay, brilliant humor, and tons of suspense. In addition to that, SQ4 also has a very cool plot based on time-traveling.

SQ5 - While being less satiric than the previous two games, and more "heavy" on gameplay, the fifth installment of the series still provides a lot of fun, and its story belongs to the best of the series.

SQ6 - Very amusing parody, with plenty of spoofs of popular sci-fi movies, and more puzzles than all the previous games together. The gameplay design is closer to LucasArts style this time.

The Bad

There was a bit too much dying and getting stuck, especially in the second game, but it is hardly a complaint since it was so typical for early Sierra adventures and made an inseparable part of the style, adding a lot of tension to the otherwise tranquil genre.

The Bottom Line

Born in the late eighties, the Space Quest series was a nice refreshment after the dull King's Quests, and quickly became the standard for humorous sci-fi adventure. Definitely among Sierra's best series, Space Quest is an undeniable classic.