Quest for Glory II: Trial by Fire

The first thing that overwhelmed me about Trial by Fire was the number of disks that sprang out of the box when I opened it. But even though there are eight, the swapping isn't too bad. Even if it had been it just wouldn't have mattered because the game is totally brilliant. Although the animation is quite slow (which is surprising considering the game needs one meg) to begin with, you soon get used to it and it doesn't effect the game in the slightest. The puzzles were just right for me and gave me quite a challenge.

This is an excellent adventure game, which I highly recommend. The story will draw you in, and not let go. I love how you can play as 3 different characters. This gives the game a lot of replay value, as each character has his own way of dealing with problems, and overcoming obstacles. The text parser can be quite tricky, as sometimes you are not sure exactly what to 'Ask About', but it is well worth persevering.

How do you follow a phenomenal hit? That is the problem facing Sierra On-Line when it decides to follow up on its hit game Hero’s Quest: So You Want to Be a Hero. The original game (which has later changed its name to Hero’s Quest: So You Want to Be a Hero due to a trademark issue) has been a critical and popular success, most unusual for an adventure/role-playing hybrid title. The creators of the series, Lori and Corey Cole, are not to be discouraged. Their task is no doubt daunting—to develop a game that can completely satisfy fans of the original as well as attract new fans to the series. Quest for Glory II: Trial by Fire not only succeeds in this task but has done much more.

Whichever version you play, in Quest for Glory II: Trial by Fire you'll find yourself in a richly detailed world that's uncommon in adventure games. And though its pace is uneven and the atmosphere doesn't always feel authentically Middle Eastern, the game still manages to create an appealing story and setting that maintain their appeal so many years after release. Ultimately, it fails to surpass its own predecessor, but Trial by Fire is still a satisfactory sequel that fans of the first game should enjoy.

Schade, aber von "Trial by Fire" hätte ich mir mehr erwartet. Zwar sind alle Spielelemente vorhanden, die mich im ersten Teil begeisterten, wie die Actioneinlagen und der Rollenspielanteil. Aber ich habe das Gefühl, daß Sierra es sich mit Trial by Fire zu einfach gemacht hat. Prinzipiell ist das Programm fast mit dem ersten Teil identisch - einziger Unterschied ist die veränderte Grafik und das Szenario. Im einen Spiel ist der Herrscher des Landes ein Baron, im anderen ein Scheich. So stolpert man über viele Dinge, die schon im ersten Teil (nur grafisch anders verpackt) vorgekommen sind.