Quest for Glory: Shadows of Darkness

The Good
I've always found the Quest for Glory series to be my all-time favorite series of adventure games, and much better than any other RPG. However, the incredible atmosphere of this fourth QFG, well-titled "Shadows of Darkness", put it ahead of all other adventure games, with the possible exception of Grim Fandango. Why?...

It's in the Russian/Transsilvanian atmosphere, that adds SO much to the game. All of the Quest for Glory's take place in different settings, such as the Medieval or the African Desert, but the setting of QFG 4 stand out triumphantly from the others...it's dark and tragic, but doesn't lose its classic sense of humor. The graphics, 2d as they are, capture this feeling perfectly, better than 3d graphics could have ever done for it.

But the game stands out in more ways than that. The professional voice-acting adds a new layer, and it's unfortunate that QFG 5 didn't come close to measuring up in that area. The new, very arcade-y combat system is much simpler to use than that of the previous games. And even besides that, get ready meet and talk to Dr. Brain's ancestor...Dr. Cranium!...and you "reunite" with Baba Yaga, the witch from the first Quest for Glory.

Before this space ends, I'll mention that this game, while its ending remotely resembles that of QFG 3 with your hero being teleported to a new land, it isn't nearly as much of a quickie ending...

The Bad
In a very annoying way, there is a point very near to the game's beginning where if you don't do something there, you have effectively lost the game as you will not be able to complete it later...

The Bottom Line
The all-time BEST Quest for Glory ever, and in a series like this one, full of awesome games, THAT's saying a lot...