Police Quest 2: The Vengeance

The Good
THE STORYLINE. What a riveting story line. Even as a 9 near old back in 1992, I could understand and become excited by the storyline.

An all-time classic. This game was nearly responsible for me becoming a police officer. Nostalgia galore, I put this up there with the Tupac albums that could have been, the Bruce Lee Flicks we should have seen. It actually makes me depressed that no-one has made a police "quest" game in years. I take personal pride in the fact that (especially since I'm a computer science undergraduate myself) such a dated and "unpretty" game.....is still one of the greatest ever written by humanity. In terms of story, playability and entertainment....it has only been matched by Monkey Island 2 or perhaps GTA3 Vice City.

The fact that by the age of 11, I could type at a rate of 32wpm at least and had a reading age of 17-- SOLELY DUE TO THIS GAME!!! It is fair to say that modern day computer game are abusive to concentration span and perhaps intellectual development, but this game proved that it doesn't have to be like that.

The Bad
The fact that it took me one full year when I was a kid to leave the police station!, because I didn't know you had to press F3 to get into the car and make your partner keith enter the car also!!!!! LMAO This was the biggest puzzle in the game. I still never have seen it written in the manual. (just like in police quest 1 the VGA version, I was stuck in the final scene for 6 months because I didn't know the number for the taxi - and still don't know where I was supposed to get it) Well of course, they're are many features which may be unbearable to users nowadays. The graphics are extremley dated. The input system means you must use exactly the correct "keyword" or "phrase" at times, even when you know the correct course of action.

The Bottom Line
If I were to be honest, I would have to admit that only a very patient person or a diehard fan could sit down and play this game today. Its simply too dated(and possibly too complex) for modern users. Modern computer players don't like to think, they just hit the fire button.

However, if I've just managed to convince you, yes YOU, well you can download the game absolutley free at any abandonware site, and it would nearly fit on your mobile phone these days.

The Good
Well the graphics look about the same as they did it the first Police Quest. The controls are easy to use, and it is a good adventure game it true Sierra Style. This is a classic, which doesn't get the credit that it deserves, many people have played the first one, and this one is just as good as that.

The Bad
Come On now, a second police quest, Somebody at sierra must have had a friend in the force.

The Bottom Line
If you have played the First Police Quest, play this one. It is a typical 80's Sierra adventure game that is fun and will make you keep coming back for more.

The Good
Jim Walls' main skill as a game writer, besides making you feel like you ARE a police officer (through his experience), is giving the gamer great characters and a great setting with which to base his game upon. While elements of the game's theme may lack originality, it holds up well under the memorable people that you meet and interact with, and the environment of Lytton.

PQII is more forgiving than PQI. You don't lose the game on the spot when you accidentally leave a print un-dusted.

The soundtrack, composed and performed by Mark Siebert, is very nice. The music is appropriate and atmospheric, and some of the tunes will stay in your mind for a long time. There isn't enough of it, however! A good deal of the game is played in silence.

PQII is quite exciting. There is a little more action than in PQI, and parts will quite honestly have you on the edge of your seat.

I enjoyed the game's graphics. Sierra did some great stuff with 16 colors, and PQ2 is no exception. The colors are bright and defined, and the close-ups and in-game graphics are as nice to look at in 1999 as they were in 1988.

The Bad
Lacks the gritty realism of PQI. For its time, PQI was a very 'mature' game, not to be played by young children. PQII is a little more appropriate for kids - and while still quite exciting, as I mentioned, some of the original 'feel' is lost.

PQII is more forgiving than PQI. You can draw your gun anywhere you please, and even take a pot shot or two in the park.

The skyjacking scene. It simply doesn't belong.

The Bottom Line
Police Quest II is definitely worth your time, and I bet that Sonny Bonds will be one of your favorite game heroes by the time you're through playing.