Publisher: AGD Interactive Studios
Website: http://www.agdinteractive.com/games/kq3/about/overview.html
Genre: Adventure
Summary: For as long as he can remember, Gwydion has been a slave to the evil wizard Manannan. He must secretly learn spells to escape and find his true family.
Gameplay: Most of the game involves puzzles and gathering spell ingredients while avoiding Manannan finding out. The AGD version adds a timer the turns yellow and then red as his return grows closer, which is helpful. It also highlights inventory items that need to be hidden from the wizard. In turn, "Redux" adds some new puzzles and solutions in places. These are sometimes interesting but sometimes feel unnecessary.
Style: The point-and-click interface is welcome, as it makes it easier to cast spells than when typing (not easy, mind, but easier.) The graphics are also nicely updated, although I wish Gwydion looked a bit more like the original's ragged yet noble waif than his more coiffed King's Quest 6 self here.
Story: Even with the timer, the tension of escaping the evil wizard is strong, and I don't enjoy it at all. Still, it's certainly always satisfying to finally defeat Manannan. But I wish the game were better paced, as the post-Manannan game feels rushed and disparate, despite being very interesting and emotional.
The AGD version adds some backstory and ties in to other bits of King's Quest lore, but I found I wished it had better connected the miscellaneous characters and monsters of the original game like the AGD King's Quest II. And more could be done with the revelation of Gwydion's true past.
Conclusion: Despite some fun elements and some helpful updates in this version, I'll never enjoy the format of this game. Too much of it is spent under the thumb of a tyrannical wizard.
Tuesday, February 13, 2018
Sunday, February 4, 2018
"Dragon Age II Legacy" DLC Review
Publisher: Bioware/EA
Genre: RPG
Summary: An attack by the Carta leads Hawke to investigate an ancient Grey Warden prison in the mountains and discover secrets of the past.
Gameplay: Combat is the same as the rest of the game, although there are some new darkspawn enemy types. There are a couple minor puzzles, mostly optional.
Style: The Warden prison in all its layers is atmospheric and interesting, as are the new stylized darkspawn designs.
Story: The backstory involving Hawke's father (and possible involvement of Hawke's sibling in discovering this backstory) is nice, and I always enjoy learning more about the Wardens and Thedas lore. However, all of the fighting dwarves and darkspawn in and down and then up again really drags, especially on replays.
The ending might feel disheartening to some given later revelations (the choice at the end, for example, is actually moot.) I still enjoy having a choice, however, and something being ultimately depressing certainly fits in with the rest of Dragon Age II, anyway.
Conclusion: Although it adds to the world of Thedas and has some nice character moments, I wish "Legacy" wasn't so long and had less combat.
Genre: RPG
Summary: An attack by the Carta leads Hawke to investigate an ancient Grey Warden prison in the mountains and discover secrets of the past.
Gameplay: Combat is the same as the rest of the game, although there are some new darkspawn enemy types. There are a couple minor puzzles, mostly optional.
Style: The Warden prison in all its layers is atmospheric and interesting, as are the new stylized darkspawn designs.
Story: The backstory involving Hawke's father (and possible involvement of Hawke's sibling in discovering this backstory) is nice, and I always enjoy learning more about the Wardens and Thedas lore. However, all of the fighting dwarves and darkspawn in and down and then up again really drags, especially on replays.
The ending might feel disheartening to some given later revelations (the choice at the end, for example, is actually moot.) I still enjoy having a choice, however, and something being ultimately depressing certainly fits in with the rest of Dragon Age II, anyway.
Conclusion: Although it adds to the world of Thedas and has some nice character moments, I wish "Legacy" wasn't so long and had less combat.
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