King's Quest Collection

About

The King's Quest Collection is a single-player Fantasy Arcade game, featuring seven remastered classic games. Players step into the shoes of Sir Graham, the bravest knight of Daventry, embarking on a Quest for the Crown. Notably, the original 1984 AGI version of the first game is replaced with the 1990 SCI remake in this collection. Despite its intriguing storyline, be prepared for potential bugs that might affect gameplay.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

86%

Audience ScoreBased on 460 reviews

story56 positive mentions

gameplay4 negative mentions

The King's Quest Collection is a nostalgic trip that brings back fond memories for many players, showcasing classic adventure gameplay that still holds charm today.
The games are well-written with intriguing puzzles and a great sense of humor, making them enjoyable for fans of the genre.
King's Quest VI is often highlighted as a standout title in the series, praised for its storytelling, character development, and engaging gameplay.

Many players experience technical issues, including bugs and compatibility problems with modern systems, particularly with King's Quest VII.
The gameplay can be frustrating due to dead ends and unwinnable scenarios, requiring players to frequently consult guides to progress.
The collection lacks the remastered versions of some games, and the absence of King's Quest VIII is a disappointment for fans.

story
342 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
16%
80%
4%
The "King's Quest" series is celebrated for its engaging storytelling and nostalgic charm, with many reviewers highlighting "King's Quest VI" as a standout for its well-developed characters and plot. While earlier entries like "King's Quest I" and "II" are noted for their simplicity and sometimes frustrating gameplay, the collection as a whole is praised for its ability to deliver memorable adventures without the need for modern graphics or expansive worlds. However, some players express disappointment over the absence of "King's Quest VIII" in the collection, which they feel detracts from the overall experience.
- “These games are proof that you do not need amazing graphics, open worlds, or devilishly powerful computers/consoles in order to get an amazing story, an engaging game, and a challenge.”
- “King's Quest collection tells a magical story that will have you enjoying from its beginning all the way up to its end if you have the patience and the willingness to try.”
- “The highlight of the series is easily King's Quest VI, since the storytelling and characters make it easy to get drawn in.”
- “The story is pretty weak.”
- “A lot of the time it just feels like they slapped together a bunch of well-known folklore or children's story characters into the world and called it a day.”
- “One major downside to most of the King's Quest games is that they often feature a 'walking dead' scenario, which means that the player did something that caused the game to be unwinnable regardless of what the player does.”
graphics
90 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
22%
62%
16%
The graphics in these classic adventure games are often described as outdated and rudimentary, with early titles featuring simple sprite-based visuals that can be difficult to interpret. While some players appreciate the nostalgic charm of the pixel art and hand-drawn styles, many acknowledge that the graphics have not aged well compared to modern standards, leading to frustration in gameplay. Despite their graphical limitations, the games are praised for their engaging stories and gameplay, with some remakes offering improved visuals for a contemporary audience.
- “The games feature beautiful pixel art graphics and charming characters, and the stories are well-written and engaging.”
- “The detailed hand-drawn Disney-style graphics coupled with the incredible voice acting makes for a very beautiful and immersive experience.”
- “The nostalgia factor alone makes it worth checking out, and the bonus features and beautiful pixel art graphics add to the appeal.”
- “The graphics are pretty bad.”
- “The limitations of the graphics and system make some parts of gameplay frustrating, like getting into just the right spot (I’m looking at you, ham!) and sometimes create an odd perspective.”
- “The graphics are off, it doesn't play right, which makes it a disappointment.”
gameplay
24 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
8%
75%
17%
The gameplay is characterized by a slow pace and challenging puzzles, particularly in the first four games that utilize a text parser control layout, which can be frustrating due to graphical limitations and awkward mechanics. Players have noted issues with trial-and-error gameplay, including post-save softlocks and RNG-dependent progression, which detract from the overall experience. However, the series transitions to a point-and-click interface starting with the fifth game, offering a slight improvement in gameplay dynamics.
- “Hours and hours of fun and colorful gameplay await you in faraway lands.”
- “Starting with 5, gameplay shifted a little; instead of being text-driven, they became what is now called 'point and click.'”
- “The gameplay is somewhat slow-paced compared to modern games, and some of the puzzles can be quite challenging.”
- “The limitations of the graphics and system make some parts of gameplay frustrating, like getting into just the right spot (I’m looking at you, ham!) and sometimes create an odd perspective.”
- “But worse still are the intentional post-save softlocks, the RNG-dependent progression, the gameplay gates that expect you to swim randomly four screens into an endless ocean at a particular launching without prompting, or the ones that require you to get captured by easily evaded bad guys you've been taught to avoid.”
stability
18 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The stability of the King's Quest series is frequently criticized, with numerous reports of freezing, glitches, and audio-visual issues across various titles. Players note that these problems are particularly pronounced in older games like King's Quest I and VI, rendering them at times unplayable. Overall, while some acknowledge the age of the games, the technical shortcomings significantly detract from the experience.
- “KQ6 freezes at the catacombs... very disappointing.”
- “For King's Quest VI, the game has so many glitches that it hangs up and becomes unplayable.”
- “The color palette is horrible, audio glitches abound, and the FMV looks even worse than it did 15 years ago.”
music
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
43%
36%
21%
The music in the game is nostalgic and beloved by longtime fans, though newer players may find it jarring due to its poor sound quality and loudness that can overshadow voice acting. The original 1983 EGA release and the 1990 VGA release offer different musical experiences, with the latter featuring improved graphics and sound. Many players express a desire for downloadable soundtracks and better MIDI support, highlighting the game's significant impact on their musical tastes.
- “The music for its time was awesome; new gamers may wonder what is going on with the music (or noise), but this was the game and music that the old-time gamers grew up with.”
- “Just overall fun excellent adventure games, with fantastic musical scores as well.”
- “I still have dreams about King's Quest, and my own musical style is probably influenced by it.”
- “The sound quality is poor and the music is very loud, interfering with the voice.”
- “I also wish there was an option to purchase/download the soundtracks, since I can't seem to find it available online or through iTunes.”
- “Use the first choice for the original 1983 EGA release, and the legacy choice for the 1990 VGA release, with improved graphics and music.”
humor
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the King’s Quest series is widely praised for its charm and wit, with many reviewers highlighting the fun and funny writing that enhances storytelling. Players appreciate the unique characters and intriguing puzzles, noting that the series maintains a lighthearted approach to entertainment, particularly in King’s Quest 7, which stands out for its comedic elements. Overall, the humor is considered a significant and enjoyable aspect of the games.
- “Intriguing puzzles and a great sense of humor.”
- “Another favorite, KQ7 is full of humor and unique characters.”
- “The writing is fun and funny and makes for great storytelling.”
replayability
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
25%
25%
The game offers notable replayability due to its multiple problem-solving approaches and a scoring system that incentivizes players to discover optimal solutions. However, some users recommend considering a more playable remake, as the original retains challenging elements like timers and complex puzzles that may deter some players.
- “It even has replayability since there are multiple ways to solve the problems the game presents you with and a score system to encourage you to find the optimal path through the game.”
- “I would suggest skipping this game if not for a slightly more playable remake by AGD, but it still keeps the timer and most of the moon logic puzzles.”
character development
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Reviews indicate that the game lacks depth in character development, with limited opportunities for players to explore and grow their characters throughout the experience.
- “There’s not much to discover and not much character development.”
- “There’s not much to discover and not much character development.”
optimization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The optimization aspect of the game has received mixed feedback, with some users appreciating specific scenes, such as a bellydance performance, while feeling that these elements lack contextual relevance. Overall, the optimization appears to be inconsistent, affecting the overall coherence of the experience.
emotional
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the emotional aspect of the games to be highly engaging, with both the environments and characters contributing to a wholesome and immersive experience.
- “The environments and characters in these games are engaging and wholesome.”