Police Quest Collection

About

Walk the thin, blue line in four of the most realistic crime games ever created, packed with complex storylines and real-life mysteries that only a handful of real police officers ever face - or solve.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

81%

Audience ScoreBased on 68 reviews

story9 positive mentions

stability2 negative mentions

The Police Quest Collection is a nostalgic throwback to the classic 90s adventure games, providing a charming experience for fans of the genre.
The games run smoothly on modern systems without the need for extensive patching, making them accessible for players looking to relive their childhood memories.
The collection features a unique focus on realistic police procedures, which adds an immersive layer to the gameplay that sets it apart from other adventure titles.

Many of the games suffer from outdated graphics, clunky controls, and frustrating gameplay mechanics that can make them feel unplayable for modern audiences.
The reliance on walkthroughs due to cryptic puzzles and the need for manual information can detract from the overall enjoyment and flow of the games.
The series contains politically incorrect themes and outdated views on police work and society, which may offend contemporary players.

story
69 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
13%
83%
4%
The "Police Quest" collection features a mix of engaging and dated storytelling, with the first game offering a nostalgic narrative about a cop's rise through the ranks, while subsequent titles struggle with cryptic gameplay and inconsistent writing. Although the series reflects a conservative view of law enforcement and societal roles, it provides a unique blend of procedural realism and entertainment that may appeal to fans of retro adventure games. Overall, while the graphics and controls show their age, the stories can still evoke enjoyment, particularly for those with a fondness for 80s and 90s gaming nostalgia.
- “The police quest series is an extremely underrated part of the classic Sierra canon of adventure games, and many modern games such as 'L.A. Noire' owe a lot to these titles.”
- “The first game was built on the text input-based AGI game engine developed for King's Quest and told the story of Sonny's rise from beat cop to narcotics detective as he takes down the infamous 'Death Angel'.”
- “Still, Police Quest III features a remarkably emotionally-driven storyline centering on Bond's relationship with his wife Marie, a character from the original two games.”
- “The story and writing is exactly as you would expect it to be: it strongly resembles the kind of banter that you'd see in early 90s trash TV and cheap C-movies, but at least it's kind of entertaining and might make you chuckle now and then.”
- “It's especially infuriating because the game kicks off with better presentation, direction, writing, character development, flow, storytelling, all the vibes of a classic 80s/90s cop flick, and a more enjoyable/engaging approach to procedure then it just up and shits its pants to death out of nowhere.”
- “Part of the plot requires you to creep on your partner (and except for that, the game reverts to the most pedantic procedure enforcement of the series).”
graphics
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
50%
25%
The graphics in the game have received mixed reviews, with many players noting that while they aimed for a more realistic style, the visuals have aged poorly compared to earlier titles in the series. Critics highlight issues such as glitches, bland environments, and a lack of clarity, which detract from the overall experience. Despite these shortcomings, some players feel that the engaging story compensates for the dated graphics, making it worthwhile for fans of retro gaming.
- “Some of the best police games made; don't let the graphics fool you, this is still very good.”
- “Although graphically impressive for its time (it was built on the SC2 game engine which relied on photographic scans for its visuals), the game lost the realistic procedural element of its predecessors, instead relying on graphic violence and sensationalism to move the story forward.”
- “If you want to relive some retro gaming or old adventures, it's well worth the buy, but take into account the graphics are extremely dated; however, the story more than makes up for that and keeps you immersed, something many games today miss.”
- “They went for slightly more realistic visuals, but they aged considerably worse than the charming VGA graphics of PQ3 and the PQ1 remake. In combination with the poor sound (the music is actually more annoying than old-school amazing here), the presentation of Open Season is the second-worst of the whole collection after PQ2, despite it being the latest game of them all.”
- “The game feels like a buggy, unfinished mess in every regard and it is a significant downgrade from its predecessor despite its enhanced graphics and engine.”
- “The visuals, despite being clean, are of mostly bland, milquetoast settings.”
gameplay
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
33%
33%
The gameplay of the reviewed titles is characterized by classic late 80s and early 90s point-and-click adventure mechanics, often criticized for being slow-paced, cryptic, and requiring extensive use of text commands without mouse support. Many players find the gameplay frustrating due to its convoluted puzzles and inconsistent flow, with some titles suffering from outdated graphics and controls that detract from the overall experience. While the nostalgic charm of the era is acknowledged, the execution often leaves much to be desired, leading to a mixed reception among players.
- “Gameplay-wise, they are pretty much everything that comes to mind when you think of 'classic late 80s / early 90s point-and-click adventure.'”
- “It's the very definition of late 80s snail-paced, super-cryptic, hyper-contrived adventure gameplay: again, you basically need a walkthrough from the second one, otherwise good luck figuring out what the game wants you to do and then typing in the proper commands for that.”
- “Classic puzzle gameplay (save often).”
- “Police Quest 2, on the other hand, didn't get the fancy VGA treatment, which makes it a borderline unplayable game in every aspect, whether it's in terms of graphics, sound, controls, or the gameplay itself.”
- “It's the very definition of late 80s snail-paced, super-cryptic, hyper-contrived adventure gameplay: again, you basically need a walkthrough from the second one, otherwise good luck figuring out what the game wants you to do and then typing in the proper commands for that (yes, you actually have to type in all the stuff you want to do and hope that the game understands it because there are no mouse controls).”
- “Due to the cryptic gameplay plus the antediluvian presentation and controls, this was the Police Quest game I enjoyed the least, but you have to give it that the 8-bit chiptune music is just banger after banger.”
music
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
75%
50%
The music in the Police Quest series, particularly the 8-bit chiptune tracks, is often praised as nostalgic and enjoyable, with many reviewers highlighting its charm and ability to evoke fond memories of late 80s and early 90s gaming. However, some titles, like "Open Season," received criticism for their sound design, with the music being described as more annoying than appealing. Overall, while the soundtrack can enhance the experience, opinions vary significantly depending on the specific game and its presentation.
- “The 8-bit chiptune music is just banger after banger.”
- “I'm perfectly aware that my enjoyment of Police Quest stems from pure nostalgia simply evoked by the charming VGA graphics and awesome chiptune music.”
- “The VGA remake has an awesome soundtrack.”
- “They went for slightly more realistic visuals, too, but they aged considerably worse than the charming VGA graphics of PQ3 and the PQ1 remake. In combination with the poor sound, the music is actually more annoying than old-school amazing here. The presentation of Open Season is the second-worst of the whole collection after PQ2, despite it being the latest game of them all.”
- “Due to the cryptic gameplay plus the antediluvian presentation and controls, this was the Police Quest game I enjoyed the least. However, you have to give it that the 8-bit chiptune music is just banger after banger.”
humor
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is consistently praised, with standout writing and a particularly hilarious narrator that enhances the overall experience, despite some mixed feelings about the setting.
- “While the setting is entirely unique (and not really my favorite), the writing and humor remain on point, making it an overall wonderful adventure game from days of yore.”
- “The narrator is hilarious.”
stability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game is widely criticized for its instability, being described as a buggy and unfinished experience that falls short of its predecessor, despite improved graphics. While it may evoke nostalgia, the presence of numerous glitches detracts from overall gameplay quality.
- “The game feels like a buggy, unfinished mess in every regard and it is a significant downgrade from its predecessor despite its enhanced graphics and engine.”
- “Great for nostalgia purposes...even includes all the glitches and bugs!”
emotional
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Police Quest III offers a compelling emotionally-driven storyline focused on the relationship between protagonist Sonny Bonds and his wife, Marie, which resonates with fans of the earlier games. However, the introduction of a new protagonist detracts from the emotional impact established in the series, leaving some players feeling disconnected from the narrative.
- “Still, Police Quest III features a remarkably emotionally-driven storyline centering on Sonny Bonds' relationship with his wife, Marie (a character from the original two games).”
- “The game also ditches the character of Sonny Bonds in favor of a new protagonist, which squanders the emotional resonance built up over the first three entries.”
character development
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
100%
The game initially showcases strong character development and storytelling reminiscent of classic 80s/90s cop films, but this quality deteriorates significantly as the narrative progresses, leading to a frustrating experience for players.
- “The game kicks off with better presentation, direction, writing, character development, flow, storytelling, and all the vibes of a classic 80s/90s cop flick, creating a more enjoyable and engaging approach to the narrative.”
- “It's especially infuriating because the game kicks off with better presentation, direction, writing, character development, flow, storytelling, all the vibes of a classic 80s/90s cop flick, and a more enjoyable and engaging approach to procedure, then it just falls apart out of nowhere.”
atmosphere
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
The atmosphere of the game is noted for its distinct style, which sets it apart from others, and it evolves further by incorporating different genres as the experience progresses.
- “The atmosphere feels disjointed and lacks a cohesive identity, making it hard to immerse myself in the game.”
- “Despite the potential for a rich environment, the atmosphere falls flat and feels uninspired.”
- “The game's atmosphere is inconsistent, often shifting abruptly and leaving players feeling disconnected from the experience.”