Quest for Glory 1-5
- October 1, 1989
- Sierra
- 70h median play time
Get on SteamQuest for Glory 1-5 is a series of five classic fantasy adventure/RPG games. The player can choose to be a warrior, a mage, or a thief, and explore a richly detailed world while solving puzzles, fighting monsters, and interacting with NPCs. Throughout the series, the player's choices and actions shape their character and affect the game's story and outcome. These games offer a unique and immersive experience, combining challenging gameplay with humor, drama, and a compelling narrative.
PC
Windows
Gog Com
Reviews
- The Quest for Glory series combines classic point-and-click adventure gameplay with RPG elements, allowing for character growth and multiple ways to solve puzzles.
- The ability to import your character from one game to the next adds significant replay value and continuity to the story across all five games.
- The games are filled with humor, engaging storytelling, and memorable characters, making them a nostalgic favorite for many players.
- Some games in the series, particularly QFG2 and QFG5, suffer from bugs and technical issues that can hinder gameplay and frustrate players.
- The graphics and user interface feel dated, which may be off-putting for new players unfamiliar with older game mechanics.
- Navigating certain puzzles and tasks can be tedious, and some players may find the combat mechanics less enjoyable compared to modern RPGs.
- story268 mentions
- 22 % positive mentions
- 77 % neutral mentions
- 1 % negative mentions
The "Quest for Glory" series is celebrated for its rich storytelling, humor, and character development, blending classic point-and-click adventure with RPG elements. Players appreciate the ability to import characters across the five games, creating a cohesive narrative experience that evolves with each installment. Despite some dated graphics and minor bugs, the series remains a nostalgic favorite, offering engaging quests and memorable characters that resonate with fans of both old and modern RPGs.
“I was emotionally transported to the land of Tarna with its beautiful music, magical graphics, and awesome story.”
“The quest for glory series took the storytelling genre to a whole new level - character development and masterful storytelling, coupled with a great soundtrack.”
“The ability to import your character to each game makes the story and experience even more connected and cohesive.”
“The graphics are downright painful if you don't enjoy the pixel-art aesthetic, Quest for Glory 2 needs to be played with a walkthrough (nobody has time for the maze-city navigation anymore!), and games like Skyrim can arguably do what this does but better.”
“The storyline in this game is really strong with lots of interesting characters and quests.”
“It would not be an exaggeration to say that this diverse story and characters taught me to not only enjoy reading and storytelling, but learning about the entire cornucopia of mythologies and legends the Coles pulled from when designing this brilliant series.”
- graphics113 mentions
- 23 % positive mentions
- 70 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game series are a mix of nostalgic charm and dated design, with early titles featuring low-resolution EGA graphics and later entries showcasing improved VGA visuals. While some players appreciate the pixel art and the fantasy aesthetic, others find the graphics poorly aged and clunky by modern standards. Overall, the visuals evoke a sense of nostalgia for those familiar with the era, but may not appeal to newer gamers accustomed to contemporary graphics.
“The pixel artwork is just fantastic.”
“The graphics are very good for when they were released, and while time may have aged the games, they aged very gracefully in my opinion.”
“The graphics and animations are all great for the era they were released in, the fantasy aesthetic of each game is really cool, and the games have a dark and absurdist sense of humor that's more like what you would expect from LucasArts than Sierra.”
“Ultra low resolution VGA graphics and a clunky mouse interface haven't aged well, and in my opinion, the EGA games are easier to play these days.”
“The graphics are downright painful if you don't enjoy the pixel-art aesthetic; Quest for Glory 2 needs to be played with a walkthrough (nobody has time for the maze-city navigation anymore!), and games like Skyrim can arguably do what this does but better.”
“The graphics are better than QFG1, but for all but the most retro of gamers, it will probably be a letdown.”
- humor82 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in this game series is widely praised for its goofy charm, clever writing, and engaging storytelling, often drawing on cultural mythologies and absurdist elements. Players appreciate the blend of light-heartedness with challenging puzzles and memorable characters, making the experience both entertaining and nostalgic. Overall, the humor is considered a standout feature that enhances the gameplay and keeps players invested.
“The humor was fantastic.”
“Much like Space Quest, there is an enjoyment in horrible death, not frustration, because it's funny.”
“The writing, dialogue, and characters put most modern titles to shame; QFG has every drop of charm and wit you see in series like King's Quest, but also has humor in buckets.”
- gameplay36 mentions
- 22 % positive mentions
- 69 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The gameplay is characterized by its blend of goofy humor, engaging storytelling, and innovative mechanics that refresh classic RPG tropes, offering significant replay value through class-based puzzle variations. While many players appreciate the nostalgic charm and straightforward point-and-click design, some express frustration with new mechanics that complicate gameplay, such as the impact of armor weight on attributes. Overall, the series is celebrated for its rich mechanics and the ability to evoke fond memories of cooperative puzzle-solving among friends.
“Gameplay and mechanics are also top notch.”
“Blending classic adventure gameplay with class system and progression akin to classic RPGs allows QFG to offer nearly unprecedented (for point-and-click game) replay value, where game puzzles vary depending on the class chosen at the beginning of the playthrough.”
“The series features some of the best storytelling, witty humor, and gameplay Sierra has ever created.”
“Sadly, it also introduces the frustrating mechanic of any helmet and armor heavier than enchanted leather impacting some attributes and the magic skill when it was never present before.”
“Biggest issue for this game is the waiting for certain events to happen and then trigger yet another mechanic.”
“I watched a bit of some early gameplay of the VGA version of the first game and it is way too complicated: endurance, fighting, stats.”
- music34 mentions
- 41 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The music in the game series is widely praised for its emotional impact and nostalgic value, with many players highlighting how it enhances the overall atmosphere and storytelling. Reviewers note that the soundtracks are memorable and beautifully composed, contributing significantly to the immersive experience of the games. Overall, the music is considered a standout feature that resonates deeply with fans, often evoking fond memories of their childhood gaming experiences.
“For the first time, adventure games and RPGs collided and made sweet, sweet music together.”
“The QFG series took the storytelling genre to a whole new level - character development and masterful storytelling, coupled with a great soundtrack.”
“The games are beautiful (both in music and art style), humorous, dramatic, sometimes even a bit scary, everything you could ever ask for in a fantasy adventure and then some.”
“.. and last but not least, or maybe least after all, the award for 'worst in everything except maybe the soundtrack' goes to.... you guessed it.”
“It's probably just nostalgia that keeps me playing....but nothing makes me happier than the music from these games.”
“Just getting to load it up and hear the music to Shadows of Darkness was nearly worth the sale price.”
- replayability20 mentions
- 30 % positive mentions
- 55 % neutral mentions
- 15 % negative mentions
The game boasts exceptionally high replayability, primarily due to its diverse character classes—fighter, wizard, and thief—each offering unique storylines and gameplay experiences. Players can also multi-class and approach tasks in various ways, enhancing the depth and variety across multiple playthroughs. Despite its age, the game remains a standout example of replay value in the point-and-click genre.
“Amazing atmosphere and music throughout the entire series, and good replayability with different classes.”
“Even better, they have a lot of replay value with different classes, the ability to multi-class (be several classes at once), and various ways to complete every task in each game depending on your class.”
“It's a shame really, but the game is over 25 years old; I was just hoping they were playable.”
“Blending classic adventure gameplay with a class system and progression akin to classic RPGs allows QFG to offer nearly unprecedented (for a point-and-click game) replay value, where game puzzles vary depending on the class chosen at the beginning of the playthrough.”
“This feature adds layers upon layers to the replayability of not just one game, but multiple games!”
- stability16 mentions
- 6 % positive mentions
- 6 % neutral mentions
- 88 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's stability is mixed; while the current build is generally stable with only minor graphical glitches, several older titles, particularly Part 4 and QFG 2, are plagued by significant bugs that can hinder gameplay. Users report occasional crashes and freezing issues, especially in QFG 1, but note that the experience is much improved compared to earlier releases. Some recommend fan-made patches for a better experience with the more problematic entries.
“No glitches or game-breaking incidents; one crash thus far, which is amazing compared to back in the day.”
“Part 4 was a buggy mess when it was released, which was a shame since it easily has the most interesting theme out of all of the games.”
“QFG 1 freezes the moment you walk in the bar at the very start of the game.”
“I bought the game to go through part 4 which was always notoriously buggy... like, you can't even beat the game because of bugs.”
- grinding16 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Grinding in this game is generally viewed positively, as it allows players to develop their characters across all five installments, making it feel rewarding rather than tedious. While some players appreciate the balance of grinding with puzzle-solving and character customization, others find certain tasks, like navigating mazes, to be unnecessarily tedious. Overall, the grinding is considered manageable and less demanding compared to typical RPGs.
“Also, there seems to be an increased focus on combat and grinding, which I don't care for.”
“Some activities like navigating through mazes may feel needlessly tedious.”
“Some tasks may feel tedious by today's standards.”
- character development10 mentions
- 60 % positive mentions
- 40 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The character development in the series is widely praised for its depth and relevance to contemporary themes, showcasing a significant evolution from the first game. Reviewers highlight the meticulous attention to detail in folklore, dialect, and character names, which enrich the storytelling experience. Overall, the series is celebrated for blending masterful storytelling with engaging character arcs and clever gameplay mechanics.
“What you found throughout the series was amazing character development and even themes still relevant to society today.”
“The incredible effort to try and stay true to the folklore but also the tiny details such as dialect (Swahili, QFG3), names and their meaning (Arabic, QFG2) and character development was phenomenal.”
“The QFG series took the storytelling genre to a whole new level - character development and masterful storytelling, coupled with a great soundtrack.”
- atmosphere6 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- 17 % neutral mentions
- 17 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game series, particularly QFG4, is highly praised for its exceptional visual art style and immersive music, contributing to a captivating experience. However, some players found certain elements, like the 'bones and corpses' theme, off-putting, which affected their enjoyment and replayability. Overall, the atmosphere is a significant highlight for many, despite some mixed feelings.
“Amazing atmosphere and music throughout the entire series, and good replayability with different classes.”
“.. the award for 'best visual art style and atmosphere' goes to... QFG4!”
“The atmosphere is incredibly immersive, drawing you into the world and enhancing the overall experience.”
“I only played this one a bit and didn't care for the 'bones and corpses' atmosphere, so I never went back to it.”
- optimization6 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- 17 % neutral mentions
- 17 % negative mentions
Users express mixed feelings about the optimization of the Steam version, noting concerns about performance and stability, yet many are still drawn to the gameplay experience. While some report smooth operation, there is a general caution regarding the game's optimization, suggesting players should check performance before diving in.
“I am currently on part III and hope that everything continues to run smoothly as it has so far.”
“Boot up each game quickly to make sure they run smoothly, and just dive in.”
“I cannot properly endorse the Steam version of this for performance or stability; the gameplay, however, still compelled me to review a game which I love dearly and believe deserves more attention.”
- emotional4 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players report a deeply emotional experience while exploring the land of Tarna, highlighting the game's beautiful music, enchanting graphics, and compelling story. The conclusion of the series evokes a sense of heartbreak, further enhancing the emotional impact of the narrative.
“I was emotionally transported to the land of Tarna with its beautiful music, magical graphics, and awesome story.”
“This is the final conclusion in the series... I know, heartbreaking!”
