Difference between revisions of "King's Quest II: Romancing the Throne"

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[[Image:King's Quest II - PCJR - USA.jpg|thumb|256x256px|North American PCjr box art.]]
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{{Video Game
 +
| Title            = King's Quest II: Romancing the Throne
 +
| SortTitle        = King's Quest 2: Romancing the Throne
 +
| Image           = King's Quest II - PCJR - USA.jpg
 +
| ImageDescription = PCjr - USA - 1st edition.
 +
| Developer        = {{VideoGameDeveloper|Sierra On-Line}}
 +
| Publisher        = {{VideoGamePublisher|Sierra On-Line}}
 +
| PublishedYear    = 1985
 +
| PublishedMonth  = 05
 +
| PublishedDay    = ??
 +
| Platforms        = {{Platform|Amiga}}, {{Platform|Apple II}}, {{Platform|Apple IIgs}}, {{Platform|Atari ST}}, {{Platform|DOS}}, {{Platform|Macintosh Classic}}, {{Platform|PC Booter}}, {{Platform|PCjr}}
 +
| Genres          = {{VideoGameGenre|Adventure video game|Adventure}}, {{VideoGameGenre|Graphic adventure|Graphic adventure}}, {{VideoGameGenre|Passive puzzle video game|Passive puzzle}}, {{VideoGameGenre|Puzzle video game|Puzzle}}
 +
| Themes          = {{MediaTheme|Adventure}}, {{MediaTheme|Cartoon}}, {{MediaTheme|Fantasy}}, {{MediaTheme|Vampires}}
 +
| Series          = ''[[King's Quest (universe)|King's Quest]]''
 +
| Distributions    = {{VideoGameDistribution|Commercial}}
 +
}}
  
'''''King's Quest II: Romancing the Throne''''' is a graphical adventure game developed and published by [[Sierra On-Line]] for the [[PCjr]] in 1985 and later ported to several other platforms. It is the second title in the [[King's Quest (universe)|''King's Quest'' series]] and uses the [[Adventure Game Interpreter]] engine. In the story, Graham, now the king of Daventry, laments his inability to find a bride, but his magic mirror shows him a beautiful woman in a far off land who he may rescue and marry.
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'''''King's Quest II: Romancing the Throne''''' is a [[graphic adventure]] [[puzzle video game]] developed and published by [[Sierra On-Line]] for the [[PCjr]] in May 1985 and later ported to several other platforms. It is the second title in the [[King's Quest (universe)|''King's Quest'' series]] and uses the [[Adventure Game Interpreter]] engine.
  
I didn't play KQ2 until 1997 when it was re-released in the [[King's Quest: Collection Series]]. I played it for awhile, but quickly got bored with it. Later, in my 30s I finally hunkered down and beat it. Over all, I found it to be the weakest of the series.
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In the story, Graham, now the king of Daventry, laments his inability to find a bride, but his magic mirror shows him a beautiful woman in a far off land who he may rescue and marry.
  
==Status==
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==Personal==
I own a digital release of the game through Steam. I have beaten it, but not with a full score.
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{{VideoGameStatus
 +
| Own      = Yes. MS-DOS port on Steam.
 +
| CantOwn  =
 +
| Won      = Yes, 175 out of 185 points.
 +
| CantWin  =
 +
| Finished = 2007-04-15.
 +
}}
 +
 
 +
I didn't play KQ2 until 1997 when it was re-released in the ''[[King's Quest: Collection Series]]''. I played it for awhile, but quickly got bored with it. Later, I finally hunkered down and beat it. Over all, I found it to be the weakest game in the series.
  
 
==Review==
 
==Review==
* '''Overall:''' 3/10
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{{Video Game Review|3|3|3|3|2|DOS (AGI Interactive Remake)}}
* '''Best Version:''' AGI Interactive remake.
 
  
 
{{Spoilers}}
 
{{Spoilers}}
Line 23: Line 45:
 
* There are far too many ways to die!
 
* There are far too many ways to die!
 
* The story doesn't make any sense. If Graham is a king, why didn't he bring his army with him rather than show up on the shores of Kolyma alone and empty-handed? And suppose the woman didn't want to marry someone just because he rescued her? And why did the witch imprison her in the first place?
 
* The story doesn't make any sense. If Graham is a king, why didn't he bring his army with him rather than show up on the shores of Kolyma alone and empty-handed? And suppose the woman didn't want to marry someone just because he rescued her? And why did the witch imprison her in the first place?
* I didn't like the idea of collecting treasures simply for the sake of points. And why does Kolyma have so much jewelry in strange places?
+
* I didn't like the idea of collecting treasures simply for the sake of points. And why does Kolyma have so much jewelry littered about in strange places?
 
* It doesn't make sense for rooms to randomly become re-occupied each time you enter them. You can enter a house and see a wolf, then walk out and back in and grandma will be there. This random occupancy was used in several future King's Quest games as well.
 
* It doesn't make sense for rooms to randomly become re-occupied each time you enter them. You can enter a house and see a wolf, then walk out and back in and grandma will be there. This random occupancy was used in several future King's Quest games as well.
 
* The wrap-around world layout is dumb. It basically means the world is a tiny torus floating in space.
 
* The wrap-around world layout is dumb. It basically means the world is a tiny torus floating in space.
Line 45: Line 67:
 
King's Quest II - Romancing the Throne - Europe - Manual.pdf|European manual.
 
King's Quest II - Romancing the Throne - Europe - Manual.pdf|European manual.
 
King's Quest II - Hint Book.pdf|Hint book.
 
King's Quest II - Hint Book.pdf|Hint book.
 +
Official Book of King's Quest, The - Paperback - USA - 1st Edition.jpg|''[[The Official Book of King's Quest]]''
 
</gallery>
 
</gallery>
  
Line 59: Line 82:
  
 
===Videos===
 
===Videos===
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KRTvEA_vc5k youtube.com/watch?v=KRTvEA_vc5k] - PushingUpRoses review.
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{{YouTube|KRTvEA_vc5k|Review - PushingUpRoses.}}
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_jjUaeG9YTw youtube.com/watch?v=_jjUaeG9YTw] - Longplay, DOS.
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{{YouTube|_jjUaeG9YTw|Longplay - MS-DOS.}}
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KaTN6hNWsKQ youtube.com/watch?v=KaTN6hNWsKQ] - Longplay, Amiga.
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{{YouTube|KaTN6hNWsKQ|Longplay - Amiga.}}
 +
 
 +
==Play Online==
 +
{{PlayOnline|https://classicreload.com/kings-quest-ii-romancing-the-throne.html|MS-DOS}}
 +
 
 +
==Representation==
 +
{{Representation
 +
| Media                      = Video games
 +
| StrongFemaleCharacterStatus = Fail
 +
| StrongFemaleCharacterNotes  = There are a few women, but they're ancillary characters.
 +
| BechdelTestStatus          = Fail
 +
| BechdelTestNotes            = The women never talk to each other.
 +
| StrongPOCCharacterStatus    = Fail
 +
| StrongPOCCharacterNotes    = Everyone is white.
 +
| QueerCharacterStatus        = Fail
 +
| QueerCharacterNotes        = There are no queer characters.
 +
}}
  
 
==Download==
 
==Download==
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[[Category: Games]]
 
[[Category: Video Games]]
 
 
[[Category: Video Game Prime Order - Adventure, Strategy, Action]]
 
[[Category: Video Game Prime Order - Adventure, Strategy, Action]]
[[Category: Amiga Games]]
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[[Category: Game Mechanic - Unwinnable State]]
[[Category: Apple II Games]]
 
[[Category: Apple IIgs Games]]
 
[[Category: Atari ST Games]]
 
[[Category: DOS Games]]
 
[[Category: Macintosh Classic Games]]
 
[[Category: PC Booter Games]]
 
[[Category: PCjr Games]]
 
[[Category: Adventure]]
 
[[Category: Fantasy]]
 
 
[[Category: Trope - Damsel In Distress]]
 
[[Category: Trope - Damsel In Distress]]
[[Category: Games I've Beaten]]
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[[Category: Trope - Women As Reward]]
 
[[Category: Monochrome Graphics]]
 
[[Category: Monochrome Graphics]]
 
[[Category: 2-bit Color Graphics]]
 
[[Category: 2-bit Color Graphics]]
 
[[Category: 4-bit Color Graphics]]
 
[[Category: 4-bit Color Graphics]]

Latest revision as of 16:21, 7 March 2024

King's Quest II: Romancing the Throne

King's Quest II - PCJR - USA.jpg

PCjr - USA - 1st edition.

Developer Sierra On-Line
Publisher Sierra On-Line
Published 1985-05-??
Platforms Amiga, Apple II, Apple IIgs, Atari ST, DOS, Macintosh Classic, PC Booter, PCjr
Genres Adventure, Graphic adventure, Passive puzzle, Puzzle
Themes Adventure, Cartoon, Fantasy, Vampires
Series King's Quest
Distribution Commercial

King's Quest II: Romancing the Throne is a graphic adventure puzzle video game developed and published by Sierra On-Line for the PCjr in May 1985 and later ported to several other platforms. It is the second title in the King's Quest series and uses the Adventure Game Interpreter engine.

In the story, Graham, now the king of Daventry, laments his inability to find a bride, but his magic mirror shows him a beautiful woman in a far off land who he may rescue and marry.

Personal

Own?Yes. MS-DOS port on Steam.
Won?Yes, 175 out of 185 points.
Finished2007-04-15.

I didn't play KQ2 until 1997 when it was re-released in the King's Quest: Collection Series. I played it for awhile, but quickly got bored with it. Later, I finally hunkered down and beat it. Over all, I found it to be the weakest game in the series.

Review

Video Game Review Icon - Enjoyment.png Video Game Review Icon - Control.png Video Game Review Icon - Appearance.png Video Game Review Icon - Sound.png Video Game Review Icon - Replayability.png
3 3 3 3 2

Best Version: DOS (AGI Interactive Remake)

— This section contains spoilers! —

Good

  • The graphic art, animation, and music all see a decent amount of improvement over the first game.
  • The art was more impressive than anything console games were capable of at the time.
  • Some of the jokes are pretty funny.
  • I like that the keys for swimming, ducking, and jumping have been removed; they were annoying to work with.

Bad

  • There are far too many ways to die!
  • The story doesn't make any sense. If Graham is a king, why didn't he bring his army with him rather than show up on the shores of Kolyma alone and empty-handed? And suppose the woman didn't want to marry someone just because he rescued her? And why did the witch imprison her in the first place?
  • I didn't like the idea of collecting treasures simply for the sake of points. And why does Kolyma have so much jewelry littered about in strange places?
  • It doesn't make sense for rooms to randomly become re-occupied each time you enter them. You can enter a house and see a wolf, then walk out and back in and grandma will be there. This random occupancy was used in several future King's Quest games as well.
  • The wrap-around world layout is dumb. It basically means the world is a tiny torus floating in space.
  • Several graphics and sounds are reused from the first game.
  • Because your score increases each time you cross the bridge, it's pretty obvious, but any unnecessary crossings put the game in an unwinnable state which is kind of annoying.
  • Some of the art is pretty bad, like the stairs in the final tower. And why is everything giant-sized in Dracula's castle?

Ugly

  • Like the first game, too many of the puzzles are stupid walking hazards. Is Graham so inept that he blindly walks off cliffs and steps off ladders? This just slows the game down.

Media

Box Art

Documentation

Maps

Videos

Review - PushingUpRoses.
Longplay - MS-DOS.
Longplay - Amiga.

Play Online

MS-DOS

Representation

Strong female character?FailThere are a few women, but they're ancillary characters.
Bechdel test?FailThe women never talk to each other.
Strong person of color character?FailEveryone is white.
Queer character?FailThere are no queer characters.

Download

A non-playable demo of King's Quest II is showcased in Sierra AGI Demo 4.

Links

Link-MobyGames.png  Link-Wikipedia.png  Link-StrategyWiki.png  Link-VGMPF.png  Link-TCRF.png