Difference between revisions of "King's Quest II: Romancing the Throne"
| (65 intermediate revisions by the same user not shown) | |||
| Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
| − | + | {{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 | + | '''''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. |
| − | + | 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== |
| − | I | + | {{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== | ||
| − | + | {{Video Game Review|3|3|3|3|2|DOS (AGI Interactive Remake)}} | |
| − | + | ||
| + | {{Spoilers}} | ||
===Good=== | ===Good=== | ||
| Line 16: | Line 40: | ||
* The art was more impressive than anything console games were capable of at the time. | * The art was more impressive than anything console games were capable of at the time. | ||
* Some of the jokes are pretty funny. | * Some of the jokes are pretty funny. | ||
| − | * I like that the keys for swimming, ducking, and jumping have been removed. | + | * I like that the keys for swimming, ducking, and jumping have been removed; they were annoying to work with. |
===Bad=== | ===Bad=== | ||
* 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. | + | * 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. | ||
* Several graphics and sounds are reused from the first game. | * 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 tower. And why is everything giant-sized in | + | * 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=== | ===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. | * 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. | ||
| − | ==Box Art== | + | ==Media== |
| + | ===Box Art=== | ||
<gallery> | <gallery> | ||
King's Quest II - PCJR - USA.jpg|This is the original box art for the PCjr release. It's pretty interesting, though Graham is awfully tanned, and he appears to be already in the New World, which doesn't fit the doors. | King's Quest II - PCJR - USA.jpg|This is the original box art for the PCjr release. It's pretty interesting, though Graham is awfully tanned, and he appears to be already in the New World, which doesn't fit the doors. | ||
| Line 37: | Line 62: | ||
</gallery> | </gallery> | ||
| − | ==Documentation== | + | ===Documentation=== |
<gallery> | <gallery> | ||
| − | King's Quest II - Manual.pdf| | + | King's Quest II - Romancing the Throne - USA - Manual.pdf|US 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> | ||
| − | ==Maps== | + | ===Maps=== |
<gallery> | <gallery> | ||
King's Quest II - DOS - Map - Kolyma.png|Map of Kolyma. | King's Quest II - DOS - Map - Kolyma.png|Map of Kolyma. | ||
| Line 53: | Line 80: | ||
King's Quest II - DOS - Map - Tower.png|Map of tower. | King's Quest II - DOS - Map - Tower.png|Map of tower. | ||
</gallery> | </gallery> | ||
| + | |||
| + | ===Videos=== | ||
| + | {{YouTube|KRTvEA_vc5k|Review - PushingUpRoses.}} | ||
| + | {{YouTube|_jjUaeG9YTw|Longplay - MS-DOS.}} | ||
| + | {{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== | ||
| + | A non-playable demo of ''King's Quest II'' is showcased in [[Sierra AGI Demos|Sierra AGI Demo]] 4. | ||
==Links== | ==Links== | ||
| − | + | {{Link|MobyGames|http://www.mobygames.com/game/kings-quest-ii-romancing-the-throne}} | |
| − | + | {{Link|Wikipedia|https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/King%27s_Quest_II}} | |
| − | + | {{Link|StrategyWiki|https://strategywiki.org/wiki/King%27s_Quest_II:_Romancing_the_Throne}} | |
| + | {{Link|VGMPF|2=http://www.vgmpf.com/Wiki/index.php?title=King%27s_Quest_II:_Romancing_the_Throne_(DOS)}} | ||
| + | {{Link|TCRF|https://tcrf.net/King%27s_Quest_II:_Romancing_the_Throne}} | ||
| − | [[Category: | + | [[Category: Video Game Prime Order - Adventure, Strategy, Action]] |
| − | [[Category: | + | [[Category: Game Mechanic - Unwinnable State]] |
| − | [[Category: | + | [[Category: Trope - Damsel In Distress]] |
| − | [[Category: | + | [[Category: Trope - Women As Reward]] |
| − | [[Category: | + | [[Category: Monochrome Graphics]] |
| − | [[Category: | + | [[Category: 2-bit Color Graphics]] |
| + | [[Category: 4-bit Color Graphics]] | ||
Latest revision as of 16:21, 7 March 2024
| King's Quest II: Romancing the Throne | ||||||||||||||||
|
PCjr - USA - 1st edition. |
||||||||||||||||
|
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.
Contents
Personal
| Own? | Yes. MS-DOS port on Steam. |
|---|---|
| Won? | Yes, 175 out of 185 points. |
| 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
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
| 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
This is the original box art for the PCjr release. It's pretty interesting, though Graham is awfully tanned, and he appears to be already in the New World, which doesn't fit the doors.
The tan background release was used on the later ports to match the new King's Quest look. I prefer the background over the gray gradient of the original, but I like the original lettering more.
Documentation
US manual.
European manual.
Hint book.
Maps
Map of Kolyma.
Map of the dwarf's house.
Map of underwater.
Map of the mountain top.
Map of the castle.
Map of the New World.
Map of tower.
Videos
Play Online
Representation
| Strong female character? | Fail | There are a few women, but they're ancillary characters. |
|---|---|---|
| Bechdel test? | Fail | The women never talk to each other. |
| Strong person of color character? | Fail | Everyone is white. |
| Queer character? | Fail | There are no queer characters. |
Download
A non-playable demo of King's Quest II is showcased in Sierra AGI Demo 4.
Links
Categories:
- Video Games
- 1985 Video Games
- Video games developed by Sierra On-Line
- Video games published by Sierra On-Line
- Amiga Games
- Apple II Games
- Apple IIgs Games
- Atari ST Games
- DOS Games
- Macintosh Classic Games
- PC Booter Games
- PCjr Games
- Video Game Genre - Adventure
- Video Game Genre - Graphic adventure
- Video Game Genre - Passive puzzle
- Video Game Genre - Puzzle
- Media Theme - Adventure
- Media Theme - Cartoon
- Media Theme - Fantasy
- Media Theme - Vampires
- Software Distribution Model - Commercial
- Video Games I Own
- Video Games I've Beaten
- Video Game Rating - 3
- Video Game Graphics Rating - 3
- Video Game Sound Rating - 3
- Video games which can be played online
- Video games without a strong female character
- Video games that fail the Bechdel test
- Video games without a strong person of color character
- Video games without a queer character
- Video Game Prime Order - Adventure, Strategy, Action
- Game Mechanic - Unwinnable State
- Trope - Damsel In Distress
- Trope - Women As Reward
- Monochrome Graphics
- 2-bit Color Graphics
- 4-bit Color Graphics
