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Originally Posted by Daventry
I agree with you guys 100% that there's a fine line between having appropriate references vs. having way too many (e.g. excessive fan-service). But to be honest I'm more concerned about Telltale providing too little than too much (I'm not sure what to make of the term "reboot" or of some of the team's distaste for classic Sierra). I hope that there are at least some references to the previous games, be it in the form of recurring characters, the art, or even the music. Having none (e.g. creating an all-new fantasy game while using the KQ and Daventry name just to capitalize on profits) would be disrespectful to the KQ legacy and its fans. (I don't think Telltale would actually do this, but no one can say for certain, right?)
I think The Silver Lining is a prime example of how too many references can create a lose-lose situation. On one hand the excessive fan-service (the Green Isles, the recurring characters, etc., etc.), without-a-doubt alienates new players. But what's even more unfortunate is that all that fan-service doesn't equate to what I like to call the "King's Quest feeling." The game is far too serious and dramatic to be King's Quest. This is just an example, but Graham's intro monologue in the beginning of Episode III would never, ever happen in a real KQ game. Contrast this with King's Quest IV, which had very few references to the previous games (aside from the royal family), yet it still feels like KQ.
At the end of the day, what's most important to me is that Telltale re-creates the King's Quest feeling. Having a bit of fan-service is just one part of the overall puzzle.
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You are right. KQ4 did feel like a KQ game despite not having a lot of references. The same goes with the original KQ3.
I think the over-saturated references in TSL is a bad thing in some ways. For some players, the over use of references might lead to the player that the developers is trying to make the game be a lot like the original series without adding something new.
Just that it never made any sense on why Rosella's wedding is held in the Land of the Green Isles. I can see her and Edward visiting the place as their honeymoon, but I think it is more appropriate to have the wedding at the Kingdom that Rosella is going to rule over especially since none of the citizens from that realm doesn't have regular access to the land.
Perhaps the developers should have stuck with the original idea and have it as a birthday party instead.
Quest for Glory had lots of references in part 5. However, I think Sierra did a good job adding a lot of references without overdoing it. Sure, some of it was over-the-top like the homeless guy from part 1 becoming a banker in part. Though, if I remember correctly, he told the hero that he is moving to Shamaria (spell?) after you give him money in part 1. Unlike TSL, the game did not heavily focused on references from one particular game. Furthermore, I think QFG was consistent in using past preferences whereas KQ hardly used any - the KQ games heavily relied on all new adventures in foreign new lands whereas QFG relied on a large consistent storyline.