King's Quest V vs. King's Quest VI

[Cez]

Originally Posted by Cez

Actually....

Sorry for turning this back on you, but your statement is true but not exactly correctly worded.

The correct statement would be "KQ7 and KQ8 got the shaft because they weren't KQ5". KQ6, after all, is the perfected child of KQ5.

And by the way, what I'm trying to say in general is that people aren't stuck in KQ6.

They are stuck in the VGA period of Sierra. The golden years of 90-93. Then, everything changed, and games stopped having that same familiarity that ran across any and every Sierra game. People just weren't ready to give up that time period --it was too short lived and it was still too good to let it go. And they still aren't. When the systems that produced some 20 or more games that they had all played and enjoyed, changed on them, it was abrupt. Not to mention that the familiarity that was there, the collection of icons we all came to love, the classic Sierra interface was gone.

In 89-90 the same change happened, but the difference, and why people probably received it better, was because the change in the graphics was just simply ABYSMAL, and everyone was just too busy picking up their jaws to worry about the change of an interface they quickly came to love.

[Anakin Skywalker]

Originally Posted by Cez

Actually....

Sorry for turning this back on you, but your statement is true but not exactly correctly worded.

The correct statement would be "KQ7 and KQ8 got the shaft because they weren't KQ5". KQ6, after all, is the perfected child of KQ5.

I'm saying in the eyes of the masses, they got the shaft because they weren't KQ6 Part II and III. Not in my eyes.

[MusicallyInspired]

I actually felt that KQ2+ successfully combined both feels from KQ5 and KQ6.

[BagginsKQ]

I like both of these games (KQ5 and KQ6) pretty much equally, personally... KQ8, is a close third...

KQ2 is probably my favorite KQ game.

[Lambonius]

Originally Posted by MusicallyInspired

I actually felt that KQ2+ successfully combined both feels from KQ5 and KQ6.

I'm not sure I agree with this. I don't think any of AGDI's games managed to fully capture the feel of KQ5 and/or 6. KQ2+ was a very enjoyable game that certainly felt King's Questy, but the amateurish elements of some of its production values (particularly the terrible voice acting--with the exception of Josh Mandel--and the poorly drawn character closeups) always reminded me that what I was playing was a pale imitation of the original masterworks.

KQ3Redux comes closest, largely due to better production values overall, particularly in the music (which absolutely MAKES the game, in my opinion--kudos, MI), but inconsistent quality in some of the visuals and spotty voice acting still hold it back for me.

Now, I realize that KQ5 didn't have great voice acting either. But it was KQ5.

[MusicallyInspired]

I'm not talking on a quality level, merely a King's Quest-y adventures atmosphere level. In story approach and puzzle approach. And I don't think a lot of the voice acting was THAT bad.

And thank you.

[thom-22]

I like them both, but favor KQ5. When I think of all the things I love about KQ, KQ5 pulls them together better than KQ6, in a holistic way I can't really explain. I can certainly see why KQ6 is usually considered the better game; but on a personal, subjective level, somehow KQ5 comes out ahead.

For instance, one thing I always thought made KQ special is how there's always something different to surprise and delight you on (nearly) every screen. I thought KQ5 was the epitome of this, and its "delights" were my favorites along with those in KQ4. In KQ6, the landscape was thematically fragmented, so it was more coherent and the whimsical elements didn't come quite so unexpectedly or haphazardly. Maybe most KQ fans see that as a plus, but I don't.

I like deep, complex stories as much as the next adventure-gamer -- in most cases. I enjoyed KQ6's plot and I love the intricate stories in GK. But I would so much prefer to have KQ be an exception, to keep it as a simple fairy-tale where magical things happen for no apparent reason and motivations do not require detailed explanation.

[der_ketzer]

I guess it's just a question of personal taste. KQ5 wins for me. I love the "aweful" voice acting, as others may call it and prefer it over the boring voice acting in KQ6 any day. But that's just me.
Most people will say that Cedric is annoying but I think the bookstore-guy from KQ6 is a lot worse. And if I ever have to hear that "Alexander pulls out his magic map" line from that narrator again I'm going to punch my speakers.

[Lambonius]

Originally Posted by MusicallyInspired

I'm not talking on a quality level, merely a King's Quest-y adventures atmosphere level. In story approach and puzzle approach. And I don't think a lot of the voice acting was THAT bad.

And thank you.

Yeah, I suppose I was talking more production values wasn't I? But then, production values are such a big part of creating the atmospheric feel of a game.

Actually though, in terms of this "feel," I'd still say that KQ2+ feels different to me. At least, different from KQ5/6. Something about the fairly non-linear layout of the land of Kolyma and the amount of wandering you had to do back and forth through mostly forested locals always reminded me more of KQ1SCI than KQ5. The story elements are too convoluted to feel fully like KQ5, and honestly, too fan-fictiony (whatever that means) to feel like KQ6. As much as I prefer the tone of KQ5 to KQ6, there's no denying that KQ6 is a very tightly written tale. KQ2+'s story just doesn't feel quite as polished to me.

[Lambonius]

Originally Posted by thom-22

I like them both, but favor KQ5. When I think of all the things I love about KQ, KQ5 pulls them together better than KQ6, in a holistic way I can't really explain. I can certainly see why KQ6 is usually considered the better game; but on a personal, subjective level, somehow KQ5 comes out ahead.

For instance, one thing I always thought made KQ special is how there's always something different to surprise and delight you on (nearly) every screen. I thought KQ5 was the epitome of this, and its "delights" were my favorites along with those in KQ4. In KQ6, the landscape was thematically fragmented, so it was more coherent and the whimsical elements didn't come quite so unexpectedly or haphazardly. Maybe most KQ fans see that as a plus, but I don't.

I like deep, complex stories as much as the next adventure-gamer -- in most cases. I enjoyed KQ6's plot and I love the intricate stories in GK. But I would so much prefer to have KQ be an exception, to keep it as a simple fairy-tale where magical things happen for no apparent reason and motivations do not require detailed explanation.

This is a great post. I agree almost completely.

[GuybrushWilco]

I prefer King's Quest VI I think. I still believe KQV is a close second, and one of the best games of the genre, but KQ6 sticks out more in my memory. I remember being blown away as a kid, by the CGI introduction (Which doesn't look real great by today's standards). I think the game feels big and epic with its man types of locations and very nice graphics with good voice acting mostly. I'd agree that it does feel a little more more little kidsy than KQV though.

[MusicallyInspired]

Originally Posted by GuybrushWilco

I'd agree that it does feel a little more more little kidsy than KQV though.

Really? The general consensus would be the opposite.

[BagginsKQ]

Personally, I wouldn't say the voice acting in KQ6 was 'boring'... Not boring at all...

I wouldn't find the KQ5 voice acting 'boring' either...

[Chyron8472]

I have yet to play KQ5 without the voices. One might say that I'd been caught up in the fad to not like it overall, but the truth is really I do not like the animals' voice-acting at all in KQ5.

Also, when I first played KQ5, I got frustrated with getting lost in the maze under Mordack's castle (yes, yes... always walk right. but there's nothing to indicate that.) And I got stuck first time through without the cheese, same as Paw on his LP. It's one thing to forget River Styx water when the spellbook calls for it, but to miss picking up cheese from an inconspicuous hole when I need it to power a magic-transfer machine is just nonsensical. There's no hint anywhere that it would need that.

I like the characters of KQ6. I recall checking the bookstore frequently to see if Jollo would show up. I remember laughing with my neighbor as we watched the swamp-ooze-get and "magic smap" sequences. I also like the story, as it's easier to get invested in than KQ5.

The puzzles of KQ6 also make much more sense. If I ever couldn't figure something out and, impatiently, resorted to an FAQ/walkthru, I would feel stupid for not having tried that. Conversely, my reaction to looking up the solution to the cheese machine puzzle was "wth?!?"


...perhaps if I play KQ5 without the voices, I'll like it better.

[BagginsKQ]

Personally I like the original script for KQ5 over the ad-libbed cd voiceovers.

[MusicallyInspired]

I should say that I first played the EGA floppy version of KQ5 without voices when I was a kid. Therein lies my fondest memories.

[doggans]

Originally Posted by der_ketzer

Most people will say that Cedric is annoying but I think the bookstore-guy from KQ6 is a lot worse.

Dude, are you dissing Scooby-Doo/Droopy/Boo Boo Bear himself?

Originally Posted by der_ketzer

And if I ever have to hear that "Alexander pulls out his magic map" line from that narrator again I'm going to punch my speakers.

And now you're dissing Flint from GI Joe?!

That does it. You, my friend...are clearly not as obsessed with voice acting legends as I am. But if you say anything negative about Tony Jay, I'll write a MUCH more strongly-worded post! :P

[PimPamPet]

I prefer KQ5 purely because of nostalgia - it was the first King's Quest title I ever played. I just love the setting/atmosphere.

But I acknowledge that in terms of writing and design, KQ6 is way ahead of it. It's a lot more fleshed out and doesn't give you nearly as much grief for the tiniest of mistakes. If a non-fan of the series asks me which one to play first, this is the one I recommend.

About the voice-overs, never cared much for them in either game. KQ5 had some pretty bad ones, but KQ6 did too.

[der_ketzer]

Originally Posted by doggans

Dude, are you dissing Scooby-Doo/Droopy/Boo Boo Bear himself?

Yes.

Originally Posted by doggans

And now you're dissing Flint from GI Joe?!

Oh yes!

[doggans]

*sigh* No respect for the legends of the past.

//24 year old curmudgeon :P