New Direction is Best

[Sleeq]

First time poster here!

I'm now 31 and I've played almost all of Sierra's games since I was a kid (yes even Larry... we were cool back then... and how else do you think I learned how to play Blackjack!)

I loved every moment of these games and they really challenged the mind. They hold a special place in my heart.

However, we should get with the times.

King's Quest is a controversial series due to the loyal fanbase; I know it will be hard to please everyone. But I don't think going for a 2D classic game will cut it this time.

I think going for a 3D (please don't kill me) Mask of Eternity style'd game is the way to go, and adding more classic elements from the older games into it.

Think about it; a POLISHED free roam 3D game with classic item hunt and use mechanics with MINOR or REDUCED action sequences with a little more mature themes/humor would be pretty good if pulled off.

I don't want to feel nostalgic; if I want to I'll just replay the games. I want a new direction.

As far as puzzles, they should be challenging but fair. No dead-ends, but death sequences are ok (to provide a sense of urgency).

The best games this new generation for me were Demon's Souls & Dark Souls, simply because the mechanics of minimal plot, addictive combat, and challenge created a great formula. Every mistake you made was yours and you learned from it.

So putting this philosophy into the new game would surely be helpful.

Sorry for the long post!

[Anakin Skywalker]

Amen.

[BagginsKQ]

Be prepared to be jumped on by certain faction of long term board members...

[Lambonius]

I'd like to see Telltale's new King's Quest as a first-person-shooter.

[MusicallyInspired]

I'm torn. I liked MOE's approach. And I know I'm in the minority with that. I liked it's move into a new direction. I wish it would have incorporated more adventure-like puzzles and inventory. But I really liked the action element to it. I definitely thought it was a better game overall than KQ7 for sure. All evidence points to the fact that Telltale is trying to continue the "classic" King's Quest, though. And I just don't think that's possible, because of everyone's nostalgia. Will it continue from classic King's Quest, while trying to invoke Telltale's latest "cinematic" nonsense or will it actually move the franchise forward? Either can be bad case scenarios. We'll see.

[Lambonius]

In all seriousness though, Telltale is never in a million years going to make King's Quest: The 3D Action RPG. It's just not going to happen. Telltale doesn't make those kinds of games. Even Telltale's most crappy Dragon's Lair clone wouldn't qualify as an action game of any sort. They are all still technically point and click games. Now, I wouldn't call them adventure games, either, but that's another argument. And then of course, there's the other reason, which is that it's a truly terrible idea. You've named two examples (Demon's and Dark Souls--two of my favorite games this generation, too, by the way) that have absolutely no resemblance at all to King's Quest, not even to Mask of Eternity. Completely different types of games with completely different play mechanics, barring the fact that they are all in 3D. And then of course, you've got the fact that Telltale doesn't make original concept games. They revive well-known licenses and suck as much money as they can out of them by playing on fans' nostalgia before dropping them. That's their whole business model.

[Sleeq]

To clarify I don't mean the game should be a clone of DeS/DkS, rather just take the concept of urgency and challenge but being fair about it (no cheap shots yet no hand holding).

I would not be interested to play a 2D game; that is too old school and is basically fan service to please the few hardcore KQ fans.

The classic KQ games have not aged well either; I replayed KQ 2-6 in the last few months and there's so much cheese. MoE is not a perfect game yet the mature themes resonate more with me now than seeing Red Riding Hood or the 3 bears (again, call it blasphemy if you want but I'm not interested in children's fairy tales anymore).

I'm not gonna speculate what they will do as that's another topic... but I personally feel it would do more harm to recreate a classic... that's why they are classics in the first place. Leave them be the jewels they are and make a new game with the elements of the series as a guide.

A good recent example would be Castlevania: Lords of Shadow. Again, not a perfect game (it had some pacing issues and some annoying sequences), yet I really did enjoy it and I think Mercury Steam did a fine job. It's the best selling Castlevania and they are now doing TWO sequels (Mirrors of Fate and LoS 2).

I hope TTG can take this in consideration... make a reboot that is worthy enough to capture the hearts of the fans.

[Sleeq]

Also, if you think about it Graham is a knight; I don't see why it can't be a gritty adventure and he slays enemies with a sword. Why only with wits (or pies?!)

[Lambonius]

Originally Posted by Sleeq

Also, if you think about it Graham is a knight; I don't see why it can't be a gritty adventure and he slays enemies with a sword. Why only with wits (or pies?!)

Oy...there's that word again. "Gritty."

Sigh...I'll leave that one alone for now. I know Anakin likes dark and gritty stories--he can probably field that one.

Let me ask you this--would you also never go see a 2D animated movie? Is 2D animation also "too old school" for you?

And some food for thought: I would argue that any new gameplay direction would mean jack shit if Telltale couldn't first capture the tone that the series is known for. This is actually the one area where I have pretty solid confidence in them though--by far the least of my worries.

[MusicallyInspired]

Yeah, there's enough grit. I'm sick of it.

[Irishmile]

The big challenge in my opinion is that there isn't really a defining KQ game.. They are all different in some way or another... So you really can not make a game and say "YEP, NAILED IT!"

As for a you're suggestions I think one thing we CAN agree on when KQ was done right it was an adventure game... KQ doesnt need to be MoE turned Skyrim.. Its ok for it to be nostalgic and "outdated" the fans that want this game love the old games as they are.. otherwise you wouldn't have people making fan games in the same decades old style... It isn't broke in my opinion.. why fix it?

Will TTG make a great KQ game? I dunno.. I think they certainly have it in them, I think they will, but time will tell... I am looking forward to it.

[BagginsKQ]

"Gritty" makes me think of angsty melodrama like sandpaper on skin or fingers on a chalkboard...

I don't want another TSL, especially an official one...

[Lambonius]

I just think the very idea that it has to be in 3D to be worth playing is utterly ridiculous. I've seen some stunningly beautiful 2D games and movies in HD. I would absolutely relish a beautiful hand-painted HD King's Quest game in two dimensions. It would be fucking incredible.

Now, I'm fairly certain Telltale won't do the game in 2D, mainly because it's expensive and somewhat less efficient than skinning 3D characters and environments, and part of their episodic model is low costs and fast production times.

[MusicallyInspired]

However this ends, I won't be considering Telltale's KQ "official".

[Blackthorne519]

If you want something new, why do you want an old name like King's Quest on it?

Next effin' question.


Bt

[Chyron8472]

I thought The Whispered World was a beautiful game, and it was 2D.

[Sleeq]

Oy...there's that word again. "Gritty."

Oh I'm sorry... I didn't know it was such a hated word around here. I guess I have no choice but to accept that the next KQ will have you save Pocahontas and play pick the flowers with Snow White.

Is 2D animation also "too old school" for you?

It's not an interactive medium, therefore there is little that can be done to actually progress it other than visual technology.

If you want something new, why do you want an old name like King's Quest on it?

Why can't a series evolve with the times? You have some good results, GTA, Metal Gear, Castlevania... in fact, it's games that never try something new that I don't play anymore (JRPGs, Mario games, etc).

Why do you want to stay locked in the past? We might as well stick to the steam locomotive... it ran fine and it got you where you needed!

[Lambonius]

The problem is that you're not talking about the evolution of King's Quest as an adventure game series. You're talking about a fundamental transformation and calling it evolution. Frankly, Roberta was wrong when she tried it with MOE, which is why so many view it as more of a KQ spin-off than a core game that fits with the others.

[Sleeq]

I really don't see how you can evolve a series without taking some bold steps. This is why JRPGs are criticized and sales have dwindled; they rely on tired and cliche design with little to no evolution.

MoE was a bold step forward, however flawed it is.

[Chyron8472]

Yes, but it was the wrong step for the franchise. Different doesn't always mean good. Virtual reality used to be thought of as the next big thing, but we all know how that turned out. No one cares about VR anymore.

Again, I point out that there are 2D adventure games which came out recently that are beautiful and are very good games. If people complain about The Whispered World, they complain about the fake choice at the end or else the melancholy attitude of the protagonist, not the fact that it's 2D.


If you try to say that 3D games sell better, I would counter by saying that games that are marketed well sell better and that that is more important than being forced to use 3D.

I'm not saying KQ should or shouldn't use 3D (although 3D a la Sam & Max is better than 3D a la MoE). I'm saying it's not required to create a good game that people love and that sells well.


The reason why Mario and Zelda games are still popular, despite using a similar formula for all their respective games, is that while each game has changes to the gameplay, they don't make too many changes too quickly and keep to a familiar tone for the franchise. Mask of Eternity made a whole lot of changes to the gameplay all at once (eg. protagonist not in Royal Family; 3D; over-the-shoulder camera; emphasis on combat; etc.) to its detriment. If these changes were to be made successfully, they should have been more gradual in the franchise rather than changing a bunch of things all at once.