How could I make a top five adventure games list and leave out the game that virtually gave birth to the genre. I still remember going to my local library when I was about 5 or 6 and seeing some kids playing it on one of those old Apple II computers. I was so amazed by the bright and vivid graphics; the 16 colors (hey it was a lot back then all right?) on the screen really jumped out and caught my attention. I knew I just had to play it so I asked for it that Christmas and played it on my old 386.
I was treated to perhaps one of the most beautifully told stories of our time. Everything in the land of Daventry had this truly fantasy and grandeur appeal to it, perfect for the fantasy-minded Tolkien reading individual. Though the game hasn’t aged very well, the tale still manages to be one of the best that I have ever had the opportunity to partake in.
Although there were seven true entries in the series, my favorite had to be the 6th. Although the fifth installment came on CD-rom and 3 ½ inch disks, King’s Quest 6 was the first one to come solely on a CD-rom. Subtitled Heir Today, Gone Tomorrow the title was not only a clever play on words, but also a great inkling of just what the storyline had in store for the gamer. Sure some of the puzzles in the game were absurd and insanely difficult, but the epic tale that unfolded was well worth the trouble.
If you’ve ever wanted to know what the adventure genre is about, I suggest you try and hunt this title down. Adventure gaming is about eye-popping graphics or ear shattering sound, it’s about a storyline that grips you and sends your emotions through a blender. This is adventure gaming at its very core and we have the Williams’ to thank for it. Make no mistake about it; Roberta Williams has this ability to tell a story that somehow finds its way not only into your minds, but also your hearts. I admit it, I openly wept a few times throughout my experiences with the King’s Quest series. The first time I played through the games, and the moment that I realized that series was no more.
Random Babblings: Top 5 Adventure Games of All Time
