King's Quest III (Interaction Magazine)

king's Quest III

by Gano Haine Game Designer

Ideally an adventure game provides .1 series ol delighti as the

player explores and solves its puzzles. It's like the- crepe paper

surprise balls we used to buy as kids. A beautiful, wound

head of a prince, a king, an evil wizard is unraveled

slowly. Along the way, we find a trinket or two hidden in

the folds of the streamers. At the end we fall into a treasure

trove of children's baubles.

Ot all the early games I've played, the game that gives me

this experience in its most perfect form is Kind's Quest III:

In lien is Human. The care and attention in its crafting, us

classic fairy tale plot ot hidden identity and servitude to an evil

■ wizard is gripping. As dwydion, I awaken in the kingdom of

■ Llewdor to a life of slavery. The demands of an evil wizard are

so petty and continual that I seldom have a

chance to sleep in my mean little bedroom

ihmmm, what about those dishes and that

laundry that I left on the stairs so I could play this

game). How I struggle to escape the evil

Manannan! But he appears when I least expect it

and plunders all my magical booty. I discover his

secret spells and am too much for him. Soon he is

history! After all anyone who eats a cookie with

hairs sticking out, however well-disguised,

eserves what he gets.

And then I am on my way to discover my identity and perform

deeds of greatness (the dishes, the laundry can wait - after all, I'm

saving the world). Oh what bliss, after endless trudging through

the game world in games past, to have a magic map! Point, click,

be there!

We see a new generation of royalty emerge here: (■wydion/Alexandcr and Rosella, the twins of Oraham and Valanice. The universe ot Daventry expands, brimming with new possibilities. An old wrong is righted. The beauty and simplicity ot the fairy tale world are restored once more. And, of course, we insatiable KO tans are ready for King's Quest IV. Right away.

wouldn't give up |iist on the hope that the next one would be a charmer.