KING'S QUEST II
Sierra On-Line, Inc. 
P.O. Box 485
Coarsegold, CA 93414
(209) 683-6858
$49.95

Reviewed by Brad Kershaw

I used to be a member of the I-Hate-Adventure-Games Club until I met King's Quest
II, Romancing the Throne. This program is a breakthrough in game adventures. I say
"game adventures" instead of adventure games because King's Quest II is mostly
animation with a little typing thrown in.

The first thing I said when I saw this game was ..WOW.. And I didn't stop being
amazed. You never know what you might encounter just around the next bend. It
might be a beautiful beach or it might be an enemy stalking you.

You play the role of King Graham who must find three keys and free his loved one,
so that he may regain his rule over the land. Sounds easy? It isn't.

Your royal alter ego Is a little animated figure controlled by either keyboard or
joystick. You begin your journey on the beach with waves crashing against the
rocks in the background. Move King Graham to any edge of the screen and, seconds
later, the next picture screen loads in.

I still can't get over the graphics. The trees, buildings, lakes and ocean are all
dimensionally correct. In other words, you can walk into a tree head-on, or from
the sides, the back, or just walk around it. If you see a tree with a long branch
that extends off onto the right side of the monitor, you will see the rest of the
branch when you get to the next screen.

Each screen is colorful and detailed with a good feeling of atmosphere. I thought
there could be only a few screens on one 3 1/2-inch disk, but was I wrong! I
counted at least 35 screens on the first disk alone. And there are two disks to
the game.

As you travel about this strange land you may encounter other animated characters
--each with his, her, or its own personality. You might recognize some of the
characters from fairy tales and legends. And you will soon find out if they are
there to help or hinder you.

Wandering through the vast kingdom, you find treasures to offer your betrothed--if
you can locate her. You can search anything you see on any screen, from grass to
rocks. You may find items to trade with other characters, or items useful for
self-defense.

And when I say self-defense, I don't mean you use these items to fight other
characters. King's Quest II is probably the least violent adventure game I have
seen. I would rate it "G" for general players (families with younger children).

The story itself is very well laid out. It's obvious that a lot of thought was
given to how the screens would fit together and how the characters would interact.
The characters you will meet are delightful. Each one has a different facial
expression and can move about as freely as you. And you will find yourself freely
running from a few of them.

If all adventures could be this enjoyable and visually stimulating, I would have
been an adventure game freak long ago. I found myself up until the wee morning
hours, with just the monitor lighting, the room, laughing and smiling at a new
sequence I had discovered. Then I realized I was afraid I would complete my quest,
and I didn't want it to end.

I read somewhere that Sierra On-Line is working with Walt Disney Studios on a
Black Cauldron game. I guarantee that when it becomes available for the ST, --the
guy who hated adventures will be first in line, checkbook in hand.

Source: ANTIC VOL. 5, NO. 1 / MAY 1986 / PAGE 81