SamNMax
08-06-2004, 02:35 PM
In the 80s, Sierra were the official adventure giants of the gaming industry. And for good reason. No other adventure company could touch them with Sierra's lineup of game series'. King's Quest, Police Quest, Leisure Suit Larry, ect. All shaped Sierra into the mammoth company. But there was one game that stood out and needed a sequel: Space Quest. This game was a big hit, but it hadn't had a second installment. Even in a three year period. Therefore, Sierra went to work with Space Quest ][: Vohaul's Revenge. Sequels are either hits, or flops. So, what was Space Quest ][?
Here's my review of Space Quest ][: Vohaul's Revenge.
Story: Space Quest I was a hit because of it's very humorous and original story. Luckily, SQ2's humor still holds up, but its originality, though still good, has run a bit dry.
As you will recall in our last chapter, Roger had just foiled the Sariens fiendish plot to rule the galaxy by using the Star Generator as their weapon of destruction. He became a hero by saving countless lives and returning the Star Generator technology. His efforts were awarded with the Golden Mop, as a token of gratitude. He became a huge celebrity across the galaxy and a hero to millions. Fame, fortune, and glory soon flocked to him. He was no longer cleaning up, but rather movin' on up.
Life was beautiful...
But little did Wilco know, he was just a flavor of the month and soon his popularity grew thin. He's now years away from the fame he once achieved as his glamorous life had slowly faded. His memories and his golden mop are the only remains of the hero he once was... The promotion to head janitor was no consolidation (especially since he is the only member of the janitorial staff). Nor was the transfer to Orbital Station 4. Sweating in a pressure suit while mopping up unidentified alien goop in zero-gravity just wasn't Roger's idea of a good time.
Life sucks.... Again.
When entering a recently docked space shuttle that has landed in the station, Roger has been kidnapped by the evil Sludge Vohaul, the Sarien commander who is now seeking revenge (duh) on Roger Wilco for foiling his plot to rule the galaxy.
Instead of killing him, Vohaul has sent Roger to slave in the mines on the mad scientist's planet. Now, Roger must escape the planet, and destroy Vohaul and the Sarien army once and for all...
Again, this game is very funny. The great parodies and unique aliens will make the game very enjoyable. The only problem is that you play in one area in 80% of the game, making it a tad unoriginal. And like every early adventure game, SQ2 is short.
Story gets an 8/10
Graphics: I was a little disappointed to see that the graphics of SQ2 didn't advance from SQ1. Vohaul's Revenge came out a couple years after the first chapter of our beloved hero's tale (if I'm not mistaken). Through that time period, the visuals should have been spiced up. Though this doesn't take away graphical points... come on! Anyway, this game looks exactly like SQ1.
Graphics get an 8/10
http://www.thealmightyguru.com/Reviews/SpaceQuest/Images/SS-06.gif http://www.thealmightyguru.com/Reviews/SpaceQuest/Images/SS-15.gif http://www.thealmightyguru.com/Reviews/SpaceQuest/Images/SS-18.gif http://www.thealmightyguru.com/Reviews/SpaceQuest/Images/SS-33.gif
Sound/Music Nothin' to hear here. Once again, SQ2 should have broken away from the graphics and sound of SQ1. Just like the first installment, this game just has the SQ theme music and the same now famous "beep"s of the 1980s. SQ2 did have some nice death music, but that won't help Vohaul's Revenge from escaping the cold, icy hand of dated gaming.
Sound gets an ineffective 8/10
Gameplay: Ah. Sierra controls. The arrow keys for movement and the type-in command system is always fun... for certain people. Though the command system can be innovative, Lucasarts adventurers will be a bit pissed off. See, the system only lets you type in certain commands. For example: let's say you want to use your lighter to light the toilet paper on fire. The average Lucasfan will type "use lighter with toilet paper", when the correct command is "light paper". I can't beggin to count the times I got a message saying "I don't understand your request".
Again, SQ2 doesn't dissapiont SQ fans when it comes to humor. Just like in Sarien Encounter, you have your smartass narrorator man who cracks jokes and explain things. Though he alway seems to not understand your request, if he wasn't funny, this game would be very boring.
The puzzles are interesting and logical. I like that you have to hold your breath before diving under water and other things like this. Though once again, you'll be very annoyed with frequent deaths.
Also, I really don't like it when the game is set in only one area. I hate looking at the same colors and backrgounds of the jungle.
Nevertheless, gameplay gets an 8/10
So, all in all, this is a straight-8, enjoyable sequal that shouldn't be missed by Sierra fans. Even though Vohaul's Revenge has some cons and isn't as good as SQ1, it's still one of the better sequels.
I give Space Quest ][: Vohaul's Revenge an
8.7/10
I'd also like to take this time to announce that I am SURPRIME RULER OF THE READER REVIEWS!!!!!!!!! KNELL PEASENTS! BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!!!
Here's my review of Space Quest ][: Vohaul's Revenge.
Story: Space Quest I was a hit because of it's very humorous and original story. Luckily, SQ2's humor still holds up, but its originality, though still good, has run a bit dry.
As you will recall in our last chapter, Roger had just foiled the Sariens fiendish plot to rule the galaxy by using the Star Generator as their weapon of destruction. He became a hero by saving countless lives and returning the Star Generator technology. His efforts were awarded with the Golden Mop, as a token of gratitude. He became a huge celebrity across the galaxy and a hero to millions. Fame, fortune, and glory soon flocked to him. He was no longer cleaning up, but rather movin' on up.
Life was beautiful...
But little did Wilco know, he was just a flavor of the month and soon his popularity grew thin. He's now years away from the fame he once achieved as his glamorous life had slowly faded. His memories and his golden mop are the only remains of the hero he once was... The promotion to head janitor was no consolidation (especially since he is the only member of the janitorial staff). Nor was the transfer to Orbital Station 4. Sweating in a pressure suit while mopping up unidentified alien goop in zero-gravity just wasn't Roger's idea of a good time.
Life sucks.... Again.
When entering a recently docked space shuttle that has landed in the station, Roger has been kidnapped by the evil Sludge Vohaul, the Sarien commander who is now seeking revenge (duh) on Roger Wilco for foiling his plot to rule the galaxy.
Instead of killing him, Vohaul has sent Roger to slave in the mines on the mad scientist's planet. Now, Roger must escape the planet, and destroy Vohaul and the Sarien army once and for all...
Again, this game is very funny. The great parodies and unique aliens will make the game very enjoyable. The only problem is that you play in one area in 80% of the game, making it a tad unoriginal. And like every early adventure game, SQ2 is short.
Story gets an 8/10
Graphics: I was a little disappointed to see that the graphics of SQ2 didn't advance from SQ1. Vohaul's Revenge came out a couple years after the first chapter of our beloved hero's tale (if I'm not mistaken). Through that time period, the visuals should have been spiced up. Though this doesn't take away graphical points... come on! Anyway, this game looks exactly like SQ1.
Graphics get an 8/10
http://www.thealmightyguru.com/Reviews/SpaceQuest/Images/SS-06.gif http://www.thealmightyguru.com/Reviews/SpaceQuest/Images/SS-15.gif http://www.thealmightyguru.com/Reviews/SpaceQuest/Images/SS-18.gif http://www.thealmightyguru.com/Reviews/SpaceQuest/Images/SS-33.gif
Sound/Music Nothin' to hear here. Once again, SQ2 should have broken away from the graphics and sound of SQ1. Just like the first installment, this game just has the SQ theme music and the same now famous "beep"s of the 1980s. SQ2 did have some nice death music, but that won't help Vohaul's Revenge from escaping the cold, icy hand of dated gaming.
Sound gets an ineffective 8/10
Gameplay: Ah. Sierra controls. The arrow keys for movement and the type-in command system is always fun... for certain people. Though the command system can be innovative, Lucasarts adventurers will be a bit pissed off. See, the system only lets you type in certain commands. For example: let's say you want to use your lighter to light the toilet paper on fire. The average Lucasfan will type "use lighter with toilet paper", when the correct command is "light paper". I can't beggin to count the times I got a message saying "I don't understand your request".
Again, SQ2 doesn't dissapiont SQ fans when it comes to humor. Just like in Sarien Encounter, you have your smartass narrorator man who cracks jokes and explain things. Though he alway seems to not understand your request, if he wasn't funny, this game would be very boring.
The puzzles are interesting and logical. I like that you have to hold your breath before diving under water and other things like this. Though once again, you'll be very annoyed with frequent deaths.
Also, I really don't like it when the game is set in only one area. I hate looking at the same colors and backrgounds of the jungle.
Nevertheless, gameplay gets an 8/10
So, all in all, this is a straight-8, enjoyable sequal that shouldn't be missed by Sierra fans. Even though Vohaul's Revenge has some cons and isn't as good as SQ1, it's still one of the better sequels.
I give Space Quest ][: Vohaul's Revenge an
8.7/10
I'd also like to take this time to announce that I am SURPRIME RULER OF THE READER REVIEWS!!!!!!!!! KNELL PEASENTS! BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!!!