Quest for Glory is a must-own classic game series! Part Point and Click Adventure game part RPG, this series has it all. Great storylines, interesting characters, humor, romance, battles, magic, puzzles... Since this is a collection of 5 games I'll address each of the games.


Quest For Glory (I): So You Want To Be a Hero

This collection contains the original as well as the remake. The original EGA version isn't a true point & click, it's older than that. You actually have to type in what you want to do such as "look at..." "ask about..." "use..." It can be a lot of fun and challenging because while you might be thinking the right thing if you don't say it in the language the game is using with it's more limited vocabulary you won't get very far.

The graphics although great for their time are not particularly good now. If you played this in your youth like I did it can be pretty nostalgic to see and use this old interface and graphics. If not you probably would prefer the VGA remake. The graphics, sound, and interface are a huge improvement and pretty good looking for pixel graphics even today. The remake is a true point and click no typing required. This is one of the shortest games in the series but still very fun and reasonable in length especially considering how old it is.

To start out you will choose what you want to play as. Your choices are Fighter, Magic User, and Thief. After deciding what class you want to play you'll be given a chance to edit your stats/skills by adding up to 50 points in various areas such as strength, intelligence, luck, etc... if you've ever played D&D or a typical RPG you'll probably be familiar with this kind of thing and if not it's super easy to do. You'll be able to build any skill that is above zero throughout the game. At the end of each game you can save your character to import into the next game.

This game takes place in the fictional Barony of Spielburg which seems to have a lot of European and Germanic cultural influences on story and setting. You also meet Baba Yaga who doesn't fit in with that theme as well. You will also meet a couple of cat people from a foreign desert land of Shapier. They are Middle Eastern themed characters. Several of the characters in this game will reappear in other games of the series from time to time. The area to explore is relatively small but feels big enough. Your goal is to lift Baba Yaga's curse on the Baron so his family can return and peace can return to the land.


Quest For Glory II: Trial By Fire

This collection only contains the original official version of the game. QFG2 was never given a VGA remake by sierra. It also is a text based game where you will need to type commands. The graphics are better than QFG1 but for all but the most retro of gamers will probably be a let down. However, for all of it's downfalls this is one of my personal favorites. It's one of their best stories, great characters, interesting challenges. I highly reccomend giving it a chance in it's original form but if that's the only thing holding you back from enjoying QFG2 then you could always download the free to play sVGA fan remake by AGD ADG Interactive | Quest for Glory II: Trial By Fire [www.agdinteractive.com]. Seriously though attempt the original first.

QFG2 Takes place in the fictional land of Shapier which is heavily based on Middle Eastern themes though highly Orientalist, stereotypical harem/Arabian Nights fantasy. In this installment you must save the land of Shapier and it's sister city Rasier from elementals who are wreaking havok in the land and ultimately you must defeat the evil wizard Adis Ababa before unleashes Iblees.

You don't have to have played QFG1 to play this but if you did you can import your character with all your skills, stats, and spells intact. If not you will be given the opportunity to create a character and choose a class (fighter, magic user, thief) and then you will be given points that you can spend to increase certain stats/skills before starting. At the end you will also have the opportunity to save your character to import into the next game.


Quest For Glory III: Wages of War

QFG3 Takes place in the fictional land of Tarna which is loosely based on a mix of North African and Central African cultures and stories. There are Arab like characters as well as African like characters as well as lion people and leopard people. There are some clearly Ancient Egyptian influences as well as African Tribal influences. In some ways this is probably their most culturally offensive game there's actually quite a few stereotypes and racial undertones but it's still a really fun game to play as long as you can look past that. In this installment you must stop a war between the Simbani Tribe and the Leopardmen who are being pitted against each other by unknown forces.

The battles are slightly different in this game compared to QFG1 and QFG2 but easy to get a handle on. This game also has a haggling system. So you can actually bargain down prices in the market for things you want/need which is something none of the other games have (at least till QFG5). The story line isn't as strong as QFG2 but it's still good. It makes up for it with large areas to explore and lots of humor. Most of the games you explore one screen at a time but when you leave the city you will actually walk around a map which takes time to cross and will generate random screens where you stop that may have an encounter or other item of interest.


Quest For Glory IV: Shadows of Darkness

QFG4 is also really fun. It takes place in the fictional land of Mordavia which is based on Eastern European and Russian culture and stories. The storyline in this game is really strong wit lots of interesting characters and quests. It's a little darker than the others with dark cults, evil beings, undead, vampires, wolves, drowned maidens and even a return of our old "friend" Baba Yaga.

In this game you've been summoned to Mordavia for an unknown purpose and the valley is blocked so you cannot leave. You must find the Dark One and stop them from summoning eternal darkness... all while making friends with domovoi, ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥, witches, suspicious townsfolk, and Mad Scientist Doctors.

This game has voice as well as text for character interactions and the voice acting and sound quality is generally very good. The soundtrack is also really good! Like all of the games there is a lot of humor. This is another of my personal favorites in the series.


Quest For Glory V: Dragon Fire

This is the final conclusion in the series... I know, heartbreaking! Unlike the other games this one is no longer a 2D adventure game but a 3D one. It's perhaps a little dated looking now, the movements are choppy sometimes, walkpaths are sometimes wonky but overall it was better than I had expected it to be (after my very disappointing experience with Sierra's attempt at 3D in King's Quest 8: Mask of Eternity). The soundtrack is spectacular! This game has a lot of the familiar elements of the series but feels very different to me. I still really enjoyed playing it but theres a sort of disconnect between it & the other games.

You'll see a return of many characters from the series including Elsa from QFG1, Ferrari, Nawar, and Budar from QFG2. You'll finally get to interact with Erana too! Our old friend Erasmus and his mouse Fenris are back too. We also get to meet another Mad Scientist/Doctor who has a bit of a Dr. Jeckyl & Mr. Hyde thing going for him. This installment in the series takes place in the fictional land of Silmaria which is based largely on Greek and Roman culture and stories. You must help Erasmus discover who has murdered the King by participating in the Rights of Rulership. You will have a chance to be king and choose a wife.