King's Quest
Go back to Sierra On-Line, Inc.
 King's Quest: Quest for the Crown
Type: Moving character graphics/Sound
Written 1984 (written 1983; rereleased 1987) by Roberta Williams.
Runs on:
Notes: This was originally a demonstration product for the PCjr,
commissioned by IBM, and also published and distributed by
them. The real original version was for PCjr only. This first
version had a manual written by IBM and came with a keyboard
overlay with a scene from the game on it that was designed for
the IBM "chicklet" keyboard. Since the PCjr wasn't a
blockbuster, neither was KQ, so Sierra also released separate
versions for Tandy and CGA. All three were booting and all
three versions used different kinds of copy protections. The
original version was either four (CGA) or 16 colors (EGA;
supported by the PCjr and Tandy versions).
 The game was later re-released for DOS, supporting
CGA/EGA/PCjr/Tandy. (and re-re-released later...).
It was the first adventure game to feature object blocking to
allow a moving character on screen to go behind and in front
of objects, thus creating Sierra's "3-D Animated Adventure".
An AGI IBM version came on one 5 1/4" disk and one 3 1/2"
disk. In 1984 the game was packaged in a grey box with a
plastic insert tray, in 1987 it was repackaged with a
slipcover gold case and a tan Sierra box. Both versions
include a 12 page parchment manual.
Comments: As Sir Graham, help King Edward recover the three lost
treasures of Daventry - a magic mirror, a treasure chest of
gold, and an enchanted shield, while meeting Rumplestiltskin,
the Leprechaun Kingdom, Goliath, and the witch from Hansel and
Gretel.
 King's Quest: Quest for the Crown (Enhanced Version)
Type: Moving character graphics/Music
Written 1989 by Roberta Williams.
Runs on:
Notes:
 This is the same game as the above, but with
improved graphics (but still only 16 colors).
A few puzzles changed slightly, like the location of the
pebbles and the name of Rumplestiltskin.
The Amiga version takes up four disks instead of the original
one.
The IBM version came on nine 5 1/4" disks, three 3 1/2" disks.
It was originally released in the same box as the 1987 version
of the original and with the same manual. A sticker was placed
on the box stating it had "enhanced graphics". Later
rereleased in its own box in the post-1990 type Sierra
slipcovers.
Comments: Not an improvement over the original version.
 King's Quest II: Romancing the Throne
Type: Moving character graphics/Music
Written 1985 by Roberta Williams and Annette Childs [story].
Runs on:
Notes: 16 color graphics in AGI. The IBM version came on two 5 1/4"
disks and one 3 1/2" disk and features a 12 page parchment
manual. It was released in 1985 in a grey box with a plastic
insert tray and repackaged in 1987 with a gold slipcover and a
tan Sierra box.
Comments: Sir Graham, who is now king, searches the land of Kolyma for
the keys to unlock the three doors that will lead him to the
maiden Valanice, held captive in a tower. Along the way, he
meets King Neptune, Little Red Riding Hood, Count Dracula, and
of course, Batman.
 King's Quest III: To Heir is Human
Type: Moving character graphics/Music
Written 1986 by Roberta Williams, Annette Childs [story], Al Lowe [programming], Bob Heitman [programming] and Bob Kernaghan [programming].
Runs on:
Notes: This is the first game in the series to feature spell casting.
16 color graphics.
In 1986 it was packaged in a grey box with a plastic insert
tray. In 1987 it was repackaged in a gold slipcover case with
a tan Sierra box. The IBM version is on three 5 1/4" disks and
two 3 1/2" disks. It includes a 16 page parchment manual
featuring the recipes for 7 spells.
Comments: As Gwydion, discover your true identity and find a way to
escape captivity by the evil wizard Manannan. You must also
save the land of Daventry from the ravages of an evil dragon
while meeting Medusa, the three bears, pirates, and the
abominable snowman.
 King's Quest IV: The Perils of Rosella
Type: Moving character graphics/Music
Written 1988 by Roberta Williams and William Goldstein [music].
Runs on:
Notes: 16 color graphics with professionally composed midi music.
Supports mouse and sound card.
King's Quest IV exists in two versions released
simultaneously, one using the old AGI game system and another
which is Sierra's first release in SCI (higher resolution than
KQ III). Sierra were afraid that the SCI version wouldn't run
on many computers, but it turned out that almost everyone
bought the SCI version so the AGI version was cancelled
quickly.
It includes a 23 page parchment manual. The IBM version comes
on eight 5 1/4" disks and four 3 1/2" disks. It was rereleased
in 1989 with different cover artwork and a slighly revised
manual.
Comments: Princess Rosella, daughter of Graham and Valanice, travels to
the land of Tamir in search of the magic fruit that will ail
her dying father and the talisman that will restore the fairy
Genesta's power. Along the way, meet the Seven Dwarves, Cupid,
the Frog Prince and Pan before your final battle with the evil
Lolotte.
 King's Quest V: Absence Makes the Heart go Yonder!
Type: Moving character graphics/Music
Written 1990 (around 1991 on CD) by Roberta Williams.
Runs on:
Notes:
 16 color graphics on disk, 256 color graphics on
disk, 256 color graphics on CD. The IBM disk version in 16 colors
contains six 5 1/4" disks and ten 3 1/2" disks. The IBM CD on
one CD-rom with a redesigned box.
This is Sierra's first game with 256 color graphics and their
first using the now familiar icon system which is also
employed in KQ VI. It contains a 36 page manual featuring
symbols to cast spells.
Comments: King Graham and new sidekick, Cedrick the talking (and
annoying) owl, travel the land of Serenia looking for the evil
wizard Mordack who has kidnapped Graham's family and his
castle. Meet a talking willow, gypsies, the Yeti, and the Ice
Queen on your way to find them.
 King's Quest VI: Heir Today, Gone Tomorrow
Type: Moving character graphics/Music
Written 1992 (1993 on CD) by Revolutions Software, Roberta Williams and Jane Jensen.
Runs on:
Notes: The IBM floppy version comes on eleven 5 1/4" disks and
features a short opening sequence with spoken dialogue. The
IBM CD-rom version comes on one CD and features an elongated
opening sequence and revoiced dialogue. Voice work by Robby
Benson as Alexander. Both versions are done in 256 colors. The
disk version contains a 52 page parchment manual, Guidebook to
the Land of the Green Isles. The CD version contains a 32 page
manual, Guidebook to the Land of the Green Isles, and a 16
page technical manual (both in jewel case). The Game is icon
based, like KQ V and features some spells like KQ III and V.
It was simultaneously released in three different slipcover case
boxes - in red, blue and white. It features "The Girl in the
Tower" theme song, composed by Mark Seibert opening cartoon by
Kronos. It is also available in German.
Comments: Prince Alexander of Daventry traverses to the four lands of
the Green Isles - Isle of the Crown, Isle of the Beast, Isle
of Wonder and Isle of the Sacred Mountain in search of
Cassima, the girl in the tower he sees in the magic mirror.
Meet Beauty and the Beast, the Winged Ones, a talking garden,
and an evil genie as you try to rescue her.
 King's Quest VII: The Princeless Bride
Type: Moving character graphics/Music
Written 1994 by Roberta Williams and Lorelei Shannon.
Runs on:
Notes: Released 1994 on CD for Windows 3.1 only. Rereleased around
1995 on CD for Windows and DOS (PC version) with a new box.
The IBM version is on one CD and contains a 16-page manual in
jewel case.
Contains a universally hated simplified icon system - that is,
one icon that lights up, telling you you're supposed to do
something at that part of the screen. What fun. The only
improvement over VI is the higher resolution, which doesn't
necessarily make the graphics look any better.
Comments: Sappy Saturday morning cartoon fluff brings the King's Quest
series to a grinding halt as Rosella and Valanice get
separated and search for each other. In their journeys, they
encounter the Troll Kingdom, the strange town of Falderal and
the evil Malicia, who you might recognise as Cruella when she
was in Disney's 101 Dalmatians (Disney should sue).
 King's Quest VIII: Mask of Eternity
Type: 3D
Written 1998 by Roberta Williams.
Runs on:
Notes: This comes on one CD. Package contains an instruction bookled
and a quick reference card.
Comments: This is a mix of adventure and role-playing game with combat
sequences.
 King's Quest 15th Anniversary Collector's Edition
Written 1994.
Notes: Contains KQ1 (both the old and the enhanced version), KQ 2-4,
KQ 5 (English and French), KQ 6 (English and German), and a
preview of KQ 7.
 King's Quest Collection Series
Written 1997 or 1998.
Notes: Collection contains the games King's Quest 1-7, the two Laura
Bow games and Mixed-Up Mother goose.
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