Quest for Glory I: So You Want To Be A Hero

Posted by Don Rayner.
First posted on 21 October 1997. Last updated on 12 August 2012.
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Quest for Glory I: So You Want To Be A Hero
So you want to be a hero?
Quest for Glory I: So You Want To Be A Hero
The valley of Spielburg is a place of peace.
Quest for Glory I: So You Want To Be A Hero
The dramatic difference in the remake is best seen in these screenshots of an identical location, comparing the 16-color EGA screen in the Original version and the 256-color VGA screen in the Revised version.
Quest for Glory I: So You Want To Be A Hero
The dramatic difference in the remake is best seen in these screenshots of an identical location, comparing the 16-color EGA screen in the Original version and the 256-color VGA screen in the Revised version.
Quest for Glory I: So You Want To Be A Hero
The quest for glory begins here!

The Quest for Glory series has been one of the least recognized adventure game series made by Sierra On-Line. The series differ from all other series in that it is the only one that incorporates significant role-playing elements. The first game of this series, Quest for Glory I: So You Want To Be A Hero, begins with the journey of a newly graduated hero in search of fame and glory. Here in Spielburg Valley is where the adventure begins!

As a recent graduate of the Famous Adventurers' Correspondence School for Heroes in search of fame and fortune, the hero finds himself at the in the idyllic Spielburg Valley at the gates of the village. As a burly fighter trained in the ways of weapons, a mystic mage skilled in the use of potent spells, or a wily thief with a mastery of stealth, the hero soon discovers he has wrongs to right. The hero must begin by lifting the curse laid upon the Baron Stefan von Spielburg by Baba Yaga, an old witch who lives in a chicken legged hut in the forest. The hero then must put an end to the group of brigands who have been terrorizing the village, and drive out the monsters from the Valley. Along the way the hero will fight dangerous monsters and meet a cast of strange and interesting characters—including Sheriff Meistersson, Otto von Goon, the Meeps, Fairies, 'Enry the 'Ermit, the eccentric wizard Erasmus and his familiar Fenrus the rat, the Baron's long lost children, the head of Spielburg's crime syndicate, and the bandits with their leader. Only when the hero completes the treacherous journey will the hero confronts the mighty Baba Yaga.

The original version of the game is released in 1989 with the series name Hero's Quest. The name is changed shortly to Quest for Glory so as not to be confused with the Milton Bradley's board game HeroQuest. The original version is a technological marvel for the time of its release. It has stunning EGA graphics, high quality Adlib music and sound effects, and a functional text parser. The hybrid adventure & role-playing elements attracts a new breed of gamers and heralds the invent of mixed genre gaming. The revised version is released in 1992. It adds VGA graphics, full mouse control, a revamped conversation system, an updated combat engine, and better sound effects. These additions make an already enjoyable game even better. While the revised version plays almost identical to the original version, except for a few minor changes, most purists prefer the original version "simply because".

In this remake, control involves an intuitive system that directs the character to look at, pick up, and even run away within the environment. The inventory system works by having the items displayed as pictures. A simple mouse click is all that is needed to examine or use them. Magic is controlled in a similar way, with the ability to examine how skilled you are at each individual spell. Rations are carried around for daily food consumption. Game time runs on a day-night cycle, interacting with different characters and doing different tasks at different times. Conversations are handled using a topic list. When talking to a person, a close-up of their face will appear, along with a list of things to discuss. You simply click on the topic you wish to know more about, and the person you are talking to (if you are lucky) will respond to you with something important or interesting about the subject in question. Talking about a subject may lead to several new topics, which in turn may lead to several more topics in the conversation. There are a few areas in the game where you must make quick decisions on screen in which the results of inaction may be fatal. The combat in the game plays like an arcade, so quick reflexes are the order of the day if you are to see your next one. The final, and perhaps most interesting, arcade sequence is the mages duel with Erasmus. The "board game" involves casting magic spells to move ladders and boulders to create a safe path for your creature to get from one side of the board to the other, all while your opponent Erasmus is doing the same.

You begin the game by stepping into the shoes of the hero of the story, striving to put right what has been set wrong. Just how you go about this is entirely up to you. At the outset of the game, you are given a choice of three character classes—Fighter, Magic User, or Thief. Which one you choose dictates how the game plays out and how the puzzles are solved. After choosing a class, you can assign skill points to customize your character, adding to the basic skills with which you start your quest. How you allocate these points can make a large difference in the way the game plays out. For example, a magic user with no climbing skill would have to find another way up a tall cliff, perhaps by levitation; a character with no skill at picking locks would not make a good burglar. Skills increase through repeated usage, so just because you cannot creep along that narrow ledge does not mean that it is impossible, you may just need practice. Since combat is a rather large element of the game, how you prepare for fighting is important. While a fighter may go toe to toe with an enemy and come out victorious, a magic user may have to cast an offensive spell from afar, and a thief may just have to hide in the shadows until the threat passes. This multi-character aspect increases the replay value threefold.

The puzzles are fairly standard for an adventure game, but the use of character skills makes figuring out an alternative solution to a puzzle more enjoyable. There are also many side quests you can perform, such as cleaning the stables, finding the lost ring, gathering reagents, and even burglarizing homes. The ability to gain experience and grow in skills to build up a favorite character is a nice feature, especially given the fact that your game character generated from this game can be imported into any of the sequels in the Quest for Glory series.

Quest for Glory I: So You Want To Be A Hero game is an excellent place to begin your quest for glory. The simple interface of the game will keep novice adventure gamers at ease. Moreover, the hybrid adventure and role-playing elements certainly make for some interesting gaming. On the other hand, the game may be too easy for seasoned adventure gamers. This hybrid gameplay, while versatile, may not suite all tastes of gamers. Adventure gamers who detest arcade actions will not find an option to skip the dreaded timed sequences. Notwithstanding these minor quibbles, the first title in the Quest for Glory series is an enjoyable game to introduce novice players to the adventure genre. This remake of an old classic retains all the elements that make the original a great game while improving on others to attract new fans.

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