Posted December 16, 2021
So I just finished King's Quest VII today and thought I would quickly sum up my impressions (might write a proper review later, once I can also review King's Quest VIII).
Basically, it's a good game (3.5/5 or 7/10).
Graphics: somewhere between good and very good (7.5/10), the art direction itself is very good
Plot: above average (6/10)
Soundscape: 7.5/10
Gameplay: 6/10
The thing is the game is by and large pleasant, with the usual helping of frustrating bits as is typical of the genre, but they could have been more ambitious in either the gameplay department, or the narrative dimension (or both).
As such, it does have its moments where it feels genuinely satisfying (and it did manage to be truly funny, especially Chapter 3), but cannot completely avoid 1) a few meaningless moments where there seems to have been cases of writer's block, can be a bit boring, and 2) a bit of good old fashioned bullshit - the start of chapter 6 is the best example of this and forced me to check a walkthrough.
There was only one other instance where I needed a walkthrough, but in that case it was my fault (the music puzzle - I was working on the wrong tune :P )
By the way the transition to that music puzzle and its outcome is one such meaningless moment: suddenly you're dealing with the 3 fates, I guess it's "cool" but there's no foreshadowing whatsoever, just random, it's like the storyteller forgot to connect the moment when you save Lady Spring with the moment when you ask the fates for help.
That said, thumbs up for doing away with the concept of unwinnable states!
All in all, a good old game.
Basically, it's a good game (3.5/5 or 7/10).
Graphics: somewhere between good and very good (7.5/10), the art direction itself is very good
Plot: above average (6/10)
Soundscape: 7.5/10
Gameplay: 6/10
The thing is the game is by and large pleasant, with the usual helping of frustrating bits as is typical of the genre, but they could have been more ambitious in either the gameplay department, or the narrative dimension (or both).
As such, it does have its moments where it feels genuinely satisfying (and it did manage to be truly funny, especially Chapter 3), but cannot completely avoid 1) a few meaningless moments where there seems to have been cases of writer's block, can be a bit boring, and 2) a bit of good old fashioned bullshit - the start of chapter 6 is the best example of this and forced me to check a walkthrough.
There was only one other instance where I needed a walkthrough, but in that case it was my fault (the music puzzle - I was working on the wrong tune :P )
By the way the transition to that music puzzle and its outcome is one such meaningless moment: suddenly you're dealing with the 3 fates, I guess it's "cool" but there's no foreshadowing whatsoever, just random, it's like the storyteller forgot to connect the moment when you save Lady Spring with the moment when you ask the fates for help.
That said, thumbs up for doing away with the concept of unwinnable states!
All in all, a good old game.
Post edited December 16, 2021 by Sat42
