Review

King’s Quest: Chapter 2: Rubble Without a Cause

This new version of King’s Quest started in grand fashion. Filled with unique aspects that meshed well with nostalgic nods to the original; The Odd Gentleman made a commendable effort to honor this classic franchise. The second episode also delivers a quality experience, albeit for different reasons…

“Rubble Without a Cause” features old Graham sharing another of his past exploits with his granddaughter Gwendolyn. Taking place sometime after he’d become king of Daventry, he goes on to explain how difficult it was to make important decisions given his limited time in office. Small matters that are hidden within coded documents are trusted upon the king by his royal guard; choosing whether or not the throne room can be used for a party comes down to voting yes or no on an addendum described as a bunch of numbers. Graham’s confusion is hilariously compounded when the knights declare that it’s backwards day, where a yes is really no and vice versa.

Unfortunately for Graham, these weren’t the most difficult decisions he’d have to make as the new King. Shortly after dealing with his rambunctious knights, he and most of the townsfolk were kidnapped by a large group of Goblins. Waking up in a subterranean prison devoid of light and filled with little monsters would certainly qualify as a harrowing experience. In Graham’s case, it was downright terrifying as he’s forced into manual labor while his caged friends slowly starve to death. Because of his limited freedom, he’ll be able to help some of them along the way. Who he helps and how is only part of the problem though. The ultimate goal is finding a way to escape before it’s too late.

Saying that things take on a darker tone this time around would be an understatement. What really stands out though is the setting and direction this episode takes compared to what came before. The grand adventure in a seemingly open world gives way to a somber experience with a more linear focus. Because everything you do centers on liberating your friends as quickly as possible, there aren’t many secondary story threads to investigate. Well…beyond the mysteries attached to the Goblins themselves that is. Really though, the overall theme deals with the fact that it’s nearly impossible to help everyone. A subtle change in gameplay mechanics solidifies this by limiting the number of actions you can take within a day. This restriction often resulted in a missed opportunity to positively impact a friend; there were several points when I regretted my decisions enough to want to stop and start over.

A side effect of this new formula is frustration. Previously, not being able to figure out a puzzle meant that the game wouldn’t move forward. In this case, getting stuck meant something negative. Feeling like you are helpless because of the way a puzzle is set up isn’t entertaining. This isn’t a bad thing mind you as we’re supposed to feel a since of loss when something bad happens. It’s just different. What is bad is that there isn’t much in terms of character building. I mean, we see how Graham learns from this unpleasant moment in his life. But there isn’t much for the other characters to do in terms of developing the story. Gwendolyn, for instance, doesn’t have a comparable conflict this time around. She’s just there to listen.

The original King’s Quest series evolved as things went on. It only makes sense that this newer version would do the same. And while I personally enjoyed the first episode more, “Rubble Without a Cause” works. The good news here is that this episode isn’t all gloom and doom. Not to spoil anything but things aren’t always what they seem. Regardless, the overall message was well received. Basically, I’m glad the game wouldn’t let me start over before finishing the episode.