Publisher: Sierra
Developer: Sierra
Year: 1991
Platform: DOS, Windows, Mac, Amiga, PC-98
Rating: 1
One would think that taking a previously hilarious science fiction character and throwing him into a time travel story would be an easy formula for success, but Space Quest IV is one of the laziest adventure games I have ever played, putting me to sleep even with a walkthrough at hand.
Roger Wilco, per usual, is gloating about his success in the previous Space Quest games when he’s captured by Vohaul’s goons. At the last minute, he’s saved by some mysterious men and zapped headlong into Space Quest XII, where he finds his home planet in ruins. After figuring out where he is, Roger must prevent this catastrophic future from coming to pass, save his own skin, and get back to his own time. Along the way, he’ll travel to other Space Quest games while trying to avoid Vohaul’s police force.
Sadly, most of what happens during the game, including the over-the-top voice-acted narrator , feels more like it belongs to Leisure Suit Larry’s universe than Roger’s. Very few of the game’s puzzles relate to science fiction. Most are tacky (which also describes the graphics), and some being unbelievably boring (and long) arcade sequences, like making burgers! Worse yet, many of the puzzles require extensive backtracking; I think I spent more time walking from one place to another than I did interacting with the game world. The only interesting diversion is a trip to Ulence Flats from Space Quest 1, but this excursion lasts only a few short minutes.
When Sierra updated their engines for point-and-click play, their games in every one of their long-standing series temporarily suffered (even Police Quest 3, which I enjoyed). It was as if the designers and producers spent so much time playing with their new toy that they forgot what made their games great in the first place. Many people consider this their favorite game in the series and one of the best adventure games ever made. Usually when I hate a game, as with Broken Sword or Syberia, I understand why people would love it. With Space Quest IV, I’m left utterly baffled.
