Publisher: AGDInteractive
Developer: AGDInteractive
Year: 2001
Platform: Windows; Mac; Linux

Originally known as Tierra, AGDInteractive decided to remake some classic Sierra adventure games. They started in 2001 with King’s Quest. It was an interesting choice given that Sierra had already re-released their crown jewel in 1990 with updated graphics and sound. And while in their remake they didn’t quite make this a game worth introducing to a new generation, they most certainly improved upon it, if ever so slightly.

The plot is essentially unchanged. Your goal remains to recover the three missing treasures of Daventry and otherwise fetch points while avoiding random death. The puzzles remain fairly dull and there is no character or story development. Yet if you’re a fan of the original it’s still worth picking this up (for free!) due to the technical enhancements.

The graphics are obviously enhanced from the 1990 SCI remake. And for the most part the game is bug-free. Gone is the typing interface, replaced with Sierra’s classic four-icon system. Given how simple this game is, the loss of the text parser is not a loss at all. But the biggest reason to play this version is the voice acting. John Bell (Scratches) narrates, and Josh Mandel reprises his role from King’s Quest V and King’s Quest VI as King Graham. Their work really helps elevate this otherwise simple adventure into a pleasant nostalgia trip.