Publisher: Sierra
Developer: Sierra
Year: 1988
Platform: DOS; Amiga; Atari-ST; PC-98

Rating: 10

While our family would often play adventure games together when I was young, we would generally pair off given the tight squeeze around the IBM. Police Quest 2 was the exception, with my brother, father, and me huddled around the tiny screen for weeks because we were so invested that we wanted to experience it at the same time. And while that memory no doubt elevates this game for me, I still think it’s damn near a perfect game.

Sonny Bonds is back…with a vengeance! Actually, Jesse Bains, the perp he testified against last game and put in prison, is back with a vengeance. Not only does he escape prison, he also kidnaps your girlfriend Marie to exact revenge upon you. I’d feel bad spoiling the kidnapping–which takes place about halfway into the game–if it wasn’t described on the box with a picture of Bains literally holding Marie hostage. Sierra definitely didn’t want you to realize plots could be uncovered!

The Lytton P.D. has received a major overhaul since the first game, not only of the building but of the staff as well. Lest you worry that you’ll get bored with nobody familiar around, Jim Walls has created several more characters with wonderful personalities. First is Keith Robinson, your partner. Other than taking smoke breaks and making snide remarks, he offers little help, but he provides the comic relief that every cop game needs. In one instance, while on the way to a scene, Keith wagers with you on whether the witness is a dude or a chick. There is no reason for this little scene to be in the game, but given how many intense moments there are, the levity is appreciated.

Then you have Captain Hall, who has a very short temper but a keen taste for pistachio ice cream and is a master at working the telephone. If you dink around too much, he’ll literally suspend you. But he’s also got your back when shit starts hitting the fan. And, as with Police Quest 1, the supporting cast (such as the guys in Narcotics, the street cops, and the gun range supervisor) usually have something funny and interesting to say.

The production values have also taken a leap forward. The pixel-art graphics are generally well-detailed and colorful, and there’s little in the way of pixel-hunting. The sound is a consistent delight, with the music carrying an energetic Miami Vice vibe. Even the sound that tells you that you’ve been awarded points is addictive.

The plot takes a more linear route this time around as Sonny usually knows his next destination. Yet you’re not hand-fed what to do, and the puzzles remain fair and moderately difficult. The day-to-day busywork is toned down considerably (no more checking for flat tires!), but important police procedure still must be followed (such as collecting evidence) in order for Sonny to have a clue as to what’s going on (in addition to nabbing more points!). The design team also made a smart move in eliminating manual driving. Since Sonny drives an unmarked car and never needs to patrol the streets, driving would have become pointless and quite tedious.

The Vengeance has the best story in the series, thanks in large part to its cohesiveness. Your focus is unwaveringly on Bains and saving your girlfriend, giving each decision a gravity that was lacking before. You’ll race around town to follow Bains’s trail, coordinating with airport staff, a scuba diving team, hotel staff, and other police departments. You’ll even explore a sewer system! There is one highly contrived scene in the airplane that has no relation to the main plot, but it can be forgiven considering its entertainment value. And the endgame, which requires you to think quickly to rescue Marie and stay alive, is pitch-perfect.

As close to flawless as an adventure game can get, Police Quest 2 remains my favorite game of all time.

Contemporary Rating: Medium. Good parser, but going to the shooting range multiple times to adjust the sights on your gun would annoy many.

Cruelty Rating: Tough. If your only saved game is a split second before you’re going to die, then yes, you can make the game unwinnable. Otherwise, you should be fine. You can miss a ton of things through your investigation, and this will make the game more difficult (and less enjoyable), but it won’t lock you out.

Publisher: Sierra
Developer: Sierra
Year: 1991
Platform: DOS, Amiga

Score: 6

Another game, another promotion, another hair dye, another bad day for your significant other. Your wife Marie has been stabbed in a parking lot while leaving work. Well, she will be stabbed after you’ve played for a few hours, but once again Sierra spoiled this turn of events on the box cover, so whee! And now she’s in a coma. Though you are now a sergeant supervising the street cops, Captain Hall has authorized you to work as a homicide detective, acknowledging that you are particularly motivated to solve Marie’s stabbing and some recent murders that might also be related.

The production values are a mixed bag. The music and sound effects feel a bit understated compared to the energetic soundtrack of Police Quest 2. Even the chime for scoring a point feels embarrassed to be intruding. But the graphics once again take a leap forward thanks to the transition to VGA. Beautiful hand-drawn backgrounds help immerse you in the game world. Real actors are used for digitized character graphics, though sadly the conversations are not supplemented with any voice acting. Slick animations abound, from using your nightstick in close combat to pulling your firearm.

Speaking of which, firing your weapon remains intuitive while also coming with a targeting reticle. Driving is also back, though it is less intuitive and less useful than in Police Quest 1. While you do chase some perps, driving becomes tedious fairly soon and damn near impossible on fast computers without a slowdown program.

The plot, which entails investigating connected murders around Lytton, unfolds over a six-day period, though it’s not as tightly wound as the previous two games. You’ll be deep into uncovering the plot to murder Marie, and then have to take a break to go to court to defend a speeding ticket you gave out earlier in the week. While realistic, it feels tacked on and stalls the tension that had been building. Despite this, Sonny meets many interesting characters, such as a cheeky homeless lady who witnessed a murder and the office tech guy who’s perpetually annoyed that you need anything. You will visit some beautiful and some dreary locations, including Aspen Falls and the Old Nugget Saloon, and must once again use logical thinking and correct police procedure to track down the killer.

Though it saddens me to admit it, designer Jim Walls makes two significant mistakes here. First, you are assigned a partner that has zero personality outside of being super obviously slimy. She has no sense of humor, which might otherwise deflect from her shady dealings. She obviously does not belong on the police force, especially in a department requiring the professionalism of homicide. From the very start, she is up to no good, and the player can figure out the hows and whys fairly quickly. What’s irritating is that Sonny won’t even realize anything is suspicious until very late in the game. Meanwhile, the player has to watch the contrived charades for the duration.

Possibly even worse is that Sonny has lost all of his personality. Granted, he is in a serious position, and his wife is in the hospital, but he may as well have been a cipher with how flat and straightforward he’s portrayed. Thus, while it should be easy to sympathize with his plight, I wasn’t really feeling the feels.

The programmers also made a significant “We had to hurry to get this game out by Christmas” mistake. Day 6 is chock-full of some serious police work and intense situations. However, there is a bug that makes the entire day repeat if you return to the station unexpectedly; the opening scene is triggered, and you’re left doing everything over from the beginning.

Thankfully, there are some delightful new features worth pointing out. There are several potential endings, which would give the game even more replay value than the forerunners if it weren’t for the subpar plot. Also, when you die (which will be quite often, mostly in entertaining ways), Jim Walls will appear on the screen, mocking you.  He provides what little humor is left in the series.

Definitely play this game if you liked the previous two, as it nicely wraps up the Bonds saga (assuming you get the good ending!). However, the game isn’t strong enough on its own to warrant a playthrough without the history attached to the characters.  I fully admit my love for this game is mostly nostalgia.

Contemporary Rating: Medium. All the repetitive driving is annoying, plus it’s tied in to your computer’s processing speed, so getting it to work properly today is a chore.

Cruelty Rating:  Polite. There is one walking-dead situation, but it’s only for about two minutes, so as long as your only save file isn’t at a ridiculous spot, you’ll be fine. Considering you can die frequently, you’ll be saving plenty anyway.