King's Quest V: Absence Makes the Heart Go Yonder!

King's Quest V: Absence Makes the Heart Go Yonder!
Developer(s)	Sierra
Publisher(s)	Sierra, Konami (NES Version)
Engine	SCI1
Platform(s)	MS-DOS, Windows, NES, Mac, Amiga, FM Towns, NEC PC-9801
Release date(s)	November 9, 1990
Genre(s)	Adventure game
Mode(s)	Single player

King's Quest V: Absence Makes the Heart Go Yonder! is a 1990 adventure game released by Sierra. Released in November 1990, it featured a significant improvement in graphics (achieved through the introduction of VGA into the series). It was also the first King's Quest installment to replace the typing user interface with a point-and-click user interface. It was also the last King's Quest to have a stand alone EGA release at 320x200. Dual VGA/EGA versions of the game turned the 256 colour graphics into 16 colour at 640x400 resolution.

King's Quest V won Computer Gaming World's 1991 Adventure Game of the Year award.^[1] It was later released as a "talkie" CD-ROM, meaning the characters have voices, done by members of the Sierra staff. The music was MIDI based and written by Mark Seibert and Ken Allen.

Story

In the introduction to the game, a view of Castle Daventry is shown, when suddenly, a mysterious cloaked figure appears. He enchants the castle, causing a whirlwind to appear, which soon engulfs the castle and lifts it out of sight. Because he is out walking when this happens, King Graham is the only member of the royal family to be left behind. He returns to the castle to find that it has disappeared, and is soon confronted by a talking owl named Cedric.

Cedric witnessed the cloaked figure's attack, and tells Graham that it was a powerful, evil wizard named Mordack who did it. Cedric then brings Graham to the land of Serenia, where his master Crispin resides. Crispin is also a wizard, but a good one, who gives Graham some advice, his old wand, and a piece of white snake which allows Graham to speak with animals. Graham then starts on his journey.

Later, Graham learns that Mordack is the brother of the wizard Mannanan, who Graham's son, Prince Alexander, turned into a cat in King's Quest III: To Heir Is Human. Mordack has imprisoned the castle and royal family of Daventry out of revenge, and threatens to feed the royal family to Mannanan unless Prince Alexander agrees to restore him to his true form. King Graham travels through the land of Serenia, gathering helpful items and information, and eventually makes his way to Mordack's island to save his family from their impending doom.

Connections to other King's Quest games

Whereas most of the other games in the series tend to build on the basic story elements of the previous games, with new characters that are introduced in one game becoming important in later games, King's Quest V is one of the few where the plot itself is directly connected to events in both previous and future games. The location the game is set, Serenia, was first visited in the earlier game, Wizard and the Princess. The transformation of Manannan into a cat is a necessary task to completing King's Quest III. And this act has profound consequences for Alexander (and his family), as it is the impetus for the KQV storyline. Also, KQV's ending ties into its sequel, King's Quest VI. Cassima was introduced as a slave to the wizard Mordack. Before she is sent home at the end, Alexander mentions wanting to visit her in the Land of the Green Isles, which happens at the beginning of KQVI. And Cassima mentions her Vizier, who first introduced Mordack to her. In KQVI, we find out that Mordack and the Vizier (who is the primary antagonist of KQVI) are both part of an organization known as the Society of the Black Cloak. Even the music for Cassima in Mordack's castle is enhanced and used for the love theme for Alexander and Cassima. In the end of that game the Vizier is defeated by Alexander and Cassima and the two marry.

Gameplay

The owl Cedric accompanies Graham through the entire game to provide commentary and advice. He has to be rescued from danger at several points, but the owl rarely says or does anything useful.

Version differences

The diskette (EGA and VGA) and NES versions^{[citation needed]} require Graham to cast spells throughout the game, requiring the user to refer to the manual as a form of copy protection. This was omitted in the CD-ROM version. The CD version also added voice acting. The disk version has a slightly different game interface. There is also some script differences in parts.

Reception

The game was reviewed in 1991 in Dragon #170 by Hartley, Patricia, and Kirk Lesser in "The Role of Computers" column. The reviewers gave the game 4 out of 5 stars.^[2]

Cancelled version

An Atari ST version was announced via Sierra Online's magazine: Sierra News Magazine for a Spring 1991 release but was later cancelled.^[3] Sierra's Srini Vasan and Sierra UK fought for continued Atari ST development ^[4] but unfortunately Sierra Online discontinued Atari ST support entirely shortly afterwards.

References

1. ^ Staff (November 1991). "Computer Gaming World's 1991 Games of the Year Awards". Computer Gaming World (Golden Empire Publications, Inc) (88): 38–40, 58. 
2. ^ Lesser, Hartley, Patricia, and Kirk (June 1991). "The Role of Computers". Dragon (170): 55–58, 118–119. 
3. ^ Staff (Spring 1991). "Atari ST Owners Set To Enjoy Two Brand New Products Plus Reillustrated Versions Of Two Classics In Spring '91", Sierra News Magazine. p. 13,22
4. ^ Magpie, Johnny (Spring 1991), "Rumor Mill: Atari ST Owners Will Still Be Supported...", Sierra News Magazine. p. 46

External links

• King's Quest V Review at Adventure Classic Gaming
• King's Quest V at MobyGames
• King's Quest V Technical Help on the Sierra Help Pages
• King's Quest V on the Sierra Chest