Flight of the Amazon Queen

Infobox VG| title = Flight of the Amazon Queen


developer = Interactive Binary Illusions
publisher = Renegade Software
designer = John Passfield
Steve Stamatiadis
engine = AMOS
released = 1995
genre = Adventure
modes = Single player
ratings = ESRB: Everyone (6+)
USK: 6+
platforms = Amiga, DOS, all ScummVM platforms
media = 1 CD-ROM (PC/Macintosh)
11 Floppy disks (Amiga)
requirements = Amiga: Any Amiga
DOS: 386, 33 MHz CPU, 4 MB RAM
input = Mouse, Keyboard

"Flight of the Amazon Queen" ("FOTAQ") is a graphical point-and-click adventure game by Interactive Binary Illusions originally released in 1995 for Amiga and DOS and re-released as freeware in 2004 for use with ScummVM. It is very similar in style in many ways to LucasArts' many popular point-and-click adventures of the 1990s, and was inspired by Monkey Island [cite web | last = Passfield | first = John | authorlink = John Passfield | coauthors = | title = Scumm 20th Anniversary | work = Game Musings | publisher = Passfield Games | date = 2007-04-27 | url = http://passfieldgames.blogspot.com/2007/04/scummvm-20th-anniversary.html | format = | accessdate = 2007-05-15 ] .

tory

Taking place in 1949, the game is a pastiche of adventure serials and pulp magazines of the time.

The player assumes the role of Joe King, pilot for hire and owner of the "Amazon Queen" airplane of the title, who crash-lands in the Amazon jungle and subsequently has to save not only his passenger, the famous movie star Faye Russel, but also an entire tribe of Amazon women and even the world from a mad scientist and his lederhosen company, who have concocted a vile scheme to turn Amazons into Dinosaur warriors using his DinoRay invention.

Releases

Prior to release, the game was sent by the publisher to Future Publishing's "Amiga Power" magazine, to be reviewed by Jonathan Nash in issue 51. Whilst playing he found an error which prevented progression through the game (at the start, the bellhop would not relinquish the door key). He informed the publisher which resulted in the game release being delayed for several months as, at the time, the game had been sent to the disk duplication factory ready for reproduction. As it was also too late to change the magazine content and layout, the issue went to press with an apology that they had unintentionally reviewed an 'unfinished' game, which was against one of their policies [cite web | last = Nash | first = Jonathan | authorlink = Jonathan Nash| coauthors = | title = Footnotes | work = AP2 | publisher = | date = | url = http://ds.dial.pipex.com/ap2/comments/footnotes/in_fact_not_unfinished.html | format = | accessdate = 2007-05-16 ] . The screenshots for the issue came from the PC version, also against their policy. The front cover of this issue featured an artist's impression of the 'escape from Rio' car chase scene [http://ds.dial.pipex.com/ap2/pictures/covers_full/AP51.jpg] .

In March 2004, the game was released as freeware and support for it was added to ScummVM, allowing it to be played on Linux, Mac OS X, Windows, and many other operating systems and consoles. The datafiles for both the disk and CD-ROM version are available from the ScummVM website.

Game locations

The game is set primarily in the Amazon Basin. The following key locations feature in the game:
*Starting from Rio de Janeiro, Joe flies over the Amazon rainforest and crash lands due to an electrical storm.
*Once in the Amazon, Joe visits a Pygmy village where "Trader Bob" has his supply store.
*The "Pinnacle" is a tall rock allowing Joe a view of his surrounding area (and acts as the game map, similar to the postcard in "Simon the Sorceror".
*The "Flöda Factory" manufactures lederhosen, and is the front for the evil scientist's secret base.
*The "Amazon Fortress" is the home of the Amazon Women tribe.
*The "Jungle", where the "Christian Mission" is located.
*The "Ancient Temple" which is full of ancient technologies, reminiscent of "Indiana Jones and the Fate of Atlantis".
*The "Valley of the Mists", where the final section of the game takes place.

Trivia

* Similar to many LucasArts point-and-click adventure game it features numerous references to Star Wars and Indiana Jones.
* The Amiga version had no voices, whereas the PC/Mac CD version was a talkie featuring full voice-acting. The voice of the Temple Guardian was provided by British actress Penelope Keith.
* Actor William Hootkins who played Red Six (Jek Porkins) in Star Wars voiced a number of characters.
* [http://www.passfieldgames.com/ John Passfield] became the sole copyright holder of the game in 2005.
* The game has a number of character and premise similarities to the 1982-3 TV series "Tales of the Gold Monkey".
* The adventure game Belief & Betrayal also features an airplane named Amazon Queen.

External links

* [http://www.scummvm.org/ ScummVM] - Interpreter + datafiles
* [http://www.unet.univie.ac.at/~a0200586/videogames/fotaq/ Windows setup] - Ready-to-use Windows package
* Websites of "FOTAQ" creators [http://www.spacecaptainsteve.com/ Steve Stamatiadis] and [http://www.passfieldgames.com/ John Passfield]
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* [http://screen7.adventuredevelopers.com/agdzine/interview_steves.htm Interview with Steve Stamatiadis]
* [http://recordedamigagames.ath.cx/modules/tinycontent/index.php?id=249 "Flight of the Amazon Queen" full solution video]

References