The first of many Space Quest games by Sierra On-Line, Space Quest 1 introduces you to Roger Wilco, who finds himself as the sole survivor of a vicious alien attack, and the only one who can save the universe.
Roger is not a rippling hunk, brave and strong, but just a janitor. Not only is he a janitor, but a not very good one at that. In fact, Roger probably would have been canned as soon as the ship reached port.
Space Quest one is a game that will run on ANY computer. You don't need a 3D-FX card, and the sound plays on your PC speaker. The result is, of course, a game that isn't just eye candy, you actually have to stop and think. The puzzles are challenging, and the game will also challenge your vocabulary and problem solving skills. Sometimes, you need to solve a puzzle to solve a puzzle.
There is no mouse support, you use your arrow keys and type in what you want the game to do.. It means knowing what words to use, and the need to type quickly. This challenge is certainly an educational one. You may learn to type quickly playing these early Sierra games. The game becomes much more than a click and move game as well with you moving the character around.
Space Quest 1 is definately a classic, with no flashy graphics, earth shattering sound, but sill packs a punch were it matters: the gameplay.
Graphics: EGA.. blocky, and unrealistic. Good for it's time, if you're a 'classic' collector though.
Sound: The PC speaker at it's best!
Enjoyment: Makes you use your noggin.
Replay Value: You notice something new each time! Play SQ4 for nostalga!
Roger Wilco is one of the most important men on the starship Arcada: he is the janitor! Just when he was doing what he does best (dozing off in a closet), the shrill sound of an alarm penetrated the air. Arcada is attacked by the evil Sariens! Before you realize what is going on, you discover that you are the only survivor. The Sariens have killed the entire crew and stolen the valuable Star Generator. Your immediate task will be to find a way to leave Arcada, that is about to explode in fifteen minutes. And then you'll have to show the Sariens why they should never mess with brave intergalactic janitors!
Space Quest: The Sarien Encounter is a humorous sci-fi adventure game, made with Sierra's AGI engine. You move Roger around with arrow keys and interact with the game world by typing commands. There's a lot of puzzles to solve, and plenty of situations where you'll have to use your wit to save Roger from death.
Space Quest: The Sarien Encounter was a test, to see if Sierra could successfully launch a second quest series on the game market. Released the same year as King's Quest 3, it featured the anti-hero Roger Wilco. This guy was to become one of the biggest names in the adventure genre! Who would have guessed that this simple-minded, low-class janitor would achieve such a status?
Roger Wilco was aboard the spaceship Arcada, sleeping in a closet, when the Sariens attacked the ship. It's up to Roger to escape the ship alive - but this will require some quick-wittted thinking. Something he is not good at (mopping floors does not require a high IQ). It's up to you to help him survive and foil the plan of the Sariens in order to save everyone else.
Being released at the same time as KQ3, it is by far the best of the two! The mini-quests are not as difficult as those in KQ3 and you get warnings to help you avoid death. The graphics are also better (but still with the same number of colours) making the scenery in the game look astounding. SQ1 also incorporates the use of weird and hilarious humour, which would set the standards for all Space Quest games to come. The humour can be compared to that of Terry Pratchett (Discworld), but a closer fit would be Douglas Adams (Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy).
In other words: This game is worth playing! A LOT!
Screenshots courtesy of SpaceQuest.net
Part of the Space Quest Series
How to run this game on modern Windows PC?
People who downloaded Space Quest: The Sarien Encounter have also downloaded:
Space Quest 2: Vohaul's Revenge, Space Quest 4: Roger Wilco and the Time Rippers, Space Quest I: The Sarien Encounter VGA, Space Quest 5: The Next Mutation, Space Quest 3: The Pirates of Pestulon, Space Quest 6: Roger Wilco in The Spinal Frontier, Police Quest: In Pursuit of the Death Angel, Police Quest 2: The Vengeance
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