Quest for Glory II: Trial by Fire
Encyclopedia
Quest for Glory II: Trial by Fire is the second video game in Sierra
's Quest for Glory
series, and the sequel to Hero's Quest: So You Want to Be a Hero (following the renaming of the series over trademark issues).
The game follows the path of its predecessor, although there are distinctions in gameplay. Trial by Fire operates on a restricted time frame; the entire plot is concluded in 30 days. Many of the puzzles in the game do not appear or cannot be solved until certain days. This keeps gameplay on a tight, linear narrative. At some moments in the plot, such as the three days spent in Raseir, this slows down gameplay and can seem ponderous.
The player has the opportunity to advance his character and explore interesting side-quests. For example, a magic-user can earn the title of "Wizard" with the sponsorship of the wizard Erasmus, provided he can overcome a series of magical challenges and graduate from the Wizards' Institute of Technocery. A fighter may earn a membership in the Eternal Order of Fighters. A thief may perform several thefts, including the running gag of stealing the Maltese Falcon. One of the unique features of this game, however, is that the character is not locked out of different side quests depending on class. If you play as a fighter with some magical ability (or import a magic user from Quest for Glory I and play as a fighter) you can utilize this cross-training to complete other quests. It is possible for your character to become a Wizard, complete every theft in the game, and join the Eternal Order of Fighters.
This is also the first game of the series where the hero may be awarded the title of Paladin
. To achieve this status, the hero must act honorably throughout the game and Rakeesh, the liontaur (lion-centaur
) will present to you his Paladin
sword, Soulforge. Since the title of the Paladin
is given at the end of the game, the Paladin
abilities and Soulforge are only usable with characters that are imported into Quest for Glory III: Wages of War
and later games.
Directly following from the events of the first game, the newly-proclaimed Hero of Spielburg travels by flying carpet with his friends Abdulla Doo, Shameen and Shema to the desert city of Shapeir. The city is threatened by magical elementals, while the Emir Arus al-Din of Shapeir's sister city Raseir is missing and his city fallen under tyranny.
After defeating the four elemental
s that threaten Shapeir, the Hero travels to the city of Raseir. There, he is imprisoned by Khaveen and under hypnosis helps the evil tyrannical wizard Ad Avis to resurrect the evil genie Iblis. In the final fight, the Hero attacks the palace and battles with Ad Avis, who falls to his presumed death begging for assistance from his Dark Master. As thanks for the Hero's success in liberating Raseir and restoring its lost splendor, the Sultan of Shapeir, Harun al-Rashid
, rewards the Hero by adopting him as his son.
There are various Easter eggs throughout the game, such as the starship enterprise from the television series Star Trek
appearing during the opening credits.
The astrologer appears to have been based on Omar Khayyám
.
As in the other games of the series, there are a large number of in-jokes and mythological references, especially, from Arabian Nights. One of them is the name of the Sultan, Harun al-Rashid
.
The game contains many references to classic films. The caravan scene is an homage to Lawrence of Arabia
. Signor Ferrari and Ugarte, characters portrayed by Sydney Greenstreet
and Peter Lorre
in the movie Casablanca
appear in Raseir, as does the Maltese Falcon from the movie of the same name which also featured Greenstreet and Lorre in other roles. Caricatures of the Marx Brothers
also play important roles.
There are several references to other games or movies in magician Keapon Laffin's shop: a doll of princess Rosella (from the King's Quest
series), a Cookie Monster
doll, and an antwerp doll (a reference to the first game), among other things.
The final city in this game is Raseir, an anagram for Sierra, the company that produced the game.
The game was reviewed in 1991 in Dragon
#174 by Hartley, Patricia, and Kirk Lesser in "The Role of Computers" column. The reviewers gave the game 5 out of 5 stars.
graphics engine by Sierra, but AGD Interactive
has prepared a VGA remake of the game using the Adventure Game Studio
engine. It was released on August 24, 2008.
Sierra Entertainment
Sierra Entertainment Inc. was an American video-game developer and publisher founded in 1979 as On-Line Systems by Ken and Roberta Williams...
's Quest for Glory
Quest for Glory
Quest for Glory is a series of hybrid role-playing/adventure computer games designed by Corey and Lori Ann Cole. The series combined humor, puzzle elements, themes and characters borrowed from various legends, puns, and memorable characters, creating a 5-part series of the Sierra stable.Although...
series, and the sequel to Hero's Quest: So You Want to Be a Hero (following the renaming of the series over trademark issues).
Gameplay
The player has the opportunity to advance his character and explore interesting side-quests. For example, a magic-user can earn the title of "Wizard" with the sponsorship of the wizard Erasmus, provided he can overcome a series of magical challenges and graduate from the Wizards' Institute of Technocery. A fighter may earn a membership in the Eternal Order of Fighters. A thief may perform several thefts, including the running gag of stealing the Maltese Falcon. One of the unique features of this game, however, is that the character is not locked out of different side quests depending on class. If you play as a fighter with some magical ability (or import a magic user from Quest for Glory I and play as a fighter) you can utilize this cross-training to complete other quests. It is possible for your character to become a Wizard, complete every theft in the game, and join the Eternal Order of Fighters.
This is also the first game of the series where the hero may be awarded the title of Paladin
Paladin (character class)
The Paladin is a character class in Dungeons & Dragons and many later computer and pen and paper role-playing games - many of which were influenced by D&D...
. To achieve this status, the hero must act honorably throughout the game and Rakeesh, the liontaur (lion-centaur
Centaur
In Greek mythology, a centaur or hippocentaur is a member of a composite race of creatures, part human and part horse...
) will present to you his Paladin
Paladin (character class)
The Paladin is a character class in Dungeons & Dragons and many later computer and pen and paper role-playing games - many of which were influenced by D&D...
sword, Soulforge. Since the title of the Paladin
Paladin (character class)
The Paladin is a character class in Dungeons & Dragons and many later computer and pen and paper role-playing games - many of which were influenced by D&D...
is given at the end of the game, the Paladin
Paladin (character class)
The Paladin is a character class in Dungeons & Dragons and many later computer and pen and paper role-playing games - many of which were influenced by D&D...
abilities and Soulforge are only usable with characters that are imported into Quest for Glory III: Wages of War
Quest for Glory III: Wages of War
Quest for Glory III: Wages of War is a hybrid adventure/role-playing video game released in 1992 for the MS-DOS PC and Apple Macintosh. It is the sequel to Quest for Glory II: Trial by Fire....
and later games.
Synopsis
Quest for Glory II takes place in the fictional land of Shapeir, in the world of Gloriana.Directly following from the events of the first game, the newly-proclaimed Hero of Spielburg travels by flying carpet with his friends Abdulla Doo, Shameen and Shema to the desert city of Shapeir. The city is threatened by magical elementals, while the Emir Arus al-Din of Shapeir's sister city Raseir is missing and his city fallen under tyranny.
After defeating the four elemental
Elemental
An elemental is a mythological being first appearing in the alchemical works of Paracelsus in the 16th century. Traditionally, there are four types:*gnomes, earth elementals*undines , water elementals*sylphs, air elementals...
s that threaten Shapeir, the Hero travels to the city of Raseir. There, he is imprisoned by Khaveen and under hypnosis helps the evil tyrannical wizard Ad Avis to resurrect the evil genie Iblis. In the final fight, the Hero attacks the palace and battles with Ad Avis, who falls to his presumed death begging for assistance from his Dark Master. As thanks for the Hero's success in liberating Raseir and restoring its lost splendor, the Sultan of Shapeir, Harun al-Rashid
Harun al-Rashid
Hārūn al-Rashīd was the fifth Arab Abbasid Caliph in Iraq. He was born in Rey, Iran, close to modern Tehran. His birth date remains a point of discussion, though, as various sources give the dates from 763 to 766)....
, rewards the Hero by adopting him as his son.
Characters and references
Quest for Glory II is the only game in the series without any influence of Erana in it. It does, however, feature a reference to Erana - as she is in one of the portraits of great mages in the Wizards' Institute of Technocery. If the Hero requests her sponsorship in his initiation as a wizard, he is told that Erana had not been answering the WIT's summons for many years now.There are various Easter eggs throughout the game, such as the starship enterprise from the television series Star Trek
Star Trek
Star Trek is an American science fiction entertainment franchise created by Gene Roddenberry. The core of Star Trek is its six television series: The Original Series, The Animated Series, The Next Generation, Deep Space Nine, Voyager, and Enterprise...
appearing during the opening credits.
The astrologer appears to have been based on Omar Khayyám
Omar Khayyám
Omar Khayyám was aPersian polymath: philosopher, mathematician, astronomer and poet. He also wrote treatises on mechanics, geography, mineralogy, music, climatology and theology....
.
As in the other games of the series, there are a large number of in-jokes and mythological references, especially, from Arabian Nights. One of them is the name of the Sultan, Harun al-Rashid
Harun al-Rashid
Hārūn al-Rashīd was the fifth Arab Abbasid Caliph in Iraq. He was born in Rey, Iran, close to modern Tehran. His birth date remains a point of discussion, though, as various sources give the dates from 763 to 766)....
.
The game contains many references to classic films. The caravan scene is an homage to Lawrence of Arabia
Lawrence of Arabia (film)
Lawrence of Arabia is a 1962 British film based on the life of T. E. Lawrence. It was directed by David Lean and produced by Sam Spiegel through his British company, Horizon Pictures, with the screenplay by Robert Bolt and Michael Wilson. The film stars Peter O'Toole in the title role. It is widely...
. Signor Ferrari and Ugarte, characters portrayed by Sydney Greenstreet
Sydney Greenstreet
Sydney Hughes Greenstreet was an English actor. He is best known for his Warner Bros. films with Humphrey Bogart and Peter Lorre, which include The Maltese Falcon and Casablanca .-Biography:...
and Peter Lorre
Peter Lorre
Peter Lorre was an Austrian-American actor frequently typecast as a sinister foreigner.He caused an international sensation in 1931 with his portrayal of a serial killer who preys on little girls in the German film M...
in the movie Casablanca
Casablanca (film)
Casablanca is a 1942 American romantic drama film directed by Michael Curtiz, starring Humphrey Bogart, Ingrid Bergman and Paul Henreid, and featuring Claude Rains, Conrad Veidt, Sydney Greenstreet, Peter Lorre and Dooley Wilson. Set during World War II, it focuses on a man torn between, in...
appear in Raseir, as does the Maltese Falcon from the movie of the same name which also featured Greenstreet and Lorre in other roles. Caricatures of the Marx Brothers
Marx Brothers
The Marx Brothers were an American family comedy act, originally from New York City, that enjoyed success in Vaudeville, Broadway, and motion pictures from the early 1900s to around 1950...
also play important roles.
There are several references to other games or movies in magician Keapon Laffin's shop: a doll of princess Rosella (from the King's Quest
King's Quest
King's Quest is an adventure game series created by the American software company Sierra Entertainment. It is widely considered a classic series from the golden era of adventure games. Following the success of its first installment, the series was primarily responsible for building the reputation...
series), a Cookie Monster
Cookie Monster
Cookie Monster is a Muppet on the children's television show Sesame Street. He is best known for his voracious appetite and his famous eating phrases: "Me want cookie!", "Me eat cookie!", and "Om nom nom nom" . He often eats anything and everything, including danishes, donuts, lettuce, apples,...
doll, and an antwerp doll (a reference to the first game), among other things.
The final city in this game is Raseir, an anagram for Sierra, the company that produced the game.
Reception
UK magazine ACE gave the Amiga version a score of only 600 out of 1000, praising its size, but criticizing it for its average graphics, grating music, slowness and for the large amount of disk swapping needed while playing.The game was reviewed in 1991 in Dragon
Dragon (magazine)
Dragon is one of the two official magazines for source material for the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game and associated products, the other being Dungeon. TSR, Inc. originally launched the monthly printed magazine in 1976 to succeed the company's earlier publication, The Strategic Review. The...
#174 by Hartley, Patricia, and Kirk Lesser in "The Role of Computers" column. The reviewers gave the game 5 out of 5 stars.
Legacy
QFG II is the only game in the series to not have originated or have been remade beyond the EGAEnhanced Graphics Adapter
The Enhanced Graphics Adapter is the IBM PC computer display standard specification which is between CGA and VGA in terms of color and space resolution. Introduced in October 1984 by IBM shortly after its new PC/AT, EGA produces a display of 16 simultaneous colors from a palette of 64 at a...
graphics engine by Sierra, but AGD Interactive
AGD Interactive
AGD Interactive , LLC. is a non-profit company given a fan license to remake Sierra Entertainment's popular classic adventure games from the 1980s and early 1990s.-History:...
has prepared a VGA remake of the game using the Adventure Game Studio
Adventure Game Studio
Adventure Game Studio is a free software development tool that is primarily used to create graphical adventure games. It is aimed at intermediate-level game designers, and combines an Integrated development environment for setting up most aspects of the game with a scripting language to process...
engine. It was released on August 24, 2008.