King's Quest

This is a reboot of the beloved classic games of the 1980s and '90s and involves a series of stories about Graham, a teenage adventurer who eventually became king. The stories are told Princess Bride-style by an elderly King Graham to his adventurous young granddaughter, and the effect is nothing short of charming. This contemporary update does its namesake justice both in tone and appearance. A light-hearted fairy-tale approach is conveyed to perfection by storybook-worthy graphics and amusing dialogue supported by an incredible vocal cast that includes Christopher Lloyd (Doc from Back to the Future), Wallace Shawn (Vizzini from The Princess Bride), and Zelda Williams (daughter of Robin Williams).

Along with its winsome presentation, King's Quest's strength is its fun alternation among exploration, action, and puzzle solving. Though the latter is somewhat less challenging than previous games in the series, it makes the game a lot more accessible. Better yet, it forces players to make important moral choices. Though the graphics, voice acting, and gameplay are great, the best thing about the new King's Quest is its inventiveness. Fun fairy-tale-like surprises abound, from unexpected locations to otherworldly characters, and there's nothing objectionable to diminish their impact. The first episode is a delight, which hopefully bodes well for the rest of the chapters yet to come.