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Gobliiins

From Alfawiki
Gobliiins
Company typeVideo game series
IndustryVideo games
Founded1991; 35 years ago (1991)
FounderCoktel Vision
Headquarters
France (initial developer Coktel Vision)
Area served
Worldwide
Key people
Pierre Gilhodes (illustrator), Muriel Tramis (creative director for Gobliiins 4)
ProductsGobliiins series of puzzle-adventure games
OwnerInitially Coktel Vision, later Sierra On-Line

Gobliiins is a series of five puzzle-adventure video games developed initially by Coktel Vision and later by Sierra On-Line, available on platforms such as Amiga, Atari ST, DOS, Macintosh, iOS, and Windows. The first trio of titles debuted in the early 1990s, with the fourth installment released in 2009 and the fifth arriving in 2023. The series’ distinctive art style was crafted by French illustrator Pierre Gilhodes, who also contributed to Coktel Vision’s Woodruff and the Schnibble of Azimuth.

Gameplay

This franchise merges adventure gameplay with puzzle-solving challenges, tasking players with completing each stage to move forward. A hallmark of the series is the ability to control multiple goblin characters, each possessing unique skills. The count of 'i's in the title "Gobliiins" reflects how many goblins are under player control: Gobliiins (1991), Gobliins 2 (1992), Goblins Quest 3 (1993), Gobliiins 4 (2009), and Gobliiins 5 (2023). Players switch between characters but operate only one goblin at any given moment. The initial release featured a collective health bar shared among three goblins, a mechanic removed in subsequent entries.

All titles were distributed on CD-ROM except for the fifth game, which was launched through Steam's digital platform. The first three CD editions replaced the original "goblinish" gibberish with fully voiced dialogue and censored nudity found in the floppy disk versions. The platinum edition of Gobliiins 4 includes all earlier games bundled together with an adapted ScummVM version optimized for modern Windows computers. Earlier DVD releases were localized into Spanish, German, Italian, Russian, Polish, Czech, and Hungarian languages.

Gobliiins (1991)

In the original Gobliiins, players manage three distinct goblins: Asgard (known as BoBo in North America), a warrior skilled in punching and climbing; Ignatius (Hooter in the US), a magician capable of various spells; and Oups (Dwayne in the US), a technician who manipulates items.

The storyline centers on these goblins assisting their deranged king by seeking aid from the wizard Niak, who demands three specific items to heal him. After retrieving these objects, Niak is exposed as the antagonist orchestrating events behind the scenes. The goblins then flee, cure their king by destroying a voodoo doll controlling him, and ultimately defeat Niak.

The game comprises 22 single-screen puzzles that must be solved to proceed. Mistakes can injure any goblin, decreasing a shared life meter; if this meter empties, the game ends. However, it is possible to complete levels without losing health.

Reception

The PC version received a 70% score from Powerplay, while Amiga and Atari ST editions earned 69%. In 1993, Computer Gaming World highlighted its appeal to more mature players due to challenging puzzles and described it as enjoyable for casual gamers. The 1994 multimedia CD release garnered praise for enhanced soundtracks. Additionally, Dragon magazine awarded it a perfect score of five stars in 1993. In 2011, Bulkypix re-released the title for iOS devices.

Gobliins 2: The Prince Buffoon (1992)

In Gobliins 2, gameplay involves controlling two characters: Fingus, an intelligent yet timid goblin, and Winkle, who is strong but less clever. Their objective is to rescue the King's son—the Prince Buffoon—who has been kidnapped by the antagonist Amoniak. Each goblin interacts with items differently, and this sequel introduces navigation between rooms in both directions as well as simultaneous character commands that create timing-based puzzles. Unlike its predecessor, neither character can perish during gameplay.

Critical Response

Gobliins 2 was met with predominantly favorable critiques, with most publications assigning scores ranging from 70% to 90%, although CU Amiga offered a notably lower rating of 40%. In its August 1993 issue, Computer Gaming World emphasized the game's demanding puzzles and enhanced user interface. By April 1994, the same magazine remarked that the sequel remained as engaging as its predecessor, particularly praising the CD edition for its upgraded audio and voice performances.

Goblins Quest 3 (1993)

Originally named Goblins 3, the title was changed to Goblins Quest 3 following Sierra's involvement to align it with their established Quest franchise, which includes King's Quest, Police Quest, and Space Quest.

The player takes control of Blount, a goblin accompanied by companions such as Chump the parrot, Ooya the magician, and Fulbert the snake. Early in the storyline, Blount suffers a wolf bite that causes him to sporadically transform into a formidable werewolf persona. The game comprises 18 levels, many exceeding screen size and featuring scrolling mechanics, with certain areas interconnected. A significant plot revelation identifies Blount as the abducted prince from Gobliins 2: The Prince Buffoon.

Critical Response

The title garnered mostly positive evaluations, with scores typically between 75% and 85%, though CU Amiga assigned a lower score of 53%. Computer Gaming World commended its humor, narrative twists, and "vibrant, expressive" VGA visuals, recommending it to both novice and veteran adventure gamers.

In 1994, PC Gamer US placed Goblins Quest 3 at number 42 in its list of greatest computer games and honored it with "Best Puzzle Game" in 1995, spotlighting its challenging puzzles that cater to experienced players.

Gobliiins 4 (2009)

Released in March 2009, Gobliiins 4 brought back the original trio of characters under the creative direction of Pierre Gilhodes and Muriel Tramis. Developed by Société Pollene and produced by Russian firm Snowball Studios, this installment introduced three-dimensional graphics while preserving gameplay mechanics similar to earlier entries. The game received mixed feedback, holding an average score of 56.5% on GameRankings. IT Reviews found it enjoyable but remarked that some puzzle solutions felt somewhat restrictive; meanwhile, Adventure Gamers awarded it an 80% rating, describing it as "one of the most charming releases this year."

Gobliiins 5: The Morgloton Invasion (2023)

Launched in 2023 on Itch.io and subsequently on Steam, Gobliiins 5: The Morgloton Invasion was successfully financed through crowdfunding campaigns on Ulule and Kickstarter. It reunites the original goblins—Oups, Asgard, and Ignatius—who embark on a mission to investigate a mysterious magical beam transforming individuals into anthropomorphic potatoes. Created using Adventure Game Studio, this entry returns to a level-based structure featuring 16 single-screen stages and continues the series’ tradition of no game-over scenarios.

Legacy

The small dragon character from Goblins Quest 3 appears in both story mode and creation mode within Playtoons 1: Uncle Archibald.

See also

External links

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