Quest for Glory II: Trial by Fire
| Industry | Video games |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1980 |
| Founder | Ken Williams, Roberta Williams |
| Headquarters | Oakhurst, California , United States |
| Products | Quest for Glory series |
Quest for Glory II: Trial by Fire represents the second installment in the Quest for Glory series by Sierra On-Line, succeeding Hero's Quest: So You Want to Be a Hero.
Gameplay
This installment employs a text parser system, requiring players to enter commands from a predefined list to interact with the game world. While it retains the core mechanics of its predecessor, it introduces unique gameplay elements. The majority of the adventure unfolds within a fictional urban environment over a strict 30-day period, with numerous puzzles accessible exclusively on certain days, which enforces a linear storyline. Players face navigation difficulties due to an unconventional viewpoint and a labyrinthine city design, originally intended as an early form of digital rights management—initial quests posed significant challenges without the map included in the game’s manual. However, this is alleviated once players obtain a magical map that allows instantaneous travel to important locations.
Character progression is central, with opportunities to engage in side quests and develop careers aligned with one’s class and abilities. For instance, magic practitioners can ascend to "Wizards" by completing trials at the Wizards' Institute of Technocery; fighters may enlist in the Eternal Order of Fighters; and thieves undertake various heists, including stealing the Maltese Falcon. Notably, class boundaries are flexible—players can cross-train to pursue objectives beyond their primary role, enabling feats such as becoming a Wizard, mastering all thefts, and joining the fighters’ guild concurrently.
The game is peppered with numerous pop culture nods and hidden surprises, including wearing X-ray glasses to uncover secret content. A significant addition is the option to earn the prestigious Paladin title. Players who demonstrate honorable conduct receive Soulforge, the Paladin sword, from Rakeesh, a liontaur. This title and its associated powers become accessible when importing characters into Quest for Glory III: Wages of War and later entries.
Combat operates in real-time, enhancing player involvement throughout the journey.
Plot
Set in Shapeir, a desert metropolis inhabited by humanoid felines known as Katta, Quest for Glory II follows events after the first game. The Hero of Spielburg travels via flying carpet accompanied by Abdulla Doo, Shameen, and Shema to Shapeir, which faces threats from elemental forces representing fire, earth, wind, and water. The nearby city Raseir suffers under tyranny after its Emir Arus al-Din disappears.
After overcoming the elemental adversaries, the Hero proceeds to Raseir where he is captured and coerced by Khaveen into assisting the oppressive wizard Ad Avis in reviving the malevolent genie Iblis. Ultimately, the Hero assaults the palace, defeats Ad Avis, and is honored by Sultan Harun al-Rashid of Shapeir with adoption as his son for liberating Raseir and restoring its prosperity.
Development
According to Corey Cole, who served as developer and producer, Quest for Glory II had a development budget of $450,000. It marked Sierra On-Line’s final release utilizing Enhanced Graphics Adapter (EGA) technology while being developed under processes intended for subsequent VGA titles, adding complexity to its creation. The game’s manual includes artwork by Marvel Comics illustrator Ernie Chan.
Characters and references
Distinct from other titles in the series, Quest for Glory II does not feature direct connections to Erana, although a portrait nod appears at the Wizards' Institute of Technocery. The game is sprinkled with numerous hidden references, including the Starship Enterprise featured in the opening sequence and an astrologer character inspired by Omar Khayyám.
The narrative incorporates a wealth of mythological and cultural allusions drawn from The Arabian Nights, such as the use of Sultan Harun al-Rashid’s name. Additionally, it references iconic films: a caravan scene reminiscent of Lawrence of Arabia, appearances by characters Signor Ferrari and Ugarte from Casablanca within Raseir, alongside the Maltese Falcon prop; and caricatured versions of the Marx Brothers who play pivotal roles.
Within magician Keapon Laffin’s shop, players can find Easter eggs referencing other games and media, including a princess Rosella doll from the King's Quest franchise and a Cookie Monster figurine.
The final city, Raseir—an anagram of Sierra—and its villain Ad Avis (a play on Sierra’s creative director Bill Davis) act as satirical elements reflecting internal shifts at Sierra. Raseir is depicted as an Orwellian metropolis, while Ad Avis embodies its authoritarian ruler.
Reception
Overall, the game was met with favorable critiques, though its time management system received divided opinions, with some reviewers deeming it arbitrary. The UK publication ACE assigned the Amiga version a score of 600 out of 1000, praising its ambition but noting average visuals, repetitive audio, sluggish performance, and frequent disk swaps as drawbacks. Conversely, Dragon magazine awarded it a perfect 5-star rating in 1991. Computer Gaming World commented that while the game was more linear and offered less replay value than its predecessor, its ending was notably strong.
RPGamer’s Michael Baker and Tyler Willis each rated the title 4 out of 5 stars, commending its engaging storyline, high-quality writing, and visual design. In 2011, Adventure Gamers placed Quest for Glory II at number 81 on their list of top adventure games ever made.
Legacy
Among the series entries, Quest for Glory II stands out as the only one without an official remake beyond its original EGA graphics version by Sierra On-Line. Nevertheless, in 2008, AGD Interactive developed a VGA remake utilizing the Adventure Game Studio engine.