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Space Quest II

From Alfawiki
Sierra On-Line
IndustryVideo game development and publishing
Founded1980
Headquarters
United States
ProductsSpace Quest series, including Space Quest II: Vohaul's Revenge

Space Quest II: Chapter II – Vohaul's Revenge (often referred to simply as Space Quest II: Vohaul's Revenge) is a graphic adventure game that debuted on November 14, 1987, developed by Sierra On-Line. Serving as the follow-up to Space Quest I, the title utilizes Sierra's AGI system and centers on janitor Roger Wilco as he faces off against the antagonist responsible for previous events.

Upon release, the game enjoyed commercial success and received acclaim for its more intricate puzzles and broader narrative, although certain aspects faced some critique. The series continued with Space Quest III in 1989. A fan-driven remake emerged in 2011, offering upgraded graphics, refined gameplay mechanics, additional animations, and comprehensive voiceovers.

Setting

The narrative of Space Quest II unfolds within a universe that satirizes prominent science-fiction franchises such as Star Wars and Star Trek. Taking place several months after the events of Space Quest I, it follows Roger Wilco, who previously saved his planet Xenon from the Sariens by destroying the Star Generator. To assist players, a comic-style manual provides a summary of earlier happenings.

Story

Months after his heroic deeds, Roger assumes the role of Head Janitor aboard Xenon Orbital Station 4 but is soon captured and taken prisoner. He regains consciousness on an asteroid base orbiting Labion, overseen by Sludge Vohaul—a disgraced scientist from Xenon and creator of the Star Generator weapon. Banished for exploiting this technology for warfare, Vohaul seeks vengeance after Roger foiled his schemes by assembling an army of cloned insurance agents aimed at destroying Xenon.

Forced into servitude in Labion’s mines, Roger manages to escape following a transport crash in a jungle environment and commandeers a shuttle. However, Vohaul seizes control of the craft, recapturing him. Confined within the base once more, Roger infiltrates Vohaul’s command center but is miniaturized and locked inside a glass container. After breaking free, he sabotages Vohaul’s life-support system, causing his demise and restoring his original size. Activating the base’s self-destruct sequence, Roger escapes via an emergency pod but enters cryo sleep to conserve oxygen while drifting through space until rescue arrives.

Reception

In 1988, PC Magazine recognized Space Quest II as a demanding title, advising players to consult the hint book due to its challenging nature. The publication also praised its multiplayer appeal and "excellent" EGA graphics, noting that CGA visuals lacked detail. Computer Gaming World lauded improvements such as enhanced animation, more complex puzzles, an upgraded parser, and a wider scope compared to its predecessor but pointed out issues with vague object descriptions and an illogical hidden gem placement—particularly problematic with CGA graphics. The ST edition was described by Antic as more difficult with superior graphics relative to the first game. Meanwhile, Macworld applauded the humor evident in both animation and scripting.

Ranking fourth among Sierra's Top 5 Bestsellers, Space Quest II sold over 100,000 copies and earned the SPA Gold Medal. By March 1996, Sierra On-Line reported that total sales for the entire Space Quest series had exceeded 1.2 million units.

Remake

On April 1, 2007, Infamous Adventures announced plans for a remake of Space Quest II, designed in line with previous VGA remakes from the series. They released preview screenshots and a demo before officially launching the remake on December 31, 2011. This version introduced full voice acting along with expanded content.

External links

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