The Colonel's Bequest

Sierra On-Line
Company type	Private
Industry	Video games
Founded	1980; 46 years ago
Founder	Ken and Roberta Williams
Headquarters	Oakhurst, California, United States
Products	The Colonel's Bequest, The Dagger of Amon Ra, King's Quest series
Website	www.sierra.com

The Colonel's Bequest is a narrative-focused graphic adventure game developed and released by Sierra On-Line, starring the main character Laura Bow. Initially launched for MS-DOS in 1989, it was subsequently adapted for Amiga and Atari ST platforms in 1990. This game inaugurated the brief Laura Bow Mysteries series, conceived by Roberta Williams. It draws inspiration from Mystery House, with its follow-up, The Dagger of Amon Ra, arriving in 1992.

Gameplay

Powered by Sierra's Creative Interpreter (SCI), The Colonel's Bequest features 320x200 resolution with 16-color EGA visuals and supports audio devices including AdLib, Sound Blaster, and Roland MT-32. Alongside King's Quest IV, it was among the last Sierra releases to utilize a text parser interface before the company transitioned to VGA graphics and point-and-click mechanics.

The gameplay prioritizes interaction with characters over traditional puzzle-solving. Although solving puzzles contributes to the player's score, the core experience revolves around exploring character dynamics and uncovering backstories. Remarkably, it is possible to finish the game without resolving puzzles or identifying the culprit.

Scoring is discreet; upon completion, players receive feedback highlighting overlooked aspects to motivate multiple playthroughs. Characters follow predetermined routines, enabling players to observe their movements; however, excessive eavesdropping may irritate them—this manifests solely through dialogue changes without influencing the storyline.

Player fatalities typically stem from accidental causes such as falls or environmental dangers, aligning with Sierra’s signature style. Nevertheless, the antagonist becomes a direct menace in later stages, executing scripted assaults that include a memorable shower stabbing sequence inspired by Alfred Hitchcock’s Psycho.

Continuing Sierra’s tradition of incorporating "Quest" in adventure titles, this game’s name alludes to a bequest—meaning an inheritance or legacy.

Plot

Set in 1925, The Colonel's Bequest follows Laura Bow, a journalism student at Tulane University and daughter of a detective. Invited by her flapper companion Lillian, Laura spends a weekend at Colonel Dijon's deteriorating sugar plantation. When the reclusive Colonel summons his fractious relatives for the reading of his will, tensions escalate into murder.

Cut off on the island with potential suspects, Laura must unravel family secrets and identify the murderer in a classic whodunit fashion. An optional treasure hunt subplot is also available. The narrative unfolds in fifteen-minute increments triggered by Laura’s discoveries, with new chapters commencing every hour.

In the climax, Laura discovers a skeleton key on Lillian’s body that opens the attic where Colonel Dijon and Rudy are locked in a struggle over a syringe. Depending on Laura’s decision to shoot either the Colonel or Rudy, different endings unfold regarding inheritance and revelations about the murders and hidden treasure.

Characters

The story focuses on individuals who may be victims or suspects, many named after prominent 1920s figures such as Rudolph Valentino and Gloria Swanson, representing recognizable archetypes:

Laura Bow – The protagonist; Tulane journalism student and detective’s daughter.
Lillian Prune – Laura’s friend; daughter of Ethel with a troubled history.
Colonel Henri Dijon – Wealthy, eccentric owner of the plantation and veteran of the Spanish–American War.
Ethel Prune – The Colonel’s sister and Lillian’s alcoholic mother.
Gertrude "Gertie" Dijon – Widow of the Colonel’s brother; mother to Gloria and Rudy.
Gloria Swansong – Former Hollywood starlet suffering health issues; Gertie’s daughter.
Rudolph "Rudy" Dijon – Gertie’s son; gambler and womanizer.
Clarence Sparrow – The Colonel’s cunning attorney and Gloria’s former lover.
Dr. Wilbur C. Feels – The Colonel’s longstanding but questionable personal doctor.
Fifi – French maid serving secretly alongside Jeeves.
Jeeves – The silent butler maintaining the Colonel’s estate.
Celie – The cook from New Orleans; descendant of former slaves and Laura’s sole confidante.

Release

Initially launched in 1989, the game saw a re-release in 1993, coinciding with the debut of its sequel, The Dagger of Amon Ra. This updated edition resolved issues with special effects, notably enhancing the clarity and animation of fireflies during the introductory scenes. In 2017, GOG.com made an emulated version available for Microsoft Windows users.

Reception

At the time of its launch, The Colonel's Bequest garnered favorable critiques. Johnny L. Wilson from Computer Gaming World observed that the game's relatively low difficulty might not satisfy avid puzzle enthusiasts but commended its narrative focus, humor, and sound design, describing it as a "precursor to a particular genre of future entertainment software."

In May 1990, Games International awarded the title an 8 out of 10 for both gameplay and graphics, emphasizing its novel feature that allowed players to observe events rather than directly intervene. The publication also noted its distinctive appeal within Sierra's collection.

Looking back, Adventure Gamers gave the game a four-star rating out of five, acknowledging Roberta Williams' talent in creating a unique detective adventure. Adventure Classic Gaming similarly regarded it as one of her finest achievements and a notable entry in murder mystery gaming.

In 2011, Adventure Gamers placed The Colonel's Bequest at number 84 on their list of top adventure games ever produced.

Sequel

The follow-up title, The Dagger of Amon Ra (1992), continues the narrative of Laura Bow, who has become a journalist in New York City. The story centers on her investigation into a series of murders occurring within an Egyptian-themed museum.

External links

The Colonel's Bequest at Sierra Chest
The Colonel's Bequest at Vintage Sierra