King's Quest III: To Heir Is Human (AGD Interactive)

King's Quest III: To Heir Is Human Redux
Developer(s)	AGD Interactive/Himalaya Studios
Series	King's Quest (unofficial)
Engine	Adventure Game Studio
Platform(s)	Microsoft Windows, Macintosh
Release date(s)	2011
Genre(s)	Adventure
Distribution	digital download

King's Quest III: To Heir Is Human (aka King's Quest III Redux, King's Quest III Redux: To Heir Is Human and King's Quest III: To Heir Is Human Redux) is a fangame remake/retelling of Sierra Entertainment's King's Quest III: To Heir Is Human continuing from King's Quest II: Romancing the Stones.^[1][2] It was developed by AGD Interactive and released in February 2011 under fan license of Sierra Entertainment (subsidiary of Activision Blizzard). It expands on the story of the original game, and continues the story of the villainous Father, introduced in the previous game. It introduces many new situations to the original King's Quest III.

Background

The young baby Gwydion is kidnapped from his castle by the evil Wizard Manannan (a member of the Black Cloak Society), to grow up as his slave. As is the tradition of the evil wizard, he will kill the boy upon his eighteenth birthday. That date is fast approaching, and it is up to Gwydion to escape the wizard, and find his way home.

Along the way Gwydion discovers his true heritage, of being the Prince Alexander, and that his homeland is nearing destruction. He defeats the wizard, and escapes Llewdor on board a ship. The pirates on board capture him intending to make him a slave. Their first order of business takes them to Treasure Island, where they force Alexander to find an ancient treasure of the legendary pirate Seran. Alexander successfully finds the treasure, and the pirates sail on towards Daventry. Alexander escapes and makes his way across the mountains into Daventry, saves it from evil three-headed dragon and the machinations of The Father.

Geography

• Llewdor: Llewdor is a land bounded by the Llewdorian desert and Shapeir to the west and the sea to the east. Large bluffs rise to the north, and a fence blocks passage to the south. It is ruled by Manannan who spies on its inhabitants from his mountain retreat. Bandits patrol the woods from their treehouse hideout. The Three Bears and the Oracle make their homes there as well. The town of Port Bruce is the only sign of civilization in the whole land. It is the location of a Tavern, a General Store, and a Library. It is a draw to ruffians and pirates. The desert is the home to sauruses, jackalman, lizards, snakes, and the gorgon Smaude. The latter lives in a darkened cave in the northern reach of the desert.
• Treasure Island: This is an island between Llewdor and Daventry. It is a jungle island filled with traps where the First Mage, pirate lord Seran hid his treasures, and some of the treasures of the First King Legenimor. Tiles are scattered throughout the jungle needed to activate a magical gate leading to hidden treasure. A wrong choice leads to death in Shapeir. Whoever made it past the gate, then had to prove they were worthy of obtaining the treasure from the spirit of Seran. Treasure Island is a nod to the novel by Robert Louis Stevenson, which was also referenced in AGD Interactive's previous game.
• Kingdom of Daventry: The kingdom of Daventry is governed by King Graham and his family. After The Father cursed Graham, the kingdom fell into despair when it was invaded by a three-headed dragon. The dragon laid waste to much of the kingdom until an agreement was reached that it was given a sacrifice of a female from Daventry.
• Cloud Mountain & Cloudland: This mountain was previously explored by King Graham in his search for Daventry's lost treasures. Some of the clouds are walkable, but there are plenty of pitfalls. The three-headed dragon made its roost here when it invaded Daventry. When Alexander returns to Daventry, he must climb the mountain to save Rosella. The bridge to the old path Graham once took is destroyed, so Alexander uses a new stairway to the top. This stairway was actually the original stairway from the original version of the first game.
• Shapeir: Alexander may accidentally be dropped into Shapeir's Forbidden City if the player is not careful. This is not a good situation for a character that cannot swim. Shapeir is also said to be a land west of the Llewdorian desert. Shapeir is a land from Quest for Glory II, and appears in AGD Interactive's Quest for Glory II remake. In that game, Alexander can be seen falling off a waterfall and bobbing down river. In KQ3 Redux it is possible to cause Alexander to end up in that situation through an improper use of a magical gate on Treasure Island.

Characters

• Gwydion/Alexander - Born Alexander, crown prince of the kingdom of Daventry, son of King Graham and Queen Valanice, and twin brother of Rosella, Gwydion is the protagonist of the game. He was kidnapped from his cradle at a young age by the wizard Manannan. He grew up forced to be the sorcerer's slave. He discovers letters and journal of the previous Gwydion, and learns that he is fated to die in the coming weeks when he turns eighteen. The point of the game is to learn the mystical spells needed to overcome his master, learn his true identity, escape the land, and ultimately save his kingdom. He is voiced by Robert Adamson, best known for his role as Charles Antoni on the television series Lincoln Heights.^[3]
• Manannan - He is the brother of Hagatha (King's Quest II: Romancing the Stones) and Mordack (King's Quest V: Absence Makes the Heart Go Yonder!) and a member of the Black Cloak Society. He kidnapped young Alexander under the orders of The Father (to fulfill the curse first mentioned in the previous game). He has always kept young boys named Gwydion, keeping them until their eighteenth birthday before finally killing them. Voiced by John Bell (who did the voice for the narrator in the AGD Interactive's King's Quest trilogy, and a role in Journey to the Center of the Earth video game in 2003^[4]).
• Barmaid: The barmaid is very flirtatious with male customers, despite being married. She gives Gwydion a lute if he plays it for the tavern. Played by Caroline O'Meara, who had a small role in The Pawn (2010)^[5]
• Storekeeper: He has a dog named Hank, and his store provides many of the items Gwydion needs for the spells he must use. Played by Clay Robeson, who has been in previous TV and movie roles.^[6]
• Hank: He is the loyal dog of the shopkeeper of Llewdor in King's Quest III redux. He loves to get his ears scratched. Hank replaced the dog Kenny from the original KQ3.
• Smaude: Smaude was once a beautiful woman. Spurned by too many men, she developed a cold hatred for them. In time, she became cursed and was transformed into a monstrous gorgon. Unable to be out in public, she moved into a cave in the Llewdorian desert. Many men traveled to the cave attempting to defeat her, but failed and turned to stone. Gwydion entered her cave and attempted to take a treasure there. Smaude questioned his motives, and after hearing his answers, she bid him to look upon her form. Gwydion overcame his fear choosing to look on her under his own free will, as he had a pure heart, he was immune to her gaze. Finally shown that not all men are evil, the curse was broken and she returned to her true form. Later, she is seen returning to the village. The player is actually given the choice of defeating her the classic way (showing her reflection via Manannan's hand mirror) or attempt to redeem her (breaking the curse and giving her the mirror). Voiced by Lori Ann Cole (one of the developers/producers of the Quest for Glory series), who had previously done the voice of Queen Icebella in King's Quest V.
• Minstrel: The minstrel is a new character introduced into King's Quest III Redux, taken from a character in King's Quest IV. He is a poet, but not a very good one. Gwydion convinces him to change career paths and become a minstrel. Although not really stated, this may be a hint of a remake for KQ4 that may be made in the future by AGD.
• Oracle: A mysterious being who calls out to Gywdion in his dreams. Gwydion finds her cave, but must use a spell to deal with the giant spider blocking it. After finding a mandrake in her cave, the Oracle appears and reveals Gwydion's true heritage.
• Captain Bludlit: Captain Bludlit is the leader of the pirates of Eusperia. He is a slaver and terrorizes the coasts between Llewdor and Daventry. Voiced by John Bell (who also did the narrator work for AGD Interactive's King's Quest Trilogy, and a few other assorted characters)
• Yeti: An ice monster living on the mountains of Daventry. He attempts to capture and eat Alexander, who manages to elude him. After Alexander outwits him, the yeti says that he plans to go back to Serenia, which is a homage to the yeti King Graham faces in King's Quest V.
• Rosella: The sister of Alexander. She is to be sacrificed to the three-headed dragon. She is played by a professional Screen Actor's Guild member under the pseudonym "Sara Blaine" to protect her acting credentials. She had previously done material in Pixar/Disney material.^[7]
• Valanice: Voiced by Rachael Faught, who reprised her role from King's Quest II: Romancing the Stones.
• Graham: The king of Daventry. Times have been tough, and his land has been invaded by the three-headed dragon, and The Father demands the Crown to his kingdom. Josh Mandel (the developer/producer of King's Quest I: Quest for the Crown remake) reprised his role from previous KQ games. He had previously been the voice of King Graham in King's Quest V and King's Quest VI, and other fan remakes by AGD Interactive and Infamous Adventures.
• Gnome: A returning character from King's Quest I VGA. Christopher T. Warren reprised his role from AGD Interactive's King's Quest I VGA, and he did other assorted voices in AGD Interactives trilogy as well, as well as a few TV and movie parts.^[8]
• Seran: Seran is an ancient Pirate Lord, and one of the First Mages. He once served Legenimor, the first king of Daventry, and holds some of legendary king's secrets. He is now a ghost and haunts the treasure, only giving it up to those who are worthy to receive it. He is voiced by Bob Noble, who had roles in diverse range of movies and TV shows including a part in Green Acres.^[9]
• Three Behrs: George Behr, Mildred Behr, and Baby Behr, are a family of anthropomorphic bears living in the land of Llewdor. They keep a tidy house, and always have a nice bowl of porridge out for when they return from their morning walks. Obviously, they are based off the bear family from the famous fairy tale The Three Bears.
• Bandits: A gang of ruffians that prey on innocent people in Llewdor. They will rob Gwydion of his inventory if he encounters them. He can reclaim it if he finds their hideout, which is hidden in a tree that is accessible by pulling on a rope hidden in the tree.
• Cat: Manannan's nasty pet. Gwydion pulls some of its fur as it is needed for a spell.
• The Father: He is the leader of the Black Cloak Society originally seen in Romancing the Stones. He is Manannan's master, and the one behind Alexander's kidnapping in order to fulfill the first of three curses put on Daventry. He is terrorizing Daventry, attempting to gain the Crown of Daventry, one of Legenimor's great treasures, to help in his search for The Item, an object of great power. Alexander encounters The Father in the burned woods, but he does not show much interest in the returned prince, and ultimately ignores him after a brief conversation. After he returns to the castle, Alexander learns he has inadvertently brought The Item to Daventry, where it is shattered, and the pieces discovered by The Father. Voiced by TamTu Bui who did the voice of The Father in King's Quest II: Romancing the Stones.
• Seagull: Voiced by Sean V. Crisden who did the voice of Llowh'wof in King's Quest II: Romancing the Stones, and additional characters in Redux.^[10]

Development

Title

The game shares its title with the original version of the game. The term King's Quest III Redux appears in the files and the interface.

Reception

The game has been well received in the gaming press, with largely positive reviews.^[11] CNN praised it as an example of a return to retro gaming.^{[12][13][14][15][16][17][18]}

See also

• King's Quest III: To Heir Is Human (Sierra)
• King's Quest III: To Heir Is Human (Infamous Adventures)
• King's Quest I: Quest for the Crown (AGD Interactive)
• King's Quest II: Romancing the Stones
• Quest for Glory II: Trial By Fire (AGD Interactive)
• Al Emmo and the Lost Dutchman's Mine

External links

• Retro games big in 2011 (CNN coverage of KQ3 Redux)
• KQ3 Redux announcement on IGN
• KQ3 Redux (IMDB)
• King's Quest Fan games recall and rewrite the good old days (WCF Courier)
• Games Radar's top thirty free games

References