KQ8 reviews

KQ8: Mask of Eternity

There was a mixed response to the game, although most reviews tended to be positive, with the majority of ratings 70% or higher, some reviews dipped as low as 10%.

King's Quest: Mask of Eternity was released to generally positive, but mixed reviews,. However, it sold comparatively well to other adventure games at the time; for example, it outsold Grim Fandango 2 to 1. (Grim Fandango sold around 500,000 copies at the time), and was the best selling King's Quest game, or roughly around a million copies. However, the adventure game genre as a whole was not successful in comparison to other video games at the time, which effectively bringing about the end of the King's Quest series. Some reviewers were accepting of the rpg/action sequences, but others felt it took away from the Adventure genre. It was one of the top sixteen best selling adventure games in 2001 three years after its release (and roughly about the tenth best selling adventure game).

Some reviewers have criticised Mask of Eternity for deviating from the graphic adventure style in favor of an action/adventure style. Also criticised is the fact that the game has almost nothing to do with the first seven games. In some cases they criticised its darker style. ^{[citation needed]}

However, several of the previous KQ games are meant to be stand alone, and have little to do with the previous games in the series (with only a few passing references to elements of the previous games), or re-imagined and reused elements (Crystal Dragons, Ice Queens, Unicorns, Wizards & Witches, etc). Mask of Eternity is similar to the previous games in that it builds on the Kingdom of Daventry as a starting point (or in KQ3 an ending point); with standard King's Quest themes such as Castle Daventry, Magic Mirror, & King Graham (and Valanice), and explores original lands outside Daventry (the pattern of the series as a whole). The story follows a lowly knight (much like young Sir Graham), who is set a quest to save the kingdom (ala Quest for the Crown). Along the way he encounters creatures of mythology, legend, and fairy tale. Thus Mask of Eternity returns to the roots of the series, but takes things in a more epic direction. Even portion of Daventry explored in the game is a new area, the town of Daventry, which had only previously been mentioned in the early manuals and books. Many of these details are pointed out in the more positive reviews. Roberta Williams compared the walking and exploration and keyboard controls to that used in the original King's Quest game, and its darker 'atmosphere' to King's Quest 3.

The game earned Adventure Game of the Year at Digital Entertainment On-line "One of the year's biggest and most exciting new adventure games." - Computer Gaming World "For over a decade, the King's Quest series has entertained millions of gamers the world over. And now, with a brand-new 3D engine, the series is in a position to reinvent the adventure gaming genre..." - Games.net "I can honestly say it (Mask of Eternity) is the singular BEST PC GAME I've ever played. Unbelievable!" - AOL Games Channel

It also a Adventure Game of the Year Nominee with Computer Gaming World.

• Adventure Classic Gaming 01/01/99 Review 5 out of 5
• Computer & Video Games UK 08/15/01 Review 1 out of 10
• PC Zone UK 08/13/01 Review 89 out of 100
• Quandary 12/18/98 Review 2 out of 5
• Electric Playground 04/26/04 Review 7 out of 10
• GameSpot 12/29/98 Review 7.6 out of 10
• Adventure Gamers09/09/02 Review 3.5 out of 5
• Just Adventure 08/03/02 Review B
• Independent Gamer 06/27/02 Review 2 out of 5
• PC Gamer UK 01/01/80 Review 86 out of 100
• http://uk.ign.com/articles/1999/01/09/kings-quest-viii-mask-of-eternity-2
• http://www.gamerevolution.com/review/32905-its-good-to-be-the-king-review
• http://www.escmag.com/v5/reviews/review.cfm?rv=136 6/10
• http://www.thecomputershow.com/computershow/reviews/kingsquest8mask.htm
• https://gamerbase.zophar.net/other/reviews/review-kq8.htm
• http://www.gamesfirst.com/reviews/Neal/KQ8/kq8.htm
• http://www.cdaccess.com/html/pc/kingsq8.htm