Quest for Glory II: Trial by Fire is the second video game in Sierra On-Line's Quest for Glory series. It follows the first game, Hero's Quest: So You Want to Be a Hero.
Gameplay
The game uses a text-based system where players type commands to make their character perform actions. These commands come from a specific list, though players may not know all the options at first.
The game continues the story of its earlier version but includes differences in how it is played. Most of the game takes place in a fictional city, and the story must be completed within 30 days. Some puzzles can only be solved after specific days, which keeps the story moving in a clear, step-by-step way. The game is hard to navigate because of its unusual view and map system. The city’s maze-like layout was used as a simple way to encourage players to buy the game manual, which includes a map needed to complete early challenges. This difficulty decreases once the player finds a magical map that instantly moves the character to key locations.
Players can improve their character’s abilities, explore extra tasks, and choose careers that match their class and skills. For example, a magic user can earn the title of "Wizard" by completing magical challenges with the help of a character named Erasmus and graduating from the Wizards’ Institute of Technocery. A fighter can join the Eternal Order of Fighters, and a thief can complete tasks like stealing the Maltese Falcon. Players are not blocked from side quests based on their class. For instance, a fighter with some magic skills (like one brought over from a previous game) can use those skills to finish other quests. It is possible for a character to become a Wizard, complete all thefts, and join the Eternal Order of Fighters.
The game includes references to popular culture, such as the Cookie Monster, and hidden surprises, like wearing X-ray glasses at a certain time to see a character without clothing.
This is the first game in the series where the hero can earn the title of Paladin. To do this, the hero must act honorably throughout the game. A character named Rakeesh, who is part lion and part centaur, will give the hero a special sword called Soulforge at the end of the game. The Paladin abilities and Soulforge can only be used by characters who are brought into later games in the series, such as Quest for Glory III: Wages of War.
The game includes a real-time combat system, where actions happen continuously without waiting for turns.
Plot
The story is based on several Middle Eastern myths and tales, such as those found in Arabian Nights.
In Quest for Glory II, the action takes place in the city of Shapeir and the surrounding areas, which are also home to Katta, creatures that resemble cats but have human-like features. Immediately after the events of the first game, the Hero of Spielburg, who has been declared a hero, travels by flying carpet with his friends Abdulla Doo, Shameen, and Shema to the desert city of Shapeir. The city faces danger from magical beings representing fire, earth, wind, and water. At the same time, the Emir of Shapeir’s sister city, Raseir, named Arus al-Din, is missing, and Raseir is ruled by a tyrant.
After the Hero defeats the four magical beings threatening Shapeir, he travels to Raseir, where the city’s leader is missing. There, the Hero is captured by Khaveen and, while under hypnosis, helps the evil wizard Ad Avis bring back the genie Iblis. In the final battle, the Hero attacks Ad Avis’s palace and fights him. Ad Avis is defeated and dies, calling for help from his Dark Master. As a reward for freeing Raseir and restoring its former glory, the Sultan of Shapeir, Harun al-Rashid, adopts the Hero as his son.
Development
According to Corey Cole, a developer and producer for the game, Quest for Glory II cost $450,000. Trial by Fire was the final EGA game created by Sierra On-Line. It used development processes meant for later VGA games, which made its creation more difficult.
The game’s manual was illustrated by Marvel Comics artist Ernie Chan.
Quest for Glory II is the only game in the series without any direct involvement from Erana. However, she is mentioned in one of the portraits of great mages at the Wizards’ Institute of Technocery. If the Hero asks for her sponsorship during his wizard initiation, he is told that Erana has not responded to the Institute’s summons for many years.
The game includes several Easter eggs, such as the Starship Enterprise from the television series Star Trek appearing during the opening credits. The astrologer in the game is based on the historical figure Omar Khayyám.
Like other games in the series, Quest for Glory II contains many jokes and references to myths, especially from The Arabian Nights. For example, the Sultan in the game is named Harun al-Rashid.
The game also features references to classic films. The caravan scene is inspired by the movie Lawrence of Arabia. Characters like Signor Ferrari and Ugarte, played by Sydney Greenstreet and Peter Lorre in Casablanca, appear in the city of Raseir. The Maltese Falcon from the movie of the same name is also present in the game. Caricatures of the Marx Brothers play important roles.
In magician Keapon Laffin’s shop, there are references to other games and movies, including a doll of Princess Rosella from the King’s Quest series, a Cookie Monster doll, and an Antwerp doll (a reference to the first game in the series).
The final city in the game is Raseir, an anagram for Sierra, the company that created the game. The antagonist, Ad Avis, is named after Bill Davis, Sierra’s creative director at the time. These names were chosen as parodies, reflecting changes in Sierra’s creative direction. Raseir is described as an Orwellian city, and Ad Avis is portrayed as a totalitarian leader.
Reception
Although the game is generally well liked, some people had different opinions about how time is managed in the game, with some critics saying it seemed unfair.
A UK magazine called ACE gave the Amiga version a score of 600 out of 1000. The magazine praised the game's size but said the graphics were average, the music was annoying, the game was slow, and it required a lot of disk swapping while playing. In 1991, the magazine Dragon gave the game 5 out of 5 stars. Computer Gaming World said the game was more linear and less fun to play again than its earlier version, but it had a very strong ending.
Michael Baker and Tyler Willis from RPGamer both gave the game 4 out of 5 stars. They praised the game's strong story, excellent writing, and good graphics.
In 2011, Adventure Gamers ranked Quest for Glory II as the 81st-best adventure game ever released.
Legacy
QFG II is the only game in the series that was not created or updated beyond the EGA graphics engine by Sierra On-Line. However, AGD Interactive released a VGA version of the game using the Adventure Game Studio engine on August 24, 2008.