Part 22: We Built this City with Brick and Stone

Quest for Glory 2: Trial by Fire


Following up on the success of the hastily renamed Quest for Glory, Trial by Fire takes the hero to the Arabian Nights-inspired nation of Shapier. Like the first game, it uses the SCI interface with EGA graphics, but unlike its sequel, it did not get a VGA makeover…until now. That’s right, there’s a freeware game redesigner out there that can actually get the job done. I was as surprised as you when I found out.



Chapter 1: We Built this City with Brick and Stone


This entire credits sequence follows our friends here as they travel by carpet. I will be following the EGA version of this game primarily, mostly because I am by far more familiar with it. However, to avoid missing out on the graphics update and to show off the extra stuff that AGDI inserted into its revision (both good and bad points), the fighter in the alternate dimension will be played through using the VGA remake. Character portraits will also be provided by the newer version. Ah, but it looks like Nike finally made it to the city.


Opening theme.

No no, that outfit simply will not do.


*Swish*


Now you look like a hero, Shapier style.


The new menu has an extra button on it. See if you can guess which one it is.


That’s right, we can import characters from the first game! It’s as easy as selecting the right .sav file and—hey, I see you up there, title bar! Don’t you be getting all sarcastic with me!


And with a quick name change, Nike von Slartibartfast becomes official. Sadly, Quest for Glory 2 doesn’t give a point pool to imported characters, probably figuring (rightly) that they’d have high enough stats on their own. This does get allowed in the last three games, however (even when it honestly wouldn’t make sense), plus the remake tosses in a good 25 bonus points to play around with. Also, I hope you hit “introduction” first, because pressing the “start game” button jumps you straight into the action.


Character Selection and Katta's Tale Inn.

You know, I never did quite believe Shameen when he said he set up the inn back in Spielburg in only a week, but after seeing him do it, I gotta say I’m impressed.
Ha! Well, I suppose the money I received from giving the Sultan my magic carpet had something to do with the matter, eh?
Yeah, I was actually kind of wondering about my cut of that.
I seem to recall, friend, that you were the one who said “Keep your money, Abdulla, the Baron’s reward for my deeds is more than enough compensation.”
Well yeah, but that was before I heard the Sultan say “I shall make you rich beyond your wildest imaginings!” And let me tell you, Abdulla, I’ve got one heck of an imagination.
Ah, let us not talk of money, friend. It puts me off my saurus wing.
Fine. So what was it you were saying about needing a hero? Shapier looks fine to me.
It is not Shapier the city that is in need of help, friend, so much as Shapier the land! Far to the south is another city, Rasier, Shapier’s sister-city. At least it was, anyway, before its magical fountain dried up. The emir, my brother Arus, has been deposed, and another sits on his throne. Since then, dark things are said to happen there. Travel has been restricted, but those who do come out speak of harsh laws and even harsher penalties.
Dude, sorry to hear about your brother.
To say the truth, Arus has always been a bit of a coward. They never found his body, so I am fairly certain that he is out hiding somewhere. Anyway, there is little you can do from here, and there are still two weeks before the next caravan leaves for Rasier. So sit back with me and enjoy yourself until then!
I think I’d rather explore the city and see what I can find. Oh hey, what was that you were saying about Sheema dancing? Because I’m not sure how that’s supposed to excite me.
It is an acquired taste, my friend, trust me.
I’m half worried that you’re right about that. Well, I guess I should be going now; the city won’t explore itself.


Just thought I should take a time out now and explain the new (old) interface. Holding the cursor on the title bar brings up the menu, which takes you to other information screens as well as several shortcuts for the command field.


For example, this is the inventory screen. As you can see, the armor, daggers, and lockpicking equipment made the transfer, while my rations (I actively ran out while in the brigand fortress) have reset to 5. The potions, on the other hand, are all gone, including the two I nicked from the bandit leader’s desk. You’ll also note that a waterskin has been added to the equipment; naturally, having enough water is an important thing to keep track of in a dry climate like this, and while some will be consumed automatically by wandering through the city, you’ll run out faster if you travel by day in the desert. Finally, considering that the normal hero would start the game with just the 150 gold pieces from the bandit beating and Elsa finding, Nike is doing pretty well for himself.

Also, on the right you’ll see where they stuck the spell experience section before they had an overhead menu. As you can see, the game was kind enough to give us zap (and a full 100 experience in it!) for free, even though we never learned it in the first game.


This is the command field. Everything aside from walking around and looking (left and right click, respectively) can only be done through typing it in here. Considering that games like these overlapped with the end of text-based adventure games, they follow the same command structure, with “ask about” filling the conversation system, and other things like “fight” or “cast ___” also handled by the field.


And now, a quick demonstration of the advantages of VGA graphics.


All those extra colors sure add up, don’t they?

Shameen, how’s it hanging?
The day finds me well, sir. Merely a week gone by, and the Katta’s Tale Inn is already the cultural center of the city. Where else can you hear the poet Omar tell his stories? Where else can you see my Sheema dance?
…I’ll have to catch that sometime, won’t I? _{Still don’t know what to think of a girl covered in fur.} By the way, I’ve been meaning to ask you about my room. I mean, it’s a nice, big, fur-covered bed, but I don’t think I can afford—
Say no more, Hero of Spielburg. For what you did for me and my life mate, there shall always be a bed and a meal waiting for you here, no money required.
Really? Wow, thanks! Man, I could get used to this Hero thing. Oh hey, do you know anything about the Rasier thing Abdulla was talking about?
To tell the truth, finding a hero was our goal in leaving Shapier. We Katta consider Rasier to be our own home, the center of our people, but lately many of us have been forced out of the city. Most of the refugees came to Shapier, but it is not the same, you see?
_{Mostly it all just seems too damn hot to me.} Well, I’ll do what I can for you guys.


Hey, what’s that? Silly clowns?


I think we all know the only right answer to this one.

Ah, before you leave, Nike my friend, I found this in the bazaar and thought that you would appreciate it.
The Famous Adventurer’s Correspondence School Advanced Adventuring Course! Thanks, Abdulla, you’re the greatest!