Over three decades ago, the King’s Quest series launched, and would eventually come to define point-and-click adventure titles. In 2015, Sierra Entertainment and developer The Odd Gentlemen released the first episode of King’s Quest, a re-imagining of the series as an episodic exploration game. Chapter 3: Once Upon a Climb brings the story to about its mid-point.
Chapter 2 received some criticism for its lack of variety in playable locations, something Chapter 3 remedies. Sceneries are sprawling and gorgeous, with gameplay often shifting playable character King Graham to one side to let players take in some of the well-crafted, at times breath-taking, backdrops and environments. As far as gameplay goes, not much is different; The Odd Gentlemen have been polishing the controls as the series goes, but most of the kinks were worked out after the first episode.
Once Upon a Climb features a change of pace, with a strong focus on Graham building relationships with other characters via the game’s many dialogue and puzzle sequences. This is an area where King’s Quest shines; the characters are strong, likeable, and well-acted throughout. The episode culminates in a fast-paced, emotional climax powered by strong visuals and an epic score, and the ending depends on the player’s choices, something the game has been weaker on in past episodes.
