Developer: Infamous Quests
Publisher: Phoenix Online Publishing
Platform: PC – Steam

Of all the classic adventure games of yore, the Quest for Glory series is remembered fondly by many. I was indeed a member of team Sierra in the past but somehow completely missed out on the entire series. Quest for Infamy definitely comes from a similar design mindset and as such is immediately liked by fans. But what of someone like me who has no built-in nostalgia for the Quest games?

As far as I’m concerned, the classic formula works incredibly well today. Quest for Infamy stars Roehm – a dude simply trying to travel through a town and be on his way. Of course, this plan gets screwed up when Roehm finds that the only bridge North was destroyed prior to his arrival. So, what do you do with your time stuck in town?

That’s where the game gets fun. You can talk to everyone in town and get involved in really long, useless conversations. There’s also tons of description text if you’re a player who loves seeing absolutely everything in a game. The humor holds up well in most instances, although there are some iffy jokes thrown about too.

After a bit of introduction you also get to choose which of three paths (Brigand, Rogue, Sorcerer) for Roehm. Each path grants a different set of quests to accomplish and make him more infamous with each act. By choosing Brigand I found myself making friends with a very interesting crew. Some story-specific quests also occur regardless of your group affiliation. Quests were highly enjoyable and as such definitely warrant at least one additional playthrough.

The battle mode is very distinct from other titles thanks to a turn-based but light fighting game style mechanic. Roehm has three main attack types and a block. Players click one option within three seconds and then the enemy makes their response move. Basically, it feels like a sort of rock, paper, scissors mechanic and unfortunately I didn’t find that fun. As I was very unlucky, enemies often managed to whittle me down to very low health constantly.

It is amazing that Quest for Infamy has graphics that in many ways seem true to the games it emulates. The pixel art backdrops, characters, and items all look fabulous. If someone had told me this were actually made in the early 90s I would believe them! Unfortunately, this modern game brings in a handful of women characters designed to appeal heavily to the male gaze. I, and many other players, would have much preferred to see such a childish design choice left on the drawing table.

Quest for Infamy excited me with its vast town exploration, copious dialogue, and multitude of quests. Then it disappointed me with a handful of character portraits that serve no practical purpose. You can definitely mimic a classic formula while still removing problematic elements! The core gameplay mechanics are great and fans of the old games will still likely flock to Quest for Infamy because it seems to be a well-crafted recreation.

3 1/2 out of 5 alpacas

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