Space Quest: The Sarien Encounter was a test, to see if Sierra could successfully launch a second quest series on the game market. Released the same year as King's Quest 3, it featured the anti-hero Roger Wilco. This guy was to become one of the biggest names in the adventure genre! Who would have guessed that this simple-minded, low-class janitor would achieve such a status?
Roger Wilco was aboard the spaceship Arcada, sleeping in a closet, when the Sariens attacked the ship. It's up to Roger to escape the ship alive - but this will require some quick-wittted thinking. Something he is not good at (mopping floors does not require a high IQ). It's up to you to help him survive and foil the plan of the Sariens in order to save everyone else.
Being released at the same time as KQ3, it is by far the best of the two! The mini-quests are not as difficult as those in KQ3 and you get warnings to help you avoid death. The graphics are also better (but still with the same number of colours) making the scenery in the game look astounding. SQ1 also incorporates the use of weird and hilarious humour, which would set the standards for all Space Quest games to come. The humour can be compared to that of Terry Pratchett (Discworld), but a closer fit would be Douglas Adams (Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy).
In other words: This game is worth playing! A LOT!
Have fun.
Screenshots courtesy of SpaceQuest.net
Part of the Space Quest Series
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