 |
| New game! And showing off my big box ;) |
I’ve started playing “Police Quest: In Pursuit of the Death Angel” and I’m 1 hour into it!
This is one of the first adventure games I ever played when I was a teenager, probably the first Sierra game too. I remember back then I was stuck for ages in the hotel room, because I didn’t know the number to call a taxi. Apparently you need to call Information, which is 411, a well-known number in the United States, like 911 for emergencies, but living in Belgium I had absolutely no idea. I replayed the game, scouring every corner of very location for any sign of a phone number, but without luck. It was only years later, when the internet came and online walkthroughs, that I could finally complete this game.
So I started another playthrough! As a beginning adventurer, I always liked this game because of its linearity, where you just have to follow orders, go where you’re told to go, there’s not much exploring involved, not much actual puzzling either. Of course later I progressed to more elaborate adventure games taking place in larger worlds, but replaying “Police Quest” is like watching a favorite cop movie, it only takes a couple of hours.
 |
| Ah, the driving interface! Crank it up to 55, then manually brake just in time to 35 before you take the corner, otherwise the game automatically lowers it to 30. |
I’m Sonny Bonds, and I start my shift at the Lytton Police Department. First I have to go change in the locker room. It’s amazing how many times you have to change clothes and take a shower in this game… Then I attended the morning briefing. Apparently there’s a huge problem with drugs in this city (like everywhere in the world…) and we have to be on the lookout for suspicious activity. Then I’m send onto the streets, but not before I notice a notice on the noticeboard stating I can request a transfer from Traffic to Narcotics. Since drugs seems to be the theme in this game, I decide that’s a good decision, so I fill out a form before heading outside.
 |
| Deanna's very lucky that pole was there... |
So I’m driving around when suddenly I get the call there’s been an accident somewhere. I look up where I’m supposed to go on the paper map that came in the big box of the game, and find the victim of a drive-by. The case is quickly taken out of my hands by my superiors, though, and they send me to continue my patrol. It doesn’t take long before dispatch reminds me I’m supposed to meet Steve at a Café somewhere. So I go there, chew the fat with Steve, until I get a call informing me of the identity of the drive-by victim, which turns out to be a low-level dealer.
 |
| Oh, you know how it is, Steve. I showered, I changed, I drove around some... |
Then it’s back to the streets. While I wait for dispatch to send me somewhere, Sonny automatically slams on the brakes when a red convertible shoots past a stop sign right in front of me. I flick on the siren and start the chase. The woman driving tries to flirt with me, but no cigar, here’s your ticket, ma’am! I’m one who writes out imaginary tickets in real life as well, noticing all kinds of traffic inflictions, so yeah, warnings my rear bumper!
 |
| Two against one, eh? That calls for the extendable baton! Oh wait, it's the 90s, the medieval-like "nightstick" then... |
After letting her yell at me some, I get back on the streets when suddenly Carol, the owner of the café where I met Steve, calls in a complaint. Turns out some bikers park their rides right in front of her door, so I seek them out and gently persuade them to move. After they’re gone, I chat a bit with Marie, who was some info on the local drug trade as well though she can’t really recall the correct names. Looks like she meets LOTS of men, can’t expect her to remember all their names…
 |
| Looks like he's here for comic relief or something. Where I live, a drunk driver just killed two cyclists. And he was already driving without a licence even; they'd revoked that a while back for a previous offence... |
Anyways, back on the streets, I encounter a drunk driver, who I take in to jail. I have to resort to the newspaper that came with the box again, with all the penal codes I need to register him. Turns out I’m called back to the station after this, where Lieutenant Dooley, whose office is being vandalized by a chicken, tells me my shift is over. So I go change, again, and drive to another bar for the birthday party of another colleague. The guy is depressed, however, and he tells me he thinks his daughter is on drugs.
 |
| I never had such a girl dance on any of MY birthdays... |
Okay, I get it now. Drugs are bad. And this game is all about finding and stopping the people responsible for getting it out there.
One of my other colleagues at the party suddenly tells me I promised I’d take over his shift, so it’s high time to return to the station and try to keep the streets safe! I wonder if they already processed my transfer request…
No comments:
Post a Comment