Preview Keepsake Developer: Wicked Studios Publisher: The Adventure Company Release Date: 2006 Platform: Preview by Randy Sluganski January 24, 2005

JA Exclusive Screenshots

Much like the 1941 release of Citizen Kane – a movie that has influenced filmmakers for over sixty years – the release of King’s Quest: Quest for the Crown in 1984 has had similar repercussions on the adventure genre.

We could simply list the seven King’s Quest sequels or the numerous fantasy adventures inspired by same, but suffice it to say that here it is twenty-one years later and Keepsake is nothing less than an affectionate homage to Sierra On-line’s classic adventure.

After studying the Keepsake screenshots, one would think that the developers have a storied adventure game pedigree, but, in fact, the co-founders (and also close friends) of Wicked Studios are most known for their work on the late mmorpg Black Moon Chronicles while at the now defunct Vircom Interactive.

Keepsake is being touted as a mystery in a fantasy/medieval setting and will, of course, feature the prerequisite puzzles, inventory items and so on. But no adventure game can succeed without strong characters and memorable locations and Keepsake is no exception.

Keepsake is set in Dragonvale Academy, a school of magic located in the heart of the Valley of Dragons. The centuries-old Dragonvale is the center of magical research where the arcane arts have been taught to generations of mages.

The academy itself is divided into two areas. The lower levels are comprised of non-magical rooms dominated by mechanical devices. The upper levels contain a magical library, observatory, solarium and entryways to alternate planes of existence.

Of course, such an academy needs students and our mage-in-training – and playable character - is Lydia, a street-wise young lady who, along with her best friend Celeste, promise to be the academy’s top students. These two, along with Nathaniel, the director of Dragonvale Academy, and Zak, a once mighty dragon who has been transformed into a wolf, comprise the main characters. Of special note - to overcome that feeling of loneliness that is usually prevalent in adventure games - is that Lydia will always have at least one companion during her journey. Though Lydia will be the only playable character, her companions will be able to engage in conversation.

The story opens as an excited Lydia begins her first day of school, but Celeste – now a Dragonvale senior, whom she hasn’t seen for eight years – is strangely not there to greet her and nor, for that matter, is anyone else. Lydia must now explore the empty, cavernous academy and the surrounding Elvandar Forest for clues to solve this mystery.

Now, if all of this sounds suspiciously similar to the Harry Potter series, well success breeds imitation and honestly what better sources to merge than the adolescent charm of the Potter series and the medieval/fantasy King’s Quest atmosphere?

Keepsake’s gameplay will be non-linear and puzzles can be solved in any order, but fear not, for even if you do get stuck there is an in-game hint system. Players will be able to click on a special button on the interface that will ask your side-kick Zak for hints to proceed.

The graphics are presented from a 3rd person point-of-view and are reminiscent of the Syberia series. The engine uses 3D animated characters on a 2D background and will feature real-time rendering effects such as shadows and dynamic lighting.

The developers promise that gameplay will be intuitive so that adventure novices and veterans alike will be comfortable with the interface. When the player drags the over a menu button, a sound will be played, the button will glow and a textual definition of the button will appear, i.e. “inventory’ etc. When a menu button is pressed, it will play a sound and then light up. Buttons that are not in use at the time, will remain grayed out until needed.

Dialogue will be divided into two categories – forced and optional. The optional dialogue choices will allow the player to ask contextual questions along with asking questions that will enhance the overall experience.

Of special note is a professional musical score by Wicked Studios president Yves Bordeleau that will be a mix of classical, ambient & medieval. One twist that might be interesting would be to add a few rock songs – an incompatible mix that worked to perfection in the film, A Knight’s Tale.

(While I’m making suggestions, wouldn’t it be great if there were a few King’s Quest characters or locations hidden in the game as Easter Eggs? Maybe one of the alternate planes of existence could lead to Daventry – hint, hint!)

So, are we looking at another classic series in its infancy? Well, based on what we’ve seen so far, all of the necessary elements are present and Wicked Studios seem to have both the talent and the dedication needed to carry-on the too long dormant Sierra legacy of solidly designed fantasy adventure games. Now all that remains is for Keepsake to find a publisher that will nurture the game into a qualified hit so that adventure gamers can kick back and look forward to many years of schooling in the hallowed halls of Dragonvale Academy.