We argued, we voted, we agreed and disagreed and in the end there was no choice, especially since I have the biggest mouth, but to enshrine all three Gabriel Knight games into the Just Adventure ‘Hall of Fame’ for adventure games.

Never has a series so perfectly embodied the soul of adventure gaming. Each game is a masterpiece in its own right. Even more impressive is that each game in the series used a different graphics engine, unlike many sequels that just plod along with the same engine game after game, yet it is a testament to the power of adventure games in general and to the writing skills of Jane Jensen in particular that regardless of the engine used, the characters in Gabriel Knight shine brighter than any in the adventure universe.

I could continue to heap accolades for an eternity, but I think the following message that was posted in response to an appearance by Jane Jensen on the JA Forum says it best:

My mom's generation had Elvis, we have Jane!

GABRIEL KNIGHT: SINS OF THE FATHERS

From the Just Adventure review by Katie Scarlett:

Every once in a while, the rare game comes along that manages to get everything right. Gabriel Knight is one of those games. From characters that are so believable they start to feel like friends, to a story that grabs you right from the beginning and doesn't let go until the final credits start rolling, GK has everything. In 15+ years of playing hundreds of adventure games, I can unequivocally state that this is one of finest I have ever had the pleasure to play. Simply put, GK is more than a classic, it is a masterpiece.

GABRIEL KNIGHT 2: THE BEAST WITHIN

From the Just Adventure review by Emrecan Ozen:

Jane Jensen is the best storyteller to write computer games. No one can deny it or say someone else is better. If you believe Take 2's Black Dahlia has a storyline "that blends reality and fiction in perfect rapport," then you just have to repent and pray to be forgiven ... and play Gabriel Knight 2 to see what a strong storyline should be like.

What Jane Jensen and her team did was create a completely different world for the player to roam in. So the werewolf story is actually nothing more than a MacGuffin, in the Hitchcockian sense, for a historical journey through Bavaria. I believe this is the quality that makes this game a timeless classic. Read my lips: "time-less" ... You can't use that word for any other game. Or any other computer-related product for that matter ... Everything fades away in the immense pace of this hasty industry called the computer industry. But not GK2. This is one marvel of a game that is groundbreaking, trendsetting, avant garde, and, most importantly, made for adult minds (no, I'm not talking about raunchiness). Let me put it this way: They actually composed an opera for this game that would be good enough to pose as a lost one by Wagner.

GABRIEL KNIGHT 3: BLOOD OF THE SACRED, BLOOD OF THE DAMNED

From the Just Adventure review by Ray Ivey:

Despite the unparalleled quality of storytelling in the first two titles, the story in GKIII surpasses them in scope, ambition, and sheer nerve. I really hate to give any of it away, but let's just say it deals with an ancient bloodline feud going back to the Pharaohs, a kidnapped infant prince, buried treasure, the Knights Templar, Mary Magdalene, vampires, and Jesus himself! If that list sounds dizzying to you, let me just tell you that in the playing of the game, it becomes absolutely intoxicating. This story has all the makings of a best-selling thriller.

Luckily for us, though, Jensen's storytelling mode of choice is the interactive story. And in that arena GKIII is undoubtedly the best realized adventure game I've ever played. All of the elements of the game: the 3D engine and its accompanying freedom of movement, the excellent voice acting…and the mechanics of the storytelling combine to create a game experience unlike any other.