
	Platform PC Genre Adventure Developer / Publisher Sierra Released 1991
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Police Quest: In Pursuit of the Death Angel (Police Quest 1)

police quest 1

When I was on the force I dealt with the scum of the Earth; pimps, drug dealers, computer tech support reps, one end of the spectrum to the other. And not once in all my years did I ever step out of line. Well, except for that one time...

Police Quest 1 (PQ1) blurs the line between adventure game and simulator. When it originally came out in 1987 we had PQ1 installed on the computers as part of a training program. In 1991, Sierra updated the graphics and sound and re-released it. Not much has changed from the original. The graphics are VGA and the parser interface is replaced with an iconic one. The plot remains unchanged; you play Sonny Bonds, lowly traffic cop, who works his way up to detective, eventually tracking down the drug dealing kingpin, the Death Angel. To reach the game objective you must do everything by the book, just like I always did. Well, except for that one time...

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Sonny’s life can quickly be cut short if you’re not extremely careful. Following procedure is the name of the game. This is a two edged sword. The gritty realism is good but it can become frustrating if not familiar with police procedure. A simple drug bust can turn into a fatal encounter if things aren’t handled properly. And the final showdown can be a disaster if a proper plan hasn’t been prepared. Save your game often!

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The VGA graphics are great compared to the original’s EGA and CGA colour palette. Control is the standard early to mid 90’s point-and-click Sierra interface. Controlling Bonds is no problem until you get him into his car. The driving interface is convoluted, consisting of three arrows, gas and brake pedals, and a button to activate the siren. If you want to go right you hit the right arrow. But you have to figure out which way right is since the screen showing your position remains stationary. And for reasons unknown, your car will occasionally take unplanned left turns. And if you miss a turn you must circle the block, U-turns not being an option. Sound is good, the standard midi for this time period.

The puzzle solving relates to the proper execution of police procedure. A biker gang has parked their bikes in front of Caffeine Carol’s, a cop hangout, and the owner is complaining. You must ask them to move their bikes. They move aggressively toward you. Shoot or use your nightstick? Reminds me of that time...

I’ve gotta say, PQ1 is pretty enjoyable. The graphics and music have been nicely updated, attention to police procedure is very detailed, the plot is tense and enjoyable filled with optional tasks to perform, and some agony has been alleviated with the introduction of a icon interface. The only downside is that the driving sequences can be frustrating.

- Omni


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