A Pig Quest Longplay (C64) [QHD]
186Game Info
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Developer: Piggy 18
Publisher: Protovision
Year of Release: 2023
Website: https://www.protovision.games/games/apig.php?language=en
Game Review & Impressions
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Perhaps the most anticipated modern C64 game since Sam's Journey wowed fans of the breadbin back in in 2017, A Pig Quest is another of those titles which demonstrates just how capable the 8-bit marvel remains in the hands of folks with sufficient time, dedication, technical and artistic brilliance, not to mention inclination, to create games for the platform.
A Pig Quest is flick-screen arcade adventure starring Frank Further, the porcine protagonist of this delightful romp. Frank's seemingly boring existence takes a turn for the dramatic when he stumbles upon a spooky and foreboding crypt, where his search for an exit is but the start of a grand adventure, one which involves many brutal battles, solving of puzzles, and perhaps the discovery of true love.
Each of the game's five levels is a fairly extensive collection of interconnected screens filled with monsters, collectible items required to unlock gates or otherwise provide the means to progress through the stage, and locked chests containing power-ups. Scattered throughout the screens are keys which unlock said troves, which contain upgraded weapons, restorative food and potions, and suits of armour that reduce damage from monster attacks. Certain screens contain boss monsters Frank must vanquish to progress, and these are certainly among the hardest parts of the game.
On the subject of difficulty, the player has the choice of three difficulty levels on which to tackle the game. The medium setting, 'young hog', on which I chose to play, is surprisingly tough. You only get a single life in which to beat the game, and despite being able to restart on the last level you completed, the constantly respawning enemies -- especially those which can shoot projectiles -- will whittle down Frank's health rapidly. I would perhaps have only had enemies respawn if you leave and re-enter a screen, but learning which chests are worth opening with the limited keys available can certainly tip the odds in your favour.
The difficulty might be divisive, but the overall quality and production values on display are simply impeccable. The graphics by Alain Mauricet are simply stunning, and the music by Aldo and Gaetano Chiummo is wonderfully atmospheric. You even get simultaneous sound effects and music, and despite using all three channels, the effects don't seem to cause the music to drop out. This could simply be excellent design, but could also be some clever trickery by Antonio Savona, the game's coder; Savona has some done some impressive work regarding DSP and sample playback for the C64 in the past, and given how well the whole game is coded up, I wouldn't be surprised.
I might be a little late to the party, but it was worth the wait. A Pig Quest is an awesome game, packed with humour, extensive levels, and looks and sounds amazing. The teaser at the game's epilogue hints at more to come from the Piggy 18 team, and I'm sure all ardent C64 fans have their trotters crossed in anticipation of what comes next.
Chapters
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0:00:00 Attract mode
03:19 Stage 1 - Daunting Dungeons
17:00 Stage 2 - Terror in Town
29:53 Stage 3 - The Abbey of the Not-So-Dead
43:07 Stage 4 - The Mountain of Mad Things
55:34 Cutscene
58:14 Stage 5 - Seething Beauty
1:11:15 Ending
1:13:12 Epilogue
1:14:36 Bonus Content - Death Sequences