29th July 2004, 8:47 PM
Good! Good to see my hypothesis was correct. I'll be doing exactly that myself next time I mess with Win 98.
Here's the deal, those games didn't let you use text AND speech at the same time (KQ7 doesn't even HAVE text). They assumed people wanting to read the subtitles and hear voice at the same time were as common as people with perfect hearing watching TV with the subtitles on :D. Essentially, in options you can either have voice or text, but they didn't let you have both... Sorry there...
Oh, and allow me to apologize, even though I'm not responsible, for the terrible voice acting in KQ5 (not to mention recording quality :D). KQ6's voice acting was the best the KQ series ever had. Seriously, that narrator was PERFECT, and he should narrate EVERY adventure EVER for the rest of the life of the universe! :D KQ7, while still a LOT better than KQ5, just doesn't really come close. I know they were sorta going for a different feel for that game (more light hearted and comedic, sorta Disney-like (the art style was intended to mimic Disney actually), as opposed to wandering amongst the land of the dead with wailing spirits that can't find rest in their regret :D).
Anyway, KQ5 isn't the best in the series, or rank up there with the best adventure games anyway, but it's fun in it's own right.
Now then, as for that heap space error, let me explain what it is and how to deal with it. Essentially, the game was designed for DOS and Win 3.x. That means it used the low end memory, a VERY limited resource. Worked fine if the game and the needed components to let the game run were the only things running, but as OS's got more advanced, they started hogging it up. Of course, NT, Linux, what have you, don't even segment memory like that any more. However, 98 does. The deal is, that small section of memory MIGHT be too full. 98 CAN run with little enough of these key resources taken up that KQ5 will run without this error, but only if nothing else is running in the background (to be safe, run it first thing after a restart to avoid any memory leak issues). It didn't happen often at that though. Generally, a few parts of the game got a little greedy. Some effects took up too many of these resources (just a flaw in how DOS and DOS based systems handled memory, not that one didn't actually have enough). Namely, RIGHT near the end, during a particular incident involving magic, a machine, and cheese (a little comedic there actually, but this series isn't really TOTALLY serious, kinda like Zelda actually), you'll see a flashy show that will end in the error if there's not enough of these resources free. There are several things you can do. First, do what I suggested and shut down all extraneous background software and do a fresh boot. Second, lower the "detail" setting in the game to it's lowest point if that doesn't work. Third, and least favorable for obvious reasons, Sierra provides (well, not any more, they don't even provide a lot of their old game patches, how they have fallen...) a save file for just AFTER that sequence (as well as a few other areas where this might occur, though I only ever had a problem at the part I mentioned above). It'll have all the puzzles solved in the way that gives the best points up to THAT point in the game mind you, so if you solved something in a way that gave less points (like making someone reluctantly help you instead of helping them out so they really WANT to help you, generally the "right" way is the way that makes the most people happy), it won't be recorded there... It is a method of last resort... Anyway, there are your options.
Another thing, if you have the booklet, it has this key file translating various letters into the language of the land you are in. That was useful for the floppy version I hear, where the copyright protection was in the form of the game rarely popping up with a word you had to translate (apparently these old companies didn't think anyone had discovered the printer or the scanner). With the CD-ROM version, they took out the copyright protection, but left in that info for the sake of a little background info you'll never use :D.
Anyway, it's an interesting game and it at least hints at things to come. Still, KQ6 is my fave for so many reasons. It just has the best story, presentation, puzzles, and has a pretty open feel. One key point actually lets you go on two different puzzle paths (with unique locations and items and such) to reach the end of the game. The game actually tells you how to start this second path if you happen to beat it with full points on the "official" path.
Here's the deal, I know you don't generally like games where you have to worry about dying. I can see that. Honestly, I like playing the occasional adventure game where I don't have to sweat it that something I do could kill me. However, I also enjoy sometimes a little fear tossed in to spice things up. With a game like KQ, and the fantasy world that's as serious as Zelda might get, it wouldn't seem right to be able to slap an orge in the face without SOME sort of horrific consequence. I also like a sense of danger wandering into a pitch black cave or Dracula's Castle. Yes, I can see the annoyance at doing things over and over again though. I ALSO don't like it when I save AFTER doing some critical thing that will end up making me totally stuck so I can't progress (a lot of old adventure games suffered from this, simply bad design really, fortunatly Sierra eventually delt with it and their later adventure games are stuck-proof). Anyway, here's how you deal with it if it's still a bit annoying (though, ya know, I think in the scarier places, you should sorta let yourself be afraid of things :D), just save ALL THE TIME. Generally, save whenever you reach a new region is my rule. Also, yeah sometimes it's not obvious that something is dangerous, and that can be annoying, but a lot of the dangers are pretty obvious (for example, if there's a big sign before a dark forest saying "KEEP OUT!", well, I should hope you would take the needed precautions).
Anyway, enjoy the trip. Actually, it's more of a challenge to beat this game with a less than perfect score. The "right" solution is actually easier to figure out than the "not as good" solutions. I'll also warn you of a few places where if you aren't careful, you could create a dead end scenario. First rule, if you are saving often, also save multiple files. That way, you can go back a few steps. Second, the desert is ANNOYING until you memorize it. Really, not a single hint to where anything is. I like tough puzzles, but I like them to be fully solvable with attention to the hints, even if (preferably if :D) the hints are vague and sometimes hard to see as hints :D, oh, stars ABOVE!). Well, enjoy this little excursion.
Here's the deal, those games didn't let you use text AND speech at the same time (KQ7 doesn't even HAVE text). They assumed people wanting to read the subtitles and hear voice at the same time were as common as people with perfect hearing watching TV with the subtitles on :D. Essentially, in options you can either have voice or text, but they didn't let you have both... Sorry there...
Oh, and allow me to apologize, even though I'm not responsible, for the terrible voice acting in KQ5 (not to mention recording quality :D). KQ6's voice acting was the best the KQ series ever had. Seriously, that narrator was PERFECT, and he should narrate EVERY adventure EVER for the rest of the life of the universe! :D KQ7, while still a LOT better than KQ5, just doesn't really come close. I know they were sorta going for a different feel for that game (more light hearted and comedic, sorta Disney-like (the art style was intended to mimic Disney actually), as opposed to wandering amongst the land of the dead with wailing spirits that can't find rest in their regret :D).
Anyway, KQ5 isn't the best in the series, or rank up there with the best adventure games anyway, but it's fun in it's own right.
Now then, as for that heap space error, let me explain what it is and how to deal with it. Essentially, the game was designed for DOS and Win 3.x. That means it used the low end memory, a VERY limited resource. Worked fine if the game and the needed components to let the game run were the only things running, but as OS's got more advanced, they started hogging it up. Of course, NT, Linux, what have you, don't even segment memory like that any more. However, 98 does. The deal is, that small section of memory MIGHT be too full. 98 CAN run with little enough of these key resources taken up that KQ5 will run without this error, but only if nothing else is running in the background (to be safe, run it first thing after a restart to avoid any memory leak issues). It didn't happen often at that though. Generally, a few parts of the game got a little greedy. Some effects took up too many of these resources (just a flaw in how DOS and DOS based systems handled memory, not that one didn't actually have enough). Namely, RIGHT near the end, during a particular incident involving magic, a machine, and cheese (a little comedic there actually, but this series isn't really TOTALLY serious, kinda like Zelda actually), you'll see a flashy show that will end in the error if there's not enough of these resources free. There are several things you can do. First, do what I suggested and shut down all extraneous background software and do a fresh boot. Second, lower the "detail" setting in the game to it's lowest point if that doesn't work. Third, and least favorable for obvious reasons, Sierra provides (well, not any more, they don't even provide a lot of their old game patches, how they have fallen...) a save file for just AFTER that sequence (as well as a few other areas where this might occur, though I only ever had a problem at the part I mentioned above). It'll have all the puzzles solved in the way that gives the best points up to THAT point in the game mind you, so if you solved something in a way that gave less points (like making someone reluctantly help you instead of helping them out so they really WANT to help you, generally the "right" way is the way that makes the most people happy), it won't be recorded there... It is a method of last resort... Anyway, there are your options.
Another thing, if you have the booklet, it has this key file translating various letters into the language of the land you are in. That was useful for the floppy version I hear, where the copyright protection was in the form of the game rarely popping up with a word you had to translate (apparently these old companies didn't think anyone had discovered the printer or the scanner). With the CD-ROM version, they took out the copyright protection, but left in that info for the sake of a little background info you'll never use :D.
Anyway, it's an interesting game and it at least hints at things to come. Still, KQ6 is my fave for so many reasons. It just has the best story, presentation, puzzles, and has a pretty open feel. One key point actually lets you go on two different puzzle paths (with unique locations and items and such) to reach the end of the game. The game actually tells you how to start this second path if you happen to beat it with full points on the "official" path.
Here's the deal, I know you don't generally like games where you have to worry about dying. I can see that. Honestly, I like playing the occasional adventure game where I don't have to sweat it that something I do could kill me. However, I also enjoy sometimes a little fear tossed in to spice things up. With a game like KQ, and the fantasy world that's as serious as Zelda might get, it wouldn't seem right to be able to slap an orge in the face without SOME sort of horrific consequence. I also like a sense of danger wandering into a pitch black cave or Dracula's Castle. Yes, I can see the annoyance at doing things over and over again though. I ALSO don't like it when I save AFTER doing some critical thing that will end up making me totally stuck so I can't progress (a lot of old adventure games suffered from this, simply bad design really, fortunatly Sierra eventually delt with it and their later adventure games are stuck-proof). Anyway, here's how you deal with it if it's still a bit annoying (though, ya know, I think in the scarier places, you should sorta let yourself be afraid of things :D), just save ALL THE TIME. Generally, save whenever you reach a new region is my rule. Also, yeah sometimes it's not obvious that something is dangerous, and that can be annoying, but a lot of the dangers are pretty obvious (for example, if there's a big sign before a dark forest saying "KEEP OUT!", well, I should hope you would take the needed precautions).
Anyway, enjoy the trip. Actually, it's more of a challenge to beat this game with a less than perfect score. The "right" solution is actually easier to figure out than the "not as good" solutions. I'll also warn you of a few places where if you aren't careful, you could create a dead end scenario. First rule, if you are saving often, also save multiple files. That way, you can go back a few steps. Second, the desert is ANNOYING until you memorize it. Really, not a single hint to where anything is. I like tough puzzles, but I like them to be fully solvable with attention to the hints, even if (preferably if :D) the hints are vague and sometimes hard to see as hints :D, oh, stars ABOVE!). Well, enjoy this little excursion.
"On two occasions, I have been asked [by members of Parliament], 'Pray, Mr. Babbage, if you put into the machine wrong figures, will the right answers come out?' I am not able to rightly apprehend the kind of confusion of ideas that could provoke such a question." ~ Charles Babbage (1791-1871)