THE SILVER LINING: EPISODE 2
TWO HOUSEHOLDS
REVIEW
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YEAR: 2010
SIZE: 1.67 GB (includes all 4 episodes currently available)
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PLATFORM: Windows
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DEVELOPER: Phoenix Online Publishing
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+ A true labour of love
+ Spectacular graphics & music
+ Wonderful tie-in to official King’s Quest games
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- Characters’ mouths move oddly
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STORY
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After seeing both his children left comatose due to an evil curse in
Episode 1, King Graham is determined to find a way to help them, and
break the curse. The trail led him to The Isle Of The Druids, where the
Arch Druid told him the only way to save his children is to reach them in
their dreams - Graham must enter The Realm Of Dreams. The Arch
Druid can perform a spell that will let Graham do this… but the Arch
Druid needs special ingredients. Thus begins Graham’s desperate
search.
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Watch the ‘Previously On’, and the Intro cutscenes. The mystical storm
that held Graham on Isle Of The Druids has now passed. The Arch
Druid gives Graham some meaningful advice before he leaves. A magic
scroll guides King Graham, as he looks for A Magical Bag, An Animated
Vessel, and A Lethal Liquid. A daunting task to be sure, but King
Graham will not give up! He will do whatever it takes to save Rosella
and Alexander.
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To find the ingredients, he has to travel between the isles, looking for
clues, meeting some wonderful characters (including a few old
favourites), learning more about the mysterious cloaked stranger that
cursed his children, all the while trying to stay strong for his family.
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Poor Graham!
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Get ready for an emotional ending.
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TECHNICAL NOTE
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If you are not able to save your game, it may be a Permissions
problem. Make sure you are playing as Administrator.
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GAMEPLAY
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The Silver Lining is a fan made game, and a true labour of love from the
developers, Phoenix Online Publishing. This is Episode 2 of a 5-episode
story… and what an episode it is! Phoenix Online have done a fantastic
job of tying this story in with the official King’s Quest games.
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The game uses the Point & Click interface, and you can interact with
Graham’s world by using the menu at top of the screen. The menu is
neatly tucked away, until you move your mouse up there. Icons allow
Graham to Walk (double-click to run), Look, Pick Up\Use, or Talk to
another character. A bag in the top right section holds all your
inventory items, and you can manipulate your items (get a better look
at them, open your bag of coins, rotate them etc) by clicking on them
in the display panel. You can also check what ingredients you need by
clicking the scroll on yourself.
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The Coat Of Arms in the top centre gives you access to the game
menu. From here, you can Save\Restore\Go Back To Game\Quit. The
game itself is very customisable, and you can set things entirely to
your own preference via the Options Menu. You can select how much
detail you want, and even take out specific special effects. You can
choose whether you want to hear the Narrator’s voice or not, and you
can choose if you want to have subtitles or not. Many commercial
games don’t give you as many options as this!
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GRAPHICS
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Graphics are very impressive! So much detail has been lovingly
crammed in. When you are on any of the isles, you see Hassan’s boat
bob up & down realistically. In Ali’s shop, the fireplace flickers and
cackles as though alive, and you can almost feel the heat from the
flames. I love how Ali himself, pushes his specs back up on his nose
every so often. Characters blink as you would expect. The fountain in
the market square is spectacular to look at. And just as in Episode 1,
the floor in the Main Hall of the castle is amazingly polished & shiny! I
love how ingredients appear and disappear on the scroll, and then get
crossed out when you find them. The Animated Vessel is so cute, as
he walks back & forth.
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It’s just a gorgeous game to look at, and it’s wonderful to re-visit The
Land Of The Green Isles (from KQ6). Having said that, I do have a
small gripe about characters talking - when they talk, their mouth
moves… awkwardly. But that’s just one small detail in an otherwise
fantastic game!
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When talking to other characters, a list of topics is shown at the
bottom, and you can choose what to talk about. Inventory items are
shown as pictures, so it’s easy to see what you’re carrying. Inventory
items automatically rotate, giving you a better look at them.
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CHARACTERS
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There are some wonderful characters in this episode, that deserve to
be mentioned. As well as the characters from Episode 1 (Shamir, the
Arch Druid, Hassan, Captain Saladin etc), we also come across some
old favourites from KQ6 (Jollo the clown, Ali, Black Widow). And I was
DELIGHTED to see Hole In The Wall again, after Alexander’s encounter
with him. We are also introduced to some new characters: Mag-Gnat
(who is just adorable), the Ranger, and the market stall merchants.
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SOUND AND MUSIC
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Beautiful, atmospheric music is heard throughout the game, and
changes depending on what location you’re in. Comedic piano music
plays while you’re talking to Jollo. Other times, sad music is heard, or
dramatic music. It always seems perfect for whatever scene you’re in.
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All the characters are fully voiced, which helps to bring the game to
life, and everyone sounds just right. My favourite is Jollo’s slightly
comical voice, but I also love Graham’s concerned voice, Hassan, and
Black Widow. Hole In The Wall’s squeaks deserve special mention, but
then again, I’m very fond of him!
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Sound effects are equally impressive. A ‘Ding Dong’ beep is heard
when Graham picks up an item. Seagulls squawking noisely on Isle Of The Sacred Mountain is a nice touch. The sign on Hassan’s hut
squeaking. Waves lap against the edge of the dock. There is so much
to love!
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