Police Quest 1: In Pursuit of the Death Angel is another game for IBM-compatible computers. Naturally, it involves law enforcement; the title and theme make that clear. This game isn’t about a simple story. You play as a police officer trying to fulfill your duties as best as possible, which involves delivering justice. However, it’s far from easy.
Before the game even begins, it sets a positive tone by showing a cinematic presentation of the credits, introducing everyone who contributed to its creation. Once you press a key, you enter the main menu.
The game starts in the central hall of the Lytton Police Department, with your character standing in the middle of the room.
The top of the screen displays your score (0 out of 245) and the sound status (on or off). In the room, there’s a table, a board with keys, and a photo of the chief on the wall. The table holds radios for communication with patrol cars, while the keys unlock the patrol cars.
You control your character using the arrow keys, moving left and right, while typing commands in English for various actions. For instance, to get the patrol car keys, you type “Get Keys.” If your input doesn’t make sense, you’ll get friendly responses like “I don’t understand” or “How can you do that?”
Your character, Sonny Bonds, begins his adventure in the locker room, where four colleagues greet him and talk about various topics such as “Let’s meet at the bar tonight” or “The chief is in a bad mood again today.” After exploring the locker room, it’s recommended to visit the briefing room and check the newspaper there. Reading it gives you an overview of the game’s main plot: a drug lord named Death Angel has flooded the city with narcotics, targeting the youth. Your goal, of course, is to capture him.
This, however, is no simple task. You’ll first need to prove yourself by succeeding in various smaller tasks around the city, such as arresting drunk drivers or issuing tickets for traffic violations. Once your score reaches a triple-digit number (around 100-105), you’ll be temporarily transferred to the Narcotics Division to take on the case of Death Angel. Naturally, you’ll be the skilled officer chosen for the job.
The game leads you through various locations, introducing different characters and shady dealings, including visits to unsavory establishments. These elements add to the charm of the game, though there’s a significant challenge: it’s easy to fail, especially during patrols, where one crash with the police car could end the game. This difficulty, however, also becomes a strength; by the end, you’ll have mastered the driving mechanics, making navigation seamless.
A notable feature of Police Quest is its interactivity. You can interact with various people, such as provoking a drunk truck driver without real consequences. The game’s realism is impressive. Even the manual provides real-life procedures, such as handling armed suspects, handcuffing, and reading their rights.
From a technical standpoint, the game offers pseudo-3D visuals. This was uncommon for PC games of its time. The mono-channel audio enhances the atmosphere of various situations. However, the gripping plot stands out the most. As of now, I’ve reached a score of 150 out of 245. I can’t tear myself away from the monitor, except to write this review.
The final takeaway is that Police Quest: In Pursuit of the Death Angel upholds Sierra’s legendary Quest series reputation. Beautifully designed sprites, simultaneous on-screen animations, and detailed backgrounds make for a fantastic adventure.
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