I've been stalling on writing this review, for the simple reason that King's Quest I is a very hard game for me to score. Admittedly, as a stand-alone game, the original KQI is not too impressive by today's standards. Innovations such as rocks that roll downhill and a character that can walk behind trees and swim through lakes are hardly as exciting now as they were in 1983, and forgiving the game for being more than two decades old doesn't make it more fun to play. On the other hand, it's a fairly well-structured game, with lots to try out in the confines of the little world, and it's a neat glimpse into history. So I'm settling in the middle of the scale with an even three stars. You might love it for what it is, or hate it for what it isn't. You'll either be charmed by its antiquity, or disgusted by its simplicity. I don't know. What I do know is that I loved this game as a kid. It's the game that introduced me to Daventry and to Graham's adventures, the game that got me into adventure gaming altogether, the game I solved all by myself when I was ten. For those reasons, subjective as they may be, King's Quest I will always have a special place in my heart… and in my collection.