The American Police warhorse, bent on realism!
Police Quest wanted to be realistic, and, while graphically it couldn't really do it, it delved into the actual day to day investigative ways of the American policemen and women. And, so, while, of course, you are not going to end up knowing everything you'd need to know to make it through the ranks of the American police, the game's involvement in police like management of all sort of instances is closer than any other game of the time. What I also like about it, something that would no longer be the case with later games in this series is the unitary visual theme of the entire game, pixilated as it ever was, kind of involuntarily funny but great for immersion. Later games in the series will Frankenstein a lot of bits together, some just as pixilated, others less so, others that wanted to be photorealistic, but managed to be messy and out of context. Thus, for lovers of purist experiences, Police Quest the first is the best one of them all. An alternative, hmm, let's see... How about Still Life, a much later adventure game, really well put together, really enticing, and focused on the work of an edgy but likeable lady cop turned private investigator? I sure loved it, too!
