This game is really one of the center pieces of the whole series. It brings together much of the past and provides an easy pathway for the creation of King's Quest 6. It redefined the series as a point-and-click interface was added. A game player could now choose from a list of pictures of what functions were available. In this game, there are four options available to the player: speaking, walking, seeing and touching. It was really easy to use, but some players complained that it was too easy because no thought process was needed in figuring out the names of certain items. In previous King's Quest games, the game player had to be creative in figuring out what an object was, whereas in this game all that was required was a click of the mouse to obtain a description of the object. The game was still very challenging despite the changes made. You can tell right from the opening sequence this is going to be another amazing King's Quest game.

In the opening sequence, we see a wizard (named Mordack) appear in front of Castle Daventry. Then he casts a spell causing the castle to disappear. It is a good thing King Graham ate that fruit given to him by Rosella in King's Quest 4, which promised him good health for along time. He will need all his health to find and defeat this evil wizard! King Graham returns from his afternoon walk to find that his castle is replaced by dust. Cedric (the owl assistant of a wizard named Crispin) saw the whole thing and decided to take Graham to the land of Serenia to discuss these current events. King Graham was skeptical of getting help from a wizard, given his current predicament -- can you blame him? Graham decides to trust this clumsy but kind-hearted owl. After all, not all wizards could be evil, and Graham’s son Alexander informed the rest of the family that the only way to beat a wizard is by using magic. This advice was given based on Alexander's own experiences in King's Quest 3, where he defeated a wizard named Manannan with a magic spell that turned that evil wizard into a cat. Hmmm ... Maybe there is a connection between the two wizards? After all, wizards don’t just randomly go around kidnapping people's families for no reason, do they?

Anyway, now King Graham with the help of Cedric, whose services were offered to him by Crispin, journeyed around the town of Serenia. He went into town, ventured out into the burning desert, and out-smarted an old witch in the haunted forest. He made his way across the Mountains to the ocean on the other side. Not before almost dying numerous times of course, but King Graham is a survivor and set on his goal. This game quickly involves the players as King's Quest gamers were upset about the loss of the royal family who had entertained them for years.

Here are some hints for playing King's Quest 5. Talk to everyone until they repeat themselves. Go back later and talk to them as things may have changed since your previous visit. Leave no stone unturned and do not hesitate to help anyone, be it man or animal. As even the smallest of creatures have feelings, too. Sometimes there is more than one way to answer a problem, so be careful as there is sometimes a more correct way to use an object. Save games often under different names to get a variety.

Some drawbacks to King's Quest 5 may be that Cedric can be annoying at times. Most of the game, Cedric just follows you around and complains about the danger of venturing into dangerous areas. Of course, these dangerous areas are all necessary journeys to reach the game's conclusion. Another thing that can be fairly difficult is navigation through the desert. You will die numerous times as King Graham has to drink to stay alive, and there aren't many places where you can renew your strength. 5 out of 6 stars. -- Steve