I've always liked QFG4... it's no Gabriel Knight or Grim Fandango, but it was a marked narrative and dramatic improvement over most Quest games. A riveting Eastern Europe horror atmosphere and nuanced character development further complement what would surely have been regarded as a classic if not for the debilitating number of fatal bugs and legendary errors.
The dream sequence herein is particularly memorable; and, to my knowledge, has not been employed to any similar effectiveness in another adventure game. It is technically optional, yet unfolds so naturally in the course of the game it becomes a seamless thread connecting the plot of the entire series - it sheds light on the backstory of the fabled Erana, whose gentle, ubiquitiuos mark of sanctuary and refuge has accompanied the hero since the first game; illuminates the hero's destiny in the unadulterated contrast of light and its myriad spectrum, and dark and its abyssal nihility; foreshadows the culmination of a 3-game long battle; and crystallizes the bond between the hero and Erana, cementing the foundation of a possible romance in the next game.
Not to forget, QFG4 probably had the most elaborate and beautiful prose of any Sierra title. John Rhys Davies narrates, give it a listen!
PS The music in the video is general MIDI, which obviously sounds cheesy compared to custom MIDI synths and digital sound especially for electronic instruments and effects. It does have a certain nostalgic charm though; and makes me feel thankful I enjoyed these games with a proper soundcard back then. Also, this is the Paladin dream ending. Fighters, wizards, and thieves don't dream of love, apparently.



Dark Folke, The Observatory's fourth album, is out today. In the band's own words:

"It's hard to describe one's own work. The math prog rock of our 3rd album A far cry from here has morphed into a fluid mystical beast. Most songs have no drums. But there is rhythm. Only the type of rhythm associated with an invisible pulse. An implied rhythm. Five folks sitting around a fire. A metaphorical fire. Chanting for the rain to come."

Of course, one looks forward to the album packaging almost as much as the music in any Observatory work. This time round, the band has hooked up with a certain Vberkvlt aka Justin Bartlett, the man behind the art of SUNN O))) - speaking of which, Monoliths and Dimensions is the best metal album I've heard in a long while - and Aura Noir, among other hardcore/underground bands. From pics on the band's website, it seems we'll finally be getting not only oversized, but square-shaped album packages. Oh joy.
Vberkvlt has also designed three tshirts which will be sold at The Observatory's upcoming HEXA gigs.

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so goes the backing track of all the sighs we ever sighed