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Quest for Glory: So You Want to Be a Hero

Last updated: March 19, 2026

Overview

Quest for Glory: So You Want to Be a Hero (originally released as Hero’s Quest: So You Want to Be a Hero) is a 1989 adventure game/role-playing game hybrid designed by Lori Ann Cole and Corey Cole, and published by Sierra On-Line for MS-DOS12.

It is the first game in the Quest for Glory series and established the series’ trademark mix of graphical adventure gaming with role-playing elements such as statistic building that affect the player’s ability to accomplish certain tasks1.

The game was originally released with EGA graphics in October 1989, with a VGA remake released in July 199213.

The game was renamed from Hero’s Quest to Quest for Glory in 1990 due to trademark conflicts with the HeroQuest board game14.

Ports for the Amiga, Atari ST, and NEC PC-9801 were released in the early 1990s1.

Story Summary

In the valley barony of Spielburg, the evil ogress Baba Yaga has cursed the land and the baron who tried to drive her off14. The baron’s daughter has disappeared and his son has been transformed into a bear, while the land is ravaged by monsters and brigands1. The Valley of Spielburg is in need of a Hero able to solve these problems1.

The player’s character is a customized adventurer, a recent graduate of the Famous Adventurer’s Correspondence School, who journeys into the land seeking to become a proclaimed Hero14. The adventurer battles brigands and monsters such as kobolds, solves side quests (such as finding lost items and spell ingredients), and helps fantasy creatures such as a dryad, a hermit, and a colorful collection of furry creatures called Meeps1. During the quest, the character meets recurring series characters such as the wizard Erasmus and his familiar Fenrus, and first hears tales of the benevolent faery Erana1.

In the optimal ending, the player frees the baronet Barnard von Spielburg from a powerful curse and thwarts the plans of the witch Baba Yaga14. The adventurer frees the baron’s daughter, Elsa von Spielburg, from the curse which had transformed her into the brigand leader1. By doing so, the adventurer fulfills a prophecy, restores Spielburg Valley to prosperity, and is awarded the title of Hero1. After this, the Hero, along with the merchant Abdulla Doo and the innkeepers Shameen and Shema, leaves on a magic carpet for Shapeir, setting up the sequel, Quest for Glory II: Trial by Fire1.

Gameplay

The game advertised itself as “three games in one” since it was the first Sierra game that allowed the selection of a character from three classes: Fighter, Magic User, and Thief14. The original release was an adventure game with a text parser, while the 1992 VGA remake is a point-and-click adventure game1.

Interface and Controls

  • The original EGA version uses a text parser interface where players type commands for the character to perform1
  • The 1992 VGA remake uses Sierra’s point-and-click SCI1.1 interface34
  • Players can explore all of the game at once and solve quests in any order1
  • Character saves can be exported to carry over attributes and backstory to later installments in the series45

Structure and Progression

  • The game is set in the valley barony of Spielburg, encompassing the central town with its tavern and shops, surrounding forests, and hazardous areas like caves and swamps45
  • Time passes in the game; the situation can be different between day and night, with scenery adjusted to match1
  • The main character must eat on a regular basis and becomes tired from running and fighting, requiring rest and sleep1
  • Skills improve through use rather than gaining levels through combat1

Puzzles and Mechanics

  • Character class largely determines starting equipment, how puzzles can be solved, and what quests are available14
  • Class distinctions are not absolute; players can add skills to a character to complete quests related to other classes1
  • Key quests involve liberating the goblin-captured Elsa, lifting the bear curse on Barnard, and dismantling a brigand network5
  • Challenges emphasize class-specific strategies, such as spellcasting to bypass obstacles or lockpicking hidden paths5

Reception

Contemporary Reviews

Scorpia of Computer Gaming World stated in 1990 that the game’s puzzles were easy but still fun for an experienced player, and that excellent graphics and good use of humor and role-playing elements made the game “a definite winner”1. In 1990, Computer Gaming World named it Adventure Game of the Year, describing it as one of the few introductory games that both beginners and veterans of adventures enjoyed17.

Jim Trunzo reviewed Hero’s Quest in White Wolf #19 (Feb./March 1990), rating it 4 out of 5 and stating that “Hero’s Quest I serves as a training ground and learning experience for the sequels. However, that’s a bonus because Hero’s Quest is an excellent play in its own right”1. Compute! in 1993 said that Hero’s Quest was “probably the most satisfying” Sierra game and that Quest for Glory was “in many ways a significant improvement,” praising its clay animation and stereo soundtrack1.

The editors of Macworld gave Quest for Glory their 1994 “Best Role-Playing Game” award, with Steven Levy remarking that the game “merges classic role-playing aspects—building up a character’s attributes by vanquishing enemies, all in service of a larger goal—with the more playful mood and interactivity of Sierra On-Line’s King’s Quest adventure-game series”1. The Amiga version received mixed reception, with one UK publication rating it 86%8, while another gave it just 23% in 1991, and a German Amiga magazine rated it 64%8.

Modern Assessment

The game sold 130,000 copies in its first year of release1. In 1996, Computer Gaming World named Quest for Glory the 73rd best game ever and 15th on the magazine’s list of the most innovative computer games17. Adventure Gamers rated the game 3.5/5 (Good), stating: “While actual puzzles are meagre and interspersed with RPG elements, So You Want To Be A Hero offers a fun and unique experience and never ceases to be an adventure game at its core”9.

Adventure Classic Gaming’s Don Rayner gave the game 4/5 (Very Good), praising its innovative hybrid gameplay10. RPGamer’s Michael Baker rated it 3.5/5, while Tyler Willis gave it 4/511. Richard Cobbett for PC Gamer stated that his impressions of the game are “almost all” positive, especially for the VGA remake, due to the great adventure offered and the spectacular game world1. HowLongToBeat reports the main story takes approximately 7 hours to complete, with completionist runs taking about 12 hours12. Speedrunners have achieved completion times under 5 minutes through exploit routing13.

  • Computer Gaming World: Adventure Game of the Year 199017
  • White Wolf Magazine: 4/5 stars (1990)1
  • Macworld: Best Role-Playing Game 19941
  • Adventure Classic Gaming: 4/5 (Very Good)10
  • RPGamer: 3.5–4/511
  • Adventure Gamers: 3.5/5 (Good)9
  • Abandonware DOS: 3.98/514
  • GOG: 4.9/5 (collection, 195 ratings)15
  • Steam: Very Positive (95% positive, 374 reviews, collection)16
  • HowLongToBeat: 7 hours main story, 12 hours completionist12
  • GameFAQs: “Great” (78 ratings)17

Development

Origins

The Quest for Glory series originated from the creative vision of Corey Cole, a programmer and designer with expertise in role-playing game systems, and his wife Lori Ann Cole, an artist and co-designer5. In August 1988, Corey submitted a five-page proposal to Sierra On-Line outlining a hybrid adventure-RPG game titled Hero’s Quest: So You Want to Be a Hero5. The core design philosophy centered on merging Sierra’s tradition of parser-driven adventure games with RPG staples such as character stats, skill progression, and tactical combat5.

According to Corey Cole, the original Quest for Glory game cost $150,000 to make, while the VGA remake cost almost as much as a full VGA entry1. The development team worked to create a game that would appeal to both adventure game fans and RPG enthusiasts, implementing systems that had never been combined in this way before5.

Cut Content and Design Challenges

Many planned features were cut during development due to time and budget constraints, including four different races (gnome, elf, human, centaur), a female player character option, a goblin maze dungeon, and the ability for magic users to have a familiar118. The game was originally titled “Hero’s Quest” but was renamed to “Quest for Glory” in 1990 due to trademark conflicts with Milton Bradley’s HeroQuest board game1418. In Corey Cole’s original proposal, the game was designed as a hybrid that would give adventure game fans more interactivity and RPG fans more story18. The development cost was approximately $150,000 for the original EGA version1.19

Technical Achievements

  • First Sierra game to allow selection of character classes (Fighter, Magic User, Thief)14
  • Innovative hybrid of adventure game puzzle-solving with RPG character progression15
  • Day-night cycle affecting NPC schedules and monster encounters1
  • Skills that improve through repeated use rather than traditional leveling1
  • Character export system allowing saves to transfer between series entries45
  • Platform releases: October 1989 (EGA DOS), 1990 (Amiga, Atari ST), July 1992 (VGA DOS), 1994 (Mac OS)13

Trivia

  • The game was originally titled “Hero’s Quest: So You Want to Be a Hero” but was renamed in 1990 due to trademark conflicts with Milton Bradley’s HeroQuest board game14
  • Many planned features were cut during development, including four playable races (gnome, elf, human, centaur), a female player character option, and a goblin maze dungeon118
  • Magic users were originally intended to have a familiar companion, but this feature was cut18
  • The original EGA version cost approximately $150,000 to develop, while the VGA remake cost almost as much as a full new game1
  • Clicking the eye icon on trees repeatedly displays “Daventree”—a pun referencing Daventry from the King’s Quest series20
  • A gargoyle riddle includes “I want to be a pirate!” as an answer option—a nod to LucasArts’ The Secret of Monkey Island20
  • Another gargoyle answer is “Call me Ishmael,” the famous opening line from Herman Melville’s Moby Dick20
  • A sarcophagus with a ribbon is labeled “Lara Bow”—a reference to Laura Bow from Sierra’s mystery adventure series20
  • A submarine periscope from Codename: ICEMAN appears at Mirror Lake on subsequent visits21
  • The VGA remake includes a Bugs Bunny and Elmer Fudd easter egg exclusive to that version21
  • The Baron character in the VGA remake is a cameo appearance of Ken Williams21
  • Designer Corey Cole’s original proposal explicitly designed the game as a hybrid “that would give adventure game fans more interactivity and RPG fans more story”18
  • The skill-through-use progression system was revolutionary—inspired by pen-and-paper RPGs rather than traditional video game leveling5

Technical Information

SpecificationDetails
EngineSCI0 (EGA original), SCI1.1 (VGA remake)36
Resolution320×200
Colors16 (EGA) / 256 (VGA remake)
InterfaceText parser (EGA), Point-and-click (VGA)1
SoundPC Speaker, AdLib, Roland MT-32, Sound Blaster
RAM Required640KB
MediaFloppy disks; CD-ROM (collection releases)

System Requirements (Original EGA)

ComponentMinimum
CPUIntel 8088 @ 4.77 MHz
RAM512KB
GraphicsEGA
StorageHard disk recommended
SoundPC Speaker (optional: AdLib, MT-32)

System Requirements (VGA Remake)

ComponentMinimumRecommended
CPU80286 @ 12 MHz80386
RAM640KB2MB
GraphicsVGA (256 colors)VGA
Storage8MB hard disk12MB
SoundSound BlasterRoland MT-32

Modern Compatibility

  • ScummVM: Fully supported (recommended)22
  • DOSBox: Compatible
  • Windows 10/11: Via ScummVM, GOG, or Steam versions

Legacy

The first Quest for Glory game has been credited as a genre-defining video game due to its mix of adventure and role-playing elements14. The series pioneered the hybrid genre of adventure and role-playing games, blending puzzle-solving narratives with character progression systems that allowed for class-specific solutions to challenges57. This innovative structure encouraged multiple playthroughs and influenced subsequent titles5.

The series’ emphasis on skill-based interactions over rigid puzzles set a precedent for immersive role-playing in adventure formats5. The Quest for Glory series was commercially successful, selling 130,000 copies in its first year of release and contributing to Sierra On-Line’s strong portfolio in the adventure and RPG markets during the 1990s17.

In 1996, Computer Gaming World named Quest for Glory the 73rd best game ever and 15th on the magazine’s list of the most innovative computer games17. The game’s influence extended beyond its commercial success, establishing design patterns for hybrid adventure-RPG games that would be emulated by later titles. The character export system, allowing players to carry their hero across multiple games, became a beloved feature that enhanced investment in the series and was ahead of its time in creating persistent cross-game narratives45.

Collections

This game has been included in the following collections:

  • Quest for Glory Anthology (1996)5
  • Quest for Glory Collection Series (1997)5
  • Quest for Glory 1-5 (GOG, Steam)1516

Downloads

Purchase / Digital Stores

Download / Preservation

Manuals & Extras

See Also

References

Footnotes

  1. Wikipedia – Quest for Glory: So You Want to Be a Hero – history, plot, gameplay, development, reception ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5 ↩6 ↩7 ↩8 ↩9 ↩10 ↩11 ↩12 ↩13 ↩14 ↩15 ↩16 ↩17 ↩18 ↩19 ↩20 ↩21 ↩22 ↩23 ↩24 ↩25 ↩26 ↩27 ↩28 ↩29 ↩30 ↩31 ↩32 ↩33 ↩34 ↩35 ↩36 ↩37 ↩38 ↩39 ↩40 ↩41 ↩42 ↩43 ↩44 ↩45 ↩46 ↩47 ↩48 ↩49 ↩50 ↩51 ↩52 ↩53 ↩54 ↩55 ↩56 ↩57 ↩58

  2. My Abandonware – Hero’s Quest – platforms, availability ↩ ↩2

  3. Sierra Fandom Wiki – Quest for Glory I VGA – VGA remake details, SCI1.1 engine ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5

  4. Sierra Fandom Wiki – Quest for Glory I EGA – original release details, plot, gameplay ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5 ↩6 ↩7 ↩8 ↩9 ↩10 ↩11 ↩12 ↩13 ↩14 ↩15 ↩16

  5. Grokipedia – Quest for Glory – series development history, creators, gameplay mechanics ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5 ↩6 ↩7 ↩8 ↩9 ↩10 ↩11 ↩12 ↩13 ↩14 ↩15 ↩16 ↩17 ↩18

  6. PCGamingWiki – Quest for Glory: So You Want to Be a Hero – technical specs, availability ↩ ↩2 ↩3

  7. Computer Gaming World – 1990 Awards – Adventure Game of the Year, 150 Best Games list ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5 ↩6

  8. Amiga Reviews Archive – Amiga version reviews ↩ ↩2

  9. Adventure Gamers – Quest for Glory I – modern review ↩ ↩2

  10. Adventure Classic Gaming – Quest for Glory I Review – 4/5 review by Don Rayner ↩ ↩2

  11. RPGamer – Quest for Glory Reviews – modern retrospective reviews ↩ ↩2

  12. HowLongToBeat – Quest for Glory I – completion times ↩ ↩2

  13. Speedrun.com – Quest for Glory I – speedrun leaderboards ↩

  14. Abandonware DOS – Quest for Glory – user ratings ↩

  15. GOG – Quest for Glory 1-5 – purchase, user reviews ↩ ↩2 ↩3

  16. Steam – Quest for Glory 1-5 – purchase, user reviews ↩ ↩2 ↩3

  17. GameFAQs – Hero’s Quest – user reviews, guides ↩

  18. TV Tropes – Quest for Glory I – trope analysis, design details ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5 ↩6

  19. IMDB – Quest for Glory (VGA) – VGA remake credits ↩

  20. MobyGames – Quest for Glory I VGA – VGA remake credits ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5

  21. The Cutting Room Floor – Quest for Glory I – unused content ↩ ↩2 ↩3

  22. ScummVM Wiki – Quest for Glory I – technical compatibility ↩

  23. Internet Archive – Quest for Glory Manual – preservation, documentation ↩

  24. MobyGames – Hero’s Quest – original release credits ↩

  25. Quest for Glory Fandom Wiki – series information ↩

  26. Hardcore Gaming 101 – Quest for Glory – series retrospective ↩

  27. Digital Antiquarian – So You Want to Be a Hero? – historical analysis ↩

  28. StrategyWiki – Quest for Glory – walkthrough, game guide ↩

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