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When the Two Guys from Andromeda set out to design a sequel to the popular Space Quest III, they were determined to offer their public a game that combined the fun aspects of the prior games with the darker mood of some of the popular science fiction films of the time. Their idea was to engage current fans while attempting to attract potential gamers.
The result, Space Quest IV: Roger Wilco and the Time Rippers, was an extraordinary piece of design, akin to thrusting Marty McFly into the lead in the movie Blade Runner. The humor of the series is there, but the game also contains more of a threat of danger. The combination makes for a very exciting game, enjoyed by gamers and critics alike.
In SQ4, Roger finds himself involved in with a time-traveling band of freedom fighters who drop Roger into a futuristic Xenon. This Xenon is a desolate wasteland, and will be the planet's future if Roger does not do something about his old nemesis, Sludge Vohaul. Roger pops back and forth through Space Quests past and future, all the while being pursued by the ruthless Sequel Police. Ultimately, Roger will face Sludge in a fight to the death, but will Roger have what it takes to defeat him? C'mon, that's an easy one!
In 1991, after the design of Space Quest IV: Roger Wilco and the Time Rippers was complete, Scott Murphy told an interviewer that "We won't be doing another Space Quest; that's not to say that there won't be another game in the series, it's just that we won't be doing it. Although we have no solid ideas of what type of game we'd like to do next, we've lived with Roger Wilco a long time now, and though we like him a lot, we're ready for a break."
Mark Crowe, the other Guy from Andromeda, wasn't quite ready give up designing games in this popular series, so he flew Space Quest V solo.
:: Space Quest 4 Story ::
After Roger rescued the Two Guys from Andromeda in his last adventure, he decides a pitstop on Magmetheus is in order. He finds himself spending his buckazoids in a spacy space bar. Just when he zipped down his third drink, problems appeared on the horizon. Rudely interrupting his conversation with two weird looking aliens, Roger is taken outside by so-called Sequel Police for a holo-message. It is the demented evil scientist Sludge Vohaul! But didn't Roger took care of Sludge in one of his previous adventures? Sludge is up to no good, and to be sure he succeeds, Roger must die. Just when the the Sequel Police prepare to fire, Roger is saved by two mysterious looking guys. He is forced to jump into a time rip and his fourth adventure is already underway...
Thanks to the time rip, Roger ends up in Space Quest 12. Hey wait, this looks just like Xenon! It IS Xenon. It's... It's... It's really a pile. The city (or should I say: the whole planet?) is completely destroyed. What happened here? Roger will soon find out.
After some wandering around, Roger finds a timepod. And not just a time pod, oh no! It's the Timebuster 2000 SUCKS (the follow up of the Timeslug 1000 S-EX). "Woah!", is Roger's intelligent reaction when looking at the pod's interior. Why, a panel with strange symbols! 'Thinking' these symbols resemble a code to another time area he 'thinks': "Gosh, Now what? I don't know any times codes. Well, here we go." Without thinking, Roger puts his hand before his eyes and presses 6 of them pretty looking symbols. And it works... Well, it should work, 'cause Roger just demonstrated one of his actions of using his famous dumb luck.
What is this? Space Quest 10 the Latex Babes of Estros? Sounds great. Estros is a beautiful planet and Roger just had to look around. We all know Roger attracts danger, or does danger attracts Roger? Anyway, high up in the sky there is a giant pterodactyl who captures Roger to take him to his nest. Luckily for Roger, this giant bird just saved Roger from being shot by one of those irritating Sequel Police. After he managed to get out of the nest, Roger finds himself surrounded by beautiful, but deadly, Latex Babes. One of the babes seems to know Roger. Our brave former janitor doesn't understand anything she's telling him. The leader, called Zondra, is a little bit ticked at Roger's actions in his future past and is forced into their submarine, heading once again towards the unknown. Roger is almost tortured to death (well, Thoreen, one of the Latex Babes, hadn't even started yet) and then a giant sea slug appeared. Roger is once again on his own, as the Babes quickly run to safety. I'm not going to tell you what Roger does next... But I'm sure you can guess! So, Roger, former enemy of the Babes, is know their 'hero'. The babes decides to go shopping at the Galaxy Galleria mall and Roger is taken with them.
"SALE!"... Well, that was the last of the babes. Hey, one of the babes lost her ATM card... Roger buys new pants (he lost the legs of his pants in the fight with the deadly sea slug), made some buckazoids at Monolith Burger and buys a SQ4 hint book at a software store (you never know where or when you're going to need it). Also, Roger earned enough money at Monolith to buy a beautiful dress (and wig). Looking just like a the Latex Babe who lost the ATM card Roger clears out her bank account. The prince on the white horse he is! Not needing the dress (and wig) Roger changes his clothes again.... So, Roger. What are you going to do with that kind of money?
An Arcade! Maybe they have the newest Fly 'n Crash Simulator by ScumSoft! But the fun is over when the Sequel Police appear. Roger managed to escape death (Sequel Police are terrible Zero-G-skaters) and steals their timepod. Roger enters the codes found in that SQ4 hint book and gum rapper.
Look at that! He has just warped to the 16 colored Space Quest 1. There's not much going on at Ulence Flats this time, except three ugly goons at the local bar. Roger showed those boys a lesson or two. Not wasting any time, he's off to Space Quest 12 to finish off Sludge Vohaul... Will he succeed? Well, there is a Space Quest 5, isn't there? So, why don't you find out for yourself?
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Space Quest IV code page
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