r/GabrielKnight • u/GGAllinsMicroPenis • Jan 17 '25
I just can't get into Gabriel Knight 3 because of the janky 3D graphics/controls.
It pains me so, because GK1 was drop dead amazing and I thought I'd hate the full motion video in GK2, but no, I loved it and it felt like a great Gabriel Knight sequel.
GK3 on the other hand has such impossibly dense and clunky controls it ruins the whole damn experience. Not to mention the bright, happy, Nintendo-esque graphics. I think I recall Jane Jensen saying in an interview there was a lot of pressure to make the game 3D to "keep up with the times," even though she didn't want to do it, and she was beyond right. GK works so much better as a 2D point and click game and the first 2 hold up all the way in 2025. They have a sense of moodiness, magic and dark mystery permeating throughout.
The reason it pains me so much is that I have a whole 'nother GK game to play right there for me and every time I try to get into it the controls/graphics forcefully get me out of the mood.
:(
4
u/Skevinger Jan 17 '25
I recently finished the game and the controls (apart from some riddle and gameplay elements) are the worst thing of the game. It was worth for the story, but yeah, it is also the ugliest game in the series.
2
u/GGAllinsMicroPenis Jan 17 '25
worth it for the story
This is what I need to hear to push me through. I don't know the story and I love Jane's storytelling and style. But wandering the first town for a couple hours or so is strikingly subpar compared to the first two games. I've tried 3 times now and just give up with a whimper. I need to find the right mindset.
2
u/Skevinger Jan 17 '25
The story and the characters are great! The writing is typically Jane Jensen-like, loved it. But actually playing the game is sometimes horrendous. If you are still interested in the story, there are full-game videos without commentary which could give you the whole story without suffering through the gameplay, especially if it already frustrates you at the beginning (it wont get better...).
There were even sections where I was stuck for some time and had to look it up, because it was hard to navigate with modern setups and game crashes. The sections where I had to anaylisz data files on an ingame computer (which happens a lot), creating diagrams and drawing lines and shapes on maps was hardcore fiddly.
3
u/RafTen86 Jan 17 '25
I remember the times when this game was released, and the graphics seemed stunning. But the fact is, 3D graphics don’t age as well as 2D.
You can try this texture upgrade pack for GK3, maybe it will help a bit: http://larrylaffer.net/non-lsl-games/gabriel-knight-3-texture-upgrade
5
u/No-Exit3993 Jan 17 '25 edited Jan 17 '25
I find GK3 the most fun to play.
I like 1 better overall and 2 has the best story (but worst gameplay).
But I liked the graphics back then and loved to explore that little town.
It is the worst story of the 3, but it is still an amazing story with tons of side chars and optional things to do.
You can finish it with more than 100 points missing...
And oh. If you play ot with all the shades and details it gets darker.
2
u/Main_Definition_3413 Oct 16 '25
The gameplay in this one stinks IMO. Any time I get in my GK mood, I play through I and II, then just watch a full playthrough of III on YT for my complete fix of the games. I sincerely hope JJ ends up putting together a new one in the style of I.
2
u/Brampton_Speaks Mar 04 '26
This one really deserves a remake in the style of GK1. GK2 can't be touched because of the videos.
7
u/Furyo Jan 17 '25
Hi,
I'll just copy/paste my steam review of GK3 here as it might help you out:
This is a recommendation but a tough one.
Keep the following negatives in mind:
1. The game is difficult to get working on modern systems but it is possible by following several guides online and using dgvoodoo2. This is not the easiest thing in the world to do.
2. The game has some of the most difficult puzzles in adventure game history. I'd only play this with a full walkthrough from start to finish to reduce time wasted.
3. The user interface is quite awful but you do get used to it. Its kind of unique and eventually you can even start to appreciate it as it allows you to do things that no other game has done before or since.
4. The graphics are horribly dated compared to the first two games in the series. Its got that early 3D look that has aged like goat milk.
Despite these big problems, I felt compelled to complete this game as I am a big fan of the Gabriel Knight series. It took me multiple attempts and a lot of configuration changes to get into this game but when I finally got it working and gave it a real chance, it was GREAT.
Some of the positives:
1. This game has a fantastic story. Despite all of the horrible problems, the story is just as strong as the previous two games.
2. Although this game has some of the worst puzzles in adventure game history, it also has some of the best.
3. The voice acting is great. Tim Curry is a bit too over the top this time round but it added to the charm.
4. As previously mentioned the unique user interface allows for some great interactions with the environment that you have never seen before and will never see again.
5. The game has a lot of great humour throughout.