Space Quest: Vohaul Strikes Back
Fan-made sequel to Sierra's Space Quest series, released in 2011.
Space Quest: Vohaul Strikes Back is a free, unofficial follow-up to Sierra's Space Quest series, launched in 2011. The story picks up with space janitor Roger Wilco as a resurrected old enemy, Sludge Vohaul, threatens the galaxy. To stop him, Roger must navigate the frozen world of Radon, outsmart a force of ape-like commandos, and rally the local population into a rebellion to reclaim their planet.
The game was built by a team of volunteers working in their spare time, starting in April 2002 and taking over nine years to complete. They used the Adventure Game Studio engine, created by Chris Jones. The final product includes roughly 90 explorable rooms, 70 characters who speak, 8,000 lines of dialogue, 7,700 sprites, 50 musical tracks, 80 usable items, and between 60 and 70 distinct ways for Roger to die. A voice pack was planned but never released. Several developers, notably Chris Ushko, also contributed to another fan-made sequel, Space Quest: Incinerations, which came out just a few weeks later in January 2012 after more than six years of work.
Critics generally praised the game. Richard Cobbett of Rock, Paper, Shotgun called it a shaky start but an excellent tribute and a very enjoyable game—funny, surprisingly long, and worth downloading. Cassandra Khaw of IndieGames.com noted the missing voice pack but said the game compensates with charm and humor. Rob Murrant of Adventure Gamers pointed out a clash between background and character art but found it not off-putting once playing, adding that the soundtrack, interface, and story left little to complain about, calling it an excellent indie release no Space Quest fan should miss. Greg Collins of Just Adventure described the sprite animation as crude but praised the game as professionally crafted. Jeff Mattas of Shacknews, after a short play, found it well written, funny, and faithful to the series' irreverent style. At the 2011 AGS Awards, it won Best Non-Player Character and was nominated for Best Gameplay, Best Background Art, and Best Music.
- release_year
- 2011
- developer
- Group of volunteers
- engine
- Adventure Game Studio
- genre
- Point-and-click adventure
- platform
- PC
- notable_feature
- 60-70 unique ways for Roger Wilco to die
Lore & Background
Several authors of Vohaul Strikes Back, most notably Chris Ushko, also worked on another fan-made sequel, Space Quest: Incinerations, which was in development for over six years and released just a few weeks after Vohaul Strikes Back, in January 2012. The game won the award for Best Non-Player Character at the 2011 AGS Awards, and was nominated for Best Gameplay, Best Background Art and Best Music.
Reader's Guide
Space Quest: Vohaul Strikes Back is significant as a notable example of fan-made game development, demonstrating the dedication of the Space Quest community. Its nine-year development cycle by volunteers using the Adventure Game Studio engine highlights the persistence of hobbyist creators. The game received favorable reviews from multiple outlets, with critics noting its humor, length, and tribute to the original series despite a graphical mismatch between background and character art. Its recognition at the 2011 AGS Awards, including a win for Best Non-Player Character, underscores its quality within the adventure game community. The game's legacy includes inspiring further fan projects like Space Quest: Incinerations, and it remains a reference point for fan-made sequels that capture the spirit of classic Sierra adventures.
Did You Know?
- The game contains approximately 60-70 unique ways for Roger Wilco to die.
- A voice pack was planned but never released.
- Several authors, most notably Chris Ushko, also worked on Space Quest: Incinerations, released a few weeks later in January 2012.
- The game won the award for Best Non-Player Character at the 2011 AGS Awards.
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