linearly, with the player unable to continue into the next "day" or "chapter" or "time block" of the narrative until they have solved the required puzzles and obtained the proper information. Solving puzzles and gathering information results in the collection of points.
''Gabriel Knight: Sins of the Fathers'' and ''Gabriel Knight 3: Blood of the Sacred, Blood of the Damned'' both included short
graphic novel
A graphic novel is a long-form, fictional work of sequential art. The term ''graphic novel'' is often applied broadly, including fiction, non-fiction, and anthologized work, though this practice is highly contested by comic scholars and industry ...
s that contained back-story, much in the tradition of
Infocom
Infocom was an American software company based in Cambridge, Massachusetts, that produced numerous works of interactive fiction. They also produced a business application, a relational database called ''Cornerstone (software), Cornerstone''.
...
's "
feelies
Infocom was an American software company based in Cambridge, Massachusetts, that produced numerous works of interactive fiction. They also produced a business application, a relational database called ''Cornerstone''.
Infocom was founded o ...
". The ''Sins of the Fathers'' graphic novel follows the story of Günter Ritter, an ancestor of Gabriel Knight, who has left his ancestral home for the American continent in the 17th century. The ''Blood of the Sacred, Blood of the Damned'' graphic novel acts as a prologue to the game, explaining how Gabriel began the case.
''Gabriel Knight: Sins of the Fathers''
The first game in the series is a point and click adventure done in 3rd person style, with comic book style art used for story cut scenes. While the floppy version of the game only included subtitles, the
CD-ROM
A CD-ROM (, compact disc read-only memory) is a type of read-only memory consisting of a pre-pressed optical compact disc that contains data. Computers can read—but not write or erase—CD-ROMs. Some CDs, called enhanced CDs, hold both compute ...
version featured a cast of voice actors.
Tim Curry
Timothy James Curry (born 19 April 1946) is an English actor and singer. He rose to prominence for his portrayal of Dr. Frank-N-Furter in the film ''The Rocky Horror Picture Show'' (1975), reprising the role he had originated in the 1973 London ...
plays Gabriel Knight,
Mark Hamill
Mark Richard Hamill (; born September 25, 1951) is an American actor and writer. He is known for his role as Luke Skywalker in the ''Star Wars'' film series, beginning with the original 1977 film and subsequently winning three Saturn Awards ...
plays his old friend Detective Franklin Mosely,
Leah Remini plays his assistant and friend Grace Nakimura, and
Leilani Jones as Malia Gedde. Other characters include
Efrem Zimbalist, Jr.
Efrem Zimbalist Jr. (November 30, 1918 – May 2, 2014) was an American actor known for his starring roles in the television series '' 77 Sunset Strip'' and '' The F.B.I.'' He is also known as recurring character "Dandy Jim Buckley" in the ...
as Wolfgang Ritter, Gabriel's great-uncle,
Michael Dorn
Michael Dorn (born December 9, 1952) is an American actor best known for his role as the Klingon Worf in the ''Star Trek'' franchise. He has appeared more times as a regular cast member than any other ''Star Trek'' actor in the franchise's histo ...
as Dr. John, a proprietor of a
voodoo
Voodoo may refer to:
Religions
* African or West African Vodun, practiced by Gbe-speaking ethnic groups
* African diaspora religions, a list of related religions sometimes called Vodou/Voodoo
** Candomblé Jejé, also known as Brazilian Vodu ...
museum, and
Mary Kay Bergman
Mary Kay Bergman (June 5, 1961 – November 11, 1999), also credited as Shannen Cassidy, was an American voice actress and voice-over teacher. She was the lead female voice actress on ''South Park'' from the show's 1997 debut until her death. Thr ...
as Gerde Hull, the caretaker at Gabriel's ancestral home Schloss Ritter in Germany. The narrator is
Virginia Capers
Eliza "Virginia" Capers (September 22, 1925 – May 6, 2004) was an American actress. She won the Tony Award for Best Lead Actress in a Musical in 1974 for her performance as Lena Younger in ''Raisin'', a musical version of Lorraine Hansberry's ...
.
This game introduces Gabriel Knight, a financially struggling horror novelist who owns a bookstore in New Orleans called ''St. George's Rare Books''. His friend Detective Mosely is investigating series of homicides dubbed "The Voodoo Murders" by the press. Compelled by strange nightmares and thinking the murders may give him good material for a book, Gabriel begins his own investigation, aided by his assistant Grace Nakimura. This leads him to meet mysterious New Orleans socialite Malia Gedde, as well as learn much about the history of voodoo. During the investigation, Gabriel realizes genuine supernatural practices are involved and learns he is related to the Ritter family, making him the latest in a line of ''Schattenjägers'' ("Shadow Hunters") who are meant to fight those who use supernatural methods to threaten innocent lives.
The 20th anniversary remake edition featured Jason Victor as Gabriel Knight, Cissy Jones as Grace Nakimura, Ned Clarke as Detective Mosely, and Amy Kelly as the Narrator.
''The Beast Within: A Gabriel Knight Mystery''
The second game (also known as ''Gabriel Knight 2: The Beast Within'') is in the style of a live-action interactive movie, starring
Dean Erickson as Gabriel Knight and Joanne Takahashi as Grace Nakimura. Grace is now a playable character for portions of the game. The character Gerde Hull is back as an NPC, portrayed by Andrea Martin.
A year after the events of ''Sins of the Fathers'' and after undergoing the spiritual trial necessary to become a ''Schattenjäger'', Gabriel has moved to his ancestral home in the small village of Rittersberg in
Bavaria
Bavaria ( ; ), officially the Free State of Bavaria (german: Freistaat Bayern, link=no ), is a state in the south-east of Germany. With an area of , Bavaria is the largest German state by land area, comprising roughly a fifth of the total lan ...
, Germany to write his new novel and connect with his family lineage. His new book ''The Voodoo Murders'', a fiction murder mystery based on the events of the first game, is now a best-seller. The people of Rittersberg, the seat of the ''Schattenjägers'', ask for Gabriel's help when there is talk of a
werewolf
In folklore, a werewolf (), or occasionally lycanthrope (; ; uk, Вовкулака, Vovkulaka), is an individual that can shapeshift into a wolf (or, especially in modern film, a therianthropic hybrid wolf-like creature), either purposely or ...
attack in
Munich
Munich ( ; german: München ; bar, Minga ) is the capital and most populous city of the States of Germany, German state of Bavaria. With a population of 1,558,395 inhabitants as of 31 July 2020, it is the List of cities in Germany by popu ...
. Gabriel investigates and Grace comes to Germany to help him, determined to fight evil alongside the ''Schattenjäger'' and now experiencing visions and dreams of her own. Gabriel develops an unusual friendship with Baron Friedrich Von Glower, who leads an exclusive hunting club in Munich and believes Knight is a kindred spirit.
''Gabriel Knight 3: Blood of the Sacred, Blood of the Damned''
This game uses 3D rendered graphics and features the return of Tim Curry to the role of Gabriel Knight. Grace is once again a playable character, now voiced by Charity James. Detective Franklin Mosely returns to Gabriel's life, now voiced by David Thomas.
Years after the events of the second game, Gabriel has published another successful book called ''The Brutal Beast'', based on his experiences in the previous game. He now considers himself a full-time ''Schattenjäger'' and Grace is his full partner, having created a computerized ''Schattenjäger'' archive called SYDNEY. The two are asked by the exiled Prince James of Albany to protect his newborn son from a centuries-old family threat that may involve
vampire
A vampire is a mythical creature that subsists by feeding on the vital essence (generally in the form of blood) of the living. In European folklore, vampires are undead creatures that often visited loved ones and caused mischief or deaths ...
s. That same night, the boy Charlie is kidnapped and Gabriel follows the kidnappers to the mysterious French village of
Rennes-le-Château
Rennes-le-Château (; oc, Rènnas del Castèl) is a commune approximately 5 km (3 miles) south of Couiza, in the Aude department in the Occitanie region in Southern France. In 2018, it had a population of 91.
This hilltop village is kn ...
. Gabriel's arrival coincides with that of a visiting tour group supposedly hunting for a legendary local treasure that may be linked to the
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the largest Christian church, with 1.3 billion baptized Catholics worldwide . It is among the world's oldest and largest international institutions, and has played a ...
, the
Knights Templar
, colors = White mantle with a red cross
, colors_label = Attire
, march =
, mascot = Two knights riding a single horse
, equipment ...
, or the
Holy Grail
The Holy Grail (french: Saint Graal, br, Graal Santel, cy, Greal Sanctaidd, kw, Gral) is a treasure that serves as an important motif in Arthurian literature. Various traditions describe the Holy Grail as a cup, dish, or stone with miracul ...
. Gabriel and Grace investigate the case alongside Mosely, who arrived with the tour group. After finding and rescuing the child, Gabriel discovers the origin of the first ''Schattenjäger''. At the end of the game, Grace leaves Gabriel's side to find her own path.
''Temptation: A Gabriel Knight Interlude''
To celebrate the release of ''Gabriel Knight: Sins of the Fathers - 20th Anniversary Edition'', Jane Jensen released a short prose story online. The story ''Temptation: A Gabriel Knight Interlude'' is set six months following the events of the third game. The story was later adapted into a comic book.
The short story depicts Gabriel pursuing a cloaked figure in the woods said to be a seeleesser, "an eater of souls". During the case, Gabriel reflects on recent events and Grace's departure, as well as the fact that he has fulfilled three major "quests" already and is now 36-years-old, bringing him to wonder if he has reached his peak already. During the adventure, he has a vision of Von Glower from ''The Beast Within'' and hears the man voice his own doubts and selfish desires, saying Gabriel should return to his life where he had no responsibility and didn't need to endanger himself hunting evil. In the end, Gabriel dismisses the vision and continues his investigations.
Possible fourth game
After the release of ''Blood of the Sacred, Blood of the Damned'', Jane Jensen stated she had started planning a possible story and setting for a fourth game. In ''Blood of the Sacred, Blood of the Damned'', the player can use the SIDNEY computer interface to search for "gk4" and see an entry on ghosts as a result. Jane Jensen said ghosts would have been the antagonists for a fourth entry to the series. However, no ''Gabriel Knight 4'' game followed and in August 2006, it was confirmed that Jane Jensen's next adventure game project would be the revival of ''
Gray Matter
Grey matter is a major component of the central nervous system, consisting of neuronal cell bodies, neuropil (dendrites and unmyelinated axons), glial cells (astrocytes and oligodendrocytes), synapses, and capillaries. Grey matter is distingui ...
''.
The rights to Gabriel Knight are currently held by
Activision
Activision Publishing, Inc. is an American video game publisher based in Santa Monica, California. It serves as the publishing business for its parent company, Activision Blizzard, and consists of several subsidiary studios. Activision is one o ...
, which acquired them after merging with former rights holder
Vivendi Universal
Vivendi SE is a French mass media holding company headquartered in Paris. Widely known as the owner of Gameloft, Groupe Canal+, Havas, Editis, Prisma Media, Vivendi Village and Dailymotion, the company has activities in television, film, video ...
in 2008. Jane Jensen has pitched new ''Gabriel Knight'' games to both Vivendi and Activision. In April 2012, Jensen launched
Pinkerton Road Studio and said in interviews that she hopes producing a new game with Pinkerton Road is a step in the right direction for getting the chance to make new ''Gabriel Knight'' games in the future. A remake of ''Gabriel Knight: Sins of the Fathers'' for Windows, OS X, iOS and Android was released on October 15, 2014.
Characters
* Gabriel Knight is the central protagonist of the series, the orphaned son of Philip Knight and Margaret Templeton Knight, meant to be about 30 year old when the narrative starts (although his age is not consistent in the games). Gabriel is the proprietor of St. George's Rare Books in his hometown of New Orleans and a struggling horror fiction author. Charismatic, sardonic, and intuitive, he prefers to avoid responsibility, often distracted by interesting books and casual affairs with women. His two main friends are his assistant Grace Nakimura and his childhood friend Franklin Mosely, a police detective. Early in the first game, he realizes there is more to his family than he knows. Gabriel's nightmares and a desire to research a new book lead him to investigate recent "voodoo murders". During his investigation, he discovers he descends from the Ritter family and is the latest in a line of ''Schattenjägers'' ("Shadow Hunters"). Visiting his family castle ''Schloss Ritter'' in Rittersberg, Germany, he undergoes a spiritual trial to become a new ''Schattenjäger''. He later inherits the Ritter Talisman. ''
GK2'' features a somewhat more somber Gabriel now living in his family castle over a year later and experiencing financial success since his new novel ''The Voodoo Murders'' (based on his experiences in the first game and starring fictional detective Blake Backlash) is a best-seller. By ''
GK3'', Gabriel has published another successful novel entitled ''The Brutal Beast'', based on the events of the second game. Gabriel is a more mature and experienced character, now more focused on his duties as a ''Schattenjäger'', with Grace as a full partner in his investigations. Despite his feelings, he still resists romantic commitment with Grace.
* Grace Nakimura is first introduced in ''
Gabriel Knight: Sins of the Fathers'' in 1993 as a
non-player character
A non-player character (NPC), or non-playable character, is any character in a game that is not controlled by a player. The term originated in traditional tabletop role-playing games where it applies to characters controlled by the gamemaster ...
, before becoming a
player character
A player character (also known as a playable character or PC) is a fictional character in a video game or tabletop role-playing game whose actions are controlled by a player rather than the rules of the game. The characters that are not contro ...
in both sequel games. Introduced as a 26-year-old assistant, Grace is a researcher, aid, and moral compass for Gabriel in the first game. She becomes a full investigative partner in the two sequel games and is more strongly in the role of romantic interest. At the end of the third game, she decides to pursue her own path rather than remain Gabriel's helper. Grace has been included in multiple lists of top sidekicks
and female characters in video games.
''GameSpot'' wrote that Grace was "more likable" than Knight and more "intelligent and resourceful".
In 2007,
Tom's Games also noted that unlike traditional female characters in video games, Grace is designed with conservative dress, without "sexy outfits
ndout-sized proportions".
According to
USgamer
Gamer Network Limited (formerly Eurogamer Network Limited) is a British mass media company based in Brighton. Founded in 1999 by Rupert and Nick Loman, it owns brands—primarily editorial websites—relating to video game journalism and other ...
's Pete Davison in 2013, "Grace Nakimura remains one of the best, most realistic female characters in game history".
* Gerde Hull (voiced by
Mary Kay Bergman
Mary Kay Bergman (June 5, 1961 – November 11, 1999), also credited as Shannen Cassidy, was an American voice actress and voice-over teacher. She was the lead female voice actress on ''South Park'' from the show's 1997 debut until her death. Thr ...
in the first game, and played by Andrea Martin in the second) is the caretaker of Gabriel's ancestral home, ''Schloss Ritter'' in Ritterberg, Germany. When Gabriel first meets Gerde in ''Sins of the Fathers'', she is an anxious and enthusiastically optimistic young woman. She clearly has deep love and respect for Gabriel's great-uncle Wolfgang Ritter, grieving the man's death still during the events of ''The Beast Within''. Gerde acts as a valuable research assistant. Grace considers her a possible rival as Gabriel's investigative partner and love interest but after a talk with Gerde the two become friends. Gerde does not appear in the third game but is mentioned.
Novelizations
The stories of ''Sins of the Fathers'' and ''The Beast Within'' were adapted into novels by Jane Jensen. The first is a straightforward adaptation of the events of the game, an approach which Jane Jensen decided, in retrospect, was not the most successful way of introducing Gabriel Knight to a literary audience. For the second novel she "threw the whole idea of the game away and started again from scratch".
Both books are out of print as of 2010. As part of her 2012
Kickstarter
Kickstarter is an American public benefit corporation based in Brooklyn, New York, that maintains a global crowdfunding platform focused on creativity. The company's stated mission is to "help bring creative projects to life". As of July 2021, ...
campaign to fund a new adventure game, Jensen offered both ''Gabriel Knight'' novels as ebooks to backers who pledge $50 or more.
Compilation
In 1998, Sierra released the title ''Gabriel Knight Mysteries: Limited Edition'', which contains:
* an 8-disc PC CD box of first two ''Gabriel Knight'' games and electronic manuals.
* a 419-page novelization of ''Gabriel Knight: Sins of the Fathers'' (written by Jane Jensen and published by Roc in 1997).
* a full soundtrack of ''The Beast Within: A Gabriel Knight Mystery''.
* bundled with the original 1993 editions, a 33-page full-color graphic novel of an event that takes place almost 200 years before the opening of ''Gabriel Knight: Sins of the Fathers'' (written by Jane Jensen, art direction by Nathan Gams and illustrated by Terese Nielsen).
* a 20-page full-color graphic novel of an event that takes place days before the opening of the then-upcoming ''Gabriel Knight 3: Blood of the Sacred, Blood of the Damned'' (written by Jane Jensen and illustrated by Ron Spears).
References
External links
*
{{Sierra Adventure Games, Gabriel Knight
Activision Blizzard franchises
Video game franchises
Video game franchises introduced in 1993