King's Quest IV was released in 1988 and was the last King's Quest game that didn't have a mouse interface. The graphics were an excellent improvement, the characters and objects no longer looked boxy. It was also the first King's Quest game to have a female hero. Another funky improvement, was the way the game was timed, after a certain amount of time, it would become night, (with a creepier feel to the game), this had never been done before and I'm disapointed they havn't been used since in any King's Quest game.
The game opens, shortly after Alexander's return from Manannan and King Graham wants to pass on the adventurers cap. The hat leaves his finger tips, when he grabs his chest and collapses. He's had a nearly fatal heart attack and no one knows what to do. In a state of grief, Rosella runs into the throne room and the image of a beautiful fairy, who tells Rosella she knows of a magic fruit that can cure her father, but first, Rosella must do something for the fairy. An evil fairy, Lolotte has caused the beautiful fairy to slowly lose her powers. Rosella goes after the evil fairy and comes out on top, restoring the good fairy to her rightful position. Rosella gets the fruit and returns to the castle of Daventry and saves her father's life.
All those things compined, earned the game the Publishers' Association's "Best Adventure Game" Award, for 1989.
