Broken Sword Series Reviewed

Broken Sword – Series Review

By Mitchell “Moe” Long

[divider] [dropcap]I[/dropcap] recently reviewed “Broken Sword 5: The Serpent’s Curse,” and as mentioned in the write up, it was the first of the “Broken Sword” titles I’d played. While waiting for the second half of “The Serpent’s Curse,” I was curious about the previous franchise entries and figured this was the perfect time to catch up on “Broken Sword” lore. Whether you’re a seasoned “Broken Sword” veteran, or have no idea what I’m talking about (in which case it would be prudent to continue reading), let’s time warp back to 1996, the year it all began.

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“ [dropcap]B[/dropcap]roken Sword: The Shadow of the Templars” dropped in 1996, a clever point-and-click adventure game from Revolution Software. Protagonist George Stobbart sees a clown blow up a Parisian café, initiating a chain of unusual events. He’s soon introduced to journalist Nicole Collard who arrives at the crime scene. Using the mouse to poke around the carnage, George discovers a few clues which lead him to a costume store, putting him on the scent of “Khan.” Hopefully George and Nico do not incite his wrath. Whoops, wrong Khan. But still, I doubt this Khan would appreciate Stobbart and Collard, amateur detectives. The quest leads to a variety of locations, both within Paris and internationally. At the heart of the winding plot are, you guessed it, the Templars. This isn’t really a spoiler considering the name is in the title.

Upon revisiting the inaugural title, I was struck by how many shared elements existed between “The Shadow of the Templars” and “The Serpent’s Curse.” Both narratives begin with unusual characters committing crimes: a clown bombing a café, and a pizza delivery guy shooting an art gallery owner. The clown, by the way, is legitimately creepy. And this is coming from a guy who isn’t afraid of clowns. Seriously, this dude gives Pennywise a run for his money. Both games also kick off the action in Paris, and feature lovely, colorful animation. “The Shadow of the Templars” feels a bit more cartoonish, but hey it was the 90’s. “Shadow of the Templars” received a remake, dubbed the Director’s Cut, released across an array of platforms. It featured additional scenes and an expanded plot.

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[dropcap]A[/dropcap] year after “Broken Sword: The Shadow of the Templars” graced the gaming scene, “Broken Sword II: The Smoking Mirror” bounced into action. Featuring similar point and click tactics, “The Smoking Mirror” finds George and Nico now dating, and this isn’t the only change to the familiar formula. Players can now assume control of Nicole as well. Additionally, “The Smoking Mirror” deals with a Mayan stone. Once again, the adventure leads Nico and George around the globe to various locations including England and “Zombie Island.” As expected, though action occurs at a slower speed by nature of the point and click progression, the narrative is anything but slow. On the contrary, the antics of the protagonists, George in particular, liven up the game. Being forced to analyze the environment rather than simply fire from the hip Rambo style makes this a more engaging title than many first person shooters and traditional RPGs. Like its predecessor, “The Smoking Mirror” too was honored with a remastered release.

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[dropcap]W[/dropcap]hile both “The Shadow of the Templars” and “The Smoking Mirror” featured relatively unchanged gameplay, “Broken Sword: The Sleeping Dragon” took a radical turn. The world of 3d animation chewed up the “Broken Sword” franchise and spit out the next iteration, “The Sleeping Dragon.” However, the graphics aren’t the only innovations in the third “Broken Sword” installment. Remember that whole point and click interface? You know the defining characteristic of the entire series? Kiss that goodbye. Normally such a substantial change may result in negative critical reception, but surprisingly “The Sleeping Dragon” was praised for the new style. Environmental interaction almost feels like an early “Resident Evil” title, without the completely unforgiving camera angles (sorry “Resident Evil.” Don’t worry, I still love you). Despite such alterations, the puzzle solving, clue gathering, and comedy remain constant.

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[dropcap]L[/dropcap]ike “The Smoking Mirror,” 2006’s “Broken Sword: The Angel of Death” launched in 3d. However the clever “Broken Sword” team maintained their fresh take, fusing previous point and click action with 3d animation. This installment introduces a new character, Anna Maria, who teams up with George for quite a while. The plot is riveting, and features some pleasantly unexpected twists. Undoubtedly it’s difficult to continue a franchise while delivering inventive gameplay, narrative, and action. Somehow, the fourth “Broken Sword” notch offers just that. In particular, I though the music from “Angel of Death” actually helped it stand apart from the previous “Broken Sword” releases. Often I find music is overlooked and understated in a game, but there’s an action movie vibe crafted by the “Angel of Death” score. Furthermore, the feeling of an interactive movie carries over from “The Sleeping Dragon” beautifully.

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[dropcap]R[/dropcap]ounding out the list is of course the most recent “Broken Sword” title, “The Serpent’s Curse.” Like the first two series entries, the fifth iteration employs lush 2d visuals, though “The Serpent’s Curse” is arguably 2.5d. Thematically, each “Broken Sword” release features puzzle solving and adventure elements. Accordingly, and clearly aided by references to the Templars, comparisons to Dan Brown’s Robert Langdon series are inevitable. Check out some gameplay from the “Da Vinci Code” video game. You’ll notice more than a few elements borrowed from the legendary “Broken Sword” franchise.

[divider] [dropcap]C[/dropcap]onsidering the fact that “The Shadow of the Templars,” like Brown’s Angels and Demons and The Da Vinci Code, share inspiration from Holy Blood, Holy Grail this isn’t terribly surprising. Luckily the common denominator produced fine offspring: Robert Langdon novels are gripping reads, and so too are “Broken Sword” games. Well, maybe not reads, but you’ll find yourself mulling over a difficult in-game puzzle or challenge while eating dinner or reading a novel. Revolution Software truly is a fitting title for the developers of the long-running franchise, because though they’ve switched up graphics, gameplay and plot, each “Broken Sword” feels revolutionary. This stems from the constancy of the core elements which define the franchise: adventure, intrigue, entertainment, and player interaction. The overall effect is a series which transcends gaming and trespasses into the domain of film, even literature. Stepping into the shoes of George Stobbart and Nicole Collard fulfills the ageless need to play make believe, a difficult feat for any medium. The second chapter of “Broken Sword: The Serpent’s Curse” should deliver a healthy dose of George and Nico, offering once again a chance to slip into character and lose ourselves in interactive rooms.

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[facebook][tweet][Google][pinterest][follow id=”Cliqist” size=”large” count=”true” ] [author image=”http://cliqist.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/moe.jpg” ]Mitchell “Moe” Long is a North Carolina writer with a passion for all things pop culture. Besides gaming, Moe enjoys cult classic films, listening to vinyl, and drinking far too much coffee. In addition to Cliqist, Moe writes about music and movies, and is currently composing what he hopes will one day be a novel about the universally awkward period of life known as high school. Feel free to check out and subscribe to his Examiner page as well as connect with him on Twitter. [/author]