This is Broken Sword…
Long before Dan Brown became a millionaire for selling books about the Templar Order, one of the best, if not the best ever point-and click adventure games was using them as a basis for a plot. I’ve spoken many times about Broken Sword and how I love the game so I won’t repeat myself. But after going through Broken Sword 4 and finishing it, I just have to talk about the series.
A long time ago I remember reading an article with one of the creators of the franchise, i’m not exactly sure who, explaining that the only way Broken Sword would return would be in some form of novel. This was after the release of Broken Sword 2, he explained that 2D point-and-click had gone as far as it could more-or-less go and that was that. There are people out there that desperately wanted Angel the Series to continue, another Shenmue game and other franchises that have now past before their time.
So when I look back at the two games that followed that interview I see them fondly, regardless of Broken Sword 3’s flaws it had meaning to me because I never thought it was possible, so I guess you can say i’ve been really lucky, when my favourite franchise died it came back and is still back in the same spirit, if not quality, as the original.
That being said, Broken Sword 4 is fantastic, absolutely fantastic, I would go so far as to say it’s the second best game in the franchise, beating out Broken Sword 2 for that place. The game has more than I dreamed possible, voice acting is top notch, Rolf Saxon is at his best as always, but the 4th Nico, who’s voice is very similar to the 2nd Nico is perfect for the role. It’s innovative too in that the game dares NOT to go to Paris at all, the first in the franchise not too, but it makes sense the story is logical in that Istanbul and Rome are important areas to the Knights Templars rather than just Paris for the most part and everywhere else playing bit parts. The gameplay is very well done, mixing point-and-click with many types of onscreen puzzles and some sneaking ‘missions.’ The box puzzles that plagued the third game so much has been all but removed which is good.
The ending is a little lacking but i’m hoping it means there is more coming, the games graphics and engine would really suit more games aslong as they remain with the same quality of gameplay and story. Hell i’d love to see a remake of the first game if the original voice actors came back or their dialogue was reused from the original game. All in all i’m amazed, amazed that I am amazed that Broken Sword could still be this good I didn’t still believe but thankfully I was wrong and hopefully there is more to come.
