Posted January 12, 2009
The Broken Sword serie has always been one of my favourite. I still remember today my first steps in the first episode and its fantastic animated sequences. When I first saw the screenshots for this third episode, I must admit I was quite worry since, at the time (and still today) I didn't find adventure games in full 3D much enjoyable.
This third episode has some of the issues which I regularly faces in recent adventure games : simplified puzzles, less detailled graphics compared to 2D adventure games, useless platform passages.
Worst of all, the control schemes using the keyboard instead of the mouse and requesting to move near an object to be able to use it is a knightmare. Such great games as Grim Fandango or the third Gabriel Knight have suffered from this.
But... By sticking to what made the 2 first episodes such great games (great scenario and atmosphere, characters you get attached to, detailled historical background), it was a real pleasure to go through this adventure. I started with a 3 star rating but if I must admit that I never felt frustrated while playing the game (except for the controls in some specific locations) and, like all great adventure games, I finished it several times just for the pleasure of sharing some addtional time with George and Nico.
Anyway, if you like the previous episodes, go for this one without an inch of hesitation (especially at this price) and let me recommend you other games (and let's hope GOG will be able to get its hands on these sooner or later) :
The Gabriel Knight serie
The first episode is the one with the best reputation but you should really try the second episode which has clearly been underrated at the time of its release. As a whole, this serie has the same qualities that we can find in the Broken Sword games : lovely characters, great puzzles and rich background.
The Discworld serie
Three games which made me discover one of the best auhtor in the storytelling world. If you know the books and havn't played the games yet, find these asap. If you know the games and havn't read the books, go to the nearest bookstore asap. If you know both, you already know how lucky you are.
I could also talk about the Lucasarts games (those nights spent on Monkey Island or Day Of The Tentacle) and other Sierra series, Syberia (I & II) or The Longest Journey but these you probably already know about.
This third episode has some of the issues which I regularly faces in recent adventure games : simplified puzzles, less detailled graphics compared to 2D adventure games, useless platform passages.
Worst of all, the control schemes using the keyboard instead of the mouse and requesting to move near an object to be able to use it is a knightmare. Such great games as Grim Fandango or the third Gabriel Knight have suffered from this.
But... By sticking to what made the 2 first episodes such great games (great scenario and atmosphere, characters you get attached to, detailled historical background), it was a real pleasure to go through this adventure. I started with a 3 star rating but if I must admit that I never felt frustrated while playing the game (except for the controls in some specific locations) and, like all great adventure games, I finished it several times just for the pleasure of sharing some addtional time with George and Nico.
Anyway, if you like the previous episodes, go for this one without an inch of hesitation (especially at this price) and let me recommend you other games (and let's hope GOG will be able to get its hands on these sooner or later) :
The Gabriel Knight serie
The first episode is the one with the best reputation but you should really try the second episode which has clearly been underrated at the time of its release. As a whole, this serie has the same qualities that we can find in the Broken Sword games : lovely characters, great puzzles and rich background.
The Discworld serie
Three games which made me discover one of the best auhtor in the storytelling world. If you know the books and havn't played the games yet, find these asap. If you know the games and havn't read the books, go to the nearest bookstore asap. If you know both, you already know how lucky you are.
I could also talk about the Lucasarts games (those nights spent on Monkey Island or Day Of The Tentacle) and other Sierra series, Syberia (I & II) or The Longest Journey but these you probably already know about.