Point-and-Click Adventure Fan Game Review: Broken Sword 2.5 - The Return of the Templars

Broken Sword 2.5 was a fan game based on the Broken Sword series with support from the original creators of the series, Revolution Software.

The game is in the traditional two-dimensional style of the first two Broken Sword games, as well as the fifth. It has voice acting by fans which works well and sounds similar to those in the series proper. George and Nico are the most important, and the voice actors in these roles hit all the right notes. George Stobbart's customary voice-over reciting the events in the past tense is here and is handled excellently.

The game uses a lot of the assets from the official games, with permission, so they look like the first two games in the series. The original assets are a bit of a mixed bag. They all contain great artwork, but some, especially that of the tramp, don't quite fit in with the high quality of the other assets. The game also has three-dimensional cutscenes, akin to those in Broken Sword 3, which is a shame. The hand-drawn quality of the first two games was a big draw for those titles, so it does take away somewhat from the classic feeling the rest of the game evokes.

The puzzles are pretty good. Thankfully there are no goat-on-a-tether puzzles here. The storyline mostly works as a story in-between the first and the third games, with the exception of the inexplicable addition of a character with a very final end in a previous title.

Broken Sword 2.5 is a well-made fan game that uses a mix of original artwork, with permission granted from Revolution Software, mixed with new fanmade artwork. The artwork new fits in with the original for the most part, with the exception of a character or two as well as three-dimensional cutscenes. It has a story that works for the most part as well, with the exception of a baffling inclusion of a character from the past. All in all, it's worth trying out if you're a fan of the Broken Sword series. It's available to download free from and to play through with ScummVM.

Final Verdict: 3½ out of 5

Free Point-and-Click Adventure Review: Lure of the Temptress

Lure of the Temptress was the first game by the English video game developer Revolution Software, which would later become known for its popular Broken Sword series of adventure games.

It was also the first game that featured the Virtual Theatre engine, which allowed non-player characters to wander around the game scenes doing their own business, giving the game world a larger sense of realism. It was rough here, as characters would sometimes block the path of the building you needed to enter and, even more annoying, would sometimes be way off on another screen and you would have to chase that person down if you need him or her to complete a task. This would become less of a hassle in Revolution's next game, Beneath a Steel Sky.

The game's interface was a bit rough here as well, as you needed to click on an object and choose an action from a drop-down menu. It's not intuitive, as it is quite different than other point-and-click adventure games. It takes a while to get used to it, but once you do, it's at least tolerable.

The story of the game involves a man who has been imprisoned. He escapes and another prisoner joins him. He sticks by your side as a sidekick and sometimes will be required to solve certain puzzles. He isn't as oddly charming as Foster's robot companion Joey in Beneath a Steel Sky, but like that little robot, he provides much of the game's humour. It's not as humourous as some of Revolution's other games, but it definitely has its moments.

The goal of the game is to learn about and later confront and defeat the titular temptress. She is actually a level beyond that, as she is more of a sorceress, and is probably the most memorable part of this game. The puzzles to get there are decent, and aren't too hard to figure out. This part that brings this game down a bit is when you need to involve townsfolk to complete a task. The directions to do so are sometimes obtuse, especially in the directions given where you need to talk to people that are from, or will be in, certain areas. This is mainly due to the fact NPCs will wander from screen to screen, as mentioned above, sometimes making it hard to tell where they are or even whether that person really is the one you want.

Lure of the Temptress is a rough game, especially in its interface and the fact NPCs are given too much leeway to wander. However, an interesting sidekick and a memorable villain, plus the fact that it is free to download and play, make it a bit appealing despite its flaws. If nothing else, it is neat to see where Revolution Software and its Virtual Theatre engine began.

Final Verdict:
3 out of 5

Beyond a Steel Sky released

Beyond a Steel Sky, the sequel to Revolution's cult hit 1990s adventure game Beneath a Steel Sky, is now available for Windows.

 It is currently available to purchase for 20% off at Steam.

Point and Click Adventure Mega Review: Broken Sword II

The second Broken Sword was released shortly after the first, and was created in the same charming hand drawn animation style the original was known for.  It came quickly after its predecessor, and was a bit lacking due to the quick turn around, but it's still a worthwhile adventure game.

The game opens with George having to rescue Nico, who was investigating a case involving smugglers.  The two dig deeper into her case, and discover a conspiracy surrounding an upcoming solar eclipse.  The game alternates between George and Nico as the playable character, so unlike the director's cut of the first game, the remastered version of Broken Sword II doesn't add any new scenes.  The story here isn't nearly as strong as the first game, and it's hampered by a short length and a very abrupt ending, but the interactions between the characters is still the high point of the series.

What the game may lack in story and length, it more than makes up for it in presentation. George is once again voiced wonderfully, and the voice of Nico is excellent as well.  The new characters are also voiced great, and the returning characters are just as whimsical as they were in the previous game.  The music is also a high point of the series, and it continues to shine here.

What the remastered version does do is improve the resolution of much of the art.  The game has always looked great, as it has the same charming near-cinematic quality animation style of the first game.  The restoration of the art into high definition is a bit hit and miss however, as some of the retouched art doesn't quite make it up to the standards of others.  It's still the same game underneath however, and the charm of the art still manages to shine through the rough edges.

The puzzles here are excellent.  There are no confusing puzzles along the lines of the goat puzzle from the first game.  In fact, the developers acknowledge the fact with a joke regarding that puzzle, which has since become a recurring in-joke in the games of the Broken Sword series.  There are no casual style puzzles added here either, as was the case with the director's cut of the first game.  The remastered version is simply that, a version that aims to remaster the original material to modern standards as best it can.

Broken Sword II is short, and the story isn't as intriguing as the first game, but the character interaction is top notch.  On top of that, the art style, music, and puzzles are excellent.  In the end, Broken Sword II is not quite up to the standards set by its predecessor, but it's still worth a play.

Final Verdict:

3½ out of 5

Humble Bundle Full Of Adventures

The Humble Weekly Bundle is an adventure bundle this week.  Pay whatever you like for Detective Grimoire, Broken Sword 1 & 2, and The Whispered World Special Edition.  If you pay more than the average, you'll also get The Detail: Episode 1, A Golden Wake, and Cognition: Game of the Year Edition.  If you pay $10 or more, you'll also get Broken Sword 5.

There's also a Star Wars bundle going on. There are 9 Star Wars games if you pay $12 or more, and the site says that there's more yet to be announced.

Point and Click Adventure Mega Review: Beneath a Steel Sky

Beneath a Steel Sky was Revolution's second game, which was an improvement over the first in every area.  Its fantastic story, memorable characters, and fun puzzles have made this game a cult classic.

Beneath a Steel Sky takes place in a future dystopia where there are large discrepancies between the people who live in a city run by an intelligent machine, and those who live outside it, with the latter looked down upon.  The game follows Robert Foster, a man who was born in the city but was raised outside of it.  He is kidnapped and taken into the city, and he has to find out why and then, ultimately, to escape.

All versions of the game have nice graphics for it's time, that while pixellated today, still portray the coldness of the city quite well.  The original CD version has digitized static illustrations by comic book artist Dave Gibbons to illustrate the intro, which explains how Robert got to be in the city.  The Remastered version has new higher resolution illustrations for the intro.  Both versions set up the story quite well.  There is also a floppy version, which doesn't have voice overs, so the static illustrations are not used, and a different animated intro is used, which has a musical score to the intro that is exclusive to this version.  The illustrations do a better job of framing the story, however, so the CD version or the Remastered version are the ones to play.

The game uses Revolution's Virtual Theatre engine, which had a feature that allowed the non player characters to perform daily routines to give the games an added sense of realism. Beneath a Steel Sky is Revolution's second game to use this engine, and it is a much improved experience. Finding the characters you need to interact with is no longer a chore. The game does well to let you know which character you need to speak with at which point, and each character has a routine that is easy to see. You can also increase or decrease the speed of the game through the menu, which decreases the amount of time between the character's movements. This helps a lot in easing any frustration over needing to wait for specific breaks in a routine.

The dialog is fantastic, framing a serious story with quite a few moments of dry humor throughout.  Much of this humor comes from your sidekick Joey, a robot that Robert built himself.  Joey will also serve in a helper role, which will help you get through many puzzles.  In the CD and remastered versions, Joey is voiced excellently, as is Robert himself.  Both get American accents, which help give them more of a feeling of being outsiders, when contrasted with much of the rest of the cast who have a variety of British accents.  The musical score is also fantastic, from happy up-tempo songs, to more cold, stoic melodies, which help frame the atmosphere, bouncing from the happy utopia that the city tries to pretend it is, to the cold, heartless dystopia that is the actuality.

There are a few puzzles that have some weird logic, especially later in the game, but for the most part, they're well done. The game has a number of puzzles in a computer world known as LINC space. These puzzles are much different than the rest of the game, and take some getting used to. Once you know how the puzzles work, however, working out the solutions isn't too difficult. There are moments in the game where you can die. Like the later Broken Sword, most of these deaths are foreshadowed before hand, however there is one part later on in the game where it is possible to die without warning, so it would be wise to save often.

Beneath a Steel Sky is regarded as a classic of the adventure genre, and it has surely earned that reputation.  The story is fantastic, the characters are fun and memorable, the voice acting is excellent, and the music is atmospheric. In addition, the puzzles are, for the most part, quite fun.  The CD version and floppy versions are now free to download.  However, the Remastered version adds a new higher resolution intro by the artist of the original, Dave Gibbons, and adds modern features such as an in-game help when you get stuck.  Both the CD and Remastered versions present the game in the best way, as the intro and voice overs add a lot to the experience.  You can't go wrong with either version.

Final Verdict:

4½ out of 5

Point-and-Click Adventure Review: Broken Sword 5 Episode I

Fans of the Broken Sword series are divided in their opinions on the three-dimensional entries in the series, but it is almost universally agreed that the original hand-drawn titles were more enjoyable. So, when Revolution went to Kickstarter for the fifth installment with news that it would return to hand-drawn backgrounds, expectations were high. Thankfully, the first part of this two-part adventure should satisfy most fans of the series and fans of point-and-click adventure games in general.

The game's characters and some of the scene elements (such as automobiles, which fans might remember actually were also 3D models in at least one cutscene in the original game) are presented as three-dimensional models, but the backgrounds are two-dimensional and hand-drawn, giving the game somewhat of a presentation somewhere between the first three games.  This is a bit jarring at first to people who are used to the fluidity of the animation of the hand-drawn character models of the original game.  The feeling of disjointedness, however, is short-lived, as the animation of the three-dimensional character models is well done, and the art design of the characters matches the art design of the backgrounds quite well.  The game is also presented with a complete point-and-click interface similar to the original games in the series.  There is also an option to present the text in the style of either the original games or the high-definition remakes, which should please fans no matter which point they joined George and Nico on their adventures.

The game begins as George Stobbart, who is now working as an art insurer, is sent to Paris to a private viewing in an art gallery.  He meets Nico Collard there, who is still working as a reporter, and the two catch up on old times.  Unfortunately, as is often George's luck, there is a murder, and the painting is stolen, leading George to investigate on behalf of his employer, who had insured the painting and is now responsible for reimbursement.  As is usually the case with this series, the investigation soon leads to a larger conspiracy and danger for our heroes.  This is just the first part of the game, so the investigation is starting to build to the larger conspiracy before the first part ends, leaving a cliffhanger for the second.  However, this is done very well, and the pacing at which the game builds up its story is similar to that of the other games in the series.  The cliffhanger certainly serves its role well, as it leaves you wanting to know more once the credits roll.

The puzzles here are also very well done.  The puzzles never quite get as hard as some of the puzzles in the original games, but the ramp-up in difficulty is well done, but the puzzles do get more difficult and require more thinking outside the box as the game goes on.  However, despite requiring some more outside-of-the-box thinking at times, the solution to each puzzle always makes sense logically.  They are all suited to the world of Broken Sword very well, which, despite the supernatural theme of the conspiracies the couple always encounter, are always grounded mostly in reality.  The game also presents the player with a hint system if they get stuck, as well as the ability to highlight hotspots, which will prove useful for some of the smaller objects in the game's world.  If you prefer to play the game with less help, these can also be toggled on and off.

The music and voice work is always a big part of the presentation of the Broken Sword series, and it certainly doesn't disappoint here.  The music fits the scenes well and has the same sweeping orchestral feeling that fans of the series expect.  There are also parts of the game that have some other styles of music, and this also fits each scene very well.  I found myself quite enjoying a 1970s-style pop song that plays during one scene.  The voice work is excellent as well.  Rolf Saxon returns as George Stobbart, which is always a good thing, as his voice work is the main reason the narrative style of the game works so well.  The other characters are voiced excellently as well, from Nico Collard to the supporting cast.  As is usual, there are some popular characters from previous entries in the series that returns here, and they are also voiced excellently as usual.  There are some slight sound level fluctuations in some of the lines, which can be quiet at times, but unusually loud in others.  However, this doesn't happen often, so it doesn't really detract much from the game.

Broken Sword 5 Episode I is an excellent start to a game that is shaping up to be a solid entry in this excellent series.  The story is intriguing, the voice work and music are superb, and the puzzles are well done.  There are a few technical hiccups regarding the sound levels of some of the lines, and the story here is really just starting to get on its feet before it ends on a cliffhanger.  However, these small quibbles don't stop the game from being one of the best of the crowdfunded adventures to be released so far.

Final Verdict:

4 out of 5

Broken Sword 5 Episode 2 Releases Today

Update: The computer versions of Episode 2 are out now! The game has been updated on distribution sites to now contain both episodes in a single game. So, if you've been waiting to play until it was released as a full game, you can do so now.

Revolution has announced that Broken Sword 5 Episode 2, the final part of the crowd funded adventure, will be releasing later today at around 6PM British Summer Time for PC, Mac, and Linux. Vita, iOS, and Android versions will be following shortly.

Broken Sword 2 and The Shivah in Humble Bundle

For just a little while longer, you can pick up Broken Sword 2: The Smoking Mirror Remastered from Humble Bundle for any amount you feel like paying (along with Bridge Constructor, Type:Rider and Ravensword: Shadowlands).  If you pay more than the average (currently just under $4 USD), you'll also receive The Shivah Kosher Edition (along with Kingdom Rush, Knights of Pen & Paper +1 Edition, Savant - Ascent, and Syder Arcade).

As with all Humble Bundles, a portion will go to charity (in this case, the Electronic Frontier Foundation and Child's Play), and you can decide how much of your money will be split among the charities, the developers, and Humble Bundle.

Broken Sword 5 Episode I is Now On Android

The Google Play Store now has Broken Sword 5 Episode I available for purchase for Android devices.

The Revolution team has stated that it looks like they will be able to reach their quarter one 2014 release date window for the Windows, OS X, and Linux release (meaning the game should be out by the end of March), so there's not long to go before the game is complete on computer systems. The mobile versions of Episode II will come at some point after the computer releases, but no release date has yet been set for those platforms.

Broken Sword: The Serpent's Curse Part I is Out Now

Part I of Broken Sword: The Serpent's Curse, the fifth installment in the Broken Sword series, is now out for PC, Mac, and Linux, and will be arriving soon on Android, iOS, and PlayStation Vita.

For those who don't know, this installment, which was funded by crowdfunding through Kickstarter, returns the series to it's roots, in that it is presented in a 2D style with hand drawn backgrounds (although the characters are animated in a 3D style).

The entire game (including Part I now and Part II when it's released) can be purchased now from GOG or Steam. Part II, which will conclude the game, is scheduled to be released early next year.

Broken Sword 5 Gets Release Dates for Its Two Parts

Revolution has posted news that Broken Sword: The Serpent's Curse, the fifth game in the series, which was successfully crowd funded through Kickstarter last year, now has release dates.

The game will be released in two parts, with the first part seeing a release for Windows, Mac, and Linux on December 4, 2013.  The PlayStation Vita version is scheduled to be released later that month.  The concluding episode will release in January 2014. Android and iOS versions will be released shortly after each episode releases on PC.

Beneath a Steel Sky 2 Is Coming

Develop has posted news that the sequel to the cult classic Beneath a Steel Sky has been greenlit by Revolution Software thanks to the success of the Broken Sword 5 kickstarter.

It was originally stated that Beneath a Steel Sky would only be greenlit if $1,000,000 USD was raised in the kickstarter campaign, but it was decided to greenlight it anyway, despite the campaign earning $800,000.  It was $200,000 short of the original stated goal for BASS 2, but still twice as much as the minimum kickstarter goal for Broken Sword 5.

Development will begin on Beneath a Steel Sky 2 once Broken Sword 5 is released.

Broken Sword 5 on Kickstarter

Broken Sword 5: The Serpent's Curse is the latest adventure game to make the paces through the kickstarter crowd sourcing trend.

 This game is a return to the 2D roots of the series, albeit with a new graphical style. It is being developed by Charles Cecil at Revolution, the creators of the Broken Sword series, and will star the original voice actor for George Stobbart, Rolf Saxon.

 They are seeking $400,000 in funding, and are half way there at the time of this writing. If you're a fan of the series, or just like backing adventure games by adventure game veterans, then pick a tier and pledge your support.

ScummVM 1.5.0 "Picnic Basket" Released

ScummVM, the program that lets you play classic 2D adventure games on many devices (from Windows, Mac, and Linux, to Dreamcast, PlayStation 2, iOS, Android, and more), is now at 1.5.0 with the release of "Picnic Basket". Along with the 2D LucasArts adventure games, most 2D Sierra adventure games, most 2D Revolution Software games, and countless others, the new release supports Blue Force, Dreamweb, Geisha, Sołtys (including an English translation for the first time), and the children's games Backyard Baseball 2003, Gregory and the Hot Air Balloon, Magic Tales: Liam Finds a Story, Sleeping Cub's Test of Courage, and The Princess and the Crab.

Simon the Sorcerer Enhanced Soundtrack 2.1

James Woodcock's Music Enhancement Project, the project where James Woodcock uses a Yamaha Tyros4 keyboard to create music that is faithful to the original MIDI music in the games, has had an update today.


The Simon the Sorcerer Enhanced Soundtrack has been updated. The second song (track02.ogg) had a single note that was out of place, which has now been fixed in this latest release. As with all of his enhanced soundtracks, this is playable with the original game using ScummVM.

Along with Simon the Sorcerer, he also released ScummVM compatible music for the games Simon the Sorcerer, Discworld and Inherit the Earth.

ScummVM Supports BASS Enhanced Soundtrack

James Woodcock's Music Enhancement Project is a project where James Woodcock uses a Yamaha Tyros4 keyboard to create music that is faithful to the original MIDI music in the games, since modern MIDI output is so variable and rarely sounds like the developers intended.

Beneath a Steel Sky is available for free from the daily builds of the point and click adventure game interpreter, ScummVM.

James Woodcock also released ScummVM compatible music for the games Simon the Sorcerer, Discworld and Inherit the Earth. You'll need to own these games in order to play these enhanced soundtracks, because, unlike Beneath a Steel Sky, they aren't freeware.

ScummVM 1.4.0 "10th Anniversary" Released

ScummVM, the program that lets you run many 2D point and click adventure games (most LucasArts, Sierra, Revolution, Adventure Soft, etc.) on modern systems and video game consoles, has been updated.

This release includes support for a new adventure game (Ringworld: Revenge of the Patriarch), a new children's game (Blue's Birthday Adventure), and a new non-adventure RPG game based on the same engine as the Kyrandia games (Lands of Lore: The Throne of Chaos). This brings the total amount of games (including non-adventures but not including fan games and demos) supported by ScummVM up to 172!

ScummVM 1.3.0 "Runner" Released

ScummVM is a program that lets you play various adventure games (such as most LucasArts, Sierra, Revolution, Adventure Soft, etc.) on many different systems including modern versions of Windows, Mac OS, and Linux, as well as Dreamcast, Wii, iPhone, and more. This new version is now playable on WebOS PDAs and smartphones.

The new games supported by the new version of ScummVM include Urban Runner, Toonstruck, Hugo's House of Horrors, Hugo II: Whodunit?, and Hugo III: Jungle of Doom. It also now supports the children's adventure games Backyard Baseball, Backyard Baseball 2001, Playtoons: Bambou, and several games in the Living Books series.

Original Broken Sword in Director's Cut at GOG.com

The Broken Sword Director's Cut at GOG.com now has a bonus added in. After numerous fan requests, GOG.com announced back in January that the 1996 version of Broken Sword: Shadow of the Templars is included as a bonus free of charge to anyone who purchases the Broken Sword Director's Cut from GOG.com for $5.99.