All Broken Sword Games, Ranked

Key Takeaways

The Broken Sword series helped define the point-and-click genre with loveable characters and compelling stories.
Broken Sword 5: The Serpent’s Curse was a return to form blending old and new elements effectively.
Broken Sword: Shadow of the Templars Reforged faithfully updates visuals and retains the magic of the original game while offering modern improvements.

As a seasoned adventurer of the digital world and a connoisseur of point-and-click gaming masterpieces, I must say that the Broken Sword series has always held a special place in my heart. From the moment I laid eyes on the enigmatic George Stobbart in the original Shadow of the Templars, I was captivated by the intricate narratives, the vibrant art style, and the charm that oozed from every pixel.

The Broken Sword series played a significant role in shaping the point-and-click adventure genre by offering user-friendly games, endearing characters, visually stunning environments, and engaging narratives. The adventures of George and Nico, who journey around the world in an Indiana Jones-esque fashion (without the action), are consistently intriguing as they blend humor and mystery while solving murder mysteries and unraveling conspiracies.

In the realm of adventure games, “Broken Sword: Shadow of the Templars” stood shoulder-to-shoulder with Lucasart’s famed “Monkey Island” series and demonstrated that the point-and-click genre could thrive on consoles, with the initial two installments debuting on the PS1 and being hailed as classics. Luckily, fans can now immerse themselves in the remastered first game, titled “Broken Sword: Shadow of the Templars Reforged“, designed for a modern audience. How does it stack up against the rest of the series? Let’s examine this ranked list to find out.

7 Broken Sword 4: The Angel Of Death

A Solid Adventure With An Excellent Story But Fiddly Controls

Platform: PC
Released: 2006
Developer: Revolution Software and Sumo Digital

Title Broken Sword: The Angel of Death marks the fourth installment in the series, transitioning from hand-drawn backgrounds to 3D visuals for the second time. While it employs a mix of keyboard movements and point-click interactions, the coordination between the two can sometimes be clumsy, leading to challenges maneuvering George and engaging with the game environment. Furthermore, even by 2006 standards, the animations and character movements appear dated and haven’t aged as gracefully as the earlier games in the series. The main disappointment lies in Nico’s reduced role, which only comes into play much later in the game, while Anna Maria takes the spotlight instead.

Despite its imperfections, “Broken Sword: The Angel of Death” remains delightful to experience, boasting top-notch voice acting by returning cast member Rolf Saxon. His character George, now in a tough spot financially as a bail bondsman, finds himself embroiled in another escapade. This time, he’s tasked with halting a group from obtaining a powerful ancient artifact capable of destroying the world. The puzzles are challenging and the gameplay seems more reminiscent of the first two titles in the series.

6 Broken Sword 3: The Sleeping Dragon

A Good Entry In The Series But A Departure From The First Two Games

Platform: PC, PS2, and Xbox
Released: 2003
Developer: Revolution Software

“Broken Sword: The Sleeping Dragon” marks the third installment in the series, introducing a fresh art style and control scheme that sets it apart from its predecessors. Originally released for consoles, this game aimed to attract a new audience of gamers. Although the graphics may appear dated on PS2, they seem cleaner when played on PC platforms. The cinematics have an “Uncharted”-esque feel, minus the violence as it was originally released on PS2.

One potential way to rephrase the given text could be: “One major drawback of ‘Broken Sword: The Sleeping Dragon’ is its puzzles and stealth sections. Similar to many games from the early 2000s, they feature awkward sneaking missions and moving crates to get to higher locations. However, ‘The Sleeping Dragon’ boasts an engaging storyline, sharp dialogue, and a delightful reappearance of heroes George and Nico.

5 Broken Sword: The Shadow Of The Templars – Director’s Cut

Nico’s New Prologue Was Fun But Broke The Pacing Of The Original

Platform: Android, DS, iOS, PC, and Wii
Released: 2010
Developer: Revolution Software

The remastered version of “Broken Sword: Shadows of The Templars – Director’s Cut” added a new introduction for Nico, giving insight into her investigations before an explosion. However, this addition replaced the series’ well-known opening scene narrated by George and potentially disrupted the original story’s flow.

Playing as Nico in the Director’s Cut was enjoyable, but the additional content seems excessive and disrupts the flow of the initial game’s narrative pace. Moreover, the new art style for Nico contrasted sharply with the original game’s visual aesthetic. Despite its interesting approach to Nico’s tale, it doesn’t quite live up to the quality of the original game. A standalone spin-off or prequel focusing on Nico could have provided a more cohesive and satisfying storyline leading up to the Templars events.

4 Broken Sword 5: The Serpent’s Curse

A Return To Form With A Blend Of Old And New

Platform: Android, iOS, PC, PS4, PS Vita, Switch, and Xbox One
Released: 2013
Developer: Revolution Software

After the contentious shift to 3D in the series, Broken Sword 5: The Serpent’s Curse marked a return to its original style, showcasing 3D character models against beautifully hand-drawn backdrops reminiscent of the first two games. After a scene setting historical background about a painting called La Maledicció, the story progresses with a murder, the theft of the painting, and further globe-trotting escapades featuring George and Nico.

In this new chapter of the Broken Sword saga, several months have passed since The Angel of Death. Our protagonist George now finds himself working as an insurance assessor, summoned to an art gallery. Here, he crosses paths with Nico once more, following a theft at the gallery that leads to the unfortunate death of the exhibitionist. This latest Broken Sword adventure offers everything fans have come to love about the series – intricate point-and-click gameplay, global conspiracies, enigmatic artifacts, and formidable adversaries.

3 Broken Sword 2: The Smoking Mirror

A Sequel Surpassed Only By Shadow Of The Templars

In “Broken Sword 2: The Smoking Mirror,” there’s no delay in diving right into the action. Instead of lengthy scenes depicting an old Mayan sacrifice, we find George and Nico under attack at an archaeologist’s residence. As the story unfolds, George gets trapped to a chair in a blazing house with a dangerous spider as his companion, while Nico is whisked away by the antagonists. While some might argue that the narrative isn’t quite as captivating as the first game, devotees who cherished the original’s atmosphere and art style will surely relish accompanying George and Nico on their global escapade. They’ll tackle puzzles, delve into ruins, and thwart villains from utilizing an ancient artifact to unleash an old Mayan deity and thereby bring about the apocalypse.

In the same vein as Shadows of the Templar, The Smoking Mirror, this game is brimming with allure, stunning visuals, engaging dialogues, recurring characters, and a captivating tale that still stands strong in today’s gaming landscape. A refurbished edition can be found on PC and mobile devices. Steam Deck owners will savor an exceptional experience with top-notch performance and enhanced visuals compared to the original PlayStation 1 classic.

2 Broken Sword: Shadow Of The Templars

The Original Still Has The Best Story In The Broken Sword Series

1 Broken Sword: Shadow Of The Templars – Reforged

A Modern Update That’s Faithful To The Classic And The Best Version Of The Game

Previously noted, the Director’s Cut version of “Broken Sword: Shadow of the Templars” seems to have lost some of its enchantment due to added scenes and omission of the initial introductory sequence. However, George’s captivating narration at the start of the game remains unchanged, adding a unique charm as he says, “Paris in autumn, the last months of the year, nearing the end of the millennium. The city holds many recollections for me: of cafes, of music, of love… and of death.” This prelude beautifully introduces the mesmerizing Disney-style animated scene that unfolds across Paris and outside the café, culminating in the explosion.

Broken Sword: Shadow of the Templars Reforged maintains its original essence yet boasts enhanced graphics that give it a cartoonish appearance, more closely aligning with the studio’s initial vision. The animations and responses are now more detailed than before. By pressing a single button, you can toggle between the classic and revamped visuals, showcasing Revolution’s dedication to reimagining the stunning artwork for contemporary viewers.

2024-09-22 03:24