To me, adventure games seem like a long lost relative. You hardly ever see them but when you do, they're great. It's probably one of the oldest genres of videogames around and as 3D graphics have taken over gaming, they seem to have become less and less common. The last proper adventure game I can remember playing is Escape From Monkey Island, which was a superb blend of humour and devilishly hard puzzles. Adventure games concentrate on the plot more than any other genre, with exploration and problem solving added in to the mix. These are games that you don't need sharp reflexes for, nor do you risk death very often. They capture the imagination like no other games do and I love them. The Broken Sword series revolves around these key principles and it now braves the dangerous waters of 3D with The Sleeping Dragon. Normally I would outline the plot of a game here, but just this once I won't. The Sleeping Dragon's storyline is something you should discover on your own; it's so well written and conveyed that I fear that I would spoil it for potential purchasers of the game. What I will do though, is to introduce the characters. George Stobbart and Nico Collard are veterans of the Broken Sword series, an American patent officer and a Parisian journalist respectively. Each has their own storyline which the game swaps between at key moments, giving The Sleeping Dragon a healthy dose of variety. Both are likeable characters, with their own sense of humour and style that shines through the sharp, witty dialogue and cutscenes. The cutscenes that drive the plot forward are extremely well done. The lip-sync is spot on and so are the facial expressions, giving the impression that someone has put a lot of their time and effort into making them look and sound just right. The story is absolutely vital to any adventure game just like it is to a film, and Broken Sword excels in storytelling and involving the player in the plot. Few games do this so well; it's like a good book - you just can't put it down. The Sleeping Dragon is laid out as a series of problems and puzzles which you must complete in order to advance the storyline. Yes, it sounds linear and it is in practice - there is only one way of completing each task - but the way it's done hides this fact and gives you complete control over the situation. Controlling George or Nico, you're free to explore the area, interacting with objects that are highlighted with a tiny, subtle star. This system saves you time hunting round for interactive objects that simply aren't there. Then again, the problem solving isn't made overly easy by this as there are plenty of red herrings left around. Occasionally, you'll be led through interactive cutscenes requiring you to tap a button quickly in order to escape death or a similar dilemma, but otherwise it's just a case of exploring the area, interacting with the environment and its inhabitants until the puzzle is solved. The locales you visit are colourful, interesting places that are just asking to be explored. Each contains a variety of quirky people who you can chat with to find out more about the surrounding area or the puzzle in which you're engaged. Every character has their own personality and sound different. None of the cast - including George and Nico - repeat themselves much when talking, even if you get them to do the same thing several times. The repertoire of speech is also extremely well voice acted and the actual script is laced with humour like much of the game. The game's visuals aren't at all bad, with decent lighting, textures and animations. The viewpoint is fixed and switches from one to another when appropriate, allowing you to concentrate on the task in hand instead of wasting time fixing camera problems. Adventure games have never sought to excel in the graphics department, but nevertheless the developers have made sure that they aren't shabby either. Graphically, The Sleeping Dragon is right up there with the best adventure games on the PS2. Everything from landscapes and towns to people and objects has been modeled meticulously without sparing any effort. If it weren't for the sparseness of some of the towns, you could almost be convinced that they continued living and breathing after you had moved on. Characters have been modeled in a semi-comical style, similar to those in the Timesplitters games; it's just enough so that you can judge a person's character before talking to them, without them having to look like a complete caricature or cartoon character. George and Nico still keep the same charm about them from the previous Broken Sword titles, even in 3D, which will please the hordes of Broken Sword fans out there. Replay value is hard to judge in adventure games because they only offer one unique experience just like a book or film. The first time you play through, you won't be able to put the controller down, but after that it may well stay on your shelf for a while. Adventure games like this one also have a hidden multiplayer appeal. Although only a one player game, you can work through the puzzles with a friend or two, trying to work out the problem as a group and it's surprisingly enjoyable. The controls are one of the game's best features; so simple and instinctive that you'll wonder why it isn't used much elsewhere. The left analogue stick moves your character and cycles through menus while the right stick switches your focus between interactive objects when there are several in view. R1 and R2 change your stance and the face buttons correspond to actions indicated on screen by four light blue circles. It's so straightforward that anyone could play it. That's what's so great about adventure games; they're so neutral in regard to whether they're a massmarket product or not. When...no, if gaming goes massmarket - where a visit to Blockbuster with your girl or boyfriend will result in an argument over whether to rent a game or a film, where playing games is as common as going to the cinema - then games like Broken Sword will be in a prime position. Accessible to all, fun to play or watch, these titles will thrive and the adventure genre will return to its full strength. I just hope I'll be around to see it. There simply aren't enough games like Broken Sword and that's a real shame in my book. With a gripping plot, instinctive controls and superb voice acting, The Sleeping Dragon is the sort of game that you can enjoy on a rainy day, curled up in front of the TV. Laced with humour and charm, it'll capture your imagination in a way that not many games can. Forget the usual mindless zombie killing, this is an adventure game and one that does the genre proud.
Other Helpful Reviews for Broken Sword: The Sleeping Dragon
Broken Sword sLeeping dragon was an exceLLent game, it had a new idea of not using guns but repLacing them by exciting puzzLes to be soLved and the storyLine was awesome, you get to pLay in the jungLe, in Paris, Russia a... Read Full Review
The fun of the 2nd Broken Sword is where the characters moves almost 3D. The puzzle is still interesting, tho' not as difficult as first one, I didn't espect much changes, because it will be running too far away from the... Read Full Review
