Among Templars and Mayans, a double review of Broken Sword I & II

ragnar · 09-10-2003, 08:48 AM

Among Templars and Mayans, a double review of Broken Sword I & II by Ragnar Ouchterlony

Introduction

George Stobbart, a common American tourist, is sitting outside a café in Paris when he notices a man clad in a clowns dress entering the café. When the café soon after is blown up, he is lucky to have survived. The policemen that came to inquire into the bombing didn't seem to believe George's story about the clown, so he decides to make his own inquiry and to his help he gets Nicole Collard, a free-lancing journalist that has been researching about some similar murders. They embark on a dangerous journey that takes George to different parts of the world such as Syria and Spain and leads them to strange secrets about the Knights Templar. This is the story in the Broken Sword: Shadow of the Templar. In Broken Sword: The Smoking Mirror George and Nico comes to visits a professor of Mayan history in Paris. When they get there Nico is kidnapped and George is locked up with a dangerous spider.

Game play

The appearance of these two games are very similar. The interface of the games are simple, just hover the mouse over the different hotspots and the cursor will display what you can do, talk, use or pickup. The big difference between the games is that in talk mode you can talk about all your stuff in the inventory in BS I in addition to the preset of things that you can talk about, whereas in BS II you just have the preset of things that you can talk about. All inventory items are displayed as icons in a line above the playing area which makes the inventory items easily accessible.

The graphics are lightly cartoonish and are very nicely drawn. Everything is clear and nice. In BS II the graphics are somewhat better, more distinct and clear.

In both games you may die at various points which is good since you have a feeling that what you are doing really is rather dangerous. The problem is though that it is a bit irritating to start over a long time ago when you have forgot to save in a while. This could easily be solved with an auto save function.

The puzzles in both games are very nicely done, and you rarely feel that the puzzles are out of place that is too common amongst adventure games. All puzzles fit nicely into the story and makes you feel that you are participating in the story rather than stand by and watch it.

The voice actors are generally good with nice French accents where it is needed. They could have done with a few more actors since you soon learn to recognise different voice actors. It is not a big problem however.

My thoughts

Since both games are so similar you may think that both games are equally good. This is not true however since BS II seems almost rushed. In BS I you feel that everything have been done with great care for details, making especially the story much more interesting. When you go around in Paris in BS I you feel that every step you take lead towards solving the mystery. This is unfortunately not always true in BS II where there are several scenes that seems somewhat out of place (the movie scene among others). The Mayans mystery is also much less explained, so you really don't feel you have got to know very much in the course of the game. In the first BS game though you learn something new about the mystery in almost every scene.

Also the character development and the story of George and Nico is much more interesting and well written in BS I than in the follow up. There are quite a few characters in both games that are a bit too stereotypical for my liking, but you see it somewhat more in the second game in the series.

In short you can say that each character is a bit more interesting, all jokes a bit funnier and the story a bit more well written in BS I than in BS II.

The slight problem with BS I is that the Knights Templar is a subject brought up many times in movies and games makes you have a déjà vu feeling about the game, but the story is told with great compassion and care so you hardly notices that.

Does this mean that The Smoking Mirror is utterly crap? No, but with the high standards set by Shadow of the Templar you will get a little disappointed with the sequel. Both games, however, are very fine and very enjoyable games and should be played by all who likes a good story and a mystery to reveal.

Now we all just wait for the promising third installment in this great adventure games series.

Ratings

(the ratings mean: BS I / BS II / out of 10)

Story: 8 / 6 / 10
Puzzles: 9 / 9 / 10
(Voice) acting: 7 / 7 / 10
Graphics: 7 / 8 / 10
Sound and Music: 6 / 7 / 10
Originality: 4 / 3 / 10
Overall: 8 / 6 / 10

ragnar · 09-10-2003, 08:49 AM

For those who don't know it, it is possible nowadays to play BSII through ScummVM. BSI-support is worked on.

James · 09-11-2003, 01:31 AM

Good review, nicely written. I didn't think that ScummVM would be needed for the Broken Sword games. I've played them both through with no problems on Windows XP Professional with no problems.

ragnar · 09-11-2003, 02:34 AM

Yes, scummvm is needed if you run linux or something else which isn't windows. And even windows has it's problems with BS. Like it tells you you don't have enough harddisk space when you have several gigabytes free.

James · 09-11-2003, 02:37 AM

That's on the installation? In windows xp, that can be solved by using the compability mode on the setup.exe program, used for installation.

ragnar · 09-11-2003, 02:46 AM

I use windows 2000, which doesn't have any compability mode.

And I much prefer playing it in linux.

James · 09-11-2003, 03:01 AM

Is there any difference? I've never used Linux (forshame!!)

ragnar · 09-11-2003, 03:25 AM

What do you mean difference?

Linux can't can't execute windows binaries and vice versa. So it is impossible to use the supplied game engine in linux.

There is no difference in the actual game in scummvm though, since it uses almost (cleaned up and made to work within the scummvm framework) the same source code and the same data files. I haven't played far enough to see if they have corrected the pyramid bug, but I suppose they would correct that.

James · 09-11-2003, 03:33 AM

Why then would you prefer to play BS in Linux? Or do you mean you prefer Linux to Windows?

ragnar · 09-11-2003, 03:36 AM

I prefer to play it in the system I use most. I almost only use windows to play games that I'm not able to play in linux. I simply don't like to switch os just to play a game.

James · 09-11-2003, 03:39 AM

That's fair enough. I use Windows XP Professional, so ScummVM gives me the chance to integrate every game to the one OS.

bigjko · 09-11-2003, 05:09 AM

Oh, and Windows 2000 has compatibilty mode.

DomStLeger · 09-11-2003, 05:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ragnar

I use windows 2000, which doesn't have any compability mode.

And I much prefer playing it in linux.

It does since Service Pack 3, though you have to look in the knowledge base to enable it; requires some obscure registry change.

But I'm with you; I'd use ScummVM even though I can use the games in windows. I think that once BS2 is supported in a stable release it should be runnable from CD or harddrive (not certain however; someone mentioned it on their forums but it wasn't clear if it's going to work that way).

(oh and btw in case anyones wondering BS2 WON'T be made freeware when the next scummvm is released! I've seen someone actually ask that at revs forums

)

ragnar · 09-11-2003, 08:58 AM

It *is* runnable from cd currently. Though I don't know how gracefully it handles the cd-swapping, since I haven't tried to play it that far. The trouble with running the cvs version is that you never know for how long the save game format is stable.

edit: Yes, I seem to recall to have heard that w2k has compability mode, but I never bothered to find out the details.

pleto4_ryan · 09-13-2003, 10:18 AM

My difference of the grafics. Personally i liked better the Broken Sword 1 grafics, the "more" cartoonish of the second and more unstable made it a little
un-wanting for me...

I do agree the first is better than the second. The second just lost it somewhere, whith sometimes "bad or not very good jokes". But i liked using Nico also, unfortunately for a little time...I do adore far better Broken Sword 1...it had true magic

---------------------

one of the reasons i am not gonna jump to other formats than windows 98

.All run perfectly here...

Leonardi · 02-27-2004, 06:28 PM

I was wondering if the guy who does the voice for the main character in the Broken Sword games is the same who did the voice for the main character in Sanitarium - they sound VERY similar. Is that so?

RLacey · 02-28-2004, 02:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Leonardi

I was wondering if the guy who does the voice for the main character in the Broken Sword games is the same who did the voice for the main character in Sanitarium - they sound VERY similar. Is that so?

I dunno, but I *can* tell you that the actor was the guy who played the computer technician in the film Mission: Impossible. You know, the guy who works at the computers and they make sick

...

Glenn Epic · 03-02-2004, 04:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ragnar

For those who don't know it, it is possible nowadays to play BSII through ScummVM. BSI-support is worked on.

Serious. Do i just choose the exe through ScummVM? or do I need to download some sort of BS file?

remixor · 03-02-2004, 05:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by New_Order

Serious. Do i just choose the exe through ScummVM? or do I need to download some sort of BS file?

Well, you need to own the game and have it in the CD-drive, then you run the game like you would any other using ScummVM. If you don't know how to do this just consult the ScummVM readme.

Deshrill · 03-02-2004, 10:43 PM

Never played the second Broken Sword game-- or the third one that just came out, for that matter.

I really enjoyed the first one, though.

09-10-2003, 08:48 AM	#1
ragnar Knowledgeable Last Online: 09-27-2005 11:32 AM Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Linköping, Sweden Posts: 1,510	Among Templars and Mayans, a double review of Broken Sword I & II Among Templars and Mayans, a double review of Broken Sword I & II by Ragnar Ouchterlony Introduction George Stobbart, a common American tourist, is sitting outside a café in Paris when he notices a man clad in a clowns dress entering the café. When the café soon after is blown up, he is lucky to have survived. The policemen that came to inquire into the bombing didn't seem to believe George's story about the clown, so he decides to make his own inquiry and to his help he gets Nicole Collard, a free-lancing journalist that has been researching about some similar murders. They embark on a dangerous journey that takes George to different parts of the world such as Syria and Spain and leads them to strange secrets about the Knights Templar. This is the story in the Broken Sword: Shadow of the Templar. In Broken Sword: The Smoking Mirror George and Nico comes to visits a professor of Mayan history in Paris. When they get there Nico is kidnapped and George is locked up with a dangerous spider. Game play The appearance of these two games are very similar. The interface of the games are simple, just hover the mouse over the different hotspots and the cursor will display what you can do, talk, use or pickup. The big difference between the games is that in talk mode you can talk about all your stuff in the inventory in BS I in addition to the preset of things that you can talk about, whereas in BS II you just have the preset of things that you can talk about. All inventory items are displayed as icons in a line above the playing area which makes the inventory items easily accessible. The graphics are lightly cartoonish and are very nicely drawn. Everything is clear and nice. In BS II the graphics are somewhat better, more distinct and clear. In both games you may die at various points which is good since you have a feeling that what you are doing really is rather dangerous. The problem is though that it is a bit irritating to start over a long time ago when you have forgot to save in a while. This could easily be solved with an auto save function. The puzzles in both games are very nicely done, and you rarely feel that the puzzles are out of place that is too common amongst adventure games. All puzzles fit nicely into the story and makes you feel that you are participating in the story rather than stand by and watch it. The voice actors are generally good with nice French accents where it is needed. They could have done with a few more actors since you soon learn to recognise different voice actors. It is not a big problem however. My thoughts Since both games are so similar you may think that both games are equally good. This is not true however since BS II seems almost rushed. In BS I you feel that everything have been done with great care for details, making especially the story much more interesting. When you go around in Paris in BS I you feel that every step you take lead towards solving the mystery. This is unfortunately not always true in BS II where there are several scenes that seems somewhat out of place (the movie scene among others). The Mayans mystery is also much less explained, so you really don't feel you have got to know very much in the course of the game. In the first BS game though you learn something new about the mystery in almost every scene. Also the character development and the story of George and Nico is much more interesting and well written in BS I than in the follow up. There are quite a few characters in both games that are a bit too stereotypical for my liking, but you see it somewhat more in the second game in the series. In short you can say that each character is a bit more interesting, all jokes a bit funnier and the story a bit more well written in BS I than in BS II. The slight problem with BS I is that the Knights Templar is a subject brought up many times in movies and games makes you have a déjà vu feeling about the game, but the story is told with great compassion and care so you hardly notices that. Does this mean that The Smoking Mirror is utterly crap? No, but with the high standards set by Shadow of the Templar you will get a little disappointed with the sequel. Both games, however, are very fine and very enjoyable games and should be played by all who likes a good story and a mystery to reveal. Now we all just wait for the promising third installment in this great adventure games series. Ratings (the ratings mean: BS I / BS II / out of 10) Story: 8 / 6 / 10 Puzzles: 9 / 9 / 10 (Voice) acting: 7 / 7 / 10 Graphics: 7 / 8 / 10 Sound and Music: 6 / 7 / 10 Originality: 4 / 3 / 10 Overall: 8 / 6 / 10 __________________ Rem acu tetigisti -- Jeeves Read my adventure game reviews here Blaskan Dragon Go Server Ragnar Ouchterlony

09-10-2003, 08:49 AM	#2
ragnar Knowledgeable Last Online: 09-27-2005 11:32 AM Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Linköping, Sweden Posts: 1,510	For those who don't know it, it is possible nowadays to play BSII through ScummVM. BSI-support is worked on. __________________ Rem acu tetigisti -- Jeeves Read my adventure game reviews here Blaskan Dragon Go Server Ragnar Ouchterlony

09-11-2003, 01:31 AM	#3
James Prove it all night Last Online: 01-02-2007 08:38 AM Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Dublin, Ireland Posts: 730	Good review, nicely written. I didn't think that ScummVM would be needed for the Broken Sword games. I've played them both through with no problems on Windows XP Professional with no problems. __________________ "All men dream, but not equally. Those who dream by night in the dusty recesses of their minds, wake in the day to find that it was vanity: but the dreamers of the day are dangerous men, for they may act on their dreams with open eyes, to make them possible." - Thomas Edward Lawrence

09-11-2003, 02:34 AM	#4
ragnar Knowledgeable Last Online: 09-27-2005 11:32 AM Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Linköping, Sweden Posts: 1,510	Yes, scummvm is needed if you run linux or something else which isn't windows. And even windows has it's problems with BS. Like it tells you you don't have enough harddisk space when you have several gigabytes free. __________________ Rem acu tetigisti -- Jeeves Read my adventure game reviews here Blaskan Dragon Go Server Ragnar Ouchterlony

09-11-2003, 02:37 AM	#5
James Prove it all night Last Online: 01-02-2007 08:38 AM Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Dublin, Ireland Posts: 730	That's on the installation? In windows xp, that can be solved by using the compability mode on the setup.exe program, used for installation. __________________ "All men dream, but not equally. Those who dream by night in the dusty recesses of their minds, wake in the day to find that it was vanity: but the dreamers of the day are dangerous men, for they may act on their dreams with open eyes, to make them possible." - Thomas Edward Lawrence

09-11-2003, 02:46 AM	#6
ragnar Knowledgeable Last Online: 09-27-2005 11:32 AM Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Linköping, Sweden Posts: 1,510	I use windows 2000, which doesn't have any compability mode. And I much prefer playing it in linux. __________________ Rem acu tetigisti -- Jeeves Read my adventure game reviews here Blaskan Dragon Go Server Ragnar Ouchterlony

09-11-2003, 03:01 AM	#7
James Prove it all night Last Online: 01-02-2007 08:38 AM Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Dublin, Ireland Posts: 730	Is there any difference? I've never used Linux (forshame!!) __________________ "All men dream, but not equally. Those who dream by night in the dusty recesses of their minds, wake in the day to find that it was vanity: but the dreamers of the day are dangerous men, for they may act on their dreams with open eyes, to make them possible." - Thomas Edward Lawrence

09-11-2003, 03:25 AM	#8
ragnar Knowledgeable Last Online: 09-27-2005 11:32 AM Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Linköping, Sweden Posts: 1,510	What do you mean difference? Linux can't can't execute windows binaries and vice versa. So it is impossible to use the supplied game engine in linux. There is no difference in the actual game in scummvm though, since it uses almost (cleaned up and made to work within the scummvm framework) the same source code and the same data files. I haven't played far enough to see if they have corrected the pyramid bug, but I suppose they would correct that. __________________ Rem acu tetigisti -- Jeeves Read my adventure game reviews here Blaskan Dragon Go Server Ragnar Ouchterlony

09-11-2003, 03:33 AM	#9
James Prove it all night Last Online: 01-02-2007 08:38 AM Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Dublin, Ireland Posts: 730	Why then would you prefer to play BS in Linux? Or do you mean you prefer Linux to Windows? __________________ "All men dream, but not equally. Those who dream by night in the dusty recesses of their minds, wake in the day to find that it was vanity: but the dreamers of the day are dangerous men, for they may act on their dreams with open eyes, to make them possible." - Thomas Edward Lawrence

09-11-2003, 03:36 AM	#10
ragnar Knowledgeable Last Online: 09-27-2005 11:32 AM Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Linköping, Sweden Posts: 1,510	I prefer to play it in the system I use most. I almost only use windows to play games that I'm not able to play in linux. I simply don't like to switch os just to play a game. __________________ Rem acu tetigisti -- Jeeves Read my adventure game reviews here Blaskan Dragon Go Server Ragnar Ouchterlony

09-11-2003, 03:39 AM	#11
James Prove it all night Last Online: 01-02-2007 08:38 AM Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Dublin, Ireland Posts: 730	That's fair enough. I use Windows XP Professional, so ScummVM gives me the chance to integrate every game to the one OS. __________________ "All men dream, but not equally. Those who dream by night in the dusty recesses of their minds, wake in the day to find that it was vanity: but the dreamers of the day are dangerous men, for they may act on their dreams with open eyes, to make them possible." - Thomas Edward Lawrence

09-11-2003, 05:09 AM	#12
bigjko El Luchador Last Online: 04-09-2012 11:41 AM Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Denmark Posts: 1,629	Oh, and Windows 2000 has compatibilty mode. __________________ Use Verb On Noun - Adventure game inspired illustrations

09-11-2003, 08:58 AM	#14
ragnar Knowledgeable Last Online: 09-27-2005 11:32 AM Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Linköping, Sweden Posts: 1,510	It is runnable from cd currently. Though I don't know how gracefully it handles the cd-swapping, since I haven't tried to play it that far. The trouble with running the cvs version is that you never know for how long the save game format is stable. edit: Yes, I seem to recall to have heard that w2k has compability mode, but I never bothered to find out the details. __________________ Rem acu tetigisti -- Jeeves Read my adventure game reviews here Blaskan Dragon Go Server Ragnar Ouchterlony

09-13-2003, 10:18 AM	#15
pleto4_ryan After 2 years... Last Online: 02-04-2012 09:18 AM Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Greece Posts: 520	My difference of the grafics. Personally i liked better the Broken Sword 1 grafics, the "more" cartoonish of the second and more unstable made it a little un-wanting for me... I do agree the first is better than the second. The second just lost it somewhere, whith sometimes "bad or not very good jokes". But i liked using Nico also, unfortunately for a little time...I do adore far better Broken Sword 1...it had true magic --------------------- one of the reasons i am not gonna jump to other formats than windows 98 .All run perfectly here... __________________ Interactive storytelling! When dreams are lost and nightmares come to life you are in a Dreamfall

02-27-2004, 06:28 PM	#16
Leonardi Senior Member Last Online: 10-27-2006 11:47 AM Join Date: Dec 2003 Posts: 137	I was wondering if the guy who does the voice for the main character in the Broken Sword games is the same who did the voice for the main character in Sanitarium - they sound VERY similar. Is that so?

03-02-2004, 10:43 PM	#20
Deshrill Senior Member Last Online: 11-15-2005 07:45 PM Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Savannah, GA Posts: 260	Never played the second Broken Sword game-- or the third one that just came out, for that matter. I really enjoyed the first one, though. __________________ "How many good books suffer neglect through the inefficiency of their beginnings!" --Edgar Alan Poe