Broken Sword: The Sleeping Dragon

"Let Sleeping Dragons lie...but not this one"

The 'Broken Sword' series is one of the most widely respected adventure series available on the PSOne and PC, thanks to their implementation of head-scratching puzzles, engrossing plotlines and hilarious, sarcastic dialogue. Presented as a cartoon-y point'n'click, the previous two games ('Shadow of The Templars' and 'The Smoking Mirror') focused on the adventures of caustic American lawyer, George Stobbart, and the Parisian journalist, Nico Collard, as they attempted to uncover the mysteries of the Knights Templar, a secret organization manipulating world events. The games were not massive successes, despite many glowing reviews. However, this looks set to change with the latest installment in the series, 'The Sleeping Dragon'.

Once again, Nico and George are caught up in the machinations of the Templars, in a storyline which is both involving and humorous. The main reason for playing through the game is to uncover more of the plot, so I am deliberately avoiding going into it in this review. While this installment does not seem quite as funny as the previous games, it is still very amusing. Adventure fans will not be disappointed.

The game plays very much the same as the previous games. The player advances by solving puzzles, finding out information about events from NPCs, and through exploring the game's many environments (Which include the Congo, gay Paree, Glastonbury and Prague), all of which is fairly reminiscent of it's two prequels. As a result of this, there will be times when you find yourself hopelessly stuck. But, when you eventually figure it out, you'll find it was worth it, simply for the immense feeling of satisfaction you will undoubtedly receive.

Also, there are some new additions to the gameplay, such as action events (Moments in which the player must make split-second decisions, similar to the QTEs in Sega's 'Shenmue' series) and crate puzzles. The action events are a refreshing break from all the puzzle-solving and, while few and far between, serve to keep the player on their toes. The archaic crate manipulation is less welcome, seeming out of place with the style of the game and un-necessarily laborious.

Presentation-wise, 'TSD' is an impressive looking game. The character models are detailed and, on the whole, well animated. Backgrounds are atmospheric and striking, ranging from quaint villages to exotic tombs. Also of note are the voice actors, particularly the guy who voices George, balancing sardonic wit with droll dialogue.

The game also controls very well. Instead of moving a cursor to where you want your character to move (Thank God), Revolution have created a context-based control scheme. For example, when near an NPC, the A button may be used to speak to them but, when near a table, the same button may be used to search it. The new scheme works very well and is perfectly suited to the game's quiet thoughtful approach.

In general, 'Broken Sword: The Sleeping Dragon' is a unique take on the adventure genre. Whereas most modern adventure games focus on combat over puzzles, 'TSD' is a deliberately old-fashioned adventure, one which, despite a few small flaws, will appeal to fans of the series and newcomers alike.

Summary:

+ Excellent plot, script and voice-acting
+ Impressive presentation
+ Refreshing focus on puzzles and exploration over action
- Crates
- Occasionally excruciatingly difficult
- Not quite as humorous as previous 'BS' games

Reviewer's Score: 8/10, Originally Posted: 11/24/03