The pile of used games arrived over the weekend and I dove in with gusto, sampling a little of each finally settling into actually making a go of Broken Sword: The Sleeping Dragon. I am more than pleased to report that I am finding the game very enjoyable.

Adventure games, for one reason or another, have fallen out of favor with the gaming population and in today’s market it is getting increasingly rare to find a really solid one; Broken Sword on the Xbox is one of those rare gems. While the game is not without its flaws it is an overall fun experience with a smart story, sharp writing, and decent puzzles. The graphics are reminiscent of the animation done by the Don Bluth Films in the 80’s mixed with a touch of Disney from the 60’s; it is warm and imbued with life and character. Adding to this is some of the best voice acting that I have encountered in a game, console or PC, with each character possessing a distinct delivery that adds a level of humanness to the writing.

The few imperfections that mar this otherwise stellar game are the endless load times which unfortunately serve to break the pacing of the game and the inclusion of Quick Time Events (QTE). QTEs are a challenge whereby the player needs to press a button or sequence of buttons during a given time span, Shenmue and Dragon’s Lair made use of these. In the case of Broken Sword it might be to aid the character in fending off an attacker or to see them to safety and was likely added to increase the level of interactivity the player has with the game. My complaint is that QTEs interrupt the game in the same way that load times do, they break the pacing, which in an adventure game is often slow, by forcing the player to complete a series of arbitrary button presses. Personally, I could do without the inclusion of QTEs in games like Broken Sword.

Though, I am a scant 15% done with the game I am looking forward to each opportunity that I have to pop it in and explore what lies around the next corner. Highly recommended.