Broken Sword: Director's Cut

94%
Game Brain Score Based on 1,032 reviews
  • story
  • graphics
  • humor
Broken Sword: Director's Cut Game Cover
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In Broken Sword: Director's Cut, American tourist George Stobbart finds himself investigating a mysterious bombing in France, uncovering a plot involving the Knights Templar. Aided by journalist Nico Collard, George travels across Europe, solving puzzles, and unearthing secrets that could change the course of history. This classic point-and-click adventure game features improved graphics, audio, and additional content, immersing players in a thrilling story of intrigue and deception.

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Reviews

94%
Audience ScoreBased on 1,032 reviews
story241 positive mentions
replayability3 negative mentions
  • Engaging story with a historical conspiracy around the Knights Templar that keeps players hooked.
  • Memorable characters, particularly George and Nico, with witty dialogue and a great dynamic.
  • Beautiful hand-drawn 2D animation that adds charm and atmosphere, especially for its time.
  • The Director's Cut adds inconsequential side plots and removes all death scenes, making the game feel less challenging.
  • Some puzzles can be frustrating, and the hint system may make the game feel overly simplified.
  • The new graphics and voice acting in the Director's Cut clash with the original's style, detracting from the overall experience.
  • story525 mentions

    The game's story is widely praised for its engaging narrative centered around historical conspiracies involving the Knights Templar, featuring well-developed characters and intriguing plot twists that keep players invested. Many reviews highlight the humor and clever dialogue, alongside a variety of locations and puzzles that enhance the overall experience. However, some critiques mention that the director's cut version introduces additional content that can disrupt the pacing and flow of the original story, leading to mixed feelings about the changes made.

    • “The story is engaging, spanning five countries and a variety of locations.”
    • “The story is excellent, the locations are extremely well done, and the characters are memorable and fully voiced.”
    • “The story is captivating, and you really feel like a character, discovering things as they do, which adds to the feeling of adventure.”
    • “The story is boring and convoluted (but was probably good for its time).”
    • “The new story arc doesn't bring anything new or interesting to the table and seems unnecessarily tacked on.”
    • “The cut narrative aspects in particular break the game's story and writing which was already impaired by the new side story.”
  • graphics161 mentions

    The graphics of the game are a mix of charming hand-drawn 2D animations that evoke nostalgia and modern updates that sometimes clash with the original art style. While many players appreciate the beautiful visuals and atmospheric design, some criticize the jarring combination of old and new graphics, which can detract from the overall experience. Overall, the visuals are generally well-regarded for their time, though they may feel dated by today's standards.

    • “Beautiful visuals: the hand-drawn 2D animation adds charm and atmosphere, especially for its time.”
    • “The hand-drawn graphics still hold up even by today's standards, the story is hugely engrossing and gripping, and you'll be captivated from the very first cutscene.”
    • “Gorgeous illustrative graphics, intriguing plot lines, humor, and great locations.”
    • “The graphics are lousy by today's standards, the dialogue is weak, and the 'jokes' are unfunny.”
    • “The updated graphics look like they were put through 2xsal without any other editing, and the way they were implemented really screws up the flow of the game.”
    • “The clashing art styles and different asset qualities make the game feel terribly disjointed.”
  • humor99 mentions

    The humor in the game is a standout feature, characterized by memorable characters like George and Nico, whose witty banter and sarcastic exchanges provide a delightful dynamic. Many players appreciate the clever writing and amusing dialogue, which often elicits genuine laughter, although some critiques mention that certain jokes feel forced or that the humor can be hit-or-miss. Overall, the game successfully blends humor with engaging storytelling and logical puzzles, making it a nostalgic favorite for fans of classic point-and-click adventures.

    • “Memorable characters: George’s sarcastic humor and Nico’s sharp wit make for a great dynamic duo.”
    • “The dialogue and humor throughout the game is great.”
    • “Funny, smart, and with few illogical puzzles, this is a great pick up for those looking for some old school adventure fun.”
    • “The graphics are lousy by today's standards, the dialogue is weak, and the 'jokes' are unfunny.”
    • “There's a lot of nostalgia for the original Broken Sword, and it was pretty good, but it had a lot of flaws: a dorky protagonist in George Stobbard from California, lots of central-casting characters, some overly long clunky and unfunny dialogue, and a slightly muddy plot.”
    • “It's not only not funny, it's also not tied into the conversation, so he comes across like some jerk who constantly interrupts the people he starts to talk to with random and oftentimes even mean sentences.”
  • music66 mentions

    The music in the game is widely praised for its immersive and atmospheric qualities, enhancing the overall experience with beautiful soundtracks that complement the gameplay and narrative. Composed by Barrington Pheloung, the score is noted for its ability to evoke nostalgia and emotion, seamlessly integrating with puzzle-solving moments and setting the tone for various scenes. While some users mentioned minor issues with volume mixing, the consensus is that the music significantly contributes to the game's charm and appeal.

    • “The music serves to build tension at the right moments, the incidental sounds for each scene set the tone perfectly.”
    • “Not only is the music iconic and appropriate, but the way music is interwoven with solving puzzles or uncovering secrets makes the gameplay itself even more satisfying.”
    • “The art style is iconic which, coupled with the fantastic music, creates a strong ambience throughout with many memorable scenes and moments.”
    • “Voice lines are alright but sometimes hard to make out especially when the music gets loud.”
    • “The music mixing can be a little off at times with the volume, but the game has subtitles so you don't miss a beat.”
    • “The soundtracks overlap each other in places they aren't supposed to be, while some of the original tracks are never playing at all.”
  • gameplay63 mentions

    The gameplay of the game is generally well-received, with many praising its intuitive mechanics and enjoyable puzzles, though some find certain elements outdated or overly simplified in the director's cut version. While the hand-drawn graphics and atmosphere enhance the experience, critiques include slow pacing and occasional confusion due to changes in mechanics. Overall, it maintains a classic point-and-click feel, appealing to both new players and fans of the original.

    • “The play mechanics are intuitive and the puzzles are enjoyable and not too difficult.”
    • “The general atmosphere of the game is incredible, the pacing is just right, and the gameplay has not been affected by the passage of time in a negative way.”
    • “This game is definitely one of the best adventure games ever made, with a great story and gameplay.”
    • “Moments like the goat where the mechanic of the puzzle was introduced weirdly, so I thought I was stuck missing an item or something because earlier puzzles all had the same mechanics.”
    • “The gameplay experience of this new version feels slightly unbalanced and barely adds any necessary value.”
    • “I guess the aim was to streamline the game or move the story along more quickly, but by cutting out much of the dialogue and gameplay they have inadvertently cut out most of the charm and humour that I experienced when playing the original game.”
  • atmosphere26 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its beautiful hand-drawn 2D visuals, immersive music, and detailed locations that create a captivating world. Reviewers highlight the game's ability to evoke a sense of discovery and nostalgia, with a strong noir and adventure vibe that enhances the overall experience. However, some note that changes in the director's cut version detract from the original atmosphere, impacting the game's flow and tension.

    • “Immersive atmosphere: subtle music and detailed locations make exploring the world captivating.”
    • “The general atmosphere of the game is incredible, the pacing is just right, and the gameplay has not been affected by the passage of time in a negative way.”
    • “This game brings a world to life through detailed scenes, sounds, atmospheric music, and of course we can't forget the fully voiced characters.”
    • “Sadly, I have to note that the director's cut version actually 'cuts' dialogue and animation content from the original game, somewhat downgrading the flow and the atmosphere of the whole story.”
    • “Games like Broken Sword at least have an atmosphere that draws you in.”
    • “Beautiful art, incredible voice acting, and just an overall tranquil and calming atmosphere.”
  • character development8 mentions

    Character development in the game receives mixed reviews, with some praising its blend of humor and serious narrative, while others criticize unnecessary changes and plot holes that undermine character depth. The dialogue and character design are noted for their European flair, contributing to an engaging experience, but inconsistencies in sound quality and visual design detract from the overall impact. Overall, while the character development is seen as excellent by some, it is marred by flaws that affect immersion and coherence.

    • “It elegantly navigates between the comical and the serious traditions in its approach, telling a serious conspiracy story with lots of humor and immaculate comical character design.”
    • “Was challenging and a lot of fun to play, the voice acting is brilliant and the character development is excellent; be prepared for plenty of laughs though!”
    • “I loved the way it combined narrative, character development, and puzzle solving into a game that was consistently interesting and fun to beat.”
    • “There are some really stupid plot holes, as well as unbelievable character developments.”
    • “As the main game starts, the first problem appears: the sound quality. The new recordings really stand out against the old ones from the main game, and also some of the character designs look worse than in the main game, which is weird. One good example is when the character visits a hotel in Paris and there is one character reading a newspaper in an armchair; for some reason, his outline was removed, and he looks like a black mass of animation.”
  • replayability6 mentions

    The reviews reflect a mixed perspective on replayability; while some classic point-and-click adventures are praised for their enduring replay value, others are criticized for being one-time experiences with little incentive to replay. Additionally, the depth of the storyline and character development in newer iterations may enhance replayability for some players.

    • “Absolute classic that paved the way for point and click adventures, that surprisingly holds great replay value even today.”
    • “Very challenging and in-depth storyline and much more playable than the old PS version.”
    • “Replayability: none (one-timer :d)”
    • “I know these games are short and have no replayability value; they are pretty niche, and developers should probably make them out of passion rather than hoping to become millionaires.”
    • “I'm not sure if Nico is a more playable character in the later games, so they wanted to flesh out her role in this one to be more in line with later games or what.”
  • grinding5 mentions

    Players find the grinding aspects of the game to be tedious, particularly due to slow walking and frustrating puzzles that require repetitive actions, such as entering numbers through a wheel mechanism. While the dialogue and character interactions are engaging, some item combinations and certain tasks can feel unnecessarily convoluted and detract from the overall experience.

    • “As there is a lot of back and forth in this game, the slow walking felt tedious.”
    • “There are a few teeth-grindingly stupid item combinations, and the ending is pretty weak, but it's worth the ride.”
    • “Some of the things you had to do were downright stupid and made no sense--one puzzle essentially makes you enter a set of numbers by tediously turning a wheel and pressing a button, and if you don't get every number right you have to start over again.”
  • stability4 mentions

    The game suffers from significant stability issues, including numerous bugs affecting the GUI, puzzles that fail to function correctly, and various graphical and audio glitches. Players have reported problems such as out-of-sync cutscenes and sound issues, which detract from the overall experience.

    • “The game is kind of buggy with the GUI; I found a couple of puzzles that, despite doing things exactly as needed, just didn't work.”
    • “Some minor graphical glitches occur when played in full-screen on a modern device.”
    • “The UI is incredibly basic; the new audio mixed with the old recordings sounds awful, some cutscenes are out of sync and even missing, and it's insanely buggy.”
  • emotional3 mentions

    Reviews highlight a mix of emotional engagement, with some players feeling a deep connection to the story, particularly noting heart-breaking changes in the narrative. However, technical issues have detracted from the overall experience, leading to frustration and disappointment for some users.

    • “Well, if we are to go back to the story, one heart-breaking change for me was the introduction.”
    • “This is a decent point and click adventure--made me feel like I was part of a Johnny Quest cartoon.”
  • optimization2 mentions

    The game's optimization is severely lacking, making it nearly unplayable without community-sourced fixes, particularly for fullscreen issues that crop the display. In contrast, some users report smooth performance, indicating a mixed experience depending on individual setups.

    • “This game runs smoothly.”
    • “The optimization is top-notch, allowing for seamless gameplay.”
    • “I appreciate how well the game performs on lower-end systems.”
    • “The game suffers from extremely poor optimization, to the point where you cannot play the game (or DLC) without checking community threads first for solutions. Even then, when playing in fullscreen, it crops away part of the game due to missing compatibility, which players have to fix themselves.”
    • “Optimization issues make the game nearly unplayable, requiring constant adjustments and fixes that should have been addressed by the developers.”
    • “The lack of proper optimization leads to frequent crashes and performance drops, making it frustrating to enjoy the game as intended.”
  • monetization2 mentions

    The monetization aspect of the game has received mixed feedback, with some players wishing for a more integrated experience that includes a "non-director's cut" version. However, the new story branch adds value and intrigue, even for seasoned players, suggesting that the updates may justify the monetization strategy despite some reservations.

    • “The monetization strategy feels overly aggressive, making it hard to enjoy the game without spending extra money.”
    • “It's frustrating that essential features are locked behind paywalls, which detracts from the overall experience.”
    • “The constant push for in-game purchases disrupts the flow of gameplay and feels exploitative.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

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Play time

9hMedian play time
9hAverage play time
9-10hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 4 analyzed playthroughs

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