[dantebk]

Broken Sword: Circle of Blood is a graphic adventure game in the classic style created (and perfected) by Sierra and LucasArts. Graphic adventures are my absolute favorite genre of video game, and I've played over 50 all the way through. I was out of the scene for a few years, and when I came back I found everyone online considered this game to be one of the best ever, so I had to check it out for myself.

Plot:

The plot was probably the part of the game I liked least. George Stobbart, an American tourist in Paris, is almost killed by a cafe bombing. So of course, he dedicates himself to finding out what happened. Really? What's his motivation? For a guy with no reason to be so, he's the most impulsive video game hero I can think of. If someone mentions Spain or Ireland as a possible link to his investigation, he goes and buys a plane ticket. The only character who made less sense to me than George was Nico, his partner. She was supposed to be a reporter, but she spends 95% of the game in her apartment scribbling on a notepad and implying George is an idiot. Do something! Investigate! Report! But no, she just sits and sits... taking phone calls from George and offering useless advice... Plot gets a C+.

Puzzles:

The puzzles were very cool. Though some were a little far fetched and even irritating, that's not unusual. In most adventures, you'll get an inventory item, use it for a puzzle, and then carry it around for the rest of the game for no reason. The amazing thing about this game is that you continued to use the same inventory items time and time again for different reasons! A tool used to remove manhole covers, acquired and used to do just that near the very beginning, is used again at least three more times throughout the game in various clever ways. Puzzles get an A.

Graphics:

Dated, sure, but sharp enough that in almost all cases the background objects that needed to be interacted with were clear and identifiable. Graphics get a B+.

Sound:

The sound was fine. Not remarkable. The converations in the game were often very long, and long-winded. The acting was occasionally hammy and ridiculous. Sometimes the voices sounded like they were in a giant echoing room. Sound gets a B-.

Conclusion:

Recommended. If you have any interest in adventure games, it's definitely a worthwhile use of your time. It's hard to see it converting anyone though. While I enjoyed it, the nonsensical plot never gave me any sense of urgency, and it took me months to complete it. Overall: B.

[Fitzochris]

Don't you mean Shadow of the Templars?

[Melanie68]

Shadow of Templars - UK
Circle of Blood - US

[samIamsad]

Originally Posted by Melanie68

Shadow of Templars - UK
Circle of Blood - US

Baphomets Fluch - GER

[stepurhan]

On the sound front you didn't mention the music at all. As I recall the music for the game was written by Barrington Pheloung who is a classically trained composer (he went to the Royal College of Music in London)

Just curious what you thought of the music. Do you think classical training suits AG music?

[dantebk]

Originally Posted by stepurhan

On the sound front you didn't mention the music at all. As I recall the music for the game was written by Barrington Pheloung who is a classically trained composer (he went to the Royal College of Music in London)

Just curious what you thought of the music. Do you think classical training suits AG music?

I'm afraid I'm pretty dumb when it comes to that stuff. The only thing I really noticed about the music was that I kept having to adjust the sound levels so the dialogue would be loud enough to hear over it.

But now that you ask, and I really think about it, the music was probably well composed. Though it wasn't very specific if you get my meaning. For instance, my cell phone ring is the Monkey Island theme, but I couldn't tell you if this game had a "theme" or not. I think it's best if the music suits the mood of the game, and in this case I suppose non-intrusive classical fits just fine.

[[toj.cc]Phantom]

I just finished this game today!

[stepurhan]

Originally Posted by dantebk

But now that you ask, and I really think about it, the music was probably well composed. Though it wasn't very specific if you get my meaning. For instance, my cell phone ring is the Monkey Island theme, but I couldn't tell you if this game had a "theme" or not. I think it's best if the music suits the mood of the game, and in this case I suppose non-intrusive classical fits just fine.

Fair comment i think. I can recall the Monkey Island theme clearly but can't recall any specific music from Broken Sword. The only thing that I do remember is that the transitions from one piece to another as you changed scenes were handled pretty well.

[[toj.cc]Phantom]

The music sounded good to me. However, I always turned it way down, because it would often make it immposible to hear what the characters were saying.

[Jelena]

Originally Posted by stepurhan

Do you think classical training suits AG music?

Just a side comment: The music of Syberia proves that it does.

EDIT: Ok, I assumed the writer of the music had classical training. Perhaps he/they haven't.
Lets just say classical music suits AG well.

[Melanie68]

The guy who composed the music for Syberia, Inon Zur, has also composed music for other games, movies and TV (and he did get training at a music academy ).

[Jelena]

Originally Posted by Melanie68

The guy who composed the music for Syberia, Inon Zur, has also composed music for other games, movies and TV (and he did get training at a music academy ).

I was refering to the first Syberia where Dimitri Bodiansky made the music. I found some info on him on the internet, but it was all in french. Apparently he once was a member of the band Indochine.

[Ninth]

Originally Posted by samIamsad

Baphomets Fluch - GER

And "Les chevaliers de Baphomet" (Knight of Baphomet) - FRA.

Wow. 4 completely different name.


EDIT: Oh, and I totally agree with the review.