Broken Sword 2: Remastered (2010)

'Broken Sword 2: Remastered' is not a bad game -- it's just...disappointing. It's hard not to feel this way about the game because it is the sequel to 'Broken Sword', which is one of the greatest point-and-click adventure games to date. The first 'Broken Sword' game stood out among its contemporaries because of its mature, engaging story that was filled with international intrigue and a sense of globetrotting freedom. 'BS2', on the other hand, had a passable, extremely linear story. You can no longer go back and forth between countries, or even choose where you wish to go. Once you have arrived at the pre-determined location, oftentimes you are confined to one or two screens. This really limited sense of adventure and scope of exploration that the first game had. I was enthused that Nico is a playable character in 'BS2', but her character turned out to be disappointing as well. Given that she is a photojournalist, you would think she would take initiative to solve puzzles or be part of the action. No, she deferred the person speaking to her to talk to George. She was written to be damsel in distress or the temptress, which seemed out of character. I actually find the infamous "Nico Wiggle" easter egg, which allows you to bypass one of the final puzzles in the game sexist and disgusting. Writing for other parts of the story in 'BS2' was weak, too. Despite having spent some time apart, George and Nico never got properly reacquainted, even during the downtime they had. I never felt that George and Nico had any personal investment into the problems they were trying to solve. Familiar characters from the first game were also shoehorned into the story and puzzles. In fact, many scenarios felt like they were added by the game designers to make the game longer. Like its predecessor, the game's ending felt rushed. You would think the ultimate puzzles would be challenging, but they literally came down to pulling levers. Speaking of puzzles, many of them in 'BS2' were poorly designed. Whereas puzzles in the first game felt organic and (somewhat) made sense given the circumstances, the ones in 'BS2' were very contrived. Plus, the game wholeheartedly embraced the adventure game trope of picking up everything that is not nailed down and allowed by the game designers, because you'd never know when the objects may come in handy. For globetrotters like George and Nico, you would think they are not the types to carry a dead worm, sexy panties (I kid you not!), dog biscuits, chimney cone, and dog biscuits for the duration they crossed the Atlantic Ocean! If 'BS2' were any other adventure game, I might have given it a more favourable review. Unfortunately, it is the sequel to the first 'Broken Sword' game, so it had a lot to live up to. It could have, nay, should have been better! Play it if you are curious, but I think may not be worth your time otherwise.

The puzzles were much more convoluted and the dialogue (one of the most charming things about the previous game) was dull and cliche. The locations were sometimes interested, but not nearly as exciting as before. Overall, I was bored by the game.

Seriously, I've played original Broken Sword 2 bajilion times and dunno how it can be improved.

No Polish subtitles !

I a very disapointed, I am at 76% of the game and I can't go further due to a stupid bug. On the Zombie island if you don't jump on the branch when the boar escape, it disapears and doesn't open the path to go to another part of the island. So now I have to restart the game again because I don't have any save before this moment. Stupid developers, you suck