Welcome back to the world of point-and-click adventures, where every click is an opportunity to bring chaos to your living room. 'Broken Sword 5: The Serpent's Curse' is the fifth game in the beloved 'Broken Sword' series, letting you guide George Stobbart and Nicole Collard through a tale more tangled than a pair of headphones at the bottom of your bag. Released on Nintendo Switch—because why not be confused while commuting—this game brings back the familiar comfort of its predecessors, with a twist that feels as fresh as a gluten-free avocado toast.
'The Serpent's Curse' revives the thrilling if occasionally baffling point-and-click mechanics. You’ll guide George and Nico as they investigate a stolen painting that has about as much backstory as the average conspiracy theory. Players can toggle between classic and modern inventory systems, proving that nostalgia often involves squinting at pixelated art while simultaneously mourning your youth. The plot is a mix of stolen artworks, Gnostic secrets, and a death count that—let’s be honest—you're likely responsible for, given your proclivity for choosing the wrong dialogue options. Puzzles are prevalent but be prepared for some that require a level of logic that Houdini would raise an eyebrow at. If you seek a challenge, you'll find some cleverly designed puzzles, but others will feel like they were pulled from a “How To Write Bad Puzzles” guide.
This game has all the charm of a hand-painted mural, but don't let that 2D art fool you—its 3D animated characters look like they stumbled out of a budget 1990s CGI remake. The background art is a visual feast, reminiscent of European animation films, while the character designs stick out awkwardly like a sore thumb at a black-tie gala. The graphics do manage a high-definition makeover that's certainly attractive, even if the character animations could use a bit more rhythm and less awkward robot-like motion. It’s as if the team paired the elegance of a ballerina with the grace of a malfunctioning robot—cute, but concerning.
'Broken Sword 5: The Serpent's Curse' serves up a nostalgic slice of adventure pie where you click on everything that isn’t nailed down, including people (who naturally respond with ethnic accents that would impress an old-timey cartoon). It combines a solid narrative with fairly humorous banter, leading players through a mystery that scratches the itch for escapism without feeling ridiculously long. While it does have its fair share of hiccups—clunky animations, some convoluted puzzles, and a tendency to feel linear—it’s still a worthy addition to any adventurer’s library. So grab your joy-con, prepare to click anything that moves, and enter the world of 'Broken Sword.' Just don’t be surprised if the biggest puzzle is figuring out how to get your sibling away from the screen as they hijack your gaming night.