(I didn't expect much from Rigopulos as a voice actor, since he's the CCO of rhythm game designer Harmonix, but well done, man.) Steering clear of Spoiler Cityīecause the game had already finished setting up the plot and some basic character relationships by the end of act one, this second act hunkers down more on witty repartee and puzzle-specific conversations. In addition to the cast members I already liked last time around, I also came to really appreciate Wil Wheaton's turn as a hipster lumberjack, Jennifer Hale's work as an overbearing matriarch, and Alex Rigopulos's breakout performance as a mysterious helper. That fact goes hand-in-hand with a wider, more diverse set of character interactions to make this part of the game feel a lot more alive. I complained about how the first act favored plot over puzzles, and that decision felt especially tiresome due to boy hero Shay's very meek opening act, but such criticisms have been met handily this time around.īoth Shay, a boy raised in an overprotective spaceship, and Vella, a girl who cast aside her fate as a sacrificial maiden, face far more intense puzzles as soon as act two begins. Those are mere quibbles in light of how the game handles the two lead characters-and their separate puzzle-solving journeys-as the plot reaches its conclusion. Also, the game continues cutting corners by using Adobe Flash-style animations as opposed to using hand-drawing in some of the more intense action scenes. Older fans expecting a giant refresh or world expansion should tap the brakes, however. At least visually, more content has been reused than we would have liked. Previously on Double Fine Adventure.Īesthetically, at least, the game hasn't faltered one bit. This gorgeous game still shines thanks to handsome storybook character designs and a sweeping watercolor aesthetic-one that somehow depicts lush fantasy landscapes and neon-smothered spaceship interiors with equal amounts of whimsy. But for those who stood on the sidelines with reluctant adventure-game hopes, rest assured that Broken Age's conclusion, ripe with polish, humor, and smart puzzles, has positioned the game comfortably among history's best remembered point-and-click titles-even if that means holding onto the dated genre's more annoying trappings. Broken Age got a little less than halfway there last January, when the game's first act took a bow for both the game's original Kickstarter backers and curious passersby, and today sees the game's conclusion roll out to the masses.Īnyone who Kickstarted the game got a one-day sneak peek at the final product-which is to say, this review may already be irrelevant for the pre-orderiest Schafer fans imaginable.
Luckily for us, the weight of the world didn't bury Schafer and his Double Fine team. We're simply left with the whole reason anyone cared back in February 2012: a point-and-click adventure game just like mom used to make. It's hard enough for any game maker to issue bad news to eager fans, but try doing that once you already have their money and see how long it takes before your "biggest fans" start reminding you of your biggest flops. That combination made him a lightning rod for mainstream attention and eager donations when he asked fans to fund a new game via Kickstarter in 2012, but his uneven track record also set the stage for heightened drama as delays and money woes followed. Here's a game maker who is steeped in old-school industry cred ( Secret of Monkey Island, Full Throttle), who is hilarious and engaging everywhere you see him, and who is also hanging on to a reputation that hasn't included a bona fide smash for nearly two decades. Links: Official website | SteamThe games industry has its fair share of developers who traffic in equal parts acclaim, inconsistency, and camera mugging, and for better or worse, Double Fine's Tim Schafer is possibly the best known of them all. Platform: PC (reviewed), Mac, Linux, PS4, PS Vita, iOS
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