Broken Sword 5: The Serpent's Curse

This point-and-click adventure delivers the same kind of gameplay that franchise fans expect, but the gameplay is way too easy and outdated for adventure gamers. Five years after its initial debut, Broken Sword 5: The Serpent's Curse has found a new home on the Nintendo Switch. There have only been two major additions made for the Switch. The first is the ability to switch (no pun intended) on the fly between using a controller or the touchscreen to interact with objects. Neither has any advantage over the other, and the touchscreen option is useless if the Switch is docked. The other addition is a collection of unlockable videos. But rather than expanding on the adventure, these are a series of behind-the-scenes videos showing the development of the Switch port. Sure, it's a glimpse behind the curtain of game development, but it doesn't add much to the overall experience.

Outside of these changes, Broken Sword 5: The Serpent's Curse remains relatively untouched. Unfortunately, that means it's also starting to show its age. Despite the high-definition visuals, the animated art style feels somewhat bland. Coupled with its cheesy, ham-handed voice acting, the presentation feels almost like you're watching a made-for-TV B movie. The puzzles are a mixed bag as well. Early on, they're all almost too simple, as if they're geared toward younger kids who wouldn't understand the plot. Later on, things get a little more complex and challenging, but the game's hint system can still walk players through with step-by-step solutions. Ultimately, there's very little challenge in Broken Sword 5, even with its decent (though campily acted) story attached.