Secrets of the Ark: A Broken Sword Game The Adventure Company, 2007. Windows Me / XP / 98 / 2000. Rated E for Everyone. Available online at Amazon.com.
There are few adventure game series that can match the gameplay, dialogue, and story of the Broken Sword series. Here in Secrets of the Ark, the fourth installment of the popular mystery series, you again play as witty, charming George Stobbart. This time, though, his life has settled down; no longer the world traveler, he has settled down at a desk job as a bail bondsman. One day a mysterious woman walks into his office - and unwittingly brings with her the wrath of the mob. Soon, he's thrown headfirst into yet another mystery, as he is forced to help the woman search for her family's lost manuscript... and the solve the mysteries that lie beyond.
What I love most about the Broken Sword series - and this game is no exception - is the clever dialogue. The characters are immediately engaging; the voice acting is top-notch. And without that, I'm afraid that this game might fall into the relative obscurity of so-so adventure gaming. The fact is, though, that the characters keep you engaged enough to keep going. And the puzzles are just difficult enough to keep your interest but not so difficult and obscure that you get frustrated (at least very often; there were a few times when I wanted to pull my hair out).
If I had any complaints at all with the game it would relate to the camera angles. I wish that you were able to scan a room by, say, moving the mouse around. But instead, you have to actually navigate the character through every corner of the room - and then cross your fingers that you haven't missed anything. Also, and this is a bit nitpicky, I wish there were more things to pick up and interact with throughout the game; as it is, you're lucky to find one to two items per room that are worth looking at or picking up. (What is it about picking up and collecting items in gaming that is so fun?)
Although it's a bit generic in its execution, the standout voice acting and dialogue make the storyline of Secrets of the Ark fun and addicting. Great play for gamers of all ages and skill levels, Secrets of the Ark is yet another to add to your library - right alongside the other Broken Sword games.
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About the Author
Alison McCormick is as a freelance writer and artist who splits her time between Seattle, Washington and Portland, Oregon. She enjoys independent films, puzzles, hiking, her two dogs: Lulu and Fancy, and singing in the rain.
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Secrets of the Ark: A Broken Sword Game
Alison McCormick is as a freelance writer and artist who splits her time between Seattle, Washington and Portland, Oregon. She enjoys independent films, puzzles, hiking, her two dogs: Lulu and Fancy, and singing in the rain.
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