(Double Fine has said that Act 2 will release this summer, at which time buyers will get it as a free update. At the moment only the first of two acts is available, but assuming the story, gameplay, and production values continue down the path established by Act 1, we might just be looking at a modern classic. On the surface, Broken Age appears childlike and magical, but it doesn’t take much scratching to reveal a more intricate tale beneath the fluffy facade. This world is one where a spaceship is steered with controls fashioned from a baby’s crib toy a world where maidens dress up like frosted cupcakes in an elaborate town-wide celebration. Then there’s the world inside the game, presented through two parallel stories about a teen boy and a teen girl with a whimsical, painted art style that evokes feelings of innocence and wonder. Broken Age isn’t going to CHANGE EVERYTHING!!!, but for longtime fans of the genre, its launch is a significant milestone. More than 87,000 fans chipped in money to make this game a reality, and at long last the veteran designer’s first adventure since 1998’s Grim Fandango is ready for prime time… at least, the first half of the game is. As gaming’s first multimillion dollar Kickstarter success, it embodies Tim Schafer’s longstanding dream to make a traditional adventure game in the post LucasArts era. The second half of the game is due out later this year as an in-app purchase, and considering the sudden twist at the end, I’m excited to reconnect with Shay and Vella and see how this imaginative tale is capped off.Broken Age has the weight of two worlds on its shoulders. Or rather, right up until the cliffhanger-which is a rather effective one.
I tend to get exhausted by adventure games’ convoluted puzzles long before the conclusion, but at less than four hours in length and with enough variety in locations and premises, Broken Age kept my interest right up until the end. As a throwback to the genre’s best, it does a great job of delivering interesting scenarios without feeling overlong or too obtuse in its solutions.
It’ll scratch that point-and-click itch: Broken Age might be the prettiest game the genre has ever seen, but while it sets a new high mark for visual style, it doesn’t do anything dramatic to shake up the usual investigate-everything approach-whether it’s in conversation or by looking at any curious items in view. It’s standard adventure genre stuff, but the material elevates it. You’ll need to chat with bystanders and investigate items to push the story forward. Stellar voice acting from the likes of Elijah Wood and Jack Black only helps to add even more presentational sheen. Aside from the occasional odd low-resolution item in a scene, Broken Age dazzles at every turn, and it comes across like a fantasy storybook that’s not necessarily for kids. Not only is the artwork itself spectacular, but so is the character and world design, especially the great little robot creatures on the spaceship and some of the locales that Vella explores later on. It’s totally stunning: The hand-painted backdrops and characters are gorgeously presented throughout, whether it’s the bright colors of Shay’s toddler-centric space vessel or the pastel clouds and seaside villages that Vella wanders through. Vella must use smart and unconventional solutions to escape the fate handed down to her. What makes it all click is the amusing, lively dialogue, which adds a comedic richness to every interaction. And Vella’s quest to circumvent an expected fate and question the blindly followed beliefs of her community really resonates, even with the fantastical sights. Shay’s lifelong daily routine in a spaceship designed for a small child is well conveyed, and you get a real sense of his boredom and desperate need for adventure. Even so, the first Schafer-directed adventure in ages lives up to tough expectations, with a really fun and oddball tale with split scenarios that you can jump between at any time.
The story and dialogue are great: Broken Age hails from Double Fine, which made its name on whimsical and wacky affairs likeĬostume Quest, so the silly tone and quality execution aren’t terribly surprising.
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