They’re not hard at all: Sometimes the aliens slide from left to right, but you’re never punished for missing or taking too much time. It’s like a 2D version of the claw machines you’d find in arcades. One task has you rescuing alien critters in space by using large mechanical arms to scoop them up. When you’re not exploring or solving puzzles, Broken Age throws you into a few action sequences that, at best, feel like cheap distractions. It definitely leans on the easier side, though, so don’t go in expecting a challenge. But if you explore enough and listen to the dialogue cues, you shouldn’t have much trouble getting through Act 1. I only got stuck once, and the answer was so simple that I was kind of mad at myself for not figuring it out sooner.
Combining items is also straightforward Shay and Vella will let you know if those pieces belong together or not. It’s also easy to experiment: Just drag-and-drop items from your inventory if you think they’re the key to solving something. Solutions are more obvious than you might think, and even the more outlandish results follow a logical train of thought. While Broken Age continues this tradition, the problem-solving process feels natural. And beneath that colored candy coating is an emotional center that reminds you of the very real stakes involved in Shay’s and Vella’s journey.Īdventure games are known for their puzzles, which usually consist of collecting items and using them to move the story forward. Not many developers could pull that off.īeyond the realm of futuristic silverware, the dialogue is consistently funny and charming. Heck, some of the best one-liners comes from Shay’s talking knife.
They make Vella (voiced by actress Masasa Moyo) and Shay (actor Elijah Wood) look like the only sane people in their respective worlds. Broken Age’s supporting cast has a ton of weird and quirky personalities. What do a vomiting tree, creatures made of yarn, and a creepy lumberjack have in common? They’re all pretty damn memorable. Other visual gags abound in Broken Age, and part of the fun is seeing what else the developers came up with. So, in keeping with that theme, Vella and the three other girls offering themselves to Mog Chothra come dressed as elegant cakes and drinks to entice the monster. For instance, her hometown of Sugarbunting is known for the superb quality of its baked goods. In contrast, Vella explores idyllic landscapes that feature a fairy tale flair with some kooky twists. And in a vain attempt to appear warm and cuddly, his artificial caretaker dresses its gangly metal arms with ugly sweaters. The various toys strewn around its halls show just how long he’s been there. The hexagonal pattern that adorns the walls makes the ship look like a giant padded cell.
#BROKEN AGE STORY FULL#
Shay’s ship is full of small details that reveal more about the boy’s plight. You can take control of either Shay or Vella at any time, and the worlds they inhabit couldn’t be more different from each other. Playing Broken Age feels like stepping into an interactive painting - sometimes, you can even see the brush strokes within the 2D backgrounds.