Broken Age 2: Act 2 and an Inspirational Quote to Big Dreamers

"Some messed up junk has been going down around here, and we'd rather sleep through it"
-Puppets from Broken Age 2

I don't have fans, I have friends.  So, I want to take this time out to thank all my friends that read my blogs and posts.  You help make the dream possible.  I once had a co-worker say, "he's living the life, and he'll wake up from that happy dream he's living into the nightmare reality that we all share".    A few years later he's probably in the same position and stuck in that same miserable job he hates, while i've gone on, lived my life and happy with where I am in life.  There will always be someone here that thinks they have a right to crush your happiness or beauty because they feel its not the reality or fairy-tale they want or live in.  I believe sometimes you have to defend your dreams, and defending the dreams are what make them special.

Now for the video game review. The first act Broken Age 2 was filled with the qualities unexplored world and inventive characters with a good sense of humor named Vella and Shay.  Shay lived in technologically advance world where he seeks a life of true courage instead of simulations and the reward of hugs from his overprotective robotic mother but his persistence saved him from a false virtual reality.  Vella lived in a primitive world where she had the unfortunate fate of being a sacrifice to a monster but her quick wit saved her from daunting situations. In Broken Age Act 2, two worlds collide and switch.

The game hit the sophomore slump.  In act one, the writing did a great job of investing in the players stories. You see how miserable their lives are, and you feel obligated to get them out. In act two, you don't feel the same emotional pull as in act one and feel like the story was thrown together at the last second.   Gamers like myself know a lot of this lack luster was due to the struggling budget developers worked with but in testament to games like Banish where one guy created the whole game with $2500, money is not an excuse for making a bad game.

In the second act, the previously explored worlds of act one are reused.  The puzzle solving is more elaborate and require you to think or travel long distance to solve.  Puzzle solving frustration carries a weigh that feels like busy work more than a challenge that adds to the difficulty of progressing through the game.

Despite this folly, the character and tone of Broken Age 2: Act 2 overshadow the setbacks the game faced.  There are more feel good and humorous moments that will have you laughing out loud.  The game is twice as long and flips the script on its head with an element of role reversal that will keep you interested.  Each character shines a new light on their new environments as they come to terms with realizing they have been lied to their whole lives about their purpose and the truth.

Overall, Broken Age 2: Act 2 crossed the finish line and made it.  Vague objectives and timed puzzle solving complicated a good and simple game. The jokes are punchy, the twist are rewarding, and the puzzle solving is satisfying in their own way.  Broken Age 2:Act 2, mades the most of every screen in the game and takes the gamer to new exciting settings and ideas.  I must admit, there are times where I felt game designers missed a good opportunity to take it to the next level of development and make a perfect game.  I can't overlook that aspect, so I give Broken Age 2: Act 2, so I give Broken Age 2: Age 2 a 9.0/10.