Broken Sword: The Smoking Mirror

About Broken Sword: The Smoking Mirror

Broken Sword: The Smoking Mirror launched on October 17, 1997 from Revolution Software. It arrives as a classic point-and-click adventure available on PC and PlayStation. You guide George Stobbart through Mexico and the United States while investigating a Mayan cult conspiracy. This sequel picks up months after the first game. The story involves an archaeologist named Professor Oubier and a mysterious stone that pulls both George and Nicole Collard into danger. It is a single-player experience where dialogue trees drive the narrative forward. The game runs on Windows or the original PlayStation console without requiring modern emulation tricks to play the base version.

Gameplay

You move George around using a cursor to click on hotspots. Interacting with objects opens a menu where you can talk, look closer, or use inventory items. You need to combine collectibles to solve logic puzzles that block progress. Right-clicking reveals descriptions and clues for specific items. The game features conversation trees where you choose dialogue options to learn secrets or get hints about the plot. Nicole becomes playable in certain chapters, offering a different perspective on the same environment. Death is possible if you make bad choices during critical moments. You spend most of your time examining scenery and talking to locals to piece together the mystery before moving to the next location.

What Players Think

The PlayPile data shows this title holds an IGDB score of 83.4 out of 100 based on 162 ratings. Community members rate it highly for its storytelling and puzzle design. Average playtime sits around 15 hours for a standard run through the main story. Completion rates suggest many players finish the game despite occasional difficulty spikes in specific puzzles. Mood tags indicate strong appreciation for the atmosphere and character interactions among older adventure fans. Critics on our platform note that while the graphics show their age, the writing remains sharp. The community frequently discusses the Mayan lore elements as a standout feature compared to other games of its era.

PlayPile's Take

This game is worth your time if you like slow-paced mysteries and inventory puzzles. It runs roughly $5 on most retro stores today. There are no modern achievements listed but the original design includes multiple endings based on player choices. The difficulty can feel punishing when you miss a puzzle solution leading to a game over screen. You should play this if you enjoy detailed dialogue trees and linear storytelling. Skip it if you want fast action or open-world exploration. The Mayan setting offers a distinct flavor that separates it from European detective games of the same period.

Storyline

Several months after the events of The Shadow of the Templars, George Stobbart and Nicole Collard visit an archaeologist named Professor Oubier to learn about a mysterious Mayan stone for a newspaper story, but soon caught in another conspiracy.