Collectors Edition: For beginners series without Steam aversion worth considering. Disappointing for collectors.

For Broken Sword series (Broken Sword) is to be considered not say much. Part 1 is among the best what has spawned the adventure genre and can be rightly referred to as his successor "The Smoking Mirror" as a classic. Broken Sword has been the next in this context also not unmentioned Gabriel Knight series to date model for many games of this genre.
Stories, somewhere. Between Detective Story, Indiana Jones, Dan Brown and Mystery
A man and a woman. - Two main characters which complement at eye level free of stereotypes and sexism. Superb dialogues and subtle humor. Puzzles of lovingly designed for location around the world.

I belong to the lovers of this series and got even with the weaker sections 3 'The Sleeping Dragon "and 4" The Angel of Death "gladly spent my time. But in view of the criticisms of Part 3 and 4, it appeared initially quite unlikely that someday a fifth part would follow. Against the wishes of the fans let Revolution software in Part 2, the 2D representation and, consequently, the usual point and click control behind him and tried to implement in 3D. Earnings fell in two games despite good stories in detail not round off. In addition to that in the fourth installment of "The Angel of Death" Nico Collard (one of the two main characters beloved) took a lesser role and showed up very late in the action.

Although appeared due to the unbroken popularity to Part 1 and 2 revised versions for PC and other systems (Broken Sword 1: Director's Cut and Broken Sword 2: The Smoking Mirror - Remastered), but apart from a notable, free available networks Fanproduktion ( Broken Sword 2.5) developed in collaboration with some of the original speakers, it had remained silent.
The success of this fan-production, the sales success of the two said revised standard parts and the persistent requests of the fans at Revolution Software are probably one of the reasons that it's now come after all to a fifth branch of the series.
In summer 2012, announced Charles Cecil "Revolution Software" via Kickstarter Part 5 "The Fall" successfully. Content and game mechanic was promised a return to the roots of the series with Part 5. In December 2013, the first half came from "The Fall" as a download version on GOG and Steam. The second half of the game was submitted in April 2014. Now the retail version of the game has been released.

The game: The Fall

Charles Cecil has kept his word. Broken Sword 5 has become to today's technology, a 2D adventure. More still going, but was what estimated to Part 1 and 2 are found again in the latest series offshoot and even the problem of no longer available German voice Nicole Collard (previous voice actresses Franziska Pigulla (Parts 1 to 4) and Agnes Regan (Broken Sword 2.5)) was dissolved with Petra Konradis voice perfectly.

Without telling a lot about the content: Broken Sword 5: The Fall of Man is like a reunion with beloved, old friends after a very long time for me.

So why only a 3 star rating?

If it were just about pure gaming experience would get the fall of my highest rating possible. But the sense of Amazon reviews is by largely objective buyers descriptions, and reviews describe the entire product and not just the gaming experience. These are other potential buyers in their purchasing decisions. - Especially when alternatives are offered product version.

This review is about the Collector's Edition.

Commonly you go with a collector's edition (Collector's Edition) from a wertigeren, rising over a longer period in the value that specific version of the purchased item. - Why else would you spend more money on it?
On top of that you have this as a collector and not just borrow (mandatory Steam connection) want. On both counts the Broken Sword 5 Collector's Edition does not deserve, in my view, the term Collector's!

The decor is bad!
Delivered is a carelessly designed carton of either the size of the original EU-boxes, even the American version measures amounts. The size is somewhere in between. The design is simple. Around the dark wallpaper pattern. On the lid a freely inserted section of the cover of the standard version. No logo, no revaluations as embossing or the like. - The work of a graphic designer in uninspired 15 minutes.

The contents of the box it looks in my opinion, not much better.
A poster (36 cm x 48 cm motif of Standard Edition Packaging), which already came with the GOG release as one of 5 variants in the form of several print-compatible PDF files. Here folded in the Collector's Edition so that it no longer really makes a lot of sense as a poster.

A high-quality, printed art book? In fact, it is a only 32 pages (incl. Cover pages) existing art book, its content has also been published in the GOG-release corresponding PDF files.
- Also included in the standard version.

Three comic books: one to Broken Sword 5 (12 pages including cover.) In German, and two more (each 8 pages including cover.) In English, the content of which is already Inserts the first publications of the revised versions of Part 1 and 2.
Certainly the comic to part 5 is not uninteresting, but as for the two comics to Parts 1 and 2; for a collector (Collector's Edition), which has only a limited interest in all probability the two earlier published versions already.

The soundtrack to part 5 on CD: since you can not complain.
- Is also included in the standard version.

Now to the games:

Part 5: The Fall of Man is contained on a DVD in a jewel case with 4-page booklet. The game can be installed only bound to a Steam account and play. The aforementioned German Directors Notes are available only in this context.
On another DVD previous four parts are included. Part 1 and 2 are, however, also included in the original version only in the revised version and not as in GOG.
A game manual is only available in digital form.

Conclusion:

For series newcomers with not too high demands on the packaging, the Collector's Edition is a consideration because of the contained complete series well worth. - However, if absolutely a carton for the shelf, or the militant box contents must be and the Steam-connection does not matter.

Series newcomers are put on packaging and physical content of no value directly be better off with gog.com. The series is here listed under the English name of series "Broken Sword". GOG has unlike Steam also the fourth part of "The Angel of Death" at. All five parts are available (English, German, French, Spanish, Italian incl. Respective speech output) in 5 languages. All parts are also in various bonus content that part in the Collector's Edition discussed here resurface. The games are 100% DRM free. - And the price is the best by far outside of sales promotions.

Collectors and enthusiasts:

With precise, sober reflection actually only the unspectacular, folded poster that comic book to Part 5 and thanks to Steam connectivity remains limited, the Director's Notes worth mentioning. Whether an additional cost of around 30, - Euro and justifies the compulsion to Steam?

Bottom line, you should call this rather Release Complete Edition instead Collector's Edition and the steam connection of the fifth part contained "The Fall" is my personal opinion, ultimately the icing on the cake for a KO.

From me therefore with a heavy heart with a blind eye 3 stars

Note: If Youtube can now be found also a useful German-language unboxing video for the Collector's Edition.
Keyword: Unboxing "Broken Sword - The Fall Collector's Edition" - PC