“Paris in the fall, the last months of the year, and the end of the millennium.” – These words echoed throughout my late teenage years as I played the original Broken Sword: Shadow of the Templars on my PlayStation back in 1998. And when playing this game again for the first time in over 25 years, it brought back those warm and fuzzy feelings. Seeing that Revolution logo made me feel all gooey inside. I was again ready to go on a globetrotting adventure with George Stobbart.
Point-and-click games are few and far between these days. If you search for the best, you will see that most of the entries are from the 90’s. The most comparative modern equivalent may be the Syberia series or that of the Telltale Games such as The Walking Dead. So why now? There is a reason that this game is on that list of top point-and-click games…
The Story
George Stobbart, an American tourist in the quaint Parisian town, witnesses a cafe bombing. Little did he know that by sticking his nose in, he would become embroiled in a conspiracy involving the Knights Templar. Joined by the intrepid French journalist Nico Collard, George’s adventure takes him across Europe and the Middle East, uncovering ancient secrets and dangerous cults. Meeting a colourful cast on the way, Broken Sword: Shadow of the Templars will have you scratching your head and howling with laughter all the way.
The Game
Before you get started, you can opt to play the classic way for the veterans but with all the lovely remastered visuals. I chose to play the ‘story’ way which streamlines the narrative and is much more accessible to attract new fans to the genre. My memory isn’t what it was 25 years ago, and my attention span wasn’t even that good then, so the hint system is a godsend this time around. Also, if you linger long enough, your next interaction will sparkle to indicate what you have to do next. However I must add, I was able to do the goat puzzle without any assistance. Yeah, you know the one I mean.
Broken Sword focuses on exploration, puzzle-solving, and dialogue. Players interact with the environment by clicking on objects and characters, gathering clues, and using items to progress through the story. In true point-and-click fashion, puzzles are frequently abstract and require lateral thinking.
How It Looks
Going into Broken Sword: Shadow of the Templars I was thinking, this was just how I remember it looking. However, back then I was playing on a 14-inch CRT screen. Now playing in 4k on my 65-inch QLED, I switched to original PlayStation graphics just to see how different it was. I have to take my hat off to Revolution. They know that if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. There are no fancy 3D visual upgrades here. Just the original Don Bluth artwork exquisitely redrawn. If you are going to remaster a classic, this is how you do it.
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Conclusion
A classic reborn and is perfect for old-hand point-and-clickers and newcomers alike! This is the definitive way to play Broken Sword: Shadow of the Templars. The new features make this game more accessible than ever before, catering to all age groups, no matter the attention span. The only gripe I have, and it is tiny, is a lack of extra features. Something like original storyboards or concept art, something to celebrate the Broken Sword legacy. Other than that, this game is a solid 9/10!
