Broken Sword - Shadow of the Templars: Reforged

Broken Sword - Shadow of the Templars: Reforged makes a classic point-and-click worth playing almost thirty years on, with stunning visuals and engaging gameplay.

95%Game Brain Score

graphics, story

95% User Score Based on 271 reviews

Critic Score 87%Based on 7 reviews

Platforms

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About

"Broken Sword - Shadow of the Templars: Reforged" is a remastered version of the award-winning adventure game, where players unravel a conspiracy involving the Knights Templar alongside protagonists George and Nico. The game features classic point-and-click gameplay and an engaging storyline set in various exotic locations. This enhanced version boasts improved graphics and sound for a more immersive experience.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

Broken Sword - Shadow of the Templars: Reforged screenshot

95%

Audience ScoreBased on 271 reviews

graphics65 positive mentions

The remastered graphics are stunning, bringing a fresh and vibrant look to the classic game while maintaining its original charm.
The game retains its engaging story and well-designed puzzles, making it a delightful experience for both newcomers and long-time fans.
Quality of life improvements, such as a hint system and the ability to switch between original and remastered graphics, enhance the overall gameplay experience.

The audio quality, particularly the voice acting, is often muffled and inconsistent, detracting from the otherwise polished presentation.
Some beloved features from the Director's Cut, such as Nico's playable segments, have been removed, which may disappoint fans of that version.
The character movement can feel slow and cumbersome, which may frustrate players accustomed to more modern pacing in adventure games.

graphics
152 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
43%
55%
2%
The graphics in "Broken Sword: Shadow of the Templars - Reforged" have received widespread acclaim for their stunning 4K remastering, which enhances the original hand-drawn artwork with vibrant colors, improved animations, and dynamic lighting. Players appreciate the seamless toggle feature that allows them to switch between the updated visuals and the original graphics, highlighting the significant improvements made while retaining the game's nostalgic charm. However, some critiques mention a disparity between the polished visuals and the unchanged audio quality, which can detract from the overall experience.
- “Firstly, this reforged edition is definitely a labor of love, featuring updated 4K visuals that breathe new life into its beautifully hand-drawn environments and character sprites.”
- “The updated graphics also showcase better animations, enhanced lighting, vibrant colors, and dynamic shadows, adding depth and warmth to the art.”
- “The graphics are gorgeous and the game feels very polished.”
- “But for a minority, the upgraded visuals might not be to everyone's taste, as some AI was employed for assistance.”
- “This creates a noticeable disparity between the polished visuals and the dated audio quality.”
- “The mix of shiny new graphics and old, poorly balanced audio just doesn't work, especially for what they're charging.”
story
86 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
48%
49%
3%
The story of "Broken Sword: Shadow of the Templars – Reforged" is a captivating blend of historical intrigue and modern suspense, featuring well-developed characters and clever humor that resonates even decades after its original release. While some players note the absence of certain character arcs and puzzles, the remastered version retains the charm and engaging narrative that made the game a classic, appealing to both newcomers and veterans alike. However, the pacing and some outdated design elements may not fully satisfy modern audiences seeking deeper narrative complexity.
- “The story masterfully blends historical intrigue with modern suspense, a formula that predates even Dan Brown’s The Da Vinci Code.”
- “The story is fantastic and well-paced, dialogue is consistently funny and the world just feels real.”
- “The combination of the story, funny characters, and conspiracies makes Broken Sword: Shadow of the Templars so special, making it one of the craziest and greatest adventures ever!”
- “Firstly, Nico's story has been eliminated from the beginning of the game, which means a lot of important content about her character—including various puzzles—has been lost.”
- “For newcomers, however, it’s worth noting that the story, written in the '90s, may not possess the narrative depth found in modern RPGs like The Witcher 3: The Wild Hunt or action-adventure games like Uncharted or Metal Gear Solid.”
- “The game stays true to the original storyline and design, which may seem like a missed opportunity to expand the world or add more modern storytelling elements.”
music
37 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
38%
54%
8%
The music in the game has received widespread acclaim, with many praising the remastered soundtrack for its high quality and nostalgic impact, effectively enhancing the overall atmosphere. While the environmental sounds and music are noted to be superb, some users pointed out issues with dialogue clarity and mixing, which detracted from the experience. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a standout feature, contributing significantly to the game's timeless appeal.
- “The music alone brings me so many good memories; this game is definitely timeless.”
- “The music continues to sound superb, likely reflecting the high quality of Barrington Pheloung's work and the clever use of short bursts of music throughout the entire game.”
- “The classic soundtrack has also been beautifully remastered, taking you back to those memorable moments of intrigue and discovery.”
- “Whilst the soundtrack and certain sound effects have been remastered, the dialogue audio remains untouched due to the unfortunate loss of the original master recordings.”
- “The soundtrack has also been remastered in a higher bitrate quality, but unfortunately this can't be said for the actual voice lines.”
- “However, it should have been mixed better by default, as the music is much too loud and the side-chain has too short a release, which causes a bit of a pumping effect.”
gameplay
30 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
57%
10%
The gameplay in "Broken Sword: Shadow of the Templars – Reforged" successfully retains the classic point-and-click mechanics and puzzle-solving elements that defined the original, while incorporating modernized user interface features and visual enhancements. Players can expect a satisfying blend of exploration, dialogue, and puzzles, with options for both traditional gameplay and updated mechanics to cater to a wider audience. Overall, the game offers a polished experience that balances nostalgia with contemporary improvements, making it accessible for both longtime fans and newcomers.
- “Moreover, the gameplay in Reforged remains true to the original, offering a satisfying blend of exploration, dialogue, and puzzle-solving.”
- “The gameplay still stands up, retaining the beloved point-and-click mechanics and puzzle-solving elements that made the original so iconic, while giving them a polished update.”
- “Broken Sword: Reforged is a love letter to fans of the original series, seamlessly blending its gorgeous new artwork with the classic gameplay that sparked countless hours of exploration.”
- “The 'director's cut' game was okay, but it added new story elements and gameplay, including a new opening, that were jarring alongside the original.”
- “This is a reforged version, not a remake; they chose not to change the gameplay of the original game.”
- “However, those who prefer the traditional classic gameplay with no hot-spots guiding them, that's also an option.”
humor
20 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in "Broken Sword: Shadow of the Templars" is characterized by its dark and dry wit, appealing to mature audiences while maintaining a charming and consistently funny narrative. Players appreciate the clever writing and well-delivered dialogue, which includes sarcastic responses from characters that enhance the immersive experience. Overall, the humor complements the engaging story and logical puzzles, making it a standout in the point-and-click genre.
- “The writing is full of charm and humor.”
- “It's consistently funny throughout, lines are well delivered and I wanted to make sure I spoke to every character about every item just to hear their sarcastic responses.”
- “I'll have to say that the writing in Broken Sword is rather amusing and some of the witty banter had me laughing out loud.”
atmosphere
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
78%
22%
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its immersive qualities, enhanced by beautifully recreated visuals, new lighting effects, and a captivating soundtrack. Players appreciate the nostalgic charm and emotional depth it evokes, making for an engrossing experience that resonates even with those unfamiliar with the dialogue. Overall, the combination of music, sound effects, and visual enhancements creates a rich and engaging environment that draws players in.
- “Beautifully recreated with all its atmosphere and charm.”
- “New lighting effects give the scenes a more atmospheric and immersive feel.”
- “The game's sound effects have been reworked, and the atmospheric music has been recreated, providing a richer aural experience that complements the game's visual enhancements.”
- “Even though I didn’t understand the dialogue, the music, atmosphere, and visuals captivated me for hours.”
- “I first played Shadow of the Templars as a kid back in 1996 and immediately fell in love with its atmosphere, humor, and mystery.”
optimization
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
25%
25%
The game is well-optimized, offering smooth gameplay and low power consumption, particularly on handheld devices like the Steam Deck, earning a score of 8.5/10 for graphics and performance. However, there are inconsistencies in voice line quality and volume, raising questions about the effectiveness of AI in enhancing these aspects.
- “+ well optimized, smooth gameplay and low power consumption for handheld devices like Steam Deck.”
- “Graphics, performance and tech analysis score: 8.5/10”
- “Voice lines still swing wildly across a broad range of sound quality and volume; I wonder what stopped the AI from being employed more effectively here: unwillingness to tamper with the original too much, budget concerns, or potential legal issues arising from re-generating real-life performances?”