The First Templar

About

The First Templar is a single player and multiplayer role playing game with fantasy and historical themes. It was developed by Haemimont Games and was released on May 5, 2011. It received neutral reviews from critics and mostly positive reviews from players.

The First Templar is a historical role-playing game that offers both single-player and multi-player options, with a focus on co-op play for two players. The plot is engaging and even humorous at times, following a French Templar and a noblewoman accused of heresy as they uncover the Templar Order's secrets and the mystery of the Holy Grail, facing formidable foes such as Sacracen, King Philip IV of France, and the Inquisition.

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66%

Audience ScoreBased on 978 reviews

story236 positive mentions

stability20 negative mentions

The game features an interesting story about the Knights Templar and the search for the Holy Grail, which keeps players engaged.
The combat system is fun and allows for character progression through skill trees, making players feel stronger as they advance.
Co-op gameplay enhances the experience, allowing for teamwork and shared enjoyment, especially in local multiplayer.

The game suffers from outdated graphics and animations, which can detract from the overall experience.
The requirement to create multiple accounts, including a Kalypso account and a Facebook link for co-op, is frustrating and inconvenient.
Gameplay can become repetitive, with linear level design and simplistic combat mechanics that may not hold players' interest for long.

story
558 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
42%
51%
7%
The story of "The First Templar" is generally regarded as engaging, featuring a quest for the Holy Grail intertwined with themes of betrayal and historical intrigue. While some players find the narrative predictable and the dialogue lacking, many appreciate its twists and the co-op gameplay that enhances the experience. Overall, the story is seen as a solid, if not groundbreaking, element that keeps players invested throughout the game.
- “The story of the game is also pretty good, with twists and mysteries, historical and fantasy elements, keeps you entertained through the whole game.”
- “The game itself starts a little slow, but after the 3rd or 4th chapter the story and the protagonist got me hooked.”
- “The story is engaging and there are several twists near the end, but those twists don't come out of nowhere - they make perfect sense in the story.”
- “The story and dialogue are terrible but the combat is fine and the side quests are fun.”
- “The story is horribly slow paced and dull, characters are no better, they all seem very bland and uninteresting.”
- “The game is a chore you have to do to progress a rather mediocre story.”
graphics
194 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
23%
64%
13%
The graphics of the game are generally considered dated, reflecting its age, but many players find them acceptable given the context of its release. While some reviews highlight that the visuals can be rough or simplistic, others appreciate the art style and detail, noting that they still manage to create an enjoyable atmosphere. Overall, the graphics are seen as a mixed bag—decent for their time but not particularly impressive by modern standards.
- “For that time, I was really impressed by the graphics and the executions.”
- “The graphics hold themselves surprisingly well (compared to the game's age).”
- “The graphics are pretty decent and I would recommend it to buy.”
- “Either way, graphics are poor. Gameplay is poor (skills are hidden until you choose a path down the tree... I suppose for 'replayability'... combat is a gimmick like the 90s era, etc.).”
- “The largest flaw of the game is its outdated graphics; it seems sub-par even for the time of its release.”
- “The graphics might be okay and in places you can even spot some impressive landscapes of the war, but only if you can get past the low-res textures and numerous glitches.”
gameplay
186 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
28%
58%
14%
The gameplay of "First Templar" is a mixed bag, featuring a blend of hack-and-slash combat, puzzles, and stealth elements that provide some variety, though many players find it repetitive and lacking depth. While some appreciate the character-switching mechanics and the engaging combat system, others criticize the dated graphics, clunky controls, and linear level design, leading to an overall perception of mediocrity. Despite its flaws, the game can be enjoyable for those seeking a casual, cooperative experience.
- “The gameplay is really great and includes both combat and puzzles.”
- “First Templar actually switches up the gameplay often with stealth sections, puzzles, and sidequests.”
- “The gameplay is where the game shines; it has an excellent combat mechanic, and as you level up, you can learn new moves or improvements of already learned moves.”
- “The gameplay is simply not good, and the game doesn't really offer anything.”
- “The gameplay is quite stiff and repetitive, all the missions are almost the same and fighting doesn't bring much joy.”
- “You just end up doing the same things over and over, fighting reskins of the same exact enemies using brainless combat mechanics and a couple moves and button prompts.”
music
60 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
27%
66%
7%
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with many players finding it repetitive and forgettable, especially after extended playtime. While some appreciate the atmosphere created by the soundtrack and sound effects, others criticize it for being uninspiring and not memorable. Overall, the music is described as decent but lacking standout qualities, with occasional issues in its integration during gameplay.
- “The music is wonderful and the gameplay is good, but after 7 hours it's getting repetitive.”
- “From the voice casting to the voice acting to the musical score to the sound effects, everything is very well done.”
- “+great atmosphere (beautiful music and environment)”
- “The music also repeats a ton which does get annoying end game and the game is repetitive.”
- “The music hasn’t drawn me in at all, and certainly isn’t something I’d necessarily want to listen to again.”
- “The soundtrack is nothing special, but the voice acting is quite good.”
humor
44 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in "The First Templar" is described as charmingly unintentional, with players finding the dialogue, character animations, and overall absurdity amusing, even if the game itself is technically flawed. Many reviewers highlight the game's appeal in local co-op play, where the combination of awkward character movements and silly plot elements leads to laughter, making it a fun experience despite its shortcomings. Overall, while the game may not excel in quality, it delivers a unique comedic experience that resonates well with players looking for lighthearted entertainment.
- “The first Templar is a cute, friendly, and humorous game that does not take itself too seriously.”
- “Despite its many flaws, this game is truly a laugh riot and should be played by anyone attempting to get into video game design, if only to experience the overall horrid design decisions and hilarious bugs that plague the entire experience.”
- “All in all, the game is a technical mess, but it's a hilarious mess.”
stability
22 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
9%
91%
The game's stability has received mixed reviews, with users reporting frequent glitches, particularly on the Steam Deck, and issues that can hinder gameplay, such as blocking access to objectives. While it runs well on modern hardware, many players have experienced frustrating bugs and launcher problems that detract from the overall experience. Despite these issues, some users find the game reasonably competent and not entirely unplayable.
- “Runs great on modern hardware with high refresh rate support.”
- “We cannot get a refund on Steam because it took me more than 14 days to attempt to play it and more than 2 hours of 'playtime' troubleshooting.”
- “Bad idea: glitches blocking access to bonus objectives/chests.”
- “Game requires you to register an account, okay no problem except that the launcher glitches out and shows the Steam overlay behind the text boxes and in front of the buttons that allow you to finish registering.”
atmosphere
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
16%
17%
The game's atmosphere is praised for its immersive medieval themes, complemented by beautiful music and varied environments, from the bright desert fortress of Acre to the dark swamps near Montsegur Castle. While the graphics may be considered outdated, they contribute to a compelling and atmospheric experience that resonates with fans of the Knights Templar and the Crusades. Overall, the atmosphere effectively enhances the storytelling and gameplay, making it a notable aspect of the game.
- “The atmosphere is great; the desert fortress of Acre is bright and dusty, while the village and swamps at the base of Montsegur Castle are drab and dark.”
- “The game is nothing new or groundbreaking, but if you like medieval atmosphere and themes, stabbing your steel into the ribs of your legions of enemies, and following a story of templars and inquisitors and warriors conspiring against one another, you should give The First Templar a go.”
- “I love the atmosphere of the Knights Templar, the Crusades, and that period of time.”
character development
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
13%
49%
38%
Character development in the game has been widely criticized for being confusing and overly restricted, with players expressing frustration over hidden skills that only become available when approaching them. Many reviewers noted that the predictability of character progression detracts from the overall experience, leading to a lack of engagement and excitement in developing their characters.
- “I'm able to predict character development long before it is ever done.”
- “Confusing, restricted character development.”
- “Character development (skills are hidden until you get the nearest skill - why!?).”
- “The character development was horrible.”
optimization
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
25%
50%
The optimization of the game has received negative feedback, with users reporting significant graphic stuttering and the need to adjust settings like disabling fullscreen optimizations and enabling Vsync to mitigate issues. Overall, the optimization is rated poorly, with a score of 6/10.
- “Tick the box for 'Disable fullscreen optimizations' and 'Run this program as an administrator' to improve performance.”
- “Optimization can be a bit lacking, as indicated by a score of 6/10.”
- “I did have to turn on VSync as I was getting too many FPS, which created constant stuttering.”
- “-6/10 for optimization.”
- “Constant graphic stuttering, terrible voice acting, terrible combat system.”
grinding
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious, particularly during boss fights where the combat feels repetitive and unengaging. Additionally, the process of starting a multiplayer game is seen as cumbersome due to the requirement of a Facebook login, although the gameplay itself can be enjoyable once players navigate these initial hurdles.
- “A lot of the 'boss' fights are tedious and boring, since you can only get 2 hits in before having to block 3 of theirs.”
- “The problem is that these sequences are tiny gems in the otherwise massive and tedious narrative of the main story.”
- “Starting a multiplayer game is obnoxious, as it requires a Facebook login for a friends-only game, making it tedious to get started and join the right game.”
replayability
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
34%
33%
The game offers some potential for replayability, particularly through its story and co-op features, although the gameplay mechanics, such as hidden skills and outdated combat, may detract from the overall experience. Players who find the narrative engaging are likely to appreciate the replay value, despite criticisms of graphics and gameplay quality.
- “Luckily the story goes by quickly, and there is even replay value to it as long as you find the story interesting.”
- “Good potential for replayability and co-op to boot.”
- “Either way, the graphics are poor and the gameplay is lacking. Skills are hidden until you choose a path down the tree, which I suppose is meant for 'replayability'. Combat feels like a gimmick from the 90s.”
- “The story goes by quickly, but the replay value is limited unless you find the story interesting.”
monetization
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The monetization aspect of the game has been criticized for intrusive in-game advertisements and a frustrating account verification process that hinders access to gameplay. Users report significant issues with email verification, leading to a negative experience that detracts from the overall enjoyment of the game.
- “Installed, the launcher came up with ads blocking my ability to press play, telling me I need to make a third-party account. I made the account, but then they told me I can't log in until I verify my email. I checked my email, but there was no verification. I went back and saw no resend option. I retried logging in, and it sent me a new email. I checked my email again, but it still wasn't there. I retried this process for a third time, still no email. I ended up going to play CK2 for 3 hours, forgetting I was trying to get this game to work.”
- “If you can't stand in-game advertisements, glitches like this: http://gyazo.”
emotional
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game is noted for its powerful emotional impact, often evoking strong feelings and prompting players to cry, making it a compelling choice for those seeking an emotionally charged experience.
- “A great game if you want to cry.”