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The First Templar Game Cover

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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 Games on Demand version supports English, French, German. The First Templar follows the story of a French Templar and his companion, a noble lady who has been proclaimed a heretic. Taking control over these two unlikely allies, the player must uncover the mysteries behind the Templar Order, play a role in a grand conspiracy, and discover the secret of the Holy Grail

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66%
Audience ScoreBased on 506 reviews
story121 positive mentions
stability10 negative mentions

  • The setting and story are engaging, providing a captivating backdrop for the gameplay.
  • The combat mechanics, while simple, are enjoyable and allow for some fun combos and special moves.
  • The game offers a decent co-op experience, making it more enjoyable when played with a friend.
  • The game suffers from outdated graphics and animations, making it feel clunky and unpolished.
  • The AI companion is often unhelpful, leading to frustrating moments during gameplay.
  • The requirement for a third-party launcher and account creation is cumbersome and detracts from the overall experience.
  • story
    288 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The story of "The First Templar" is generally regarded as engaging, featuring a quest for the Holy Grail intertwined with historical and fantasy elements, though it often follows a linear progression. While some players appreciate the plot twists and character development, others find it predictable or lacking depth, with criticisms aimed at dialogue and pacing. Overall, the narrative is seen as a solid foundation for the gameplay, appealing particularly to those interested in medieval themes and cooperative play.

    • “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 first templar is an overlooked game, featuring a pretty good story about the knights templar, inquisitors, and others seeking the holy grail during the 13th century.”
    • “The story is horribly slow-paced and dull; characters are no better, they all seem very bland and uninteresting.”
    • “I stopped caring about the story about halfway through.”
    • “The story seems to be just a means to drive the action and not the other way around as you'd expect.”
  • gameplay
    100 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay is generally described as dated and simplistic, often relying on repetitive combat mechanics and linear level design, which can lead to a lack of engagement for some players. However, there are moments of enjoyment found in the combat system, character variety, and occasional puzzles, making it a mixed experience overall. While some players appreciate the nostalgic elements and cooperative gameplay, others criticize the clunky controls and lack of depth, resulting in a gameplay experience that is both enjoyable and frustrating at times.

    • “As a non-casual gamer, I was kept engaged by the dodging, parrying, and counter-attack mechanics, albeit the windows are quite generous.”
    • “The gameplay is where the game shines; it has an excellent combat mechanic. As you level up, you can learn new moves or improvements to already learned moves. Each character has its own unique style.”
    • “The gameplay of this game is not perfect, with many rough edges and a really linear path, but it features a satisfying combat system and finishing moves that keep it from feeling too repetitive.”
    • “The gameplay is quite stiff and repetitive; all the missions are almost the same, and fighting doesn't bring much joy.”
    • “The gameplay is simply not good, and the game doesn't really offer anything.”
    • “Dated linear, unimaginative gameplay, and the checkpoint system is archaic and terrible.”
  • graphics
    100 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The graphics of the game are generally considered dated, reflecting its age, but many players find them still enjoyable and atmospheric. While some reviews note issues like low-resolution textures and occasional glitches, others appreciate the aesthetic and scenic qualities, especially given the game's release period. Overall, the visuals are described as decent for an older title, with a mix of charm and limitations that do not significantly detract from the gameplay experience.

    • “Great fun, very nice graphics and a story to follow.”
    • “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 largest flaw of the game is its outdated graphics; it seems sub-par even for the time of its release.”
    • “Graphics are dated, animations are stiff, the sound design is underdeveloped, and the fighting mechanics are kind of meh, yet I had a lot of fun playing it in 2020.”
    • “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.”
  • music
    30 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with many players finding it repetitive and forgettable, especially after extended playtime. While some appreciate the decent quality of the soundtrack and sound effects, others criticize it for being uninspiring and not memorable. Overall, the music serves its purpose but fails to leave a lasting impression, 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.”
    • “Sound and music are very good, and the voices are great.”
    • “The music also repeats a ton, which does get annoying by the end of the game, and the game is repetitive.”
    • “The soundtrack is nothing special, but the voice acting is quite good.”
    • “The music hasn’t drawn me in at all, and certainly isn’t something I’d necessarily want to listen to again.”
  • humor
    22 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The humor in the game is characterized by its quirky dialogues, amusing character animations, and a lighthearted approach that embraces its flaws. Players find the comedic elements, such as funny NPC designs and awkward character movements, to be a source of entertainment, especially in co-op mode. Despite its technical shortcomings, many reviewers appreciate the game as a "hilarious mess" that provides laughs, particularly when played with friends.

    • “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
    11 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's stability has received mixed reviews, with some users reporting significant glitches, particularly on the Steam Deck, which can hinder gameplay and access to certain objectives. While it runs well on modern hardware, many players have experienced frustrating bugs and issues, including problems with the registration launcher and in-game advertisements. Overall, while not a complete disaster, the game is described as "buggy" and in need of further polish.

    • “Runs great on modern hardware with high refresh rate support.”
    • “The game maintains a smooth frame rate even during intense action sequences.”
    • “I haven't experienced any crashes or bugs, which makes for a very stable gaming experience.”
    • “Has some lighting glitches on Steam Deck at the time of writing.”
    • “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.”
    • “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
    6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's atmosphere is characterized by its medieval themes and settings, evoking a strong sense of the historical period with its engaging backdrops and music. While the graphics may be considered outdated, they contribute to a compelling ambiance that enhances the experience of exploring diverse environments, from bright desert fortresses to dark, moody villages. Overall, players appreciate the atmospheric elements that immerse them in the world of knights, templars, and historical intrigue.

    • “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.”
  • grinding
    4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be excessively tedious, with boss fights often feeling monotonous due to limited engagement opportunities. The main narrative is described as massive and dull, overshadowing the more enjoyable multiplayer experience, which is hindered by cumbersome login requirements.

    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “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.”
  • replayability
    4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game offers potential for replayability, particularly if players find the story engaging, despite criticisms of its graphics and gameplay mechanics. The inclusion of a skill tree encourages different playthroughs, and co-op options further enhance replay value.

    • “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 seems like a forced attempt at 'replayability'. Combat feels like a gimmick from the 90s.”
    • “Luckily, the story goes by quickly, and there is some replay value to it as long as you find the story interesting.”
  • character development
    4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Character development in the game has been criticized for being confusing and overly restricted, with skills remaining hidden until players reach specific points, leading to a lack of engagement. Many users found the predictability of character progression disappointing, indicating a lack of depth and surprise in the development process.

    • “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
    4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The optimization of the game has received mixed feedback, with users reporting significant graphic stuttering and the need to adjust settings like disabling fullscreen optimizations and enabling Vsync to mitigate performance issues. Overall, the optimization aspect is rated poorly, with a score of 6/10.

    • “Make sure to tick 'Disable fullscreen optimizations' and 'Run this program as an administrator' for the best performance.”
    • “The optimization could use some improvement, but it's not a dealbreaker.”
    • “I had to turn on V-Sync as I was getting too many FPS, which created constant stuttering.”
    • “-6/10 for optimization.”
    • “Constant graphic stuttering, terrible voice acting, terrible combat system.”
  • emotional
    3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Players highlight the game's ability to evoke strong emotions, often leading to tears, making it a powerful experience for those seeking an emotional journey.

    • “A great game if you want to cry.”
    • “The story touched my heart and made me feel a deep connection with the characters.”
    • “I was moved to tears by the emotional depth of the narrative.”
  • monetization
    2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Users have expressed frustration with the monetization model, highlighting intrusive ads that hinder gameplay and a cumbersome account verification process that often fails. This has led to a negative experience, with some players abandoning the game altogether due to these issues.

    • “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 went through this process a third time and still received no email. I ended up playing 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 will ruin your experience.”
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60%Critics’ scoreBased on 1 critic reviews
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18h Median play time
15h Average play time
10-20h Spent by most gamers
*Based on 2 analyzed playthroughs
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The First Templar is a role playing game with fantasy and historical themes.

The First Templar is available on Xbox Series X|S, PC, Xbox One, Windows and others.

On average players spend around 15 hours playing The First Templar.

The First Templar was released on May 5, 2011.

The First Templar was developed by Haemimont Games.

The First Templar has received neutral reviews from players and neutral reviews from critics. Most players liked this game for its story but disliked it for its stability.

The First Templar is a single player game with multiplayer and local co-op support.

Similar games include Dungeon Siege III, Hunted: The Demon's Forge, Lord of the Rings: War in the North, Blood Knights, Icey and others.