Broken Sword – Shadow of the Templars: Reforged Review – Polished to Perfection

Broken Sword – Shadow of the Templars: Reforged Review

Broken Sword – Shadow of the Templars is a masterpiece that sits atop the echelon of the point-and-click genre. With Reforge, Revolution Studios aims to introduce the classic adventure to a new audience through a stunning visual makeover and thoughtful quality-of-life enhancements. But will this beloved crime drama retain its charm and intrigue in the modern era?

You play as George Stobbart, an American tourist who happens to witness an explosive attack while sitting outside a quaint café in Paris. With Nicole Collard, a journalist after her next big story, you embark on a mystery-ridden escapade, discovering clues, and conversing with its array of fantastically realized characters in an epic that will keep you enthralled throughout. Although Broken Sword tells a much more grounded tale compared to titles like Monkey Island, it still maintains a witty sense of humor. Discussions with its delicious combination of characters progress the narrative leading to new locations as you venture across Europe to solve the case.

It’s Not Just Guesswork

Originally released in 1996, the game carries the conventions of the genre requiring you to investigate your surroundings and interact with objects. As you collect clues, you will need to speak to characters you encounter to learn how to progress. While some point-and-click games include obtuse puzzles, Revolution Studios ensures logic remains throughout. Although an element of trial and error remains, clear thought backs each solution. Due to this, the game avoids frustration but manages to incorporate plenty of eureka moments to create a truly special adventure.

Two difficulty options are available which makes the game more accessible to newcomers. While Classic Mode delivers the original experience, Story Mode includes features to support your journey through Paris. You can finely tune support and guidance to receive exactly what you need. This helps to break any barriers to the genre and allows anyone to engage. There’s a hint system that gives you a clue on what to do and gently points you in the right direction. While the Director’s Cut included this, the developers also added new features, such as narrowing the options. This allows you to focus on interactions so that you can eventually move forward with your investigation. If you’re still stuck, the game will highlight certain areas to help you continue the narrative. These are great additions that help introduce the genre to a new audience.

Crafted With Love and Care

In addition to UI improvements, Reforged has undergone a complete visual overhaul. Building on the original, the developers completely remade each background and asset, adding minor details to give the game even more charm and character. The updated visuals and smooth animation give the game a Disney animation quality, perfectly modernizing the aesthetics for a new generation. With the click of a button, the original visuals appear, highlighting the work that has gone into the remake. It’s at this point that you will truly appreciate the magnitude of the redesign and realize the care and love that has gone into each design choice.

The developers preserve the original voice acting and enhance it for clarity. Each character is brimming with personality, creating memorable interactions throughout. Backing this is the tremendous score that encapsulates the journey. As if taken from a classic family feature, the cozy soundtrack is the perfect accompaniment for the beautiful adventure at hand.

Perfecting the Original

The developers tweak various aspects of the game to address subtle continuity issues that many may have overlooked but were undoubtedly caught by the keenest of fans. These refinements resolve concerns, ensuring a more polished and seamless experience throughout. In addition to these improvements, the developers have incorporated voice work that was cut from the original, adding greater depth to the characters. These changes combine to create what can truly be called the ultimate version of this beloved classic.

Broken Sword – Shadow of the Templars: Reforged enhances every aspect of the original, making it the definitive version of this already incredible adventure. The reworked visuals breathe new life into the world, while the refined UI and added accessibility options ensure that anyone can enjoy this classic. With its masterfully crafted story, witty dialogue, and rewarding puzzles, it stands as one of the finest examples in the genre.

***An Xbox Series X code was provided by the publisher***