Broken Sword - Shadow of the Templars: Reforged

“In an era of bombastic AAA titles and procedural design, Broken Sword - Shadow of the Templars: Reforged is a reminder of the power of tightly crafted stories, hand-drawn artistry, and puzzles that make you pause, think, and smile when the pieces fall into place.”

“The definitive way to experience a gaming classic.”

“It's the compelling interplay of thrilling story, memorable characters, enjoyable puzzles, and stunning presentation that ensures Broken Sword – Shadow of the Templars: Reforged will become a top choice for a new generation of players. Let's hope the sequel (and the rest of the series) finds a home on Nintendo hardware. It's 2024, and my game of the year is a graphic adventure first released in 1996. Go figure.”

“Broken Sword - Shadows of the Templar: Reforged is a great introduction to a classic point and adventure, or a lovingly recreated remaster for hardcore fans”

“Despite the exoticism, 1996 PC voice sample quality, and linear, dialogue-heavy interactions, this reforging of an old point-and-click classic does a great job. It looks fabulous, and everything that gave the original its appeal is intact. It hardly needs proving these days, but Shadow of the Templars: Reforged shows once again that nostalgia never gets old.”

“No matter which way players choose to experience Broken Sword - Shadow of the Templars: Reforged, it's still a very compelling point-and-click adventure game with awesome art and animation. The compressed sound is unfortunate and the additions from the Director's Cut are sadly excluded. As it stands, there is no definitive version of Broken Sword - Shadow of the Templars and Reforged missed the opportunity to have it all.”

“Broken Sword fans can pick up this new version of the game with their eyes closed. For adventurers looking for an introduction to the series, there's no better place to start.”

“This is a handsome remaster that will hopefully win over new players, but for those already in love with Broken Sword, something is missing.”

“Despite some small grievances, I do think that Broken Sword: Shadow of the Templars Reforged is the best way to play the game. It makes plenty of quality-of-life improvements to the gameplay and even adds a story mode for those daunted by old-fashioned point-and-clicks. The visual nit-picks I have aren't enough to ruin the experience, and the moments that have been fully updated are beautifully animated and full of character. Now if you'll excuse me, I need to go figure out what to do with this dirty tissue I found in the sewer.”

“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.”

““Broken Sword - Shadow of the Templars: Reforged” is a remake prepared for Revolution Software's most loyal fans, painfully faithful to the original - with all its advantages and disadvantages - but this means that it is also an excellent product for people who are not yet acquainted with George, and who fancy a well-run, not too simple role-playing game”

“Just as it was in 1996, Broken Sword – Shadow of the Templars: Reforged is an adventure game masterpiece, with Reforged offering players a remarkable trip down memory lane and giving the classic a new lease on life for a new generation of adventurers.”

“As a remaster, Reforged is about as good as it gets. It hits that perfect sweet spot where the game looks kinda like you remember it looking all those years ago, but then you have the option to switch back to the original graphics and see just how improved the new version actually is. It's a massive leap. There's also a robust and quite granular hint system to help you with puzzles that can be completely tailored to your playstyle, including a story mode that drastically revises how much thinking is required to progress. It's one of many reasons this remaster is perfect for newcomers and returning fans alike.”

“Broken Sword: Shadow of the Templars - Reforged proves that good games are timeless. This version strikes the difficult balance between respecting the source material and adapting it to modern times. If you are a fan of the series, you will find that nostalgic feeling intact. And if it is your first time with George and Nico, prepare for an adventure that will hook you from start to finish.”

“Even after all these years, Broken Sword 1 still feels like a good book that you want to read a chapter of before going to bed, but can't put down. Now, however, it's more beautiful than ever.”

“Reforged has raised the bar to breathe new life into the game, reworking the original assets to maintain authenticity, addressing small plot holes, and most importantly, it sets a new standard for how to make point-and-clicks more accessible in this modern day when players are less forgiving with their time and patience. Not to mention, all these years later, making George show everyone his dirty greasepaint tissue is still just as funny as ever. With that, I only have one thing left to say. Does this tissue mean anything to you?”

“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.”

“There are some frames in the cutscenes that leave a bit to be desired, but this does not invalidate the considerable modernization work done on this game: Broken Sword maintains its charm even after thirty years and its Reforged version improves the situation, restoring the wow-effect on modern platforms. The new generations can thus approach this immortal classic without fear that their eyes will be disturbed by unnatural pixelations and awkwardly blurred or antialiazed cubes, replicating the wonder that this game gave us at the time of the cathode ray tube. But even we loyal ones can play it again with joy and satisfaction, admiring the outcome of this restoration work. And it doesn't matter if, after all, we could already run the original for free with ScummVM.”

“Broken Sword - Shadow of the Templars: Reforged is a successful restoration operation that brings back a timeless classic of the genre and an unforgettable piece of video game history, now boasting 4K resolution and a number of useful enhancements for the best version of the game to date.”

“Whether you're a long time fan or a newcomer, this remaster of the classic Broken Sword: The Shadow of the Templars is likely to have you enraptured from start to finish. Its visuals have been lovingly updated, and while there are some issues with the game's audio, this is undoubtedly the best way to experience George Stobbart's debut adventure. It's just a shame there aren't any extras.”