One of the most acclaimed adventure games of the '90s is getting a remastered release on the Nintendo Switch, and you don't have that long to wait, either.
Broken Sword - Shadow of the Templars: Reforged launches on the Nintendo Switch on 19th September 2024, boasting completely revamped visuals, quality-of-life enhancements, improved audio, and more. Originally released back in 1996, Shadow of the Templars (or Circle of Blood, as it was known in North America), received high praise for its writing, art direction, voice action, and story.
Animation and background visuals have been completely redone for this new release, and it looks vastly improved over the original release and even the Director's Cut, which launched for the Wii and DS in 2009.
Let's check out the key features:
- Step out onto the streets of Paris as American tourist George Stobbart finds himself embroiled in a mysterious journey of intrigue and jeopardy.
- Enjoy a globe-spanning adventure, exploring exotic locations, solving ancient mysteries, and thwarting a dark conspiracy to reveal the secret truths of the Knights Templar.
- Voyage through the game’s iconic locations illustrated in beautiful 4K (on supported formats) on PC and contemporary consoles for the first time ever.
- Listen to enhanced audio as Revolution delivers the finest, most stunning version of George and Nico’s original adventure to date.
- Switch between the original 1996 version of the game and the new reforged visuals at the click of a button.
- Play the game the way that you want to - choose between a ‘traditional mode’ for people who enjoy adventures the way they used to be, and a ‘story mode’ for those who want subtle hints to ensure they never get frustrated.
Are you excited to revisit this adventure classic? Share your thoughts with us in the usual place.
Comments 28
This game receives second remake, lol. I own 1st remake on Android. It's a good game, I guess. Puzzles were really hard to me.
Even though this isn't my typical genre, I beat the GBA version of this years ago and really enjoyed it. Looked INCREDIBLE for a GBA game.
Hopefully the game is uncensored. The Nintendo versions removed all of the death scenes for some reason.
Broken sword 5 got a switch physical release. I hope this does too and that it's not limited run.
I loved this game on the PS1.
Although there was one part that really got my Goat.
Was excited until I learned they used AI. Sad.
Honestly, this game goes down salty. They repeatedly keep re-releasing this game.
Somehow haven't even just heard of this despite its fame and it being also on Wii and DS (apparently even GBA according to a comment here) so I'm even happier that it's coming to Switch!
best point n click EVER
@MrGawain Good one
Never played before. Might try now, when it gets discounted.
Doesn't look like the Monkey Island games...
@HIGHscores85 There is one but as far as it's planned, it's only for the backers of the Kickstarter https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/revolution-software/broken-sword-reforged-collectors-edition/rewards
@JohnnyMind The ds/Wii one added a few (unnecessary) scenes and puzzles. I think it was the inspiration for the DaVinci code book, but this is slightly better because of it's more interactive narrative. (Both are awesome in my eyes btw!)
Definitely still a huge recommendation to anyone slightly interested in story based games.
@garfreek Interesting, if the Switch version ends up being good I'll definitely get it at some point then, thanks for the recommendation!
@Olliemar28
Can you add a few comparison screenshots between the different vesions?
I’m such a fan of the first (and second) Broken Sword game that I even played the GBA version! Already played the previous ‘special edition’ on the Wii, but I’ll gladly play this new update as well.
The Broken Sword games are awesome.
Man I remember playing this on its original release. I was 8 or 9. My introduction to adventure games. A one of a kind gaming experience I’ll never forget.
Not sure if it’ll have the same impact nowadays on newcomers but it’s a game everyone should play at least once.
@Zealv2 I found this article which talks about the use of AI: https://www.polygon.com/23842925/broken-sword-6-bs1-remaster-charles-cecil
I'm certainly not in favour of generative AI in creative fields, but this is just frame interpolation, which seems fairly reasonable, I think? It says the model was trained on their own sprites, so it's not plagiarising other people's artwork, and there are still real animators working on it, it just speeds up the process because they don't have the budget to redraw every frame by hand.
The visuals and character designs are giving me strong Don Bluth animation vibes.
I can dig it!
In AdventureGamers' 2011 list of the "Top 100 All-Time Adventure Games", this was #4.
One of the best games I've ever played.
I have 5 on Switch, but I might get this one as well. Classic!
I hope they do the same with the sequel...
i think this is the broken sword game i had on gba 🙂 i don't think i ever got very far in it though
I pretty sure this was the name of the Broken Sword game on the DS which I really enjoyed. That takes me back. It made me go and explore other Broken Sword games. I would have forgotten the puzzle solutions now though so I will probably double dip.
@eltomo Doesn't look like Metroid either. Your turn. What game are we playing?
I'm not a huge fan of the animation style (looks like a bargain-bin Dreamworks knockoff) but I do like these kinds of games so might pick it up once it's discounted
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