Broken Sword - Shadow of the Templars: Reforged Reviews
The improvements that have been made are very good, and it is absolutely fantastic to be able to play this classic with such beautiful graphics. The new character animations are night and day compared to the original, and really show how much better these are than the 3D models used in newer games.
Review in Unknown | Read full review
Broken Sword - Shadow of the Templars: Reforged brings back a classic of point-and-click graphic adventures, giving it its best look yet. This product can be appreciated both by nostalgic players, although it ultimately doesn't aim to offer them anything truly new, and even more by younger gamers looking to approach a classic from a genre that has nearly fallen out of use.
Review in Italian | Read full review
An excellent remake of a classic adventure game, it will capture the interest of both newcomers to the genre and fans of the original game. We couldn't think of a better "appetizer" leading up to the release of Broken Sword 6.
Broken Sword - Secret of the Templars: Reforged is more than just a remake: it is a true work of restoration, allowing the adventures of George Stobbard to be rediscovered in the way Charles Cecil conceived them in 1996. The story, despite almost thirty years since its release, is still perfectly enjoyable, and the new gameplay modes allow Secret of the Templars to keep up with the latest productions.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Broken Sword - Shadow of the Templars: Reforged is a great entry point for new players, but will also please die-hard fans of the brand. It's just a shame that not everything in the remaster feels polished enough.
Review in Slovak | Read full review
Broken Sword – Shadow of the Templars Reforged is one of the best examples of a remaster done right. It is faithful with stunning visuals and content that’s aged like fine wine, but also updated wonderfully for 2024 and the next twenty years to come. With some further additions to the UI to make it more friendly and appropriate on consoles, this would have made our PS5 experience better. But perhaps this is one you should be playing as intended anyway, mouse in hand, on PC.
On the one hand, Broken Sword: Shadow of the Templar Reforged disguises its age with beautifully drawn visuals, more appropriate to today's aesthetics, and accessibility incentives, but there's no hiding the fact that this is a point and click adventure from the 1990s. A mystery story full of dialogue, ironic and cartoonish humor, simple mechanics, investigation more by trial and error than by deduction; all of this is presented in a consistent way, showing that the strength of the classic remains. What will really make the difference here is whether these things entertain you or if they are far from your taste.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
Broken Sword Shadows of the Templars Reforged is an excellent game that can hold its own against modern games with ease. Fully voiced and gameplay with crisp new graphics complete the experience. Bonus points for adding both the upscaled version as the original one. If you fancy point-n-click games there is but one option. Click that 'Buy'-button. You won’t regret it.
Charles Cecil and co. over at Revolution Studios know a winning formula when it comes to the narrative-style genre of games. I feel that releasing the Reforged version is a way of bringing the games to the modern audience. Hopefully, they will continue going through the series, especially with the 6th installment – Broken Sword – Parzival’s Stone in the works. I have loved the nostalgia that Shadow of the Templars brought about. Nostalgia but with the comfort of playing on my PS5 from my sofa. I certainly hope that others also share the same feeling and keep their support going for the studio.
Broken Sword: Shadow of the Templars – Reforged faithfully remakes the beloved point-and-click classic with improved animations, streamlined gameplay, and modernized features. The remake introduces a vibrant new art style while offering both a nostalgic Classic Mode and a newcomer-friendly Story Mode, striking a balance between honoring the original and welcoming new players.
Broken Sword – Shadow of the Templars: Reforged is a wonderful remaster that really does spark new life in a point-and-click classic. The visuals are gorgeous, the gameplay is more intuitive than before, whilst the additional Story Mode goes a long way in making the experience more accessible for newcomers to the genre. Add to that the excellent puzzling and storytelling from the original that has certainly stood the test of time, and you’ll quicky find that this is one remastered release you won’t want to miss out on.
If you are an old fan of the series, I doubt there is much to say to dissuade you from playing Broken Sword – Shadow of the Templars: Reforged. There isn’t much reason to dissuade you anyway – it was done with evident appreciation and affection for the original games. If you are a new fan and this is the first time you are meeting George and Nico, well, you are in for a treat. Considering there’s yet another remake coming, based on the second game in the series -, this Autumn is shaping out to be great for adventure game fans!
As a longtime Broken Sword fan, I found Shadow of the Templars: Reforged to be an absolute delight, especially with its impressive graphical upgrades, but I can’t deny a lingering desire for a bit more than what was offered. While it's a gift to relive the GOAT of point-and-click games with modern visuals, I couldn't help but hope for some new content or extra material, perhaps expanding on one of the many memorable characters, to make the experience feel a little fresher.
Review in Dutch | Read full review