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Broken Sword: The Shadow of the Templars

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Revolution Software
IndustryVideo game development
Founded1989
FounderCharles Cecil, Tony Warriner, David Sykes, Noirin Carmody
Headquarters
York
,
United Kingdom
Key people
Charles Cecil (co-founder and director), Tony Warriner (designer-programmer), David Sykes (designer-programmer), Noirin Carmody (executive producer)
ProductsBroken Sword series, including Broken Sword: The Shadow of the Templars
Websitewww.revolution.co.uk

| genre = Point-and-click adventure | modes = Single-player }}

Broken Sword: The Shadow of the Templars—known as Circle of Blood in the United States—is a 1996 point-and-click adventure title developed by Revolution Software. As the inaugural entry in the Broken Sword franchise, it was co-written and directed by Charles Cecil. Players assume the role of George Stobbart (voiced by Rolf Saxon), an American tourist in Paris who becomes entangled in a conspiracy involving a secretive cult and hidden treasures scattered across Europe and the Middle East. The storyline blends a serious narrative inspired by research into the Knights Templar with elements of humor and animation-style visuals.

The development process placed strong emphasis on visual presentation, featuring artwork by Eoghan Cahill and Neil Breen, with backgrounds initially sketched in pencil and then digitally colored using Photoshop. The design team was led by Tony Warriner and David Sykes, while the musical score was composed by Barrington Pheloung. The game ran on Revolution’s proprietary Virtual Theatre engine, previously utilized in Lure of the Temptress and Beneath a Steel Sky.

Initially released between 1996 and 1998 for Windows, Mac OS, and PlayStation platforms, Broken Sword garnered both critical acclaim and commercial success. It received praise for its engaging narrative, challenging puzzles, voice performances, scriptwriting, gameplay mechanics, and musical composition. By 2001, sales had reached approximately one million copies. The game has since maintained a significant influence within the adventure game genre.

Subsequent ports brought the game to Game Boy Advance (2002), Palm OS (2005), and Windows Mobile (2006). Its popularity led to multiple sequels that expanded the Broken Sword series: Broken Sword II: The Smoking Mirror (1997), Broken Sword: The Sleeping Dragon (2003), Broken Sword: The Angel of Death (2006), and the episodic Broken Sword 5: The Serpent's Curse (2013–2014). An enhanced edition titled Broken Sword: The Shadow of the Templars – Director's Cut was launched between 2009 and 2012 across several platforms including Wii, Nintendo DS, Windows, OS X, iOS, Android, and Linux. A remastered edition named Broken Sword - Shadow of the Templars: Reforged, announced at Gamescom 2023 and scheduled for release on September 19, 2024, is based on the original version rather than the Director’s Cut.

Gameplay

Presented as a 2D adventure game from a third-person viewpoint, Broken Sword employs a point-and-click control scheme to navigate protagonist George Stobbart through various environments. Progression hinges upon solving puzzles that require players to gather items which can be combined, applied to surroundings, or handed over to non-player characters (NPCs). Interaction with NPCs is facilitated through dialogue trees accessed via "conversation icons," enabling players to uncover clues essential for puzzle resolution and story development. Players can examine inventory objects alongside environmental elements to discover hints. Movement between locations is streamlined through an in-game map that becomes populated as new areas become accessible. Unlike many contemporaneous adventure games, this title permits player character death, necessitating reloading from the most recent save point.

Plot

During a trip to Paris, American tourist George Stobbart witnesses a clown-masked assassin steal a briefcase from an elderly man named Plantard and murder him using a bomb. George joins forces with photojournalist Nicole Collard, who was scheduled to meet Plantard and is investigating a series of killings involving costumed assassins. Pursuing the killer, Khan, George recovers an ancient manuscript tied to the Knights Templar, which holds clues pointing to various locations across Europe and the Middle East.

At a local museum, George identifies a tripod mentioned in the manuscript and subsequently travels to its original site in Lochmarne, Ireland. There, he uncovers that archaeologist Peagram vanished after entrusting a package to his assistant, who is then kidnapped by Khan. The package contains a gem referenced in the manuscript. At the dig site, George discovers a mural directing him toward Montfauçon in Paris. Upon investigating there, he prevents an attempt to steal the tripod and manages to keep it secure.

In the sewers beneath Montfauçon, George observes Neo-Templars conspiring for their ascendancy; it is revealed that Marquet (recently killed), Peagram, and Plantard were members of this group. Utilizing hints from both the gem and tripod, George journeys to Marib in Syria, where he uncovers a glass lens, an idol representing Baphomet, and a stone map of Britain hidden within a secret cave. Khan confronts George but is ultimately outsmarted.

Nicole informs George that André Lobineau has identified their next destination: a villa in Spain owned by the De Vasconcellos family. With consent from the last surviving member, George discovers the family's chalice concealed centuries earlier. Returning to Montfauçon in Paris, George examines a tomb belonging to a De Vasconcellos ancestor; here, the lens reveals an image of a burning Templar alongside the date 1314. An excavation at this site uncovers another idol of Baphomet. Meanwhile, in Spain, George finds a concealed well adorned with biblical murals illustrating a river flowing over a chessboard.

By piecing together clues with André’s assistance, George and Nicole learn that the Neo-Templars are moving toward ruins beneath a church in Bannockburn, Scotland. During their night train journey there, Nicole is kidnapped but rescued by George with help from Khan—disguised as an elderly woman—who discloses his loyalty to the rival Hashshashin sect before dying. At the church ruins, they discover Neo-Templars attempting to harness Baphomet’s power by reforging his Broken Sword. Using explosives provided by Khan, George and Nicole destroy the site, burying their enemies beneath collapsed ruins. The narrative concludes with them sharing a kiss following the explosion.

Development

In 1992, Cecil and Noirin Carmody approached Sean Brennan, Virgin Interactive’s head of publishing, proposing a game centered on the Knights Templar. Virgin agreed to publish.[1] Following Lure of the Temptress (1992) and preceding Beneath a Steel Sky (1994), Charles Cecil began crafting Revolution’s third game scenario set in Paris with a Templar-themed plot.[2] Inspired by The Holy Blood and the Holy Grail, Cecil conducted extensive research on the Templars and collaborated on story development with Dave Cummins and Jonathan Howard.[3] Cecil and Cummins attended a screenwriting course; their script was reviewed by BBC dramatist Alan Drury.[4] Artist Steve Ince produced initial concept sketches before contributing to Beneath a Steel Sky and was promoted to producer midway through development.[5]

Virgin published the PC edition but declined PlayStation rights due to concerns over market appeal for non-3D titles.[6] Consequently, Cecil secured support from Sony Computer Entertainment for console release. In North America, the game was retitled Circle of Blood, a change Cecil felt misrepresented its content; THQ later published it under its original name on PlayStation in 1998.[7]

Cecil sought to distinguish Broken Sword from comedic adventure games like LucasArts’ Monkey Island by emphasizing narrative depth and pacing, making the Knights Templar theme particularly suitable.[3] The game employed "conversation icons" instead of displaying dialogue options explicitly, enhancing cinematic immersion without mimicking interactive movies.[7] The protagonists—George (American) and Nico (French)—were designed to resonate with both US and European audiences.[3]

Revolution incorporated expertise beyond traditional gaming by collaborating with Dublin’s Don Bluth studios for hand-drawn backgrounds digitally colored via Photoshop,[1] while animator Mike Burgess from Red Rover studio handled character animation, producing visuals reminiscent of classic animated films.[8]

Composer Barrington Pheloung was commissioned to create an interactive orchestral soundtrack exceeding three hours with over 400 musical cues, elevating immersion beyond typical game scores.[9] Voice casting included Hazel Ellerby as Nicole Collard and Rolf Saxon as George Stobbart; Ellerby recommended Saxon from Guildhall School of Music and Drama.[10] Additional voice actors supported production.[11]

Cecil directed and wrote the game; Tony Warriner and David Sykes served as designer-programmers; Noirin Carmody acted as executive producer.[11] The title ran on Revolution’s Virtual Theatre engine,[11] previously utilized for Lure of the Temptress and Beneath a Steel Sky. Development costs reached approximately one million pounds. Ports included Game Boy Advance (2002), Palm OS, and Windows Mobile (2006).[7][3]

In March 2009, Ubisoft released a director's cut edition titled Broken Sword: The Shadow of the Templars – Director's Cut for Wii and Nintendo DS,[12] featuring additional artwork by Dave Gibbons. Due to storage limitations, spoken dialogue was omitted from the DS version.[13] Subsequent releases included iPhone/iPod Touch (2010), iPad HD version (2010), and digital versions for Windows/Mac OS X (September 2010).[14][15][16] An Android release followed via Google Play in June 2012.[17] The original game remains available through Sold-Out Software, GOG.com, and as free downloadable content for Director’s Cut owners on Steam.[14][18]

Sales

Broken Sword achieved significant commercial success, marking Revolution Software's inaugural experience with receiving royalty payments from a game. By August 2000, total sales reached 825,000 units, with 480,000 sold at full retail price. The PlayStation edition notably outperformed projections, moving close to 300,000 copies compared to an anticipated 60,000. By April 2001, combined sales across PC and PlayStation platforms had exceeded one million copies. In 2015, Charles Cecil revealed that the PlayStation version alone had sold approximately 500,000 units.

The Broken Sword: The Shadow of the Templars – Director's Cut also enjoyed strong commercial performance, particularly on iOS devices. Alongside the remastered The Smoking Mirror, it amassed over four million downloads in 2011. Cecil highlighted that this remake's sales surpassed those of The Sleeping Dragon and The Angel of Death.

Critical reviews

Broken Sword was met with broad critical acclaim, praised for its narrative, visual design, musical composition, voice performances, and scriptwriting. Edge regarded it as superior to LucasArts’ adventure titles such as Monkey Island and The Dig, describing it as an "adventure gaming milestone" and "the finest graphic adventure to date."

Adventure Gamers commended the game’s "complex and enigmatic storyline," finding it both intellectually stimulating and entertaining. GameSpot valued the integration of authentic historical elements with imaginative storytelling, which enriched the gameplay experience. Adventure Classic Gaming pointed out the distinctive narrative focus on the Knights Templar. Next Generation characterized the plot as "rich with mystery and intrigue," featuring a variety of puzzles and diverse settings. Edge underscored how the game's pan-European storyline centered on Templar myths contributed to a layered yet believable plot.

PC Gamer praised the title for being "visually impressive," highlighting crisp animations and intricate artwork that enhanced the ambiance of each location. Adventure Gamers lauded the vibrant and refined animation style along with welcoming environments. GameSpot described it as a "visual delight" comparable to animated feature films. Next Generation admired the fluid character animations and cinematic cutscenes. Edge applauded the polished SVGA graphics as surpassing typical genre expectations.

The soundtrack received recognition for effectively setting the tone through orchestral arrangements that added considerable atmosphere. Adventure Gamers labeled it ambitious and cinematic while also complimenting the voice acting despite noting that some players might find the lengthy dialogues off-putting. PC Gamer offered a more critical view regarding voice performance quality.

Next Generation’s review of the Macintosh port mentioned challenges with installation and sluggish performance despite its ambitious scope.

Puzzles were generally well integrated and moderately challenging according to Adventure Gamers; PC Gamer found them creative but occasionally dependent on pixel hunting. Next Generation regarded most puzzles as relatively simple, primarily involving object interaction.

Although the Windows edition garnered praise, GameSpot considered the PlayStation port average due to technical shortcomings such as extended loading times and inferior graphics quality. Electronic Gaming Monthly appreciated the animated cutscenes, mouse compatibility, and compelling story in the PlayStation version despite frustrations with load times. Charles Cecil later expressed regret over not incorporating direct character control for the PlayStation release instead of relying on point-and-click mechanics.

Awards and nominations

Génération 4 honored the game with the "Best Adventure 1997" award, while Quest magazine recognized it as "Best Quest." The BBC show Live & Kicking declared it the "Best PC Game of 1996." It received a nomination for the 1996 "Adventure Game of the Year" from Computer Gaming World, though the award ultimately went to The Pandora Directive. Additionally, it was shortlisted for the Computer Game Developers Conference’s 1996 Spotlight Award in the "Best Adventure Game/RPG" category, which was won by The Elder Scrolls II: Daggerfall.

The Director's Cut edition was nominated for "Best Story" at the 2009 BAFTA Video Games Awards. In 2009, Pocket Gamer granted the DS version its "Pocket Gamer Silver," followed by a "Pocket Gamer Gold Award" for the iPhone edition in 2010. Both Wii and DS versions were contenders for "Best Port/Updated Re-release" at the 2010 Aggie Awards hosted by Adventure Gamers. The iPhone release earned a nomination for "Best Adventure/RPG Game" at the 2011 Pocket Gamer Awards. The Wii version secured the title of "Best European Adventure" at the 2011 European Games Awards.

Listings

In its 2004 ranking, Adventure Gamers placed Broken Sword fourth among the "Top 20 Adventure Games of All-Time," later including it in their "Top 100 All-Time Adventures" list in 2011. Adventure Classic Gaming ranked it third in their 2006 list of "Top 10 retro graphic adventure games." It was also featured in Bright Hub’s 2008 compilation of "Best Windows Mobile Games Software," as well as Retro Gamer’s 2010 selection of "Top 20 Adventure Games of All-Time... not by LucasArts." Universe Publishing included it in their 2010 volume 1001 Video Games You Must Play Before You Die, while NowGamer listed it among the "Greatest Point-And-Click Games (Not By LucasArts)" in 2011. Furthermore, GamesRadar ranked it eighth on their "Best point-and-click adventure games" list in 2012. Both the original and its remake continue to appear on Adventure Gamers' "Top Adventure Games" roster, and it stands as the third highest-rated adventure title on GameSpot.

The notorious Goat Puzzle was spotlighted in a 2011 feature on challenging puzzles by Computer and Video Games and included in GameFront’s 2012 roundup titled "5 Crazy Difficult and Intricate Video Game Puzzles." Barrington’s original introductory theme earned the 21st position on Computer and Video Games’ list of the "100 best video game themes" in 2012. The villain Khan was recognized among The Telegraph’s "10 best video game assassins" and was highlighted by Kotaku as one of the most unsettling clowns and jesters in gaming.

The Director's Cut, particularly its iOS editions, has consistently been featured in top mobile game compilations such as PCWorld’s "25 Best iPad Games," Pocket Gamer’s leading point-and-click rankings, and Metacritic’s best iPhone/iPad games of 2010. It also holds a place among the premier adventure titles available for Wii and DS according to VideoGamer.com.

Influence

"Charles Cecil’s work—and particularly Broken Sword—has been a significant inspiration for my love of adventure games. While I appreciate classic, vintage-style adventures, for me, Broken Sword represents the pinnacle with its puzzles grounded in realistic logic and a compelling character-driven narrative."
— Ashton Raze, writer for Telegraph and co-creator of Richard & Alice, discussing his creative inspirations.

British journalist Ste Curran has observed that Broken Sword served as an influence on titles such as Toonstruck, where Charles Cecil received a "Special Thanks" credit, and Escape from Monkey Island, which features a puzzle involving a broken sword. Telltale Games co-founder Kevin Bruner has expressed admiration for the series. Ashton Raze, known for co-creating Richard & Alice, cited this game as his primary source of inspiration. Moreover, reviewer Declan Skews noted that the 2010 adventure game Deponia drew creative influence from Broken Sword.

The Da Vinci Code

Charles Cecil has addressed fan theories suggesting that Dan Brown’s novel The Da Vinci Code drew inspiration from Broken Sword, due to shared thematic elements. Although honored by such speculation, Cecil refrains from making public assertions because of Brown’s formidable legal representation. Joao Diniz Sanches from Pocket Gamer praised the narrative of Broken Sword as superior when compared to Brown's novel with similar themes. Meanwhile, Computer and Video Games remarked that the Knights Templar mythos provided a solid foundation for the game’s story and noted that Broken Sword predated Brown's popularization of such motifs.

Sequels and re-releases

The success of Broken Sword spawned four sequels. The first follow-up, Broken Sword II: The Smoking Mirror (1997), maintained the original engine but expanded gameplay mechanics by enabling players to control both George and Nicole. In 2003, Revolution introduced Broken Sword: The Sleeping Dragon, which transitioned into fully rendered 3D graphics using RenderWare technology and incorporated direct control gameplay elements.

In 2006, Revolution released Broken Sword: The Angel of Death (known as Secrets of the Ark in North America), which returned to point-and-click mechanics using Sumo Digital’s engine and was available exclusively on PC. Subsequently, Revolution launched a Kickstarter campaign in August 2012 to finance Broken Sword 5: The Serpent's Curse, delivered episodically between 2013 and 2014. This installment reverted to traditional 2D visuals powered by an updated engine inspired by that used in The Shadow of the Templars.

In 2009, Charles Cecil spearheaded a remake targeting contemporary platforms such as Wii and Nintendo DS with the release of Broken Sword: Shadow of the Templars – The Director's Cut. This version introduced new puzzles, a comic book art style presentation, additional narrative content focusing on Nicole Collard, and eliminated player death sequences. Following this, Revolution produced a remastered edition of its sequel titled Broken Sword: The Smoking Mirror – Remastered in 2010.

A fresh remaster named Broken Sword - Shadow of the Templars: Reforged was launched on September 19, 2024, featuring upgraded graphics and audio enhancements based on the original 1996 release.

Retrospectives

In June 2020, comedian Jason Manford conducted an extensive retrospective interview with Charles Cecil and Rolf Saxon discussing both development insights and lasting impact. This followed Manford’s live-streamed playthrough of the full game over several weeks on YouTube, undertaken during the initial UK COVID-19 lockdown.

Film

Encouraged by the positive reception of The Angel of Death, Cecil began developing plans for a cinematic adaptation of Broken Sword in May 2007 alongside producers Jay Douglas and Nav Gupta from CastleBright Studios. Justin Kaplan was slated to co-produce, with discussions involving filmmakers associated with franchises like Harry Potter, Casino Royale, and X-Men.

By July 2008, Cecil was negotiating with smaller studios based in Los Angeles but emphasized that any film must faithfully represent its source material. He expressed reluctance to relinquish creative control and preferred personally writing the screenplay to ensure that any adaptation would enhance rather than diminish the game's reputation.

In May 2009, talks commenced with Radar Pictures—known for productions such as The Last Samurai and The Chronicles of Riddick—while Cecil worked on adapting the game into screenplay form. By August 2012, he stated Revolution was actively seeking an appropriate production partner. Cecil noted that many filmmakers in their early thirties were fans familiar with ‘’Broken Sword’’’s brand identity. While acknowledging that a poorly executed film could damage the franchise's standing, he remained optimistic that a high-quality adaptation would eventually be realized alongside Revolution’s work on ‘’Broken Sword: The Serpent's Curse.’’

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named DirectorsMessage
  2. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named Gen4
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named MakingRETRO
  4. ↑ Edge magazine
  5. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named Juni
  6. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named Publish
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named MakingEDGE
  8. ↑ WhatCulture!
  9. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named NGen24
  10. ↑ Alternative Magazine Online
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named Creds
  12. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named GameSpotSpecial
  13. ↑ IGN
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named gog
  15. ↑ Steam
  16. ↑ Mac App Store
  17. ↑ Google Play
  18. ↑ Steam DLC

External links

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