First look: Broken Sword for the Game Boy Advance

Revolution Software has announced that the original Broken Sword game, Shadow of the Templars, has been successfully prototyped for the Game Boy Advance and will now enter full development. The PC version of this graphic adventure was first released in 1997 to critical and commercial success. With more than 1 million copies sold on the PC and PlayStation, Broken Sword: Shadow of the Templars is the most successful European-developed game in its genre.

In it, gamers assume control of George Stobbard and Nico and team up to thwart the cataclysmic climax of a conspiracy that has run through the centuries. Broken Sword: Shadow of the Templars on the Game Boy Advance is, for all intents and purposes, the PC CD-ROM version. As expected, the user interface must be tweaked for the Game Boy Advance, but the heart of the game remains unchanged with all the locations, dialogues, and puzzles of the PC version. Additionally, the animations and backgrounds will retain amazing clarity, though obviously at a lower resolution. The music from composer Barrington Pheloung will also be converted to the GBA format.

The game is currently slated for release this holiday season, but it is still without a publisher. Revolution Software is also working on Broken Sword 3: The Sleeping Dragon for the PC, PS2, and Xbox and Good Cop, Bad Cop, which is also for next-generation formats.