The PC classic still remains a classic
User Rating: 9.5 | Broken Sword: Shadow of the Templars - The Director's Cut DS
I'm surprised there aren't more point and click adventures on the DS given that the touch-screen is perfect for them. It would have been nice to have a whole new Broken Sword adventure but we have to make do with a remake. Broken Sword was a point and click classic on the PC and not only has it been ported across but there are also new additions to the story. Normally, you play only as George Stobbart; the tourist-cum-detective, but this time you play as the news reporter Nico too. These new sections with Nico add a new dimension to the game like touch screen puzzles and extra interaction with items. The new sections also flesh out the story more as the story begins with Nico who goes to meet an important person who gets murdered by a mime shortly after she arrives. She then begins investigating and links the event to "The Costume Killer" who she has reported on previously. Shortly she receives a call telling her to meet Plantard at the coffee shop. People who have played the game previously will know that this is where the game normally begins. As someone that has played the game before, the first disappointment is that there is no voice acting. This is a big miss since hearing voices helps present likeable characters and deliver the humour which the game is full of. Hearing the accents and local dialog as George travels through europe was a enjoyable part of the game and it's a sad loss. As a compromise you do get the dialog presented in a cartoony fashion on the top screen. The story is deep and involving and is reminiscent of Dan Brown's The Da Vinci code with the involvement of The Knights Templar and a series of murders. As a fan and previous player of Broken Sword: Shadow of the Templars, I managed to complete the game in around 8 hours but for new players this would take at least a few hours more as you think to work out the puzzles. If players do get stuck, there is an in game hint system should you choose to use it. I'm a big fan of point and click adventures and Broken Sword still remains up there with the best and works very well on the DS.
