After numerous re-releases over the years, the very first episode of the “Broken Sword” license returned last month in a brand new reworked version. The Knights of Baphomet: Shadow of the Templars Reforged is a redesign that brings this cult point & click up to date.
The end of the 90s was an important period in the history of video games and saw the birth of many titles that have remained in our memories. Among them is a certain “The Knights of Baphomet” (known internationally as “Broken Sword: The Shadow of the Templars”), a point & click released in 1996 on computer and Playstation which became cult with time. The first episode of what will become a license was ported several times to other machines in the following years, but it was in September 2024 that this “Reforged” version was released which offers to rediscover the adventure of more modern way. A remaster signed by Revolution Software, the same studio that designed the original game.
“The Shadow of the Templars” tells the story of George Stobbart, an American tourist newly arrived in Paris who becomes the witness of an attack. Sitting on the terrace of a café, George notices a man dressed as a clown who plants a bomb in the establishment. Miraculously unharmed, our protagonist finds himself involved in this affair that the police do not seem to take too seriously. With the help of a journalist named Nicole Collard, the tourist will investigate for himself, which leads him into a story much more complex than he could have imagined. George will travel to different countries to unravel the mysteries of the Templar order which seems to have a close link to the murder.
The Knights of Baphomet is a point & click game with very classic gameplay. The goal will be to go to different places, to speak to numerous characters to advance the plot, we sometimes obtain objects to present to unlock new topics of conversation with the characters… These same objects are also used to resolve some puzzles, it is also possible to combine two objects to obtain a new one that can be used. The adventure remains relatively simple in its unfolding and remains identical to the original game. The gameplay is efficient thanks to a new clear interface. We still regret a certain slowness in the action, but everything remains pleasant to play.
This new version offers a “classic” mode allowing you to play in the conditions of the time as well as a “story” mode which modernizes the experience a little more. A hint system is also available to facilitate certain passages. These options make it easier to enjoy the gripping intrigue offered by this first episode. This scenario is full of twists and turns, filled with colorful characters and even has some messages that are still relevant today, all accompanied by writing with a lot of personality and humor. The story is also accompanied by full dubbing in French, the same as in the original version. The choice was made to keep the dubbing from the period instead of redoing everything. If the acting brings a lot of life to the whole and is very pleasant to listen to, the age of these recordings is felt because of the audio quality, despite some processing work to make it cleaner.
The music is also very effective and is here reworked versions of the original soundtrack. But the bulk of the work of this new version undoubtedly comes from its visuals which have been completely reworked. Whether it’s the settings, the characters and all the little animations, everything has been redone while keeping the spirit of the original graphics. This “reforged” edition simply gives us the impression of playing a cartoon because this aspect is so successful. The adventure is also punctuated by real animation sequences which integrate perfectly with the rest of the game. Those who are more nostalgic can also switch to period graphics via an in-game option.
Offered for €29.99, this new edition allows you to rediscover this point & click classic in better conditions, but without any novelty for people who already know it. The ten or so hours required to complete this episode will perhaps seem a little short and simplistic for those accustomed to the genre since the gameplay has not changed, but it remains very pleasant to go through, even thirty years after its conception .
Conclusion
The point & click classic “The Knights of Baphomet: Shadow of the Templars” is back with a new version “Reforged” which, if it ultimately brings little new features, allows us to rediscover this cult episode in very good conditions. We play George Stobbart, an American tourist passing through Paris who survives an attack. Our protagonist will investigate this matter on his own without suspecting that he is embarking on the discovery of a great conspiracy. This adventure remains, even today, very pleasant to navigate, and its gameplay is still very effective thanks to a new interface. Everything remains quite classic for a game of the genre, and also a little short, but a few adjustments make it a modernized experience. This new version has benefited from a complete rework of its visuals to match the animation sequences. The result is sumptuous, in addition to being accompanied by the reworked original soundtrack. The same goes for the very successful French dubbing of the time, even if the sound quality of the latter sometimes leaves something to be desired. Its few slownesses and its little “old-school” side are felt a little, but do not tarnish an experience that is still very convincing.
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Knights of Baphomet: Shadow of the Templars Reforged
We like:
An adventure as successful as ever
The complete graphic overhaul
Accessible thanks to clues
The reworked original soundtrack
A new interface
We like less:
A little too classic in 2024
Sometimes a little slow
The sound quality of period dubbing
A little short
