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Genre: Adventure
Broken Sword: Shadow of the Templars is a point-and-click mystery adventure featuring stunning cinematic animation that will leave players with the sensation that they are directing a film rather than playing a game. It makes creative use of the DS's dual screens by telling most of the game's story from two perspectives - one from a medium distance and one close up.
The visuals are matched perfectly by the game's dark and involved storyline. The game is couched in great story that is punctuated by unexpectedly comedic moments, such as a mime punching out the protagonist or a menacing clown bombing a resteraunt.
The visuals are so captivating that, superficially, the game appears to be aimed at younger audiences, but at its heart lies an intensely difficult puzzle game. The game centers around a pair of characters who must solve a mysterious murder involving the Knights Templar by exploring their environment, visa vie King's Quest or Myst. It advances through a series of increasingly involved puzzles that, at times, can become frustrating due to the rigid and elaborate sequence in which the items must be used in some sequences. That frustration, in which players occasionally get trapped in a room, is the one major drawback to the game that serves as a reminder why the point-and-click myster genre died out. However, the average gamer should have little trouble clearing this game in under twelve hours.
Broken Sword: Shadow of the Templars is a happy compromise between puzzle game and comic book certain likely to appeal to broad audience of puzzle enthusiast and bibliophiles alike.
