Broken Sword: The Shadow of the Templars - Directors Cut

I've never played this sort of game before (having only used my Christmas-present DS for the likes of Scrabble and brain-training up until now!) and was a little worried that I'd find the game too hard to get into (I'm the sort who really hates reading manuals!) or 'too young' - but after 5 minutes or so of picking up the game (and a quick glance at the accompanying guide) I had no problems at all! The plot is really interesting, and the game itself is great fun, and even though suitable for youngsters is equally absorbing for a 40-something like me - and some of the dialogue is hilarious! It's just seen me through a rainy weekend away, and made the 300-mile car-journey fly by! (Thankfully I wasn't driving!) I've nearly finished it now - and can't wait for the next one to come out! The only ones not quite so impressed with it are my kids - who haven't had the chance to play it yet, and have had a weekend of total role-reversal with ME seeminingly ignoring THEM for a change! ("Mum? MUM!!!! I'm talking to you!!!! OI!!! Can't you put that game DOWN for a minute?) Brilliant!

I really loved Broken sword when it came out "back in the day" and have played every itteration of it since then. (along with a bunch of lesser "pretender" titles) I snapped it up when they remade it for the gameboy advance, but found it frustrating due to the small screen and controls hampering, what are some very logical and well structured puzzles. I was concerned this would be the case with this DS re-hash of Shadow of the Templars, but i was not dissapointed. The interface is very tidy, meaning that the only thing stopping progression through the games' gripping story is your imagination and puzzle-solving skills, as opposed to just not seeing X object required. (Discworld Noir i'm looking at you!!!!)

The DS's unique assets also suit the game and aren't used in a gimmicky way, they actually enhance the gameplay. The two screens also help with adventuring, and you can always see your character's face, and thus their subsequent reactions to what you discover over the course of the adventure. A minor addition but it improved the experience all the same.

I'm generally frustrated by the state of gaming at the moment, with a constant stream of dodgy remakes and ports flooding the shelves; and an even larger tidal wave of terrible games using the wii/DS controls for gimmicky mini-games following in its wake. This game therefore serves as a ray of hope for me, as it is one of the few games i have played in the past 10 years where the plot actually meant something, and i generally was interested enough to follow it to its conclusion. Not only that but its also a very good remake, being both true to the original, whilst also building on its winning formula. The dialogue is genuinely witty and funny as well, at the same time as being very quotable.

For those like me who have already played the game through back in the 90's on pc, there is much to the directors cut that may peak your interest still. Not only is this the only faithful portable adaptation of broken sword to date, (the GBA just didn't make the cut for this type of gaming) the game also includes several new sections where you play Nico including a section that precedes George Stobbart's introduction to the tale.

Overall a great purchase for anyone who likes good stories, murder mysteries or good games in general. Fingers crossed the equally excellent Broken Sword 2 also gets a remake with such attention to detail.

I've never played Broken Sword and got this on a whim, however I was pleasantly surprised with how enjoyable a game it is. The graphics are excellent for the DS, especially the cut-scenes, and the dialogue is superb, including the subtle witty digs at the English and Americans. Gameplay could be considered short, clocking in at around eleven hours, but its the perfect way to while away a couple of night shifts.

However, the first few hours were the most enjoyable for me, especially when controlling journalist Nico. I thought the puzzles while investigating the assassination were the best of the game, and I got slightly frustrated when the game seemed to descend to 'go here, talk to this person, go back, talk to this person'. I was also slightly disappointed with the ending, as I was expecting a large puzzle to end with, and instead thought it ended rather abruptly.

All in all, a great adventure for the DS, but disappointed me slightly towards the end after an excellent start.