Ushering in a ‘renaissance’ for a decades-old franchise of games is a bold move. But when you announce a brand-new instalment, as well as a remaster of a fan favourite, that might be the most suitable word. At Gamescom 2023, Revolution Software announced two new entries into the Broken Sword point-and-click series.
These are Broken Sword – Parzival’s Stone, which is the next mainline entry, and Broken Sword – Shadow of the Templars: Reforged – a ‘reforged’ version of the 1996 debut title.
A Treasure Hunting Tale
Broken Sword – Parzival’s Stone is now in development for PC and console, with no release window stated. This adventure sees George and Nico re-unite in a gripping tale of terror, treasure and triumph. It combines traditional point-and-click puzzling with innovative modern gameplay and visuals. Most notably, the visual style is in a unique ‘Super 2D’ format, with 3D geometry and hand-drawn backgrounds combining.
Broken Sword – Parzival’s Stone Key Features
- Take on the roles of George and Nico as they investigate an ancient manuscript and find themselves drawn into a terrifying conspiracy and into a world of Nazi treasure hunters, ancient mediaeval histories, and Quantum Physics.
- Navigate the manuscript’s clues to uncover the secret location of the Grail (but not as one might expect): a mythical treasure, lost for a thousand years.
- Rival ruthless technology entrepreneurs, corrupt government agencies, and billion-dollar global energy corporations which are also out to beat our heroes to the ultimate goals. Because George and Nico might just well be the only thing stopping the whole world from armageddon.
- Play out your adventure in a ‘Super 2D’ environment, sculpted using 2D coloured background elements applied to 3D geometry to move in realtime.
A Fan Favourite Returns
Slated for an early 2024 release on PC and console, Broken Sword – Shadow of the Templars: Reforged slaps on a brand new lick of paint to the founding Broken Sword entry. This once again sees our duo of George and Nico depart the streets of Paris for a global experience. Expect re-drawn backgrounds, re-animated sprites, 4K illustrations and an enhanced audio experience.
Broken Sword – Shadow of the Templars: Reforged Key Features
- Step out onto the streets of Paris as George finds himself wrapped up in a mysterious journey of intrigue and jeopardy.
- Enjoy a globe-spanning adventure, exploring exotic locations, solving ancient mysteries, and thwarting a dark conspiracy to reveal the secret truths of the Knights Templar whether it’s your very first time, or you’re revisiting a beloved classic.
- Voyage through the game’s iconic locations illustrated in beautiful 4K for the first time ever.
- Listen to enhanced audio as Revolution delivers the finest, most stunning version of George and Nico’s original adventure to date.
A Word from Revolution
So, about that ‘renaissance’, hey? Charles Cecil, Founder and CEO of Revolution Software, had this to say on their exciting announcements:
This is the start of what we’re calling the ‘Broken Sword Renaissance’… With both Parzival’s Stone and Shadow of the Templars: Reforged, we’re making a big, bold, and broad offer both to those who have walked in the shoes of George & Nico before and hunger for a new adventure, and also just as crucially people who have never even heard of the franchise. As with all Broken Sword games, both titles exist as independent adventures with no prior knowledge required, though naturally for those invested in the world we’ve created, there’s a lot to tap into under the surface.
2024 and Beyond?
As far as releases are concerned we don’t know much. But what we do know is that Broken Sword – Shadow of the Templars: Reforged is planned for an early 2024 release. As far as Broken Sword – Parzival’s Stone, no official release window has been given. We will of course keep you updated whenever we hear news of this.
