Broken Sword: The Shadow of the Templars Game Boy Advance

The once prolific point-and-click adventure genre is revived on the Game Boy Advance courtesy of Revolution Software's Broken Sword: Shadow of the Templars -- a port of the 1998 PlayStation title (which was in turn a port of the 1996 PC title, Circle of Blood). Unlike previous incarnations, the GBA title foregoes the standard point-and-click interface in favor of direct character control and an icon-based action selector.

However, the story remains wholly intact. George Stobbart, an American tourist in Paris, witnesses a theft and subsequent murder in a Paris café and takes it upon himself to bring the killer to justice. He finds himself drawn into a web of intrigue and danger. As he works to unravel the mystery, George will team up with a female photojournalist by the name of Nicole Collard and meet no fewer than 60 characters, both good and bad.

Featuring modifications to the control scheme, Broken Sword: Shadow of the Templars adheres to many of the tried-and-true genre conventions. As George makes his way through 70 different locations, he can examine and manipulate objects, investigate his surroundings, and talk to locals. Key items can be placed into George's inventory and used later in the game to help him solve rudimentary puzzles and uncover more of the mystery.

Locations are created using a mixture of hand-drawn stills and animated objects in order to bring the European backdrops to life. The musical score is adapted from Barrington Pheloung's original. Three battery backup slots are provided for players to record their in-game progress. ~ Gavin Frankle, All Game Guide