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			{{Short description\|Video game series}}
	{{pp-dispute}}
			{{about\|the video game series\|the novel\|The Broken Sword\|9=Broken Sword (disambiguation)}}
	]'']]
			{{Use mdy dates\|date=August 2013}}
	{{otheruses}}
			{{good article}}
	''' ''Broken Sword'' ''' is an ] series created by ] ] of ]. The game series revolves around the adventures of ] and ] in several fictitious stories based on history and mythology. The first two games in the series are controlled by a traditional ] interface that the player uses to interact with the cartoon animated backdrops. The last two games are based on a ] engine that the player operates through a direct control system. The latest game, ], is also using a ] interface similar to the first two. A movie, based on the first Broken Sword game, has been planned and is ready to be written.
			{{Infobox video game series
			\| title = Broken Sword
			\| image = Broken Sword 2012on logo.png
			\| genre = ]<br />]
			\| developer = ] <small>(in partnership with ] in 2006)</small>
			\| creator = ]
			\| platforms = ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ]
			\| first release version = '']''
			\| first release date = 30 September 1996
			\| latest release version = ''Broken Sword - Shadow of the Templars: Reforged''
			\| latest release date = 19 September 2024
			}}

			'''''Broken Sword''''' is a series of ]s. The first game in the series, '']'', was released and developed in 1996 by British developer ]. Its sequel, '']'', was released a year later, and was followed by '']'' in 2003, '']'' in 2006, and '']'' in 2013. A ] of the first game in the series, known as '']'', was released in 2009, and a remake of the second game in the series, ''Broken Sword: The Smoking Mirror – Remastered'', in 2010 for iOS devices; other platforms followed in 2011.
	==Official games==
	==== Broken Sword: The Shadow of the Templars ====
	{{main\|Broken Sword: The Shadow of the Templars}}
	{{see also\|List of Broken Sword: The Shadow of the Templars characters}}

			The main ]s of the series are George Stobbart, an American patent lawyer, and Nicole "Nico" Collard, a French freelance journalist. While Nico does not appear as a ] in the original version of ''The Shadow of the Templars'', she does become playable in the Director's Cut.
	The first game in the series was released on ], ], published by ] world wide. George Stobbart is an ] ] on holiday in ] in the ]. The story opens with George's quiet coffee at a cafe rudely interrupted by the explosion of a bomb planted by a man dressed up as a clown. He sets off investigating the explosion and, gradually, he and photo-journalist ] are drawn into a globe-trotting adventure involving conspiracies, cults and murder, all revolving around the ].

			The ''Broken Sword'' series was conceived in 1994 by ], ] and Sean Brennan, while talking about the mythology of the ]. The first three games in the series as well as the fifth game were developed by ], while the fourth game was co-developed by Revolution and ]. ''The Shadow of the Templars'' and ''The Smoking Mirror'' were critical and commercial successes, selling millions. However, ''The Sleeping Dragon'' and ''The Angel of Death'' received mixed reviews and were not as popular as the first two games. This was mainly due to the switch to 3D graphics and because the third game left the "point and click" interface for a more action-oriented gameplay. The latest game in the series, ''The Serpent's Curse'', returned to the series' 2D roots. The series appeared on several top adventure game lists. A comic book was produced for each remake of the first two ''Broken Sword'' games.
	The game, which was a critical and commercial success,{{Fact\|date=June 2007}} was released as ''Circle of Blood'' in the ], ''Baphomets Fluch'' (Baphomet's Curse) in ], ''Les Chevaliers de Baphomet'' (Knights of Baphomet) in ], ''Il segreto dei Templari'' (The Secret of the Templars) in ] and ''La leyenda de los Templarios'' (Legend of the Templars) in ] and ''Сломанный Меч: Тень Тамплиеров'' (Broken Sword: The Shadow of the Templars) in ].

			==Games==
	Ports of the game were released on the ] ], ] ], ] and ].
			{\| class="wikitable" style="width:100%;"
			\|- style="text-align: center;"
			! rowspan="2" \| Game
			\|-
			! \| Release year
			! \| Developer
			! \| Platforms
			\|-
			\| colspan="5" style="background:#c5f3c6;"\|
			\|- style="background:#f2f2f2; text-align:center;"
			\| ''''']'''''
			\| 1996
			\| ]
			\| ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ]
			\|-
			\| colspan="5" style="border:none; vertical-align:top;"\|''The Shadow of the Templars'', known as ''Circle of Blood'' in North America, is the first game in the series, and developed by Revolution Software. Originally released in 1996 on Windows, Mac OS and PlayStation, the game was later ported on Game Boy Advance and Palm OS, then re-released with new content as Shadow of the Templars the ] first on Wii and Nintendo DS and later ported on ], Mac OS X, Linux, iOS and Android. In ''The Shadow of the Templars'', the player assumes the role of George Stobbart – a young American who is an eyewitness and victim of a bomb attack on a small Parisian café. It garnered critical acclaim and sold around one million units.
			\|- style="background:#f2f2f2; text-align:center;"
			\| colspan="5" style="background:#ddf3c5;"\|
			\|- style="background:#f2f2f2; text-align:center;"
			\| ''''']'''''
			\| 1997
			\| ]
			\| Windows, PlayStation, Mac OS, iOS, Android, Linux
			\|-
			\| colspan="5" style="border:none; vertical-align:top;"\|With the success of ''The Shadow of the Templars'', Revolution began work on ''The Smoking Mirror'', which was released a year later. Originally released on Windows and PlayStation, it was re-released on Windows, Mac OS X, Linux, iOS and Android as a remastered edition. It is the only game in the series not to involve the ]. ''The Smoking Mirror'' was a commercial success, selling around one million units, but was not as acclaimed as the first game.
			\|- style="background:#f2f2f2; text-align:center;"
			\| colspan="5" style="background:#f3e1c5;"\|
			\|- style="background:#f2f2f2; text-align:center;"
			\| ''''']'''''
			\| 2003
			\| Revolution Software
			\| Windows, ], ]
			\|-
			\| colspan="5" style="border:none; vertical-align:top;"\|The third game, ''The Sleeping Dragon'', was a departure from the gameplay style of previous games in the series, featuring ], and the only game in the series to use a direct control interface. It continues the story of ''The Shadow of the Templars''. The game received highly positive reviews from critics and sold several hundred thousand copies.
			\|- style="background:#f2f2f2; text-align:center;"
			\| colspan="5" style="background:#ecc5f3;"\|
			\|- style="background:#f2f2f2; text-align:center;"
			\| ''''']'''''
			\| 2006
			\| Revolution Software, ]
			\| ]
			\|-
			\| colspan="5" style="border:none; vertical-align:top;"\|The fourth installment in the series, ''The Angel of Death'', was co-developed by Revolution and Sumo Digital. While the game featured 3D graphics, it returned to the ] interface. It sold several hundred thousand copies, but received mixed reviews.
			\|- style="background:#f2f2f2; text-align:center;"
			\| colspan="5" style="background:#c5cdf3;"\|
			\|- style="background:#f2f2f2; text-align:center;"
			\| ''''']'''''
			\| 2013-2014
			\| Revolution Software
			\| Windows, OS X, ], ], ], Android, ], ], ], ]
			\|-
			\| colspan="5" style="border:none; vertical-align:top;"\|The fifth ''Broken Sword'' game, ''The Serpent's Curse'', is the first installment to receive its funding from ] during its conception. Released in December 2013,<ref>{{cite web\|url=http://store.steampowered.com/app/262940/ \|title=Save 70% on Broken Sword 5 - the Serpent's Curse on Steam \|access-date=2013-11-30 \|url-status=live \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131130011846/http://store.steampowered.com/app/262940/ \|archive-date=November 30, 2013}}</ref> the game returned to the series' ] roots.
			\|- style="background:#f2f2f2; text-align:center;"
			\| colspan="5" style="background:#c5cdf3;"\|
			\|- style="background:#f2f2f2; text-align:center;"
			\| '''''Broken Sword: Parzival's Stone'''''
			\| TBA
			\| Revolution Software
			\| Windows, OS X, ], ], Android, Consoles
			\|-
			\|colspan="5" style="border:none; vertical-align:top;"\|The sixth ''Broken Sword'' game, ''Parzival's Stone'', was announced during the Xbox Gamescom conference in 2023.
			\|}

			==Story overview==
	==== Broken Sword II: The Smoking Mirror ====
			In ''The Shadow of the Templars'', American George Stobbart is touring Europe. He becomes both a witness and victim of a bomb attack on a Parisian café "La Chandelle Verte", caused by a clown, later revealed to be an assassin named Khan. The perpetrator steals an old man's briefcase and sets off a bomb inside the café.<ref name=adventureclassicgaming>{{cite web\|first=Joe\|last=Antol\|date=November 24, 1997\|url=http://www.adventureclassicgaming.com/index.php/site/reviews/43/\|title=''Adventure Classic Gaming'' Broken Sword: The Shadow of the Templars review\|publisher=Adventure Classic Gaming\|access-date=February 13, 2012}}</ref> Stobbart meets a French photo-journalist, Nicole "Nico" Collard, a resident of Rue Jarry in Paris, with whom he tries to discover who is responsible for the murder of the old man, Plantard, and while doing so, end up unraveling a conspiracy relating to the ].<ref name=adventureclassicgaming/> The third and fourth game, ''The Sleeping Dragon'' and ''The Angel of Death'', follow the Templar-related storyline: ''The Sleeping Dragon'' continuing the story from ''The Shadow of the Templars'' with a number of returning characters,<ref name=bs3atrev>{{cite web\|url=http://revolution.co.uk/bs3 \|title=Revolution Software: ''Broken Sword: The Sleeping Dragon'' \|publisher=] \|access-date=March 16, 2012 \|url-status=dead \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120608072641/http://www.revolution.co.uk/bs3 \|archive-date=June 8, 2012}}</ref> while in ''The Angel of Death'', George and Nico, with a newly introduced character Anna-Maria, unravel a mystery related to the Catholic Church.<ref>{{cite web\|url=http://revolution.co.uk/bs4 \|title=Revolution Software: ''Broken Sword: The Angel of Death'' \|publisher=] \|access-date=March 16, 2012 \|url-status=dead \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120608105848/http://www.revolution.co.uk/bs4 \|archive-date=June 8, 2012}}</ref> Unlike the other installments, in ''The Smoking Mirror'', George and Nico unravel a ] mystery, involving the Mayan god ].<ref name=gamespot>{{cite web\|date=November 25, 1997 \|url=http://www.gamespot.com/broken-sword-the-smoking-mirror/reviews/broken-sword-the-smoking-mirror-review-2538230/ \|title=GameSpot: ''Broken Sword II: The Smoking Mirror'' review \|website=] \|url-status=dead \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120202063435/http://www.gamespot.com/broken-sword-the-smoking-mirror/reviews/broken-sword-the-smoking-mirror-review-2538230/ \|archive-date=February 2, 2012}}</ref> ''The Serpent's Curse'' follows a storyline related to the ].
	{{main\|Broken Sword II: The Smoking Mirror}}
	{{see also\|List of Broken Sword II: The Smoking Mirror characters}}
	The second game in the series, released in 1997, opens with George Stobbart witnessing the kidnapping of his now girlfriend Nico Collard. It is up to George to break Nico out, and uncover a secret drug ring that relates to the redemption of a sinister god.

			==Development==
	The game was released as ''Broken Sword: The Smoking Mirror'' in the ], ''Baphomets Fluch II: Die Spiegel der Finsternis'' (Baphomet's Curse II: The Mirror of Darkness) in ], ''Les Boucliers de Quetzalcoatl'' (Shields of Quetzalcoatl) in ], ''Broken Sword II: La Profezia dei Maya'' (Broken Sword II: The Prophecy of Mayans) in ] and ''Broken Sword: Las Fuerzas del Mal'' (Broken Sword: The Forces of Evil) in ].
			===''The Shadow of the Templars'' and ''The Smoking Mirror''===
			Video game designer, writer and director ] began working on the scenario for ''Broken Sword'', ]'s third game following '']'' (1992) and '']'' (1994), in 1992, which would be set in Paris with a ] storyline.<ref name=Gen4>{{cite journal\| journal=Génération 4\| title=Dossier Revolution Software\|first=Stephane\|last=Lavoisard\| publisher=Pressimage\| page=132\| date=September 1992\|issue=47}}</ref><ref name="Game Nostalgia">{{cite web\|title=The Making of Broken Sword: The Shadow of the Templars\|publisher=Game Nostalgia\|date=July–August 2012\|url=http://www.game-nostalgia.com/companies/revolution_software/the_making_of_broken_sword_the_shadow_of_the_templars_2.html\|access-date=October 18, 2012\|archive-date=December 3, 2013\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203003517/http://www.game-nostalgia.com/companies/revolution_software/the_making_of_broken_sword_the_shadow_of_the_templars_2.html\|url-status=dead}}</ref> After visiting Paris and reading '']'', Cecil was certain the Templars would be a good subject for a game.<ref name=Gen4-2>{{cite journal\| journal=Generation 4\| title=Revolution Software Sous un Ciel d'Acier\|publisher=Pressimage\| page=104\|date=March 1993\| issue=53}}</ref><ref name=MakingRETRO>{{cite journal\| journal=]\| title=The Making of ... Broken Sword\|first=David\|last=Crookes\| publisher=]\| pages=60–63\|date=November 2006\| issue=31}}</ref> Cecil, Dave Cummins and ] began work on the story and design.<ref name=MakingRETRO/> Cecil and Cummins attended a film-writing course and their script was read by senior ] scriptwriter and dramatist Alan Drury.<ref name=CC-EDGE>{{cite magazine \| magazine=] \| publisher=] \| title=An Audience with ... Charles Cecil \| date=July 1996 \| issue=34}}</ref> ], who created initial location sketches for the game before working on ''Beneath a Steel Sky'',<ref name=Juni>{{cite web\|first=Steve\|last=Ince\|archive-date=August 12, 2003\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030812145924/http://www.juniper-crescent.co.uk/games/games.htm\|url=http://www.juniper-crescent.co.uk/games/games.htm\|title=Game's I've Worked On\|work=Juniper Crescent\|access-date=March 16, 2012}}</ref> was promoted to producer halfway through the project.<ref name=Juni/> In 1994 Cecil and Noirin Carmody met with Sean Brennan, then-head of publishing at ], and Virgin agreed to publish the game's PC version,<ref name=DirectorsMessage>{{cite video game\|title=Broken Sword: The Shadow of the Templars – Director's Cut\|developer=Revolution Software\|date=September 2010\|platform=PC\|scene=The Director's Message}}</ref> but were not interested in publishing the game on the PlayStation, feeling that only 3D games would sell for the console.<ref name=Publish>{{cite web\|date=May 18, 2011 \|url=http://thegamingliberty.com/2011/05/tgl-interview-charles-cecil-talks-broken-sword-and-more/ \|title=TGL: Charles Cecil talks Broken Sword and more \|work=The Gaming Liberty \|access-date=September 18, 2012 \|url-status=dead \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203040209/http://www.thegamingliberty.com/2011/05/tgl-interview-charles-cecil-talks-broken-sword-and-more/ \|archive-date=December 3, 2013}}</ref> As a result, Cecil contacted ], who agreed to publish the game for the console.<ref name=Publish/> ] and David Sykes were the game's designer-programmer Carmody the executive producer.<ref name=Creds>{{cite video game\|title=Broken Sword: The Shadow of the Templars\|developer=Revolution Software\|date=September 1996\|platform=PC\|scene=Credits}}</ref> The game uses the ] engine,<ref name=Creds/> as do Revolution's previous two games.<ref>{{cite web\|first=Erik-André \|last=Vik Mamen \|date=January 29, 2007 \|url=http://www.adventureclassicgaming.com/index.php/site/reviews/228/ \|title=Beneath a Steel Sky \|work=Adventure Classic Gaming \|access-date=March 16, 2012 \|url-status=live \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120224071359/http://www.adventureclassicgaming.com/index.php/site/reviews/228/ \|archive-date=February 24, 2012}}</ref>

			One of Cecil's goals was to depart from the humour-based adventure games more popular at the time by creating a game with good pacing and a complex storyline, a reason he thought the Knights Templar would be an ideal subject.<ref name=MakingRETRO/> ''Broken Sword'' offered a unique "conversation icon" system which would not reveal to the player what the protagonist was about to say; Cecil's intention was to make the game more cinematic.<ref name=MakingEDGE>{{cite journal \| journal=Edge \| publisher=Future Publishing \| title=The Making of ... Broken Sword: The Shadow of the Templars \| date=May 2004 \| issue=137}}</ref> Although aiming at designing a game with a cinematic feel, Cecil felt the game should not resemble ]s of that time, which he felt were "mimicking movies".<ref name=MakingRETRO/> He wanted to create two protagonists who would exchange ideas, helping drive the game along.<ref name=MakingRETRO/> He made George American and Nico French to appeal to US and European markets.<ref name=MakingRETRO/> Revolution believed they needed to utilise the best of other creative industries.<ref name=DirectorsMessage/>
	==== Broken Sword: The Sleeping Dragon====
			Hand drawn artwork was animated by artists including ]' Eoghan Cahill and Neil Breen and ]'s Mike Burgess,<ref name=DirectorsMessage/> resulting in graphics animated in a style resembling classic animated films.<ref>{{cite web\|first=Matt \|last=Holmes \|date=May 22, 2007 \|url=http://whatculture.com/film/broken-sword-the-movie.php \|title=Broken Sword: The Movie \|work=WhatCulture! \|access-date=February 15, 2012 \|url-status=dead \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303215546/http://whatculture.com/film/broken-sword-the-movie.php \|archive-date=March 3, 2016}}</ref> The game's final cost was one million pounds.<ref name=MakingRETRO/>
	{{main article\|Broken Sword: The Sleeping Dragon}}
	:''See also ]''
	Broken Sword: The Sleeping Dragon, released 2003, is the third game in the Broken Sword series. At the start of the game, George and Nico are no longer together, obviously separating between this game and its predecessor. However, as the game progresses, George and Nico realise that they are uncovering the same mystery, and begin working together again to stop the evil that threatens the world once again.

			''Broken Sword II: The Smoking Mirror'' was conceived in 1997, by Cecil and Revolution's crew.<ref name="Telegraph_int">Hoggins, Tom (January 4, 2011) " {{webarchive\|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120828152613/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/video-games/8238685/Broken-Sword-II-The-Smoking-Mirror-interview.html \|date=August 28, 2012}}". ]. Retrieved March 12, 2012.</ref> The artwork for ''Broken Sword 2'' was developed through a number of stages. Initially pencil drawings were made of characters which were then digitally coloured in, before being cleaned up. The background layouts were produced in a similar way, also starting out as pencil designs.<ref name=PSPRO>{{cite journal \| publisher=IDGMedia \| journal=PlayStation Pro \| title=Broken Sword II: The Smoking Mirror review \| first=Paul \| last=McNally \| date=January 1998 \| page=34 \| issue=16}}</ref> They were all drawn by Eoghan Cahill and Neil Breen, who both previously worked on the original ''Broken Sword'' game, while they were now working together with Amy Berenz and Lee Taylor. The music in the game was again composed by Barrington Pheloung, with Bob Sekar adding the closing score. While Rolf Saxon returns to voice actor of George, ] a bilingual actress and daughter of French actress ], was cast as Nico. Theatre director ] rehearsed the assembled actors and took no more than a week to record the entire game, according to an interview given by Rolf Saxon in 2011. <ref name=MakingRETRO/> The game was first released for Windows on October 31, 1997.<ref name=bs2metapc/>
	The game was released as ''Baphomets Fluch: Der schlafende Drache'' (Baphomet's Curse: The Sleeping Dragon) in ], ''Les Chevaliers de Baphomet: Le manuscrit de Voynich'' (Knights of Baphomet: The Manuscript of Voynich) in ], ''Broken Sword: Il Sonno del Drago'' (Broken Sword: The Sleep of the Dragon) in ], ''Broken Sword: El sueño del dragón'' (Broken Sword: The Dream of the Dragon) in ], ''Сломанный Меч 3: Спящий Дракон'' (Broken Sword 3: The Sleeping Dragon) in ] and ''断剑：沉睡之龙'' (Stands: The Sleeping Dragon) in ].

	==== ~~Broken~~ ~~Sword:~~ The Angel of Death ====		===''The Sleeping Dragon'' and ''The Angel of Death''===
			Revolution first discussed the idea of a third ''Broken Sword'' in 2000.<ref name=bs3atrev/> At first, ''The Sleeping Dragon'' was planned to have similar cartoon-quality visuals to the first two ''Broken Sword'' games, but Revolution decided not to use the "flat" look, claiming it lacked visual depth. The team wanted the game to look believable, but not necessarily realistic, similar to ].<ref name=diary2>{{cite web\|first=Charles\|last=Cecil\|access-date=February 9, 2012\|date=April 4, 2003\|url=http://www.computerandvideogames.com/89491/broken-sword-the-sleeping-dragon-diary-part-two/\|title=ComputerAndVideoGames: ''News – Broken Sword: The Sleeping Dragon, Diary Part Two''\|publisher=ComputerAndVideoGames}}</ref><ref>{{cite web\|first=Matt \|last=Holmes \|date=May 22, 2007 \|url=http://whatculture.com/film/broken-sword-the-movie.php \|title=Whatculture!: ''Broken Sword: The Movie'' \|publisher=Whatculture! \|access-date=February 15, 2012 \|url-status=dead \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303215546/http://whatculture.com/film/broken-sword-the-movie.php \|archive-date=March 3, 2016}}</ref> Textures were hand drawn to achieve the "cartoon" look, while the light-map employed ] to create realistic lighting. Advances in hardware plus the changes in methodology allowed the game to move to ].<ref name=diary2/> To make the game feel like a film, Revolution brought in a cinematic consultant, ], who made sure the game conveyed emotions and atmospheres appropriate for each scene.<ref>{{Cite video\|year=2003\|title=The Making of Broken Sword: The Sleeping Dragon\|publisher=]}}</ref> The music in the game was composed by Ben McCullough. The voice recording was scheduled to take five days, but the entire process took four days.<ref name=diary4>{{cite web\|first=Charles\|last=Cecil\|date=July 15, 2003\|access-date=February 9, 2012\|url=http://www.computerandvideogames.com/93794/broken-sword-the-sleeping-dragon-developer-diary-part-four/\|title=ComputerAndVideoGames: ''News – Broken Sword: The Sleeping Dragon, Diary Part Four''\|publisher=ComputerAndVideoGames}}</ref> The voices were recorded with the voice actors together, enabling better getting into their parts.<ref name=diary4/> The full script is 6,000 lines in total, similar to ''Broken Sword II''. While Rolf Saxon returns to voice George, Nico was this time played by Sarah Crook.<ref name=diary4/> The game's final cost was two million pounds.<ref>{{Cite web\|first=Charles \|last=Cecil \|date=December 19, 2005 \|access-date=February 9, 2012 \|url=http://www.computerandvideogames.com/131508/interviews/charles-cecil-wields-broken-sword/ \|title=ComputerAndVideoGames: ''Charles Cecil wields Broken Sword'' \|publisher=ComputerAndVideoGames \|url-status=live \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120208025427/http://www.computerandvideogames.com/131508/interviews/charles-cecil-wields-broken-sword/ \|archive-date=February 8, 2012}}</ref>
	{{main\|Broken Sword: The Angel of Death}}
	:''See also ]''

			Revolution Software and THQ announced ''Broken Sword: The Angel of Death'' in August 2005.<ref name=Announced>{{cite web \|date=August 17, 2005 \|url=http://www.gamershell.com/news_24049.html \|title=''News: Broken Sword 4 announced'' \|publisher=] \|access-date=April 11, 2012 \|url-status=dead \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304095729/http://www.gamershell.com/news_24049.html \|archive-date=March 4, 2016}}</ref> According to Charles Cecil, the ''Broken Sword'' was originally planned to be a trilogy, but after the release of ''Broken Sword: The Sleeping Dragon'', the demand from fans for a sequel was overwhelming.<ref name=ACG>{{cite web\|date=December 18, 2006 \|url=http://www.adventureclassicgaming.com/index.php/site/interviews/236/ \|title=''Charles Cecil – Revolution Software – Interview – Adventure Classic'' \|publisher=Adventure Classic Gaming \|access-date=April 11, 2012 \|url-status=live \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120510173308/http://www.adventureclassicgaming.com/index.php/site/interviews/236/ \|archive-date=May 10, 2012}}</ref> Though ''The Sleeping Dragon'' benefited commercially from being released on console as well as PC, this approach required certain development compromises as the PC version was held back by the constraints of the console versions.<ref name=ACG/> As a result, ''The Angel of Death'' was written for PC only "so as to really push the boundaries in terms of the technology and graphics".<ref name=ACG/> As a series' first, Revolution was not the only developer, but was co-developed by Revolution and Sumo Digital. Cecil believed that because of the requirement for ever larger team sizes, it was no longer possible to maintain a large development team to write single original titles,<ref name=ACG/> resulting in Revolution closed the production side in order to concentrate on design, and Sumo to concentrate on production. It was the first game to use the amBX lighting technology.<ref name=amDX>{{cite web\|date=January 8, 2007 \|url=http://hexus.net/gaming/news/hardware/7564-philips-showcase-ambx-supreme-commander/ \|title=''Philips showcase amBX with Supreme Commander'' \|publisher=] \|access-date=April 11, 2012 \|url-status=live \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150606111245/http://hexus.net/gaming/news/hardware/7564-philips-showcase-ambx-supreme-commander/ \|archive-date=June 6, 2015}}</ref> ''Broken Sword: The Sleeping Dragon'' was criticised for featuring a high number of action elements. Cecil stated that he aimed to put the player under pressure. While he still stood behind this principle, he thought the action elements were not the right approach.<ref name=AG/> ''The Sleeping Dragon'' was also criticised for using a high number of crate puzzles, resulting in Cecil reducing the number of them.<ref name=AG>{{cite web\|date=April 27, 2006 \|url=http://www.adventuregamers.com/article/id,627 \|title=''Adventure Gamers: Charles Cecil interview'' \|publisher=] \|access-date=April 11, 2012 \|url-status=live \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120306203426/http://www.adventuregamers.com/article/id%2C627 \|archive-date=March 6, 2012}}</ref> The music in the game was composed by Ben McCullough and features tracks by Übernoise.<ref name=iTunes>{{cite web\|date=September 12, 2006 \|url=https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/broken-sword-angel-death-soundtrack/id188195954 \|title=''Broken Sword – The Angel of Death (Soundtrack to the Video Game)'' \|publisher=Sugarstar Records \|access-date=April 11, 2012 \|url-status=live \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130630082519/https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/broken-sword-angel-death-soundtrack/id188195954 \|archive-date=June 30, 2013}}</ref> While ] returns to voice George Stobbart, Nicole "Nico" Collard was this time played by Katherine Pageon.<ref name=ACG/><ref name=Credits>{{cite video game\|title=Broken Sword: The Angel of Death \|developer=]/] \|scene=Credits \|date=September 2006 \|platform=PC}}</ref>
	Broken Sword: The Angel of Death, released 2006, is the fourth installment in the Broken Sword series. Since the events of the third game, George Stobbart has hit an incredible low in his life. He can no longer find decent work as a patent lawyer, and so he now works as a bail bonds clerk. When a mysterious woman, Anna Maria, enters George's life, he is thrown into another adventure. Broken Sword 4 returns to the point 'n' click system used in the first two games.

			===''The Shadow of the Templars – Director's Cut'' and ''The Smoking Mirror – Remastered''===
	The game was released as ''Secrets of the Ark: A Broken Sword Game'' in the ], ''Baphomets Fluch 4: Der Engel des Todes'' (Baphomet's Curse 4: The Angel of Death) in ], ''Broken Sword: Les Gardiens du Temple de Salomon'' (Broken Sword: The Guards of the Temple of Solomon) in ], ''Broken Sword: L'Angelo della Morte'' (Broken Sword: The Angel of Death) in ], ''Broken Sword: El Ángel de la Muerte'' (Broken Sword: The Angel of Death) in ], ''Broken Sword: Anioł Śmierci'' (Broken Sword: The Angel of Death) in ] and ''Сломанный меч: Ангел смерти'' (Broken Sword: The Angel of Death) in ].
			On March 21, 2009, ] released a special edition of ''The Shadow of the Templars'' for the Wii and Nintendo DS. According to Cecil, the ''Director's Cut'' came about thanks to a group of ''Broken Sword'' fans, who started an online petition begging him to bring the series to the Wii and DS.<ref>{{cite web\|date=March 2, 2009 \|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lYJbvgUYNTw#t=53 \|title=Broken Sword – Director's Cut came about, because of a petition \|website=] \|access-date=February 15, 2012 \|url-status=live \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160520122254/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lYJbvgUYNTw \|archive-date=May 20, 2016}}</ref>

			When considering the project, Cecil played the game again and noticed many issues, including that backgrounds were pixelated, the movies and audio were of poor quality, and he also felt some dialogue was out of place. He thought all these elements could be addressed and improved in a ]ed edition, in which they could add a diary, hint system, and new artwork from ], which they could offer as an interactive digital comic.<ref name="Telegraph_int" />
	As a gaming first, the game allows the soundtrack to be purchased, from a direct link in the game to ].

			The game starts a day before the Parisian cafe explosion in the original game, filling in some of Nicole Collard's back-story. Gibbons, with whom Revolution worked previously on their 1994 cult classic adventure '']'', worked on visual references for the game; he also produced a comic book to accompany the game's DS release.<ref>{{cite web\|date=March 2, 2009 \|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lYJbvgUYNTw#t=64 \|title=Cecil awarded fans, hence ''The Director's Cut'', and worked with Dave Gibbons \|website=] \|access-date=February 15, 2012 \|url-status=live \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160520122254/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lYJbvgUYNTw \|archive-date=May 20, 2016}}</ref>
	==Technical information==
	The first two games use an enhanced version of Revolution's in-house ] ]. While these games were originally produced for ] and ], it is now possible to play them on a variety of ]s using ]. Both games were also released for ], and the first one for ] and later also for the ], ] and ]. ''The Sleeping Dragon'' is based on the ] engine. ''The Angel of Death'' runs on Sumo Digital's own graphics engine, while scripting of the game utilizes a tweaked version of its predecessor.

			Hazel Ellerby returns to voice Nicole Collard in the new sections, playing Nico again for the first time since the original game's release. Rolf Saxon, as in every sequel, also returns to voice George Stobbart. Unlike in the original game, players control Nicole Collard for selected game sections.<ref name="revbsdc">{{cite web\|date=August 30, 2011\|url=http://revolution.co.uk/?page_id=5&game_id=9&platform_id=0\|title=Revolution Software: ''Broken Sword: The Shadow of the Templars – Director's Cut''\|publisher=]\|access-date=March 16, 2012\|url-status=dead\|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120715113527/http://revolution.co.uk/?page_id=5&game_id=9&platform_id=0\|archive-date=July 15, 2012\|df=mdy-all}}</ref> Besides the new character artwork by Gibbons during conversations, the ''Director's Cut'' also features a new first person view for certain puzzles.<ref name="revbsdc" /> In the DS version, there is no spoken dialogue, only subtitles.<ref name="directors-cut-first-look">{{cite web\|first=Matt \|last=Wales \|title=Broken Sword: The Director's Cut First Look \|website=] \|date=February 20, 2009 \|url=http://wii.ign.com/articles/955/955773p1.html \|access-date=February 15, 2012 \|url-status=dead \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120207055440/http://wii.ign.com/articles/955/955773p1.html \|archive-date=February 7, 2012}}</ref>
	==Other media and petitions==
	===Broken Sword 2.5: The Return of The Templars===
	''Broken Sword 2.5: The Return of The Templars'' is an unofficial Broken Sword game created by the fans of the series and it is planned for an underground release in 2008. The story takes place between Broken Sword II: The Smoking Mirror and Broken Sword: The Sleeping Dragon.Two versions of the demo are available online; one in German with English subtitles and one with English subtitles and no voices. The game is designed in 2D trying to follow the steps of the first two games.

			A version for ] and ] was released on January 20, 2010. Later in May, a version with higher resolution and a digital comic was released on the ].<ref name="metaipad" /> A PC version was released on August 27 on various digital distribution services.
	===Broken Sword games on the Nintendo DS===
	] is currently attempting to gauge interest in bringing the Broken Sword series to the ] handheld gaming system. To that end, ] posted a at the website. The petition is an attempt to gauge interest in such titles on ]'s handheld in a more traditional 2D format. It isn't clear if this would lead to a port of the first two games, or entirely new games in the series. Press release on the future DS project is expected before the end of November 2007.

			''Broken Sword: The Smoking Mirror – Remastered'' for ] devices<ref>{{cite web\|date=December 9, 2010 \|url=http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2010-12-09-broken-sword-2-remastered-announced \|title=''Broken Sword: The Smoking Mirror – Remastered'' announced \|website=] \|access-date=April 18, 2012 \|url-status=live \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120711051958/http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2010-12-09-broken-sword-2-remastered-announced \|archive-date=July 11, 2012}}</ref> was released on December 16, 2010.<ref name="metaios" /> The new features include an exclusive interactive digital comic from Dave Gibbons, fully animated facial expressions, enhanced graphics, high quality music, a context-sensitive hint system, diary, and a ] integration which facilitates a unique cross-platform save-game feature, enabling players to enjoy the same adventure simultaneously on multiple devices. It also featured full ] integration – including in-game achievements.<ref name="metaios" /> The ] and ] versions followed in early 2011.<ref>{{cite web\|date=April 25, 2011 \|url=http://revolution.co.uk/?m=201104 \|title=Revolution Software: ''Broken Sword: The Smoking Mirror – Remastered'' – Mac App Store \|publisher=] \|url-status=dead \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120126065318/http://revolution.co.uk/?m=201104 \|archive-date=January 26, 2012}}</ref>
	== Movie ==
	On ] ], it was announced that ] had begun work of bringing the popular game franchise to the silver screen.

			===''The Serpent's Curse''===
	==Trivia==
			A fifth title in the series, '']'', was in development for six months and returned to the series' 2D graphical style; it was released in 2013. Cecil said that, despite interest from the "industry's biggest third party publisher",<ref> {{webarchive\|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120824134028/http://www.edge-online.com/news/biggest-thirdparty-publisher-wanted-broken-sword-5 \|date=August 24, 2012}}. Edge. Retrieved on 2012-08-23.</ref> funding for the game's remaining development was sought via ] with a target of $400,000. It received its funding of $771,561 in September 2012.<ref> {{webarchive\|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120824134033/http://www.edge-online.com/news/broken-sword-serpent%E2%80%99s-curse-launches-kickstarter \|date=August 24, 2012}}. Edge. Retrieved on 2012-08-23.</ref><ref> {{webarchive\|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120825233547/http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2012-08-23-revolution-announces-broken-sword-5-kickstarter \|date=August 25, 2012}}. Eurogamer. Retrieved on 2012-08-23.</ref>
	{{trivia\|date=November 2007}}
	*Every game takes place in two continents:
	**''The Shadow of the Templars'' - ] and ];
	**''The Smoking Mirror'' - Europe and ];
	**''The Sleeping Dragon'' - ] and Europe;
	**''The Angel of Death'' - North America and Europe (however, the intro sequence shows ] in Africa).
	*There is some religious ritual at the end of every game (in ''The Smoking Mirror'' and ''The Angel of Death'' there are also rituals at the beginning).
	*Only George and Nico make a physical appearance in every game. However, André Lobineau and Duane Henderson appear in three of them.

			===''Remaster Test by Tony Warriner''===
	== External links ==
			In August 2021, ] did a test run to see how ''Broken Sword 1'' would look as a remastered game, and was kind enough to share the screenshots with Pixel Refresh.<ref>{{cite news \|last1=Woodcock \|first1=James \|title=Broken Sword Remastered – Dreaming with AI Upscaling \|url=https://www.pixelrefresh.com/broken-sword-remastered-dreaming-with-ai-upscaling/ \|access-date=7 April 2022 \|date=1 Aug 2021}}</ref>
	*

	*
			=== ''Shadow of the Templars Reforged'' ===
	*
			At Gamescom 2023 Microsoft announced a remaster of the original ''Broken Sword''. The original game has been remastered in ] resolution using a mixture of AI tools and brand new hand-painted background art. The game also includes new features, such as one that removes incorrect items used in puzzles if the players have used it once already, in order to guide the player to the correct answers. The reforged game is due to release in September 19 2024.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news \|date=2023-09-01 \|title=Broken Sword fans will be delighted by original remaster and brand-new sixth game \|language=en \|work=Eurogamer.net \|url=https://www.eurogamer.net/broken-sword-fans-will-be-delighted-by-original-remaster-and-brand-new-sixth-game \|access-date=2023-09-13}}</ref> It will be based on the original game, not the director's cut.{{Citation needed\|date=September 2023}}
	*

	*
			=== ''Parzival's Stone'' ===
	*
			Also at the Gamescom 2023 Microsoft event a new game in the series was announced, entitled ''Parzival's Stone''. It will feature a "Super 2D" visual design using hand-painted background art imposed onto three-dimensional scenes to make the game's scenes feel more cinematic and believable.<ref name=":0" />

			==Reception and legacy==
			{{VG Series Reviews
			\| updated = May 2, 2013
			\| game1 = ]
			\| gr1 = (PC) 84.40%<ref>{{cite web\|url=http://www.gamerankings.com/pc/196920-circle-of-blood/index.html \|title=''Circle of Blood'' Reviews \|publisher=] \|access-date=January 13, 2013 \|url-status=live \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130518015909/http://www.gamerankings.com/pc/196920-circle-of-blood/index.html \|archive-date=May 18, 2013}}</ref><br />(GBA) 81.19%<ref>{{cite web\|url=http://www.gamerankings.com/gba/479184-broken-sword-the-shadow-of-the-templars/index.html \|title=''Broken Sword: The Shadow of the Templars'' Reviews \|publisher=] \|access-date=January 13, 2013 \|url-status=live \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130408100833/http://www.gamerankings.com/gba/479184-broken-sword-the-shadow-of-the-templars/index.html \|archive-date=April 8, 2013}}</ref><br />(PS1) 80.83%<ref>{{cite web\|url=http://www.gamerankings.com/ps/196824-broken-sword-the-shadow-of-the-templars/index.html \|title=''Broken Sword: The Shadow of the Templars'' Reviews \|publisher=] \|access-date=January 13, 2013 \|url-status=live \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121126155317/http://www.gamerankings.com/ps/196824-broken-sword-the-shadow-of-the-templars/index.html \|archive-date=November 26, 2012}}</ref>
			\| mc1 = (PC) 80/100<ref name=bs1metapc>{{cite web\|url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/broken-sword-the-shadow-of-the-templars/critic-reviews/?platform=pc \|title=''Circle of Blood'' Reviews \|website=] \|access-date=January 13, 2013 \|url-status=live \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131222083238/http://www.metacritic.com/game/pc/circle-of-blood \|archive-date=December 22, 2013}}</ref><br />(GBA) 80/100<ref>{{cite web\|url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/broken-sword-the-shadow-of-the-templars/critic-reviews/?platform=game-boy-advance \|title=''Broken Sword: The Shadow of the Templars'' Reviews \|website=] \|access-date=January 13, 2013 \|url-status=live \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130501002101/http://www.metacritic.com/game/game-boy-advance/broken-sword-the-shadow-of-the-templars \|archive-date=May 1, 2013}}</ref>
			\| game2 = ]
			\| gr2 = (iOS) 79.00%<ref>{{cite web\|url=http://www.gamerankings.com/iphone/617973-broken-sword-the-smoking-mirror-remastered/index.html \|title=''Broken Sword – The Smoking Mirror: Remastered'' Reviews \|publisher=] \|access-date=January 13, 2013 \|url-status=live \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130412225415/http://www.gamerankings.com/iphone/617973-broken-sword-the-smoking-mirror-remastered/index.html \|archive-date=April 12, 2013}}</ref><br />(PS1) 73.09%<ref>{{cite web\|url=http://www.gamerankings.com/ps/196823-broken-sword-ii-the-smoking-mirror/index.html \|title=''Broken Sword II: The Smoking Mirror'' Reviews \|publisher=] \|access-date=January 13, 2013 \|url-status=live \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130411225423/http://www.gamerankings.com/ps/196823-broken-sword-ii-the-smoking-mirror/index.html \|archive-date=April 11, 2013}}</ref><br />(PC) 70.50%<ref>{{cite web\|url=http://www.gamerankings.com/pc/196825-broken-sword-the-smoking-mirror/index.html \|title=''Broken Sword: The Smoking Mirror'' Reviews \|publisher=] \|access-date=January 13, 2013 \|url-status=live \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121125092951/http://www.gamerankings.com/pc/196825-broken-sword-the-smoking-mirror/index.html \|archive-date=November 25, 2012}}</ref>
			\| mc2 = (iOS) 84/100<ref name=metaios>{{cite web\|url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/broken-sword-the-smoking-mirror-remastered/critic-reviews/?platform=ios-iphoneipad \|title=''Broken Sword – The Smoking Mirror: Remastered'' Reviews \|website=] \|access-date=January 13, 2013 \|url-status=live \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120429112414/http://www.metacritic.com/game/ios/broken-sword---the-smoking-mirror-remastered \|archive-date=April 29, 2012}}</ref><br />(PC) 69/100<ref name=bs2metapc>{{cite web\|url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/broken-sword-the-smoking-mirror/critic-reviews/?platform=pc \|title=''Broken Sword: The Smoking Mirror'' Reviews \|website=] \|access-date=January 13, 2013 \|url-status=live \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130111155927/http://www.metacritic.com/game/pc/broken-sword-the-smoking-mirror \|archive-date=January 11, 2013}}</ref>
			\| game3 = ]
			\| gr3 = (PC) 82.53%<ref>{{cite web\|url=http://www.gamerankings.com/pc/473507-broken-sword-the-sleeping-dragon/index.html \|title=''Broken Sword: The Sleeping Dragon'' Reviews \|publisher=] \|access-date=January 13, 2013 \|url-status=live \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130218221807/http://www.gamerankings.com/pc/473507-broken-sword-the-sleeping-dragon/index.html \|archive-date=February 18, 2013}}</ref><br />(Xbox) 77.15%<ref>{{cite web\|url=http://www.gamerankings.com/xbox/915260-broken-sword-the-sleeping-dragon/index.html \|title=''Broken Sword: The Sleeping Dragon'' Reviews \|publisher=] \|access-date=January 13, 2013 \|url-status=live \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130211154822/http://www.gamerankings.com/xbox/915260-broken-sword-the-sleeping-dragon/index.html \|archive-date=February 11, 2013}}</ref><br />(PS2) 62.00%<ref>{{cite web\|url=http://www.gamerankings.com/ps2/473424-broken-sword-the-sleeping-dragon/index.html \|title=''Broken Sword: The Sleeping Dragon'' Reviews \|publisher=] \|access-date=January 13, 2013 \|url-status=live \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121103114645/http://www.gamerankings.com/ps2/473424-broken-sword-the-sleeping-dragon/index.html \|archive-date=November 3, 2012}}</ref>
			\| mc3 = (PC) 82/100<ref>{{cite web\|url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/broken-sword-the-sleeping-dragon/critic-reviews/?platform=pc \|title=''Broken Sword: The Sleeping Dragon'' Reviews \|website=] \|access-date=January 13, 2013 \|url-status=live \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130105161216/http://www.metacritic.com/game/pc/broken-sword-the-sleeping-dragon \|archive-date=January 5, 2013}}</ref><br />(Xbox) 77/100<ref>{{cite web\|url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/broken-sword-the-sleeping-dragon/critic-reviews/?platform=xbox \|title=''Broken Sword: The Sleeping Dragon'' Reviews \|website=] \|access-date=January 13, 2013 \|url-status=live \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130324001612/http://www.metacritic.com/game/xbox/broken-sword-the-sleeping-dragon \|archive-date=March 24, 2013}}</ref>
			\| game4 = ]
			\| gr4 = (PC) 75.03%<ref>{{cite web\|url=http://www.gamerankings.com/pc/929468-secrets-of-the-ark-a-broken-sword-game/index.html \|title=''Secrets of the Ark: A Broken Sword Game'' Reviews \|publisher=] \|access-date=January 13, 2013 \|url-status=live \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121125052040/http://www.gamerankings.com/pc/929468-secrets-of-the-ark-a-broken-sword-game/index.html \|archive-date=November 25, 2012}}</ref>
			\| mc4 = (PC) 73/100<ref>{{cite web\|url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/secrets-of-the-ark-a-broken-sword-game/critic-reviews/?platform=pc \|title=''Secrets of the Ark: A Broken Sword Game'' Reviews \|website=] \|access-date=January 13, 2013 \|url-status=live \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130126170835/http://www.metacritic.com/game/pc/secrets-of-the-ark-a-broken-sword-game \|archive-date=January 26, 2013}}</ref>
			\| game5 = ]
			\| gr5 = (iOS) 94.00%<ref>{{cite web\|url=http://www.gamerankings.com/iphone/988093-broken-sword-directors-cut/index.html \|title=''Broken Sword: Director's Cut'' Reviews \|publisher=] \|access-date=January 13, 2013 \|url-status=live \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130412233102/http://www.gamerankings.com/iphone/988093-broken-sword-directors-cut/index.html \|archive-date=April 12, 2013}}</ref><br />(HD) 86.67%<ref>{{cite web\|url=http://www.gamerankings.com/iphone/997180-broken-sword-directors-cut-hd/index.html \|title=''Broken Sword: Director's Cut HD'' Reviews \|publisher=] \|access-date=January 13, 2013 \|url-status=live \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130412221732/http://www.gamerankings.com/iphone/997180-broken-sword-directors-cut-hd/index.html \|archive-date=April 12, 2013}}</ref><br />(NDS) 80.87%<ref>{{cite web\|url=http://www.gamerankings.com/ds/955010-broken-sword-shadow-of-the-templars-the-directors-cut/index.html \|title=''Broken Sword: Shadow of the Templars (The Director's Cut)'' Reviews \|publisher=] \|access-date=January 13, 2013 \|url-status=live \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121125172009/http://www.gamerankings.com/ds/955010-broken-sword-shadow-of-the-templars-the-directors-cut/index.html \|archive-date=November 25, 2012}}</ref><br />(Wii) 76.15%<ref>{{cite web\|url=http://www.gamerankings.com/wii/954826-broken-sword/index.html \|title=''Broken Sword: Shadow of the Templars (The Director's Cut)'' Reviews \|publisher=] \|access-date=January 13, 2013 \|url-status=live \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130411231650/http://www.gamerankings.com/wii/954826-broken-sword/index.html \|archive-date=April 11, 2013}}</ref><br />(PC) 60.00%<ref>{{cite web\|url=http://www.gamerankings.com/pc/605725-broken-sword-shadow-of-the-templars-the-directors-cut/index.html \|title=''Broken Sword: Shadow of the Templars (The Director's Cut)'' Reviews \|publisher=] \|access-date=January 13, 2013 \|url-status=live \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131103020327/http://www.gamerankings.com/pc/605725-broken-sword-shadow-of-the-templars-the-directors-cut/index.html \|archive-date=November 3, 2013}}</ref>
			\| mc5 = (iOS) 91/100<ref>{{cite web\|url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/broken-sword-shadow-of-the-templars/critic-reviews/?platform=ios-iphoneipad \|title=''Broken Sword: Director's Cut'' Reviews \|website=] \|access-date=January 13, 2013 \|url-status=live \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121105200509/http://www.metacritic.com/game/ios/broken-sword-directors-cut \|archive-date=November 5, 2012}}</ref><br />(HD) 84/100<ref name=metaipad>{{cite web\|url=http://www.metacritic.com/game/ios/broken-sword-directors-cut-hd \|title=''Broken Sword: Director's Cut HD'' Reviews \|website=] \|access-date=January 13, 2013 \|url-status=dead \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111231080516/http://www.metacritic.com/game/ios/broken-sword-directors-cut-hd \|archive-date=December 31, 2011}}</ref><br />(NDS) 78/100<ref>{{cite web\|url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/broken-sword-shadow-of-the-templars/critic-reviews/?platform=ds \|title=''Broken Sword: Shadow of the Templars (The Director's Cut)'' Reviews \|website=] \|access-date=January 13, 2013 \|url-status=live \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131107050811/http://www.metacritic.com/game/ds/broken-sword-shadow-of-the-templars-the-directors-cut \|archive-date=November 7, 2013}}</ref><br />(Wii) 74/100<ref>{{cite web\|url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/broken-sword-shadow-of-the-templars/critic-reviews/?platform=wii \|title=''Broken Sword: Shadow of the Templars (The Director's Cut)'' Reviews \|website=] \|access-date=January 13, 2013 \|url-status=live \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120416080048/http://www.metacritic.com/game/wii/broken-sword-shadow-of-the-templars-the-directors-cut \|archive-date=April 16, 2012}}</ref>
			\| game6 = ]
			\| gr6 = (XONE) 74.18%<ref>{{cite web\|url=http://www.gamerankings.com/xboxone/175975-broken-sword-5-the-serpents-curse/index.html \|title=''Broken Sword 5: The Serpent's Curse'' Reviews \|publisher=] \|access-date=January 13, 2013 \|url-status=live \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150904090332/http://www.gamerankings.com/xboxone/175975-broken-sword-5-the-serpents-curse/index.html \|archive-date=September 4, 2015}}</ref><br />(PS4) 73.56%<ref>{{cite web\|url=http://www.gamerankings.com/ps4/175974-broken-sword-5-the-serpents-curse/index.html \|title=''Broken Sword 5: The Serpent's Curse'' Reviews \|publisher=] \|access-date=January 13, 2013 \|url-status=live \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150903000454/http://www.gamerankings.com/ps4/175974-broken-sword-5-the-serpents-curse/index.html \|archive-date=September 3, 2015}}</ref>
			\| mc6 = (XONE) 77/100<ref>{{cite web\|url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/broken-sword-the-serpents-curse/critic-reviews/?platform=xbox-one \|title=''Broken Sword 5: The Serpent's Curse'' Reviews \|website=] \|access-date=January 13, 2013 \|url-status=live \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150902205227/http://www.metacritic.com/game/xbox-one/broken-sword-5-the-serpents-curse \|archive-date=September 2, 2015}}</ref><br />(PS4) 72/100<ref>{{cite web\|url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/broken-sword-the-serpents-curse/critic-reviews/?platform=playstation-4 \|title=''Broken Sword 5: The Serpent's Curse'' Reviews \|website=] \|access-date=January 13, 2013 \|url-status=live \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150901130742/http://www.metacritic.com/game/playstation-4/broken-sword-5-the-serpents-curse \|archive-date=September 1, 2015}}</ref>
			}}

			===Sales and critical reception===
			The ''Broken Sword'' franchise is Europe's most successful adventure series, selling six million units; ''The Shadow of the Templars'' and ''The Smoking Mirror'' are Revolution's best-selling titles, each selling a million copies. With the decline of the adventure genre at the beginning of the 2000s, sales of the ''Broken Sword'' series decreased as well, with ''The Sleeping Dragon'' and ''The Angel of Death'' selling a few hundred thousand copies. During the so-called "adventure renaissance", the two ''Broken Sword'' remakes were met with success; in 2011, the ''Director's Cut'' and ''The Smoking Mirror: Remastered'' sold 500,000 copies on the iOS alone.{{Citation needed\|date=July 2019}} By 2005, before the release of ''Broken Sword 4'', the series had shipped above 2.5 million units to retailers worldwide.<ref></ref>

			The series' installments have received positive reviews, with ''The Shadow of the Templars'' often being cited as a classic in the adventure genre, ranking high on various "top" lists. The remakes were met with acclaim, most notably the iOS versions, often called one of the best games on the platform.

			===Other media===
			In May 2007, ] was interested in making a film based on the game franchise.<ref>{{Cite web\|date=May 21, 2007 \|url=http://www.comingsoon.net/news/movienews.php?id=20540 \|title=Broken Sword Movie Begins \|publisher=] \|access-date=June 28, 2012 \|url-status=live \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121001064711/http://www.comingsoon.net/news/movienews.php?id=20540 \|archive-date=October 1, 2012}}</ref>

			] produced comics for each remake of the first two ''Broken Sword'' games; ''Broken Sword: The Shadow of the Templars – Director's Cut'', and ''Broken Sword: The Smoking Mirror – Remastered''.<ref>{{cite web\|first=Jack \|last=Allin \|url=http://www.adventuregamers.com/article/id,1122 \|title=''Adventure Gamers'': Broken Sword – Director's Cut comic giveaway \|publisher=] \|access-date=February 15, 2012 \|url-status=live \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120307042510/http://www.adventuregamers.com/article/id%2C1122 \|archive-date=March 7, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite book \| title = Broken Sword II: The Smoking Mirror – Remastered Comic \| publisher = ] \| year = 2010}}</ref>

			In September 2008, ''mindFactory'' released a fan-made ] ''Broken Sword'' game, called ''Broken Sword 2.5: The Return of the Templars''.<ref>{{cite web\|date=September 28, 2008 \|url=http://brokensword25.com/ \|title=mindFactory: ''Broken Sword 2.5: The Return of the Templars'' \|publisher=mindFactory \|url-status=live \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120205005710/http://www.brokensword25.com/ \|archive-date=February 5, 2012}}</ref>

			===Awards and nominations===
			{\| class="wikitable"
			\|-
			!Year
			!Publication or ceremony
			!Nominated game
			!Award
			!Result
			!Ref.
			\|-
			\|rowspan="2"\|1997
			\|''Generation 4''
			\|rowspan="2"\|'']''
			\|Best Adventure 1997
			\|{{won}}
			\|rowspan="2" style="text-align:center;"\|<ref name=BS1Awards>{{cite web\|date=July 18, 2011 \|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kcUcl23D7mA#t=461 \|title=''TEDxYork'': Charles Cecil – Revolution Games :: "Broken Sword: The Shadow of the Templars \|publisher=] \|access-date=April 18, 2012 \|url-status=live \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131205195914/http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kcUcl23D7mA \|archive-date=December 5, 2013}}</ref>
			\|-
			\|''Quest magazine''
			\|Best Quest
			\|{{won}}
			\|-
			\|rowspan="4"\|2003
			\|rowspan="3"\|'']''
			\|rowspan="5"\|'']''
			\|Best Design
			\|{{nom}}
			\|rowspan="3" style="text-align:center;"\|<ref name=BS3Awards>{{cite web\|year=2003\|url=http://www.1up.com/news/bafta-game-awards-nominees\|title=''1UP'': BAFTA Game Awards Nominees\|website=]\|access-date=April 18, 2012}}</ref>
			\|-
			\|Best PC Game
			\|{{nom}}
			\|-
			\|Best Adventure Game
			\|{{nom}}
			\|-
			\|'']''
			\|Best Adventure Game of 2003
			\|{{won}}
			\|style="text-align:center;"\|<ref>{{cite web\|date=February 25, 2004 \|url=http://www.revolution.co.uk/ \|title=''Revolution Software'' (Former website "2004," WayBack Machine) \|publisher=] \|access-date=April 18, 2012 \|url-status=dead \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040225043704/http://www.revolution.co.uk/ \|archive-date=February 25, 2004}}</ref>
			\|-
			\|-
			\|2004
			\|'']''
			\|Excellence in Writing
			\|{{nom}}
			\|style="text-align:center;"\|<ref>{{cite web\|year=2004 \|url=http://www.gamechoiceawards.com/archive/gdca_4th.html \|title=4th Annual ''Game Developers Choice Awards'' \|publisher=] \|access-date=April 18, 2012 \|url-status=live \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120415190322/http://www.gamechoiceawards.com/archive/gdca_4th.html \|archive-date=April 15, 2012}}</ref>
			\|-
			\|2009
			\|'']''
			\|rowspan="2"\|'']''
			\|Best Story
			\|{{nom}}
			\|style="text-align:center;"\|<ref>{{cite web \|date=February 16, 2010 \|url=http://www.bafta.org/awards/video-games/nominations-in-2010,1017,BA.html \|title=''Video Games Awards'' 2010 \|publisher=] \|access-date=February 15, 2012 \|url-status=dead \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110503202053/http://www.bafta.org/awards/video-games/nominations-in-2010,1017,BA.html \|archive-date=May 3, 2011 \|df=mdy-all}}</ref>
			\|-
			\|rowspan="3"\|2010
			\|rowspan="2"\|'']''
			\|Pocket Gamer Gold Award
			\|{{won}}
			\|style="text-align:center;"\|<ref>{{cite web\|date=June 28, 2012 \|url=http://www.pocketgamer.co.uk/r/Android/Broken+Sword%3A+Director%27s+Cut/news.asp?c=42432 \|title=Classic point-and-click title ''Broken Sword: The Director's Cut'' makes its way onto Android \|publisher=] \|access-date=June 30, 2012 \|url-status=live \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120629113530/http://www.pocketgamer.co.uk/r/Android/Broken%2BSword%3A%2BDirector%27s%2BCut/news.asp?c=42432 \|archive-date=June 29, 2012}}</ref>
			\|-
			\|'']''
			\|Pocket Gamer Silver Award
			\|{{won}}
			\|style="text-align:center;"\|<ref>{{cite web\|date=January 6, 2011 \|url=http://www.pocketgamer.co.uk/r/Multiformat/Broken+Sword+-+The+Smoking+Mirror%3A+Remastered/news.asp?c=26467 \|title=''Broken Sword – The Smoking Mirror'' now compatible with 2nd-gen iOS devices \|publisher=] \|access-date=June 30, 2012 \|url-status=live \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304074307/http://www.pocketgamer.co.uk/r/Multiformat/Broken%2BSword%2B-%2BThe%2BSmoking%2BMirror%3A%2BRemastered/news.asp?c=26467 \|archive-date=March 4, 2016}}</ref>
			\|-
			\|'']' ]''
			\|rowspan="3"\|''Broken Sword: The Shadow of the Templars – Director's Cut''
			\|Best Port/Updated Re-release
			\|{{nom}}
			\|style="text-align:center;"\|<ref>{{cite web\|date=February 5, 2010 \|url=http://www.adventuregamers.com/article/id,1124/p,2 \|title=''Adventure Gamers'': 2009 Aggie Award nominees \|publisher=] \|access-date=April 18, 2012 \|url-status=live \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100209191943/http://adventuregamers.com/article/id%2C1124/p%2C2 \|archive-date=February 9, 2010}}</ref>
			\|-
			\|rowspan="2"\|2011
			\|'']''
			\|Best Adventure/RPG Game
			\|{{nom}}
			\|style="text-align:center;"\|<ref>{{cite web\|date=February 23, 2011 \|url=http://www.pocketgamer.co.uk/r/Multiformat/Pocket+Gamer+Awards/feature.asp?c=27752 \|title=The ''Pocket Gamer Awards'' 2011: The Finalists \|publisher=] \|access-date=June 30, 2012 \|url-status=live \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120606061333/http://www.pocketgamer.co.uk/r/Multiformat/Pocket%2BGamer%2BAwards/feature.asp?c=27752 \|archive-date=June 6, 2012}}</ref>
			\|-
			\|'']''
			\|Best European Adventure
			\|{{won}}
			\|style="text-align:center;"\|<ref name=bestadventure>{{cite web \|year=2010 \|url=http://european-games-award.com/ \|title=''European Games Awards'' 2011 Winners \|publisher=] \|access-date=April 18, 2012 \|url-status=dead \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120415092901/http://www.european-games-award.com/ \|archive-date=April 15, 2012}}</ref>
			\|}

			==References==
			{{Reflist\|30em}}

			==External links==
			{{Wikiquote}}
			* at ]

	{{Broken Sword series}}		{{Broken Sword series}}

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Latest revision as of 17:51, 7 November 2024

Video game series This article is about the video game series. For the novel, see The Broken Sword. For other uses, see Broken Sword (disambiguation).

Video game series

Broken Sword

Genre(s)	Point-and-click adventure Adventure
Developer(s)	Revolution Software (in partnership with Sumo Digital in 2006)
Creator(s)	Charles Cecil
Platform(s)	Android, Game Boy Advance, iOS, Linux, Mac OS, Nintendo DS, Nintendo Switch, Palm OS, PlayStation, PlayStation 2, PlayStation 4, PlayStation Vita, Wii, Windows, Windows Mobile, Xbox, Xbox One
First release	Broken Sword: The Shadow of the Templars 30 September 1996
Latest release	Broken Sword - Shadow of the Templars: Reforged 19 September 2024

Broken Sword is a series of adventure games. The first game in the series, Broken Sword: The Shadow of the Templars, was released and developed in 1996 by British developer Revolution Software. Its sequel, Broken Sword II: The Smoking Mirror, was released a year later, and was followed by Broken Sword: The Sleeping Dragon in 2003, Broken Sword: The Angel of Death in 2006, and Broken Sword 5: The Serpent's Curse in 2013. A remake of the first game in the series, known as Broken Sword: Shadow of the Templars – The Director's Cut, was released in 2009, and a remake of the second game in the series, Broken Sword: The Smoking Mirror – Remastered, in 2010 for iOS devices; other platforms followed in 2011.

The main protagonists of the series are George Stobbart, an American patent lawyer, and Nicole "Nico" Collard, a French freelance journalist. While Nico does not appear as a playable character in the original version of The Shadow of the Templars, she does become playable in the Director's Cut.

The Broken Sword series was conceived in 1994 by Charles Cecil, Noirin Carmody and Sean Brennan, while talking about the mythology of the Knights Templar. The first three games in the series as well as the fifth game were developed by Revolution Software, while the fourth game was co-developed by Revolution and Sumo Digital. The Shadow of the Templars and The Smoking Mirror were critical and commercial successes, selling millions. However, The Sleeping Dragon and The Angel of Death received mixed reviews and were not as popular as the first two games. This was mainly due to the switch to 3D graphics and because the third game left the "point and click" interface for a more action-oriented gameplay. The latest game in the series, The Serpent's Curse, returned to the series' 2D roots. The series appeared on several top adventure game lists. A comic book was produced for each remake of the first two Broken Sword games.

Games

Game
Game	Release year	Developer	Platforms

Broken Sword: The Shadow of the Templars	1996	Revolution Software	Windows, Mac OS, Linux, PlayStation, Game Boy Advance, Palm OS, Wii, Nintendo DS, iOS, Android
The Shadow of the Templars, known as Circle of Blood in North America, is the first game in the series, and developed by Revolution Software. Originally released in 1996 on Windows, Mac OS and PlayStation, the game was later ported on Game Boy Advance and Palm OS, then re-released with new content as Shadow of the Templars the director's cut first on Wii and Nintendo DS and later ported on Windows, Mac OS X, Linux, iOS and Android. In The Shadow of the Templars, the player assumes the role of George Stobbart – a young American who is an eyewitness and victim of a bomb attack on a small Parisian café. It garnered critical acclaim and sold around one million units.

Broken Sword II: The Smoking Mirror	1997	Revolution Software	Windows, PlayStation, Mac OS, iOS, Android, Linux
With the success of The Shadow of the Templars, Revolution began work on The Smoking Mirror, which was released a year later. Originally released on Windows and PlayStation, it was re-released on Windows, Mac OS X, Linux, iOS and Android as a remastered edition. It is the only game in the series not to involve the Knights Templar. The Smoking Mirror was a commercial success, selling around one million units, but was not as acclaimed as the first game.

Broken Sword: The Sleeping Dragon	2003	Revolution Software	Windows, Xbox, PlayStation 2
The third game, The Sleeping Dragon, was a departure from the gameplay style of previous games in the series, featuring 3D graphics, and the only game in the series to use a direct control interface. It continues the story of The Shadow of the Templars. The game received highly positive reviews from critics and sold several hundred thousand copies.

Broken Sword: The Angel of Death	2006	Revolution Software, Sumo Digital	Windows
The fourth installment in the series, The Angel of Death, was co-developed by Revolution and Sumo Digital. While the game featured 3D graphics, it returned to the point and click interface. It sold several hundred thousand copies, but received mixed reviews.

Broken Sword 5: The Serpent's Curse	2013-2014	Revolution Software	Windows, OS X, Linux, iOS, TvOS, Android, PlayStation Vita, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch
The fifth Broken Sword game, The Serpent's Curse, is the first installment to receive its funding from Kickstarter during its conception. Released in December 2013, the game returned to the series' 2D roots.

Broken Sword: Parzival's Stone	TBA	Revolution Software	Windows, OS X, Linux, iOS, Android, Consoles
The sixth Broken Sword game, Parzival's Stone, was announced during the Xbox Gamescom conference in 2023.

Story overview

In The Shadow of the Templars, American George Stobbart is touring Europe. He becomes both a witness and victim of a bomb attack on a Parisian café "La Chandelle Verte", caused by a clown, later revealed to be an assassin named Khan. The perpetrator steals an old man's briefcase and sets off a bomb inside the café. Stobbart meets a French photo-journalist, Nicole "Nico" Collard, a resident of Rue Jarry in Paris, with whom he tries to discover who is responsible for the murder of the old man, Plantard, and while doing so, end up unraveling a conspiracy relating to the Knights Templar. The third and fourth game, The Sleeping Dragon and The Angel of Death, follow the Templar-related storyline: The Sleeping Dragon continuing the story from The Shadow of the Templars with a number of returning characters, while in The Angel of Death, George and Nico, with a newly introduced character Anna-Maria, unravel a mystery related to the Catholic Church. Unlike the other installments, in The Smoking Mirror, George and Nico unravel a Mayan mystery, involving the Mayan god Tezcatlipoca. The Serpent's Curse follows a storyline related to the Gnostic Gospels.

Development

The Shadow of the Templars and The Smoking Mirror

Video game designer, writer and director Charles Cecil began working on the scenario for Broken Sword, Revolution Software's third game following Lure of the Temptress (1992) and Beneath a Steel Sky (1994), in 1992, which would be set in Paris with a Knights Templar storyline. After visiting Paris and reading The Holy Blood and the Holy Grail, Cecil was certain the Templars would be a good subject for a game. Cecil, Dave Cummins and Jonathan L. Howard began work on the story and design. Cecil and Cummins attended a film-writing course and their script was read by senior BBC scriptwriter and dramatist Alan Drury. Steve Ince, who created initial location sketches for the game before working on Beneath a Steel Sky, was promoted to producer halfway through the project. In 1994 Cecil and Noirin Carmody met with Sean Brennan, then-head of publishing at Virgin Interactive, and Virgin agreed to publish the game's PC version, but were not interested in publishing the game on the PlayStation, feeling that only 3D games would sell for the console. As a result, Cecil contacted Sony Computer Entertainment, who agreed to publish the game for the console. Tony Warriner and David Sykes were the game's designer-programmer Carmody the executive producer. The game uses the Virtual Theatre engine, as do Revolution's previous two games.

One of Cecil's goals was to depart from the humour-based adventure games more popular at the time by creating a game with good pacing and a complex storyline, a reason he thought the Knights Templar would be an ideal subject. Broken Sword offered a unique "conversation icon" system which would not reveal to the player what the protagonist was about to say; Cecil's intention was to make the game more cinematic. Although aiming at designing a game with a cinematic feel, Cecil felt the game should not resemble interactive movies of that time, which he felt were "mimicking movies". He wanted to create two protagonists who would exchange ideas, helping drive the game along. He made George American and Nico French to appeal to US and European markets. Revolution believed they needed to utilise the best of other creative industries. Hand drawn artwork was animated by artists including Don Bluth Studios' Eoghan Cahill and Neil Breen and Red Rover Studio's Mike Burgess, resulting in graphics animated in a style resembling classic animated films. The game's final cost was one million pounds.

Broken Sword II: The Smoking Mirror was conceived in 1997, by Cecil and Revolution's crew. The artwork for Broken Sword 2 was developed through a number of stages. Initially pencil drawings were made of characters which were then digitally coloured in, before being cleaned up. The background layouts were produced in a similar way, also starting out as pencil designs. They were all drawn by Eoghan Cahill and Neil Breen, who both previously worked on the original Broken Sword game, while they were now working together with Amy Berenz and Lee Taylor. The music in the game was again composed by Barrington Pheloung, with Bob Sekar adding the closing score. While Rolf Saxon returns to voice actor of George, Jennifer Caron Hall a bilingual actress and daughter of French actress Leslie Caron, was cast as Nico. Theatre director Edward Hall rehearsed the assembled actors and took no more than a week to record the entire game, according to an interview given by Rolf Saxon in 2011. Alternative Magazine The game was first released for Windows on October 31, 1997.

The Sleeping Dragon and The Angel of Death

Revolution first discussed the idea of a third Broken Sword in 2000. At first, The Sleeping Dragon was planned to have similar cartoon-quality visuals to the first two Broken Sword games, but Revolution decided not to use the "flat" look, claiming it lacked visual depth. The team wanted the game to look believable, but not necessarily realistic, similar to Japanese animated films. Textures were hand drawn to achieve the "cartoon" look, while the light-map employed radiosity to create realistic lighting. Advances in hardware plus the changes in methodology allowed the game to move to 24-bit color. To make the game feel like a film, Revolution brought in a cinematic consultant, Bob Keen, who made sure the game conveyed emotions and atmospheres appropriate for each scene. The music in the game was composed by Ben McCullough. The voice recording was scheduled to take five days, but the entire process took four days. The voices were recorded with the voice actors together, enabling better getting into their parts. The full script is 6,000 lines in total, similar to Broken Sword II. While Rolf Saxon returns to voice George, Nico was this time played by Sarah Crook. The game's final cost was two million pounds.

Revolution Software and THQ announced Broken Sword: The Angel of Death in August 2005. According to Charles Cecil, the Broken Sword was originally planned to be a trilogy, but after the release of Broken Sword: The Sleeping Dragon, the demand from fans for a sequel was overwhelming. Though The Sleeping Dragon benefited commercially from being released on console as well as PC, this approach required certain development compromises as the PC version was held back by the constraints of the console versions. As a result, The Angel of Death was written for PC only "so as to really push the boundaries in terms of the technology and graphics". As a series' first, Revolution was not the only developer, but was co-developed by Revolution and Sumo Digital. Cecil believed that because of the requirement for ever larger team sizes, it was no longer possible to maintain a large development team to write single original titles, resulting in Revolution closed the production side in order to concentrate on design, and Sumo to concentrate on production. It was the first game to use the amBX lighting technology. Broken Sword: The Sleeping Dragon was criticised for featuring a high number of action elements. Cecil stated that he aimed to put the player under pressure. While he still stood behind this principle, he thought the action elements were not the right approach. The Sleeping Dragon was also criticised for using a high number of crate puzzles, resulting in Cecil reducing the number of them. The music in the game was composed by Ben McCullough and features tracks by Übernoise. While Rolf Saxon returns to voice George Stobbart, Nicole "Nico" Collard was this time played by Katherine Pageon.

The Shadow of the Templars – Director's Cut and The Smoking Mirror – Remastered

On March 21, 2009, Ubisoft released a special edition of The Shadow of the Templars for the Wii and Nintendo DS. According to Cecil, the Director's Cut came about thanks to a group of Broken Sword fans, who started an online petition begging him to bring the series to the Wii and DS.

When considering the project, Cecil played the game again and noticed many issues, including that backgrounds were pixelated, the movies and audio were of poor quality, and he also felt some dialogue was out of place. He thought all these elements could be addressed and improved in a remastered edition, in which they could add a diary, hint system, and new artwork from Dave Gibbons, which they could offer as an interactive digital comic.

The game starts a day before the Parisian cafe explosion in the original game, filling in some of Nicole Collard's back-story. Gibbons, with whom Revolution worked previously on their 1994 cult classic adventure Beneath a Steel Sky, worked on visual references for the game; he also produced a comic book to accompany the game's DS release.

Hazel Ellerby returns to voice Nicole Collard in the new sections, playing Nico again for the first time since the original game's release. Rolf Saxon, as in every sequel, also returns to voice George Stobbart. Unlike in the original game, players control Nicole Collard for selected game sections. Besides the new character artwork by Gibbons during conversations, the Director's Cut also features a new first person view for certain puzzles. In the DS version, there is no spoken dialogue, only subtitles.

A version for iPhone and iPod Touch was released on January 20, 2010. Later in May, a version with higher resolution and a digital comic was released on the iPad. A PC version was released on August 27 on various digital distribution services.

Broken Sword: The Smoking Mirror – Remastered for Apple iOS devices was released on December 16, 2010. The new features include an exclusive interactive digital comic from Dave Gibbons, fully animated facial expressions, enhanced graphics, high quality music, a context-sensitive hint system, diary, and a Dropbox integration which facilitates a unique cross-platform save-game feature, enabling players to enjoy the same adventure simultaneously on multiple devices. It also featured full Game Center integration – including in-game achievements. The Mac and PC versions followed in early 2011.

The Serpent's Curse

A fifth title in the series, Broken Sword 5: The Serpent's Curse, was in development for six months and returned to the series' 2D graphical style; it was released in 2013. Cecil said that, despite interest from the "industry's biggest third party publisher", funding for the game's remaining development was sought via Kickstarter with a target of $400,000. It received its funding of $771,561 in September 2012.

Remaster Test by Tony Warriner

In August 2021, Tony Warriner did a test run to see how Broken Sword 1 would look as a remastered game, and was kind enough to share the screenshots with Pixel Refresh.

Shadow of the Templars Reforged

At Gamescom 2023 Microsoft announced a remaster of the original Broken Sword. The original game has been remastered in 4K resolution using a mixture of AI tools and brand new hand-painted background art. The game also includes new features, such as one that removes incorrect items used in puzzles if the players have used it once already, in order to guide the player to the correct answers. The reforged game is due to release in September 19 2024. It will be based on the original game, not the director's cut.

Parzival's Stone

Also at the Gamescom 2023 Microsoft event a new game in the series was announced, entitled Parzival's Stone. It will feature a "Super 2D" visual design using hand-painted background art imposed onto three-dimensional scenes to make the game's scenes feel more cinematic and believable.

Reception and legacy

Aggregate review scores
*As of May 2, 2013.*
Game	GameRankings	Metacritic
The Shadow of the Templars	(PC) 84.40% (GBA) 81.19% (PS1) 80.83%	(PC) 80/100 (GBA) 80/100
The Smoking Mirror	(iOS) 79.00% (PS1) 73.09% (PC) 70.50%	(iOS) 84/100 (PC) 69/100
The Sleeping Dragon	(PC) 82.53% (Xbox) 77.15% (PS2) 62.00%	(PC) 82/100 (Xbox) 77/100
The Angel of Death	(PC) 75.03%	(PC) 73/100
The Shadow of the Templars – Director's Cut	(iOS) 94.00% (HD) 86.67% (NDS) 80.87% (Wii) 76.15% (PC) 60.00%	(iOS) 91/100 (HD) 84/100 (NDS) 78/100 (Wii) 74/100
The Serpent's Curse	(XONE) 74.18% (PS4) 73.56%	(XONE) 77/100 (PS4) 72/100

Sales and critical reception

The Broken Sword franchise is Europe's most successful adventure series, selling six million units; The Shadow of the Templars and The Smoking Mirror are Revolution's best-selling titles, each selling a million copies. With the decline of the adventure genre at the beginning of the 2000s, sales of the Broken Sword series decreased as well, with The Sleeping Dragon and The Angel of Death selling a few hundred thousand copies. During the so-called "adventure renaissance", the two Broken Sword remakes were met with success; in 2011, the Director's Cut and The Smoking Mirror: Remastered sold 500,000 copies on the iOS alone. By 2005, before the release of Broken Sword 4, the series had shipped above 2.5 million units to retailers worldwide.

The series' installments have received positive reviews, with The Shadow of the Templars often being cited as a classic in the adventure genre, ranking high on various "top" lists. The remakes were met with acclaim, most notably the iOS versions, often called one of the best games on the platform.

Other media

In May 2007, Charles Cecil was interested in making a film based on the game franchise.

Dave Gibbons produced comics for each remake of the first two Broken Sword games; Broken Sword: The Shadow of the Templars – Director's Cut, and Broken Sword: The Smoking Mirror – Remastered.

In September 2008, mindFactory released a fan-made freeware Broken Sword game, called Broken Sword 2.5: The Return of the Templars.

Awards and nominations

Year	Publication or ceremony	Nominated game	Award	Result
1997	Generation 4	Broken Sword: The Shadow of the Templars	Best Adventure 1997	Won
1997	Quest magazine	Broken Sword: The Shadow of the Templars	Best Quest	Won
2003	British Academy Video Games Awards	Broken Sword: The Sleeping Dragon	Best Design	Nominated
			Best PC Game	Nominated
			Best Adventure Game	Nominated
	Just Adventure		Best Adventure Game of 2003	Won
2004	Game Developers Choice Awards		Excellence in Writing	Nominated
2009	British Academy Video Games Awards	Broken Sword: The Shadow of the Templars – Director's Cut	Best Story	Nominated
2010	Pocket Gamer	Broken Sword: The Shadow of the Templars – Director's Cut	Pocket Gamer Gold Award	Won
	Pocket Gamer	Broken Sword: The Smoking Mirror – Remastered	Pocket Gamer Silver Award	Won
	Adventure Gamers' 2009 Aggie Awards	Broken Sword: The Shadow of the Templars – Director's Cut	Best Port/Updated Re-release	Nominated
2011	Pocket Gamer Awards		Best Adventure/RPG Game	Nominated
2011	European Games Awards		Best European Adventure	Won

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[afjv] - Un nouveau Broken Sword (Les Chevaliers de Baphomet)
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External links

Broken Sword at MobyGames

v t e Revolution Software
Broken Sword series	The Shadow of the Templars Game Boy Advance Director's Cut II: The Smoking Mirror The Sleeping Dragon The Angel of Death 5: The Serpent's Curse
Steel Sky series	Beneath a Steel Sky Beyond a Steel Sky
Other games	Lure of the Temptress In Cold Blood Gold and Glory: The Road to El Dorado
People	Charles Cecil Tony Warriner Steve Ince
Related	The Goat Puzzle Virtual Theatre

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