Revolution Software, the U.K. studio behind the classic point-and-click adventure series Broken Sword, is making a comeback after a decade. They have revealed plans for a sixth installment, titled Broken Sword — Parzival’s Stone, as well as a 4K remaster of the original game, The Shadow of the Templars.
The new game and remaster will be available on console, mobile, and Windows PC. The remastered version, Broken Sword — Shadow of the Templars: Reforged, is set to release in early 2024, while the release date for Parzival’s Stone is yet to be announced.
The Broken Sword series is known for its light-hearted, conspiracy-filled adventures with a historical twist, reminiscent of the beloved LucasArts classics from the 1990s. Players follow the journey of American patent lawyer George Stobbart and French journalist Nico Collard as they solve puzzles, uncover secrets, and investigate conspiracies around the world.
Parzival’s Stone will reintroduce 3D graphics to the series, combining them with hand-drawn textures to create a unique visual style dubbed “Super 2D” by creator Charles Cecil. The game will feature a classic point-and-click interface, staying true to the genre’s roots.
In Parzival’s Stone, George and Nico embark on a quest for the mythical Holy Grail, but with unexpected twists. Their journey takes them to Montségur in the South of France, the former stronghold of the Cathar Christian sect. Along the way, they face off against tech entrepreneurs, government agencies, and energy corporations, all while dealing with Nazi treasure hunters and the complexities of quantum physics.
The remastered version of the original game, The Shadow of the Templars, will receive a significant visual upgrade. The hand-drawn, animated-film-style visuals will be enhanced to 4K resolution with fully redrawn assets. This ambitious task was accomplished using a combination of human artists and AI techniques, as the studio’s budget constraints made it necessary. The game’s audio will also be improved, and some minor changes will be made to the story and characterization to align with modern sensibilities. Additionally, gameplay improvements from the Director’s Cut version will be incorporated.
If the remastered version of The Shadow of the Templars proves successful, Revolution Software plans to follow it up with a remaster of the second game in the series, The Smoking Mirror, using the same techniques.
Source: polygon
