It’s a tough proposition to take an old PS One game and hope to revitalize it. The point-and-click genre doesn’t even register a heartbeat anymore, so bringing an old game from that genre to GBA is a risk. Though the standard point-and-click interface has been altered to allow direct character control and icon-based selections, the operation is essentially the same. So, the question is, can a game like this survive in today’s market? Survive, yes, but thrive? Not likely. Fortunately BAM and Revolution Software have managed to pull off an engrossing story with Broken Sword: Shadow of the Templars. While the genre won’t likely be resurrected by this title, it will at least get a solid bang before it possibly disappears for good.

Broken Sword makes great use of the GBA color palette. Every scene is rich in color and dazzling eye candy. Hand drawn and colored, there are some locales that will actually have you gawking. And the scenery isn’t static. There are birds flapping their wings, cars passing on the street, and pedestrians working in the background. Though some of the characters seem a bit stiff in their movements, your eyes will be too busy appreciating the environments to notice. With so many characters and such a long story, it’s important for characters to stand out visually as individuals. And they do in Broken Sword. Someone you meet early on is easily recognized eight hours into the game. All around the visuals are a treat, which makes up in some small way for the gameplay limitations. In the handheld world, it’s easy to just expect arcade-like bings and bops for sound. But Broken Sword goes beyond that, offering a solid score that carries throughout the game. Mixed in are the sounds of the city, random chirps from birds, and even the rumble of an explosion.

Broken Sword may not be your game. It’s there for those who love a good story and some attractive surroundings. It’s not difficult or particularly challenging, but it will absolutely hook you. The only thing compelling you to continue the game is your own desire to know what is going on and how the story will end. There’s some nice humor thrown in and the dialogue is surprisingly fresh at times. However, if you are more into action games, platformers, or standard RPGs, this may not be for you. This game is about as old-school PC as you can get, which I found refreshing. Who knows, you may too.