Broken Sword 2.5: The Return of the Templars

Contents

Broken Sword 2.5: The Return of the Templars (German: Baphomets Fluch 2.5: Die Rückkehr der Tempelritter) is a fan-made freeware game by mindFactory, released on 28 September 2008 for Windows. It is an unofficial entry in the Broken Sword series. It explains the story between Broken Sword II: The Smoking Mirror and Broken Sword: The Sleeping Dragon.[1] The game was in a development for eight years starting in 2000. The game was endorsed by Revolution Software.[2][3]

Plot

After the events of Broken Sword II, George Stobbart left for United States to take care of his dying grandfather. He returns to Paris when he receives a telegram informing that Nico Collard might be dead. He finds her alive and involved in a plot to assassinate the governor of Paris. The story later centers around the return of the Knights Templar and includes a connection to a Chinese emperor.[4]

Gameplay

Broken Sword 2.5 is a 2D adventure game played from a third-person perspective. Via a point-and-click interface,[5] the player guides the characters through the game's world and interacts with the environment by selecting from multiple commands.

Development and release

While officially the development of the game started in December 2000, actual development including programming started in summer or autumn 2001.[6] One of the challenges encountered by the team in 2001 was when the entire game had to be converted from QBasic to Visual C++.[7][8] In July 2002, the release was announced for sometime between January and summer 2003.[5] In June 2003, the release was delayed from end of 2003 to fourth quarter of 2004.[9] A playable tech demo was released in September 2004.[10][11] A standard demo version was released in September 2006.[12] The full game was released on 28 September 2008.[13]

An English-language voice pack was released on October 26, 2010.[13] Compatibility with ScummVM was added in 2016.[14]

Reception

Review scores
PublicationScore
Adventure-Treff5/5[15]
iDNES.cz10/10[16]
Just AdventureB[17]

In a March 2004 preview, PC Action called the music great.[18] Playing the demo version, they were impressed and said it's hard to believe it's a fan project.[19] Previewing a 2006 demo version, Adventure-Treff liked the graphics and audio, and said the voice acting is professionally done, only with one exception.[20] In a 2008 preview of a beta version, PC Games said the developer skillfully mixes old and new elements and locations together. The puzzles were noted as logical and relatively easy.[21]

Just Adventure called the gameplay "smooth, expert and great fun". They criticized the game's short length since the story stops abruptly.[17] Hardcore Gaming 101 praised the dialogue, graphics, and music but criticized the look of the computer generated cutscenes, the rushed plot, and puzzles involving pixel hunting.[4] Chip liked the graphics and voice acting, and called the story exciting, although they noted some clunky narrative moments. The puzzles were remarked as too easy for adventure game veterans.[22] GameStar gave a positive review and said the puzzles are mostly logical and not particularly difficult.[23] Adventure Gamers wrote: "The production values of this game are on par with the original two commercial releases, with detailed graphics and a full orchestral score."[24]

References

  1. 1.Snow, Jean (30 September 2008). "Fans Create New Broken Sword Adventure". Wired. Condé Nast Publications. Archived from the original on 8 November 2012. Retrieved 12 October 2025.
  2. 2.Walker, John (2 March 2010). "There Is No Silver Lining". Rock Paper Shotgun. Gamer Network. Archived from the original on 7 May 2021. Retrieved 12 October 2025.
  3. 3.Brehme, Marc (13 April 2019). "Von Fans für Fans: Wenn Spieler selbst Fortsetzungen zu ihren Lieblingsspielen machen". PC Games (in German). Computec Media. Archived from the original on 13 April 2019. Retrieved 14 October 2025.
  4. 4.[4.2]Kalata, Kurt (14 June 2010). "Broken Sword 2.5: The Return of the Templars". Hardcore Gaming 101. Archived from the original on 29 June 2018. Retrieved 12 October 2025.
  5. 5.[5.2]Hensel, Sebastian (17 July 2002). "Gestriger Chat mit den Entwicklern von Broken Sword 2.5". Adventure-Treff (in German). Archived from the original on 2 November 2024. Retrieved 15 October 2025.
  6. 6."History". Broken Sword 2.5. Archived from the original on 8 December 2002. Retrieved 16 October 2025.
  7. 7.Sillmen, David (28 October 2008). "Pokračování z rukou fanoušků". iDNES.cz (BonusWeb) (in Czech). Mafra. Archived from the original on 13 October 2025. Retrieved 13 October 2025.
  8. 8."Milestones". Broken Sword 2.5. mindFactory. Archived from the original on 1 December 2020. Retrieved 15 October 2025.
  9. 9.Schneider, Jan (15 June 2003). "Fan-Adventure Update". Adventure-Treff (in German). Archived from the original on 29 August 2022. Retrieved 15 October 2025.
  10. 10.Walden, Fabian (6 September 2004). "Baphomets Fluch 2.5 - Tech-Demo". Gameswelt (in German). Entertainment Media Group AG. Archived from the original on 15 October 2025. Retrieved 16 October 2025.
  11. 11.seven (6 September 2004). "Baphomets Fluch 2.5: Engine-Demo erschienen". Adventure-Treff (in German). Archived from the original on 15 October 2025. Retrieved 15 October 2025.
  12. 12.Walden, Fabian (6 September 2006). "Baphomets Fluch 2.5 anspielen". Eurogamer (in German). Gamer Network. Archived from the original on 21 May 2024. Retrieved 15 October 2025.
  13. 13.[13.2]"News". Broken Sword 2.5. mindFactory. 28 September 2008. Archived from the original on 29 September 2025. Retrieved 12 October 2025.
  14. 14.Kauppinen, Jukka O. [in Finnish] (22 March 2016). "Retroseikkailupeliohjelmisto ScummVM tukee kymmentä uutta vanhaa peliä". Muropaketti (in Finnish). Otavamedia. Archived from the original on 13 October 2025. Retrieved 13 October 2025.
  15. 15.Stein, Michael; Schneider, Jan (28 September 2008). "Fanadventure-Test - Baphomets Fluch 2.5". Adventure-Treff (in German). Archived from the original on 29 September 2008. Retrieved 13 October 2025.
  16. 16.Hauerland, Lubomír (11 October 2008). "Týden na Plných Hrách - nášup skvělých her". iDNES.cz (BonusWeb) (in Czech). Mafra. Archived from the original on 13 October 2025. Retrieved 13 October 2025.
  17. 17.[17.2]Collins, Greg (25 February 2009). "Review - Baphomets Fluch 2.5/Broken Sword: The Return of the Templars". Just Adventure. Archived from the original on 28 February 2009. Retrieved 12 October 2025.
  18. 18.Iscitürk, Ahmet (March 2004). "Spielerforum - Verflucht! Noch mal". PC Action (in German). No. 4/2004. Computec Media. p. 128. ISSN 0946-6290.
  19. 19.Iscitürk, Ahmet (October 2004). "Spielerforum - Fluch-Simulator". PC Action (in German). No. 11/2004. Computec Media. p. 142. ISSN 0946-6290.
  20. 20.Schneider, Jan (20 July 2006). "Vorschau - Baphomets Fluch 2.5". Adventure-Treff (in German). Archived from the original on 17 October 2007. Retrieved 13 October 2025.
  21. 21.Brehme, Marc (17 September 2008). "Gratisspiel Baphomets Fluch 2.5: Bilder und Spieleindrücke der Beta". PC Games (in German). Computec Media. Archived from the original on 3 October 2008. Retrieved 13 October 2025.
  22. 22."Spiele-Test: Baphomets Fluch 2.5 (PC)". Chip (in German). CHIP Communications. 10 October 2008. Archived from the original on 4 July 2018. Retrieved 13 October 2025.
  23. 23.Schneider, Christian Fritz (1 October 2008). "Baphomets Fluch 2.5 - Die Fan-Fortsetzung im Gamestar-Check". GameStar (in German). Webedia. Archived from the original on 3 October 2008. Retrieved 13 October 2025.
  24. 24.Brown, Steve (15 November 2010). "Following Freeware: October 2010 releases". Adventure Gamers. Archived from the original on 4 June 2012. Retrieved 13 October 2025.