The First Templar - Special Edition

The game is cool, the heroes are well made, the story is good. You have combat system with combos and different strikes, different outfits and weapons, different heroes have their own abilities and skills, you have puzzles, exploring is rewarded, you have noble knights, stealth, combat, beautiful noble lady which is very good with daggers and Templars! I like the sound and graphics. And the lady, and the Templars!

The First Templar is an adventure game with hack-and-slash combat, where you mainly play as Celian d'Arestide, a Knight Templar on the quest to find the Holy Grail. He is accompanied mostly by Marie d'Ibelin, a disgraced noblewoman, and sometimes Roland, a fellow Templar. You can switch between the 2 characters anytime, even mid-combat. It can be played on local co-op, but if you prefer not to, AI will control the other character. The levels are linear, but you might find sidequests along the way. They are pretty simple, like saving people or fighting an extra group of enemies. There's also treasures which give XP, a buff that stays until the level's end, or alternate weapons and costumes, but they are simply cosmetic. With the XP you can build your skill tree, I recommend unlocking the ones that heal you on critical hits. Most levels are the usual exploring and fighting ones, but some are trap gauntlets. In case you're worried, the AI is surprisingly smart at avoiding damage for most parts. But it also seems to be prone to crashing, as in the trap-heavy final level my laptop froze 2 times. Lowering the graphics might help lessen these. The label "Special Edition" adds an additional level to this game, the Arena level selected from the additional content menu. It seems to takes place a while after the main story's ending, and you should finish it last. The reason is because the skills you unlock will carry over, and greatly help. Kinda pleased this isn't the typical endless survival level, but a story one. If you like games where you can control 2 characters like Of Orcs and Men or Hunted: The Demon's Forge, The First Templar is another title right up your alley. Though unfortunately, unlike those games, the 3 protagonists' fighting styles aren't really distinct. Especially since in the poster, Marie has a crossbow, but the only ranged attack you have is her dagger throw.

This game gets too much hate. Sure for its time it could have better graphics, but its simple and easy, VERY good choice for casual players or people who dont like dying in games and want a non stressful game with third person combat. Also If you have a friend or a sibling who wants to tag along for cop op, your experience will be even better.

I believe you have to click the right mouse button on the desktop icon then choose properties and check.You can find it on YouTube with the saving issue.It happened with other games ad well.

Simple linear hack and slash game to pass the time that kind of reminds me of Venetica (3rd person, graphics on the simpler side, nice looking levels, repetitive combat). Had a hard time pulling off the combos so stuck to basic attacks mostly. Checkpoint saves mean I gotta notice when the game saves before I exit, maybe finish a level first to be sure, but really each level is not too long. Multiplayer is no longer included (I hope GOG removes that tag). Stay away if you are looking for good story / combat / challenge / graphics / voice acting (they are all in here, not the greatest but not totally trash). Not something I would buy but happily play as a GOG giveaway.