Circle of Blood, released in Europe as Broken Sword: The Shadow of the Templars, puts players in the role of the vacationing American George Stobbart, who finds himself at the center of a mystery after surviving a bomb blast outside a Parisian café. With screens designed by the renowned Don Bluth Studios, this animated film-like adventure features a soundtrack by composer Barrington Pheloung, who produced the music for the feature film Nostradamus, and a capable cast of voice actors engaging in humorous and smart dialogue.

Utilizing a "smart-cursor" click-and-point interface, players collect objects and inventory items, deal with dozens of NPCs (friendly and antagonistic), search out clues and hints, accumulate phone numbers and conduct interviews as they try to unravel the plot involving a sinister manuscript associated with the medieval Knights Templar. In true Indiana Jones style, George's adventure will take him to the sewers of Paris, museums, exotic ruins, and more as he becomes embroiled in a quest to save the world from megalomaniacs who want to use the manuscript for nefarious purposes. ~ Michael L. House, All Game Guide