Sherlock Holmes Chapter One

Every superhero requires an origin, even if the character is a stiff-upper-lip eccentric Englishman with an amazing ability to solve crimes and riddles. Frogware's Sherlock Holmes Chapter One tries to shed light on the famed detective's early years while also drastically altering a well-loved genre that has spawned eight previous games. The Chapter One team was gracious enough to address some questions about their new game, which is now available.

A totally fresh take on Sherlock Holmes

The creators were determined to provide players with a unique experience while maintaining Holmes at the core of the plot. "The first and most obvious distinction is that Sherlock Holmes, Chapter One is set in an open environment for the first time." This allows the gamer to play in his or her own unique way. They will determine where to look for clues, who to talk to, and, most importantly, which mysteries to solve first and which may be left for later."

Chapter One incorporates fighting, a first for the series, in addition to the new disguise system that allows Holmes to change his appearance to others. "However, we know Sherlock isn't a super-powered, gun-wielding lunatic." He's a bit of a loose cannon. Despite the fact that Sherlock is armed, his brains and abilities of observation are his most powerful weapons, even in fight."

There’s a little more to sink your teeth into with mysteries compared to L.A. Noire. However, don’t expect missions to be as detailed as the entire story presented in a game like Twelve Minutes.

Story

As the baby-faced investigator, you arrive in Cordona and become engaged in a séance that leads to the theft of a diamond while waiting for your hotel room to be ready. It's up to you to discover what happened to the diamond and, eventually, who murdered the person who stole it.

Gameplay

Fortunately, you have a lot of options. You can obtain a fast impression of someone with a glimpse in Concentration mode, and for more important NPCs, zoom in on items like their hands, the quality of their clothes, stains, and scars to construct a painting of their character.

When you find evidence, you can pin it in your casebook to check it out later. This is a much needed feature for the Sherlock Holmes series. It’s especially welcomed due to the face that you can ask people you meet about it. If you find anything useful, it will be added to your Mind Palace. The Mind Palace serves as a flow chart in which you may mix various data, draw inferences about what they signify, and eventually decide who to charge.

Verdict

Exploring new aspects of beloved fictional characters, especially those so well represented in film, television, novels and games, is a tricky proposition that risks alienating fans who insist on seeing their heroes in one way.

Pros

• Interesting take on detectives
• Fun mysteries
• Beautiful open world

Cons

• Little replayability
• Short story