The Lost Files Of Sherlock Holmes

Once, EA Madegames that weren't vacuous cash-ins on existing brands. At one point, they had a soul that let them take a risk on two Sherlock Holmes point-and clicks in the early-to-mid '90s, the first of which concerns us today.

By the time The Case of the Rose Tattoo came around (the second game) EA were turning into the behemoth they are today, capable of churning out two identical football games in one calendar year and having the gall to charge full price for both without batting an eyelid.

Serrated Scalpel was one of the, if not the actual, first games 1 played with talkie bits. Such advanced hoopla came at a price: eight megabytes of RAM, I believe it was. My humble 286 couldn't handle such wizardry and it was only later, when I had the power of my 486DX4/100 that 1 could appreciate the glory that was Serrated Scalpel.

As Holmes, with Watson in tow, you embarked on a remarkably long journey through a huge variety of locations in London Town. Perfumeries, rugby clubs in Kensington, opera houses and even a local tavern, creating one of the most authentic (within reason) experiences I've experienced. Certainly it's the best Holmes game I've ever played, just for atmosphere alone.

Hie whole game was full of objects to look at, people to talk to and puzzles to solve, with seamless changes to what we'd now called mini-games worked in all the time. Chemical analyses, playing darts against local toughs at the pub and so on all came into it and not once did you feel any of it was tacked on. That there was so much to do and examine made it feel like a Holmes story. Having him look at five different objects in a room in modern games is wrong; he needs to be examining everything, even things unimportant to our eyes.

As a Holmes buff there's nothing worse to me than people screwing up Holmes. So, boo to Guy Richie and any idiot who says modernising Holmes is the way to go, and huzzah to old EA for producing this wondrous game for my childhood self to savour.

On a foggy night outside of the Regency Theatre, a dark figure lurks in the shadows waiting for an unsuspecting victim. Only moments later is the place crawling with police officers. A young actress has been brutally murdered. It looks to be the work of Jack the Ripper, or is it someone imitating his famous slasher style? Become the world-famous detective, Sherlock Holmes, to help Scotland Yard solve this grisly crime. Grab your pipe and hat then search for clues throughout London. Travel with Dr. Watson to the alley behind the theatre to begin your investigation. It will require a keen eye to turn up evidence to help you along. Question more than 60 live actors to gain information regarding the case and use lab equipment to gain test results on evidence gathered. You will have to have your wits about you to solve this puzzle. If the Ripper is back to his old game, the people of London will be in fear for their lives. Only Sherlock Holmes can catch the culprit!

THE GOOD

Anyone who likes a good mystery will enjoy this game. The sounds and actors really make it fun to play.

THE BAD

Getting stuck and not knowing where to head next!

THE UGLY

Take a look under the white sheets in the morgue.