Sherlock Holmes Series Review (Xbox, PlayStation & PC)

Sherlock Holmes’ encyclopedic approach to solving mysteries is, without a shadow of a doubt, a literary triumph unto itself—a mind that needs to be studied, if not with a magnifying glass over old stories, then with the technological advancement of gaming and the provoking facets of adventure. It’s just as well, then, that such a world exists deep within the pockets of Frogwares’ trunk of digital iterations. Sherlock, bound to a seemingly endless quest to unravel London’s most notorious case files, finds a home here, where novellas and literature bleed through the binders to illuminate an interactive emulation of Arthur Conan Doyle’s beloved anthological works. It doesn’t always capture the essence of the source material, though it does do a remarkable job of putting you in the heart of a crime story—a place where you can construct your own plausible timelines, suspects and conclusions. And when all’s said and done, isn’t that what a Sherlock Holmes video game should be about?

The case files might not always be interesting, much less entertaining, but where Sherlock Holmes often fails to pique your curiosity, it always finds ways to keep you spooling through notebooks and scratching your chin for more avenues of detail. See, unlike a lot of third-person mystery sagas, Sherlock Holmes features a signature “brain mapping” schematic—a skill tree, of sorts, which allows you to chalk up your own evidence, weave your own alibis and backstories, and decide who to pursue and who to absolve. It isn’t always pretty, but if there is one thing that each chapter in the series has taught us, it’s that every crime runs a lot deeper than you think. It’s never so much of a whodunnit, but more of a where, when, why, and how. Simply put, Sherlock Holmes requires you to consider every possibility, even if it means taking the time to ponder each and every nook and cranny. But that’s Sherlock for you, I guess. There are no shortcuts here, folks.

The series fancies itself as a lot of things — a thought-provoking mystery, being one of them. But, Sherlock is also a lot more than that. Beneath its scattered case files and intricate mapping mechanisms it’s also an adventure series that fills its pockets with mini-games and button-slapping activities, investigative work and butterfly effects. It is, first and foremost, an episodic series that puts you in the weighty shoes of Sherlock — but, like a thick stream, it’s also runs a lot deeper than your average whodunnit escapade. For example, when you attend a crime scene and begin a journey, you don’t just have a linear path to follow; you have a network of clues, suspects, locations, and stories to follow, all of which come bundled in a notebook. The game, naturally, doesn’t tell you how to progress, only that there are multiple avenues to investigate, and a climax that can only come to light once you connect all of the necessary jigsaw pieces into a plausible path. It’s often a tad perplexing I’ll admit. But then, given that it is Sherlock Holmes who we’re talking about, it does make sense to have a slightly thicker skin.

As I said before, Sherlock Holmes isn’t just a mystery game. Well, it is, but it’s also a lot of other things—an action flick, a stealth-based nerve fest, and a choice-based DIY escapade that invites you to explore vast areas and side activities, whether it’s shadowing a potential suspect, eavesdropping on a citizen, pointing a firearm at a suspected murderer, or tiptoeing into the underbelly of an elitist’s estate under the cover of darkness. Frankly, there is almost too much to talk about here, more so given the fact that Sherlock has a huge webbing of stories and interactive mysteries.

If you’re wondering whether or not Sherlock Holmes pays homage to the source material in a way that feels respectful and authentic — yes, it does. Alongside its believable case files and dilemmas, each episode in the series has some pretty interesting dialogue and character interactions, as well as a ton of intriguing locations and pieces of evidence to explore. As a result of these primary nodes, Sherlock Holmes doesn’t ever feel like a shameless cash grab; on the contrary, it strikes you as a well-oiled machine that contains all of the necessary materials to comprise its own collection of tales. And it bleeds a lot through the events that take shape over each chapter, too, with each crossroad either having its own dilemma or consequence to rock the apple cart, so to speak. The point is, at no stage does it feel like a poor imitation of an otherwise great piece of literature. It isn’t always flawless, but it does lean into its forefather’s greatest strengths incredibly well to weave its own roots.

Thankfully, there aren’t all that many technical bugs to address here. Granted, the earlier chapters in the series can feel awfully wooden and dull at the best of times, with stiff movement and tedious mechanics and what have you. Even still, with quality audio and a believable cast of characters in its stead, it does make for an entertaining affair overall. It isn’t perfect, but it is a darn good tribute to Arthur Conan Doyle’s iconic poster child, nonetheless.

Verdict

Sherlock Holmes fashions its own network of prime investigative exploits with its signature mind mapping features and in-depth analysis tools, which, when put together with an authentically sourced catalog of tales and novellas, translate into a fascinating collection of interactive stories that can keep even the most impatient private investigators immersed for hours. It isn’t the best of anything in particular, though it is a series that delivers a well-rounded and, generally speaking, thought-provoking experience with a ton of creative possibilities and avenues of play. Naturally, you will need to have a great deal of patience to stick around long enough to witness its drawn out climaxes and triumphs. That said, if you’re a lover of fictional crime dramas—Sherlock Holmes, in particular—then you will probably enjoy putting pen to paper in this timeless anthology. For a rougher ride with frequent action-oriented spells and swift progression, however, it might be worth hanging your hat in an alternate world, perhaps out of spitting distance of Watson and Holmes’ snail-like mannerisms.