Sherlock Holmes: The Awakened – A Review 2023

Sherlock Holmes: The Awakened a video game released after the 2021’s Sherlock Holmes Chapter One, promises an exciting storyline where the legendary detective takes on a cult that worships a cosmic entity resembling Cthulu. However, despite the clear influence of HP Lovecraft’s works, the game fails to deliver on its promise of genuine scares. The attempts to unsettle the players fall short and come across as more silly than spine-chilling. While the game does offer a solid amount of investigative work and crime scene recreation, it fails to create an atmosphere of fear and suspense that is crucial for a mystery-thriller game. Even the cult, which is supposed to be the source of terror in the game, feels more like a bunch of individuals dressed in peculiar costumes rather than a real threat. The game attempts to portray Sherlock Holmes’ battles with his own sanity, which seems like a promising angle. However, due to the lack of any genuine scares or a tense atmosphere, it’s hard to fully invest in the character’s struggles. The game fails to create an environment that would force the player to question their own sanity, which ultimately detracts from the overall experience. Despite its shortcomings, the game still manages to keep players engaged for its 10-hour runtime with a solid amount of investigative work and crime scene recreation. However, for players looking for a true horror experience or a psychological thriller, Sherlock Holmes: The Awakened may not meet their expectations.

Uncovering the Mysteries of Sherlock Holmes: The Awakened

Step into the captivating world of Sherlock Holmes once again with the remastered version of the 2007 adventure game. Sherlock Holmes: The Awakened has been reborn with a fresh plot, tweaked to fit as a seamless sequel to the origin story of Chapter One, all powered by the same engine that made it a classic.

In this edition, witness the blossoming friendship between the iconic detective and his loyal partner, Dr. John Watson, who relentlessly probes Holmes for every shred of detail about their previous case in Cordona. Delve deeper into the mind of this enigmatic character as Watson attempts to decipher the complex layers of his psyche.

However, while the writing and performances are undoubtedly impressive, the immersion of the game is slightly marred by the jarring lip-syncing that makes it seem like our beloved characters are reciting their lines while holding onto a hair dryer on full blast. Nonetheless, brace yourself for a thrilling experience as you join the dynamic duo in their quest to solve another enigmatic case.

The difference between Chapter One and The Awakened is akin to exploring a vast, open-world island versus embarking on a globe-trotting adventure with Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson. From the bustling streets of London to the eerie Swiss Alps asylum and the murky swamps of New Orleans, each setting presents ample opportunities to delve into its secrets. However, despite the vastness of these landscapes, there’s little incentive to stray from the main story path as I discovered very little of consequence along the way. It wasn’t until the final hours of the journey that I stumbled upon a tantalizing side case involving a dead spy in London. Sadly, the case was abruptly snuffed out by Mycroft Holmes, leaving me puzzled as to why it was included in the first place.

The Awakened a Streamlined, Yet Simplified Take on Sherlock Holmes Investigations

Sherlock Holmes is known for his brilliant crime-solving skills, which have been portrayed in various books, movies, and games. In Sherlock Holmes: The Awakened, the gameplay follows a similar pattern to that of a mystery novel – the player is presented with a crime scene, and must meticulously examine it for any potential clues that could lead them to the culprit. From bloodstains to footprints, every detail counts.

However, compared to the previous chapter, the cases in Sherlock Holmes: The Awakened are relatively straightforward. The crimes revolve around generic kidnappings and murders, lacking the intricate and thrilling complexity of Sherlock’s previous adventures. While the player can still enjoy piecing together the evidence and using Sherlock’s imagination to determine the sequence of events leading up to the crime, the cases may not be as memorable or engaging as those in the previous chapter.

While the gameplay in Sherlock Holmes: The Awakened still follows the classic Sherlock Holmes formula of gathering clues and solving crimes, the lack of diverse and thrilling cases may leave players longing for the complexity and intrigue of Sherlock’s previous adventures.

In addition to the lack of imaginative cases, The Awakened also lacks the same level of risk and consequences as its predecessor. In Chapter One, the player was required to be meticulous and methodical in their casework to avoid falsely accusing innocent people, which added a level of tension and excitement to the gameplay.

However, in Sherlock Holmes: The Awakened, there is only ever one possible perpetrator, which significantly reduces the risk of failure. As a result, players may be tempted to brute-force their way through the case, trying out different scenarios until they find the correct one, without any real consequences for making mistakes along the way.

This reduced risk may make the gameplay less engaging and less satisfying for players who enjoy the challenge of solving complex cases. Furthermore, with fewer consequences for mistakes, there may be less incentive to carefully examine and analyze the evidence, leading to a less fulfilling experience.

While The Awakened still retains the basic formula of a Sherlock Holmes investigation, the lack of complex cases and reduced risk may leave players wanting more from their experience.

In the latest installment of the Sherlock Holmes video game series, the developers have taken a streamlined approach to several aspects of the game. One such area is the disguise system, which was once a prominent feature in the first chapter. However, it seems to have been put on the back burner in the latest game, as players are not required to use it as frequently as before. Similarly, archive research, which was once done by physically visiting a local newspaper office, can now be accomplished by simply accessing the pause menu. While these changes make the game more accessible and easier to navigate, they also result in the gameplay feeling somewhat superficial and lacking in depth compared to its predecessor.

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Despite the simplified approach, the game still manages to maintain its focus on Sherlock’s intellect rather than his firepower. The combat sections from Chapter One, which were widely criticized for being unnecessary and out of place, have been entirely scrapped from the game. This decision is a wise one, as it allows the game to stay true to the character of Sherlock Holmes, who is renowned for his exceptional deductive reasoning and problem-solving abilities rather than his combat skills. By emphasizing these core traits, the game stays true to its source material and provides players with a more authentic Sherlock Holmes experience.

Sherlock Holmes Descent into Madness: Navigating Lovecraftian Puzzles in The Awakened

Sherlock Holmes is a renowned detective, known for his keen intellect and impeccable attention to detail. However, in this particular adventure, his mental state is starting to unravel, and The Awakened, a mysterious force, takes advantage of this. Instead of simply throwing him into combat scenarios, The Awakened transports him to a Lovecraftian realm filled with crags, impossible geometry, and bizarre puzzles.

Your task is to navigate through these puzzles and bring Sherlock back to reality. The challenges may seem daunting at first, but as you progress, you realize that the solutions are often painfully obvious. The droning noises and other clues practically scream at you, guiding you to your objective. It’s almost as if Sherlock Holmes: The Awakened wants you to succeed, as if they’re playing a twisted game with you.

But there’s something about the surreal nature of these puzzles that makes them oddly amusing. You may find yourself laughing as you repeatedly throw Sherlock off cliffs or into deadly traps, watching him stumble and fall like a ragdoll. It’s a bit like the movie Groundhog Day, where the main character is stuck in a time loop, reliving the same day over and over again. The absurdity of the situation makes it hard not to chuckle.

As you progress through the puzzles, you start to realize that these dreamlike diversions are a reflection of Sherlock’s fraying mental state. The world is no longer a concrete reality, but a twisted, abstract version of it. The once-serious detective is now slipping into madness, and these surreal puzzles are just another symptom of his deteriorating mental health. But even as you bear witness to this descent into madness, the experience remains strangely lighthearted, like a harmless distraction from the grim reality that surrounds you.

In the end, these interludes may not contribute much to the overall narrative, but they do offer a glimpse into the psychological turmoil of one of literature’s greatest characters. They show us that even someone as brilliant as Sherlock Holmes is not immune to the ravages of the mind, and that sometimes, the best way to cope with a dark reality is to find a bit of levity amidst the chaos.

Sometimes, the lines between reality and hallucinations can blur, and things that are meant to be disturbing can leak into the real world. But these instances can be surprisingly silly. Take, for example, the time I had to retrieve a doll for a patient in the creepy, old Edelweiss mental hospital. When I had to resort to ventriloquism to distract the patient, it was more cheesy than chilling. And don’t even get me started on the mutterings of that animated corpse I encountered in the crypt beneath the Port of London – it sounded like a primitive caveman trying out mouthwash for the first time. Even the climactic showdown between Sherlock and the main villain, with hooded disciples whispering all around, ended up feeling like a letdown. The whole thing was ruined by a series of awkward quick-time events that drained any real tension from the moment.

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Let me shed some light on the fascinating backstory behind Sherlock Holmes: The Awakened. Frogwares, the game developer, is based in Ukraine, and the creation of this remake was marred by the extreme circumstances of Russia’s invasion of the country in early 2022. I can only imagine the immense pressure and stress that the development team must have faced during this tumultuous time. And unfortunately, the challenges are palpable in the game itself, which suffers from numerous cut corners and shortcuts. For instance, there are abrupt transitions between several late-game sequences, and character models and other assets are recycled throughout the adventure. I mean, I wasn’t alive in 1882, so I can’t be absolutely certain, but I highly doubt that newsstands in London looked identical to those in New Orleans.

Verdict

Sherlock Holmes Chapter One may not be perfect, but at least it’s a decent detective game. On the other hand, this remade version of The Awakened feels like a throwback to old-fashioned point-and-click adventures where trial and error was just as effective as logical reasoning. Its forensic deductions seem like foregone conclusions, which takes away from the sense of accomplishment. If only its Lovecraftian mystery was strong enough to make up for the weak casework, but alas, it falls short. The game’s attempts at horror are so clumsy that they’re more likely to elicit giggles than chills. It’s a shame because Sherlock Holmes: The Awakened could have been a thrilling fusion of Cluedo/Clue and Cthulhu, but instead, it’s a missed opportunity.

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