What did you think when you heard that Frogwares had decided to revamp Sherlock Holmes: The Awakened? For me, I was worried that the stakes were so much higher than they’d imagined. The original 2006 game had its flaws, sure, but it was dripping with atmosphere and that compellingly bonkers plot? What was the plan for that? Well, let’s have a look! Grab your pipe and settle in; we’ve got a mystery to solve.
Fresh Paint on an Old Classic
It goes without saying that any game remake some two decades later is going to have had a bit of a glow-up in the graphics department. However, this isn’t just a remaster with sharper textures applied to the same old characters. Frogwares rebuilt the game from the ground up using Unreal Engine – and it shows. The foggy streets of London feel grimy and alive. Additionally, the Lovecraftian horror elements, like shadows dancing in all the right (or maybe wrong) ways, keep you nervously glancing over your shoulder.
Gearing up the Gameplay
Frogwares have also streamlined gameplay through Holmes’ deduction system, making it feel less like a relic of the early 2000s and more like an actual test of your brainpower. You’ll collect clues and connect dots like a real detective might. There are occasional moments of confusion, but that’s to be expected from any story with such unusual and unexpected twists and turns. That said, the storyline has more emotional depth this time around, despite the stiff-upper-lip Britishness.
Spoiler Alert!
If you want to experience the whole thing first-hand – for yourself – then stop reading here! Right at the beginning, you experience the Deduction Space – an ethereal mind palace where you piece together clues. Then comes a haunting visit to the decrepit Louisiana plantation, overgrown with vines and thick fog. Those who are a little feint of heart might not want to dwell in this location for too long!
Watson takes a bigger role too, no longer is he merely a tagalong, but he takes a much for front-and-centre role during one of Sherlock’s more sinister misadventures. It’s heart-wrenching and surreal in equal parts. And then there’s the finale, a Lovecraftian nightmare in which you confront an ancient deity. Again, it errs close to the side of horror.
If you want to experience the whole thing first-hand – for yourself – then stop reading here! Right at the beginning, you experience the Deduction Space – an ethereal mind palace where you piece together clues. Then comes a haunting visit to the decrepit Louisiana plantation, overgrown with vines and thick fog. Those who are a little feint of heart might not want to dwell in this location for too long!
Watson takes a bigger role too, no longer is he merely a tagalong, but he takes a much for front-and-centre role during one of Sherlock’s more sinister misadventures. It’s heart-wrenching and surreal in equal parts. And then there’s the finale, a Lovecraftian nightmare in which you confront an ancient deity. Again, it errs close to the side of horror.
Holmes Gets Around
We’ve had a look at the most recent Holme’s-based release, but are there any others that caught our attention? One is Shamrock Holmes, one of a group of Megaways slots you’ll find at any good online casino. It features classic Sherlock characteristics (deerstalker hat, pipe, etc.) but with an Irish makeover. Think leprechaun hats, pots of gold – you name it – creating a charming combination of British and Irish tradition.
Sherlock Holmes: Crimes and Punishments was another brilliant title, this time released in 2012. It’s an adventure puzzle game that has a more pared-back problem-solving style than The Awakened, but has that hit of nostalgia that so many Holmes fans look for.
