Posted on: May 3, 2025

IronGuy410

Games: 367 Reviews: 17

Such a Great Setup

I didn't know the original version of this game existed until this remake was announced, but when I heard about it, there was something about the premise that made total sense to me. I love the idea of the world's greatest detective tackling a macabre mystery that tiptoes between the real and unreal, that incorporates his knack for finding patterns, clues, and insight with a mythos in which insight and knowledge inevitably lead to madness. I still really love that idea, even if unfortunately, this version doesn't quite pull it off in the way I was hoping. Experientally, pretty much all the thoughts I had for Sherlock: Chapter One apply to this game as well. In every respect, from the gameplay to the graphics to the storytelling, SHA is promising but flawed, and every improvement is also accompanied by a new annoyance. The game's scope, for example, is significantly reined in. This is great. Dense, lived in levels will always feel more substantial than open worlds. Unfortunately, that also means that most mechanics which you performed by making use of the open world, like visiting town halls, police stations, and libraries to verify information, are now limited to specific instances in which you just do all the same actions in the main menu, which doesn't really make sense. The story, meanwhile, has all the similar charms and jank of the previous game. The dialogue can alternate between being genuinely sharp (Holmes and Watson are a winning pair of goobers) and bafflingly stupid (almost all the side characters are really rough). The setup is incredibly intriguing, but once it gets going, it never really pays off in the thoughtful way that I hoped. That said, I'm glad I played SHA, and I'm very excited for SC2. That this studio has continued to make art in the face of oppression is a testament to real resilience, and it's rare that something so imperfect can make me feel so proud of what humans are capable of, even in the worst conditions imaginable.

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Posted on: November 28, 2024

Farglefarffle

Verified owner

Games: 69 Reviews: 3

Loving it so far

Not finished it yet but having a lot of fun. Great game. I hope Ukraine is free from the tyrants next door soon!

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Posted on: May 14, 2023

patman2

Verified owner

Games: 193 Reviews: 1

Average, but not bad

I am aware that Frogwares is facing some pretty abhorent working conditions during the creation of this game, but I still bought it, so here are my honest thoughts. Honestly, I recommend reading the IGN article, as it sums up my feelings of this game. The character models, or graphical presentation is fine, or at least not something I really noticed, but the other aspects stand. The story is disjointed in the later game, with some sequences seeming completely out of place to what was actually experienced. The game is extremely similar to the original, with some of the weird action minigames taken out, so kudos there, as they felt out of place in the original. Unfortunately, none of the improvements found in Chapter One made it here. There is no open world, hardly any side missions, no combat, and no disguises. While that game was by no means perfect, I felt that it was an interesting step and I was excited to see what they would do next with it. Hopefully when the war is over, they can complete their next title to their previous level of quality and finesse. Overall, I do not regret buying this game, it provided me with some solid entertainment value, however I would not recommend buying it unless you can get it for sale.

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Posted on: April 24, 2023

IShallRiseAgain

Verified owner

Games: 707 Reviews: 6

Solid Detective Game

The game is relatively short, but I don't see that as a negative. It doesn't drag things out with pointless filler. The game is mostly logical. there is one section of the game where its not completely clear about what to do next even if you have figured out exactly what is going on and know what you should be doing next. Its only a minor issue though. I enjoyed the story, and it does a pretty good job of building atmosphere. I wish it would lean a bit more into the supernatural elements. If you are doing a Lovecraft Sherlock Holmes story, you might as well go all in especially with a Sinking City 2 coming out being unlikely. I guess that might cause issues because it seems to be canon with Chapter One. Overall, I enjoyed the game, and I look forward to what Frogwares does next. I will happily back another kickstarter, especially considering the situation in Ukraine.

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Posted on: March 15, 2025

Jaroslav_Zelenka

Games: Reviews: 41

Very good...

I play few games with theme of "Cthulhu" and this was not "surprise". I still don't know how Cthulhu looks like 😉. It's a great adventure, definitely not for kids, it's horror. Murders, savages, sacrifices... Puzzles are moderate in first half of the game and if you will play it with "master detective" difficulty, in second half you'll need a coffee sometime to solve mysteries. Graphics are nice but I expect better for this almost new game. Sound's and music is great. I like it. Have everything I expected from it. 8/10. 👍.

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