Sherlock Holmes: The Devil's Daughter

Gameplay: inherited same gimmicks and puzzle structure from Crimes&Punishments. "Mind space" (which is a spiced-up version of the deduction board from Jack the Ripper), building a suspects "portrait" as the camera zooms around them in slo-mo, establishing the timeline etc. It feels like this game depends much more on quick time events to add to the "cinematic experience" and personally I find them annoying. You can skip any puzzle you don't feel like spending time on and I thank Frogwares for that. Cases: 5 cases in all (with the last being more a part of the main story, it's filled with QTEs and there's little investigating there). Can't say I found any of them memorable or especially engaging, one consists almost entirely of pretty annoying puzzles that have you jump around (which is made doubly stupid by the fact that the whole thing happens in Holmes' imagination). Another has an interesting premise of recreating the events of a huge traffic accident but the execution is clunky with all the running back and forth. Story: each case is stand-alone with only very tenuous connection to the main story, and "decisions" you make at the conclusion of each one only affect a single scene at the end. Overarching story is fairly predictable and I found it hard to care about it. Overall one of the weaker Frogware SH games, barely enough to scratch the itch.

I can not call this game a great game, but I can call it a good one. It has no issue telling you what you need to do, but what you get out of it is on you to figure out, making for a much more unique way to handle criminal cases. It also has no issue using lots of mini-games/QTEs, but does so in a way that keeps things interesting, but it understands these are not for everyone and will allow you to skip what is holding you back for better or worse. In the end, its definitely a game with some weaknesses, but one fully aware of them. I just wish the game had a better way of handling them.

If it had everything to seduce, this episode, coming after the very successful "Crimes & Punishments" is not remarkable and I was surprised - when playing a second time - to see how much I had forgotten the plot. The + : improved graphics, an investigation system similar to that of "Crimes & Punishments" (which was good) but synthesized. We can also note the introduction of action scenes, and a semi-open world (but is it useful?). The problem with this game is its writing. The dialogues are often poor and the investigations not very captivating (unlike the previous episode, these are not adaptations of short stories by Conan Doyle but investigations written by the studio in the spirit of...). Moreover, this game is full of Hollywood clichés (Sherlock even becomes a kind of Indiana Jones) and Watson becomes sexy (what's the point?) but totally useless (again what's the point?). In short, quickly forgotten. Too bad.

Game runs terrible. it has strange 62fps cap with constant shtutter an 1% lows at 2-12fps. The cutscenes are even worse - they are prerendered at what seems like 480p and run at 27fps (again very strange number). Also awful aliasing - even at 4k with max settings everything still looks awfully aliased. I'm pretty sure the problem isn't with my rig - the Awakaned run at about 144fps on 1800p upscaled to 2160p and I got relatavily top specs (i11700k+32gb3600MhzCL16Ram+rx6950xt). Dropped after 2hr since even though I liked the awakened for its cinematic horrors, I will probably stick with devs better works going forward. Honestly, I'm afraid of trying the Crimes and Punishments next, since it is an even earlier work of those devs. I pray that the story will keep me going there. my scores: 1/5 - this "game" shouldn't exist 2/5 - I guess someone might like it, but I regret buying it. 3/5 - I had some fun with it and do not regret buying it. 4/5 - I had completed this game and/or had overall good time with it. 5/5 - It's a great game, one of the bestest of all time!

To be clear, I do like what I have played of this game so far. It has a lot more to work with it seems in investigation, the number of clues you juggle with and a more interesting cast of characters in each case compared to watch I recall from C&P. What I have found has held back the game are the mini games acting as quick time events, as well as the following missions. The controls do not feel as crisp as other adventure games or platformers I usually play, so any stealth elements just feel terrible to playthrough personally, although others may enjoy it. If you love to figure out mysteries and the setting of 1800s London, this game is up your ally. Just dont expect too much from the mini games on offer.