Sherlock Holmes The Awakened

This is a very solid entry in what has become a reimagining of the Sherlock Holmes franchise as we know it. I never played the original game, which I see as an advantage because a lot of the criticism is centered around comparisons between these two. However, I have played most of the other games, and I can say this is certainly one of my favorites. The graphics are impeccable, and the game follows the same design choices that made Chapter One memorable. It takes away game mechanics that were frowned upon (such as the clumsy combat), and improves the elements of gameplay that already worked (concentration is utilized more). Dialogue is immersive; you can really connect with the characters on a personal level. The dynamics between Holmes and Watson bring so much depth to their relationship as new associates who are learning to trust and care for each other. The level design and soundtrack synergize to set a darker tone that characterizes the story in the game. Holmes is confronted with unexplainable events that threaten to break him from within, and his fear of going insane is reflected very well throughout. The deduction board has returned with a Lovecraftian redesign and keeps on rewarding as the player draws their conclusion. However, a major issue this time around is that the stakes feel much lower. Where previous games would make the player think hard before making a final decision (that could be wrong), this game makes a trial-and-error approach that leads to a single correct deduction before you can move on. Similarly, dialogue options have no real consequences further in the game. Most puzzles are quite easy and thus feel less rewarding. I also miss utlizing the chemical laboratory in Baker Street and having to disguise Holmes to progress. At just below 12 hours to complete, the game falls a bit short of previous entries, but given the circumstances, Frogwares has put out a truly compelling product that I hope to see more content for in the future.

Having payed all Frogwares Sherlock Holmes games, this one came as a disappointment. And the main reason is its length. It is way too short for the price, and for what we used to get from Frogwares. I absolutely adored the previous games: 'Chapter One' and 'The Sinking City', which both are at least 5 times longer. Then the VERY FEW side cases, which were almost a joke. The longest could be solved in 8 minutes !!! All together they could be solved on 20 minutes max. Although nice, the wardrobe could be better. Instead of 'borrowing' it from the previous games, do please create new ones from the scratch, so that we do not pay for the same outfits over and over again. Otherwise it is a great game. Frogwares is fantastic at giving psychological depth to their characters, as they are are in creating mystical atmosphere. Portraying Watson as an equally important person in the duo is a great idea. Sherlock would not be who he was without Watson, and vice versa. They are a true team, which is heart-warming, and something I always look forward to enjoy in their recent games. The graphics are great as well, which is another Frogwares' trademark. In fact I would not have any complaints if the game's price reflected its duration and therefore costed substantially less. NOTE: I am looking forward to a new game, BUT please either make it last as 'Chapter One' and 'The Sinking City' for the same price, or lower the price.

I enjoyed Frogware's previous foray into the Cthulhu-mythos, The Sinking City, which was a rough game but a very enjoyable Lovecraft-inspired investigation game despite the poor combat gameplay. I have not played any of the Sherlock games made by Frogwares, but I might try them out after playing this one. Overall it is a great game. The gameplay elements from Sinking City are there (the mind palace, reconstructing crime scenes, the archive system), albeit without any sort of combat which is actually a plus in my book. The mythos elements are more subdued and implied instead of being fully overt like in The Sinking City. While over the top at times, the scenarios are still logical and plausible. I enjoyed the balance of Sherlock losing grasp of reality trying to rationalize the events while Watson tried to keep him sane. The length and pacing of the game were fine. I played offline so I didn't track my game time but I think somewhere between 8-10 hours. I took my time and did most of the side cases. The last chapter and the ending were alright, but I hoped a bit more. The difficulty of the game felt just alright. I checked a walkthrough two times around the middle of the game but compared to old school point & click adventure games this is a walk in the park. You can customize your difficulty so I kept everything at the hardest settings but I chose to keep displaying interaction indicators to see what can be clicked or not. Regarding the DLC content it is a mixed bag. There are some genuinely good side cases, some okay but short, and others just simple find and collect X items cases. The latter type of cases I skipped. I bought the premium edition mainly to support the developers, but I found the side cases overall a nice addition and the side cases make exploring the open world levels more rewarding. In conclusion: a solid investigation game that feels both fresh and also a bit old school at times. If you enjoyed The Sinking City you will surely enjoy this one.

Barely qualified for 4 star rating, but it was worth playing through once. Although I'm on my second playthrough now, it isn't as exciting as replaying "Chapter One" , which was longer and ultimately more anjoyable. This game improves in several small aspects, except in length, where it is comparatevly shorter than it's predecessor. It's also worth mentioning that it runs many times more smoothly than "Chapter One", at least; Even though it has bigger hardware requirements, it runs better than the first game. If it's on sale, I recommend it.

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