Nice review! I should really give these older Sherlock Holmes games a try as i have so far enjoyed the newer ones quite a bit. I have especially fond memories of Testament of Sherlock Holmes which was the first one i tried in the series.
Thanks! I'm just starting on Testament of Sherlock Holmes so I'm looking forward to finding out what direction it takes. The older ones definitely aren't perfect games but they're fun and have a certain charm to them.
Ooh, thanks for another magnificent episode/review! While I'm really fond of the Frogwares Sherlock Holmes series, I've always found "Versus Jack The Ripper" to be a bit hit and miss at the same time. As much as I loved the previous three installments, this game's darker, more populated, smoggier London was a welcome addition that (at least for me) really helped sell the atmosphere. I actually felt like I was Sherlock Holmes here, and with as much time as you spend in Victorian Whitechappel, I feel like I know those streets like the back of my hand now. And from the research I've done (I enjoy reading about the Ripper mystery) they did a very good job replicating everything. I'm sure the landscape is starkly different now, but I'm almost certain it would feel vaguely familiar if I visited the area in real life - I spent so much time in this game's Whitechappel, it would be cool to compare. However, with the darker tone and improved gameplay they did make the puzzles a lot easier (a welcome addition, IMO, but sometimes you're just TOO spoonfed as you mentioned) and 'picking' one of several actual historical suspects to be the 'true' Ripper was just a tad bit in bad taste IMHO. Had they invented a fictional character to be the 'true' killer, or even left the game open-ended with no solution, while it might not have been as satisfactory, I think it overall would have made the game a bit better. Again, having studied about the Ripper murders a bit myself, I found myself disagreeing with the game's reasonings & resolution a bit. But then again, within the confines of the game's fictional story, I guess everything works out. And I shouldn't be TOO harsh on it for perhaps being historically inaccurate. Especially since the Ripper murders will likely be unsolved forever. I think they balanced the humor a bit better in this game, although I really did enjoy the other installments. I think that my own 'perfect' Holmes game would be somewhere in-between the story/tone of Silver Earring and Jack the Ripper, with the engine, puzzles, and locations scope of Awakened and Nemesis. Plus, call me quaint, but I sorta really like the campy voice acting and creepy Watson. I don't care if that's bad game design or whatever - I really wish Frogwares would "include" teleporting Watson as an easter egg or extra buried within the options settings. They've clearly shown they take the creepy Watson memes in good taste - why not keep such funny things in the later installments? Now, it's been years since I've played Testament (and I eagerly await your review of it, although I won't hold my breath) however, stark franchise creative shift & voice acting changes aside, I remember really liking the game. The whole 'kids in the attic' bit was a bit unwelcomed, but otherwise, I liked the tone and updated graphics - even if I have more nostalgia for this engine and these grahpics. Honestly, I look forward to seeing what Frogwares does next. Testament was pretty good and while Crimes & Punishments had a lot of great concepts going in (including story & gameplay mechanics) I felt it was, although a marked improvement, the most lackluster entry. Devil's Daughter seemed to diverge from Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's original character I passed on it. And while Call of Cthulhu was actually very enjoyable and broad, I'd like to see them return to doing Holmes. It's what put them on the map, so to speak, and the Holmes series is clearly their biggest money makers still to this day. Plus, the nostalgia and fanbase they've grown is really eager for another entry. I think that something akin to Cthulhu being open world would be neat, but I prefer the more linear storylines myself - as they better mimic the original Holmes novels & stories. But I think either way could work really well. Again, thanks for another great review! I love this series and still replay these games to this day. Glad to see someone else talking about them in such a prefessional and well edited manner. (And I even agree with your opinions and criticisms too!) Plus, the Bluto from Popeye joke had me reeling! XD
I think this was definitely the most atmospheric of the games. I've read a bit about the Ripper case myself so I was quite impressed by how many details I remembered when they turned up in the game. I did think they were going to gradually rule out all the real world killers and narrow it down to a fictional character but it never happened. I think you're right that creepy Watson would make a great easter egg to reference in the game somewhere or a fun option to have available. It's always good to have a sense of humour in these games. I've just made a start of Testament of Sherlock Holmes and then will start on the video once I've finished, so as long as my life doesn't fall apart again it shouldn't be as long a wait this time. I'm interested in how this new game is going to play out. I'm hoping to go through all the Sherlock games and then maybe do videos for the rest of the Frogwares games too. Call of Cthulhu doesn't seem to be one of their games, though they did do the Lovecraft-inspired The Sinking City. Is that the one you're referring to? I've yet to get around to playing either. I do hope they return to doing more Sherlock Holmes games. I worry they might have killed the series with Devil's Daughter by trying to change things too much, but hopefully they can bring it back. Thanks again for all your comments, it's nice to see that someone like the videos! (Also, I nearly cut out the Bluto bit because I was struggling to find a place to insert it, but it amused me too much to lose it, so I'm glad you mentioned it!)
Personally imo a detective game shouldn't focus too heavily on puzzles. Older sherlock holmes,it seems has way too many mindless puzzles. One of the reason i didn't wanted to play the older ones and after watching this review i might give it a shot since it seems like least puzzle heavy from old trilogy. Crimes and punishments remains my favourite because on that game you actually feel like an detective,since you could even be wrong with your judgements and stuff. Imo a detective game should be about deducting,gathering/investigating clues and interrogating suspects. You can have some puzzles here and there but they at least have to make sense with the story/case. A detective game should be about solving the case itself not puzzles.
Great review! Found it while making up my mind to buy Sherlock Holmes games serie. Thank you very much, it help me a lot to decide. Keep the good work! Already subscribed. Greetings from Brazil!
I adore this game. I wish but will never see it happening becoming backwards compatible to play on the Xbox 1. I understand you don’t like it how I do but decent review so subscribed
Your acent makes this even more authentic lol
Nice review! I should really give these older Sherlock Holmes games a try as i have so far enjoyed the newer ones quite a bit. I have especially fond memories of Testament of Sherlock Holmes which was the first one i tried in the series.
Thanks! I'm just starting on Testament of Sherlock Holmes so I'm looking forward to finding out what direction it takes. The older ones definitely aren't perfect games but they're fun and have a certain charm to them.
@@ValkyrReviews Could you please do reviews on the more recent sherlock games ?
Your review helped me out a bunch, I was deciding whether I should get this game or not. Thanks for helping me out!
Ooh, thanks for another magnificent episode/review! While I'm really fond of the Frogwares Sherlock Holmes series, I've always found "Versus Jack The Ripper" to be a bit hit and miss at the same time.
As much as I loved the previous three installments, this game's darker, more populated, smoggier London was a welcome addition that (at least for me) really helped sell the atmosphere. I actually felt like I was Sherlock Holmes here, and with as much time as you spend in Victorian Whitechappel, I feel like I know those streets like the back of my hand now. And from the research I've done (I enjoy reading about the Ripper mystery) they did a very good job replicating everything. I'm sure the landscape is starkly different now, but I'm almost certain it would feel vaguely familiar if I visited the area in real life - I spent so much time in this game's Whitechappel, it would be cool to compare.
However, with the darker tone and improved gameplay they did make the puzzles a lot easier (a welcome addition, IMO, but sometimes you're just TOO spoonfed as you mentioned) and 'picking' one of several actual historical suspects to be the 'true' Ripper was just a tad bit in bad taste IMHO. Had they invented a fictional character to be the 'true' killer, or even left the game open-ended with no solution, while it might not have been as satisfactory, I think it overall would have made the game a bit better. Again, having studied about the Ripper murders a bit myself, I found myself disagreeing with the game's reasonings & resolution a bit. But then again, within the confines of the game's fictional story, I guess everything works out. And I shouldn't be TOO harsh on it for perhaps being historically inaccurate. Especially since the Ripper murders will likely be unsolved forever.
I think they balanced the humor a bit better in this game, although I really did enjoy the other installments. I think that my own 'perfect' Holmes game would be somewhere in-between the story/tone of Silver Earring and Jack the Ripper, with the engine, puzzles, and locations scope of Awakened and Nemesis. Plus, call me quaint, but I sorta really like the campy voice acting and creepy Watson. I don't care if that's bad game design or whatever - I really wish Frogwares would "include" teleporting Watson as an easter egg or extra buried within the options settings. They've clearly shown they take the creepy Watson memes in good taste - why not keep such funny things in the later installments?
Now, it's been years since I've played Testament (and I eagerly await your review of it, although I won't hold my breath) however, stark franchise creative shift & voice acting changes aside, I remember really liking the game. The whole 'kids in the attic' bit was a bit unwelcomed, but otherwise, I liked the tone and updated graphics - even if I have more nostalgia for this engine and these grahpics.
Honestly, I look forward to seeing what Frogwares does next. Testament was pretty good and while Crimes & Punishments had a lot of great concepts going in (including story & gameplay mechanics) I felt it was, although a marked improvement, the most lackluster entry. Devil's Daughter seemed to diverge from Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's original character I passed on it. And while Call of Cthulhu was actually very enjoyable and broad, I'd like to see them return to doing Holmes. It's what put them on the map, so to speak, and the Holmes series is clearly their biggest money makers still to this day. Plus, the nostalgia and fanbase they've grown is really eager for another entry. I think that something akin to Cthulhu being open world would be neat, but I prefer the more linear storylines myself - as they better mimic the original Holmes novels & stories. But I think either way could work really well.
Again, thanks for another great review! I love this series and still replay these games to this day. Glad to see someone else talking about them in such a prefessional and well edited manner. (And I even agree with your opinions and criticisms too!) Plus, the Bluto from Popeye joke had me reeling! XD
I think this was definitely the most atmospheric of the games. I've read a bit about the Ripper case myself so I was quite impressed by how many details I remembered when they turned up in the game. I did think they were going to gradually rule out all the real world killers and narrow it down to a fictional character but it never happened.
I think you're right that creepy Watson would make a great easter egg to reference in the game somewhere or a fun option to have available. It's always good to have a sense of humour in these games.
I've just made a start of Testament of Sherlock Holmes and then will start on the video once I've finished, so as long as my life doesn't fall apart again it shouldn't be as long a wait this time. I'm interested in how this new game is going to play out. I'm hoping to go through all the Sherlock games and then maybe do videos for the rest of the Frogwares games too. Call of Cthulhu doesn't seem to be one of their games, though they did do the Lovecraft-inspired The Sinking City. Is that the one you're referring to? I've yet to get around to playing either.
I do hope they return to doing more Sherlock Holmes games. I worry they might have killed the series with Devil's Daughter by trying to change things too much, but hopefully they can bring it back.
Thanks again for all your comments, it's nice to see that someone like the videos! (Also, I nearly cut out the Bluto bit because I was struggling to find a place to insert it, but it amused me too much to lose it, so I'm glad you mentioned it!)
Personally imo a detective game shouldn't focus too heavily on puzzles. Older sherlock holmes,it seems has way too many mindless puzzles. One of the reason i didn't wanted to play the older ones and after watching this review i might give it a shot since it seems like least puzzle heavy from old trilogy. Crimes and punishments remains my favourite because on that game you actually feel like an detective,since you could even be wrong with your judgements and stuff. Imo a detective game should be about deducting,gathering/investigating clues and interrogating suspects. You can have some puzzles here and there but they at least have to make sense with the story/case. A detective game should be about solving the case itself not puzzles.
Great review!
Found it while making up my mind to buy Sherlock Holmes games serie.
Thank you very much, it help me a lot to decide. Keep the good work!
Already subscribed.
Greetings from Brazil!
Thanks, I'm glad it was helpful!
I adore this game. I wish but will never see it happening becoming backwards compatible to play on the Xbox 1. I understand you don’t like it how I do but decent review so subscribed
I don't like Holmes voice acting very much in this one. The guy is overacting like crazy but at least Watson sounds great.
nice review, i subscribed! :)
Thanks! It's always nice to hear there's people that like them :)