Sherlock Holmes: The Awakened
Sherlock Holmes: The Awakened | ||
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Designer(s) Jalil Amr | | |
Series | Sherlock Holmes | |
Platform(s) | Windows, iOS | |
Release | WindowsRemasterediOS
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Genre(s) | Adventure | |
Mode(s) | Single-player |
Sherlock Holmes: The Awakened is an adventure video game developed by Frogwares and published in 2007 for Microsoft Windows. The game follows an original plotline as Sherlock Holmes and his companion Dr. John H. Watson investigate a series of strange disappearances related to the Cthulhu Mythos.
The third in the Sherlock Holmes series of adventure games developed by Frogwares, The Awakened was preceded in 2002 by Sherlock Holmes: The Mystery of the Mummy and in 2004 by Sherlock Holmes: The Case of the Silver Earring. This is the first game in the series to tackle supernatural elements such as the Cthulhu Mythos, the previous two games having fairly traditional (albeit original) Holmesian plots.
In 2008, a remastered version was released that offers the ability to play in a third-person perspective mode in addition to the first-person perspective. This version also features improved graphics and changes to the help system. It is also the first "Sherlock Holmes" game to get an M (Mature 17+) rating from the ESRB. The remastered version became available on Steam on August 6, 2009.
Plot
On September 6, 1894, Sherlock Holmes stares out of his window, bored that he has no case to solve that is worthy of his talents. He learns that a young
Upon arrival it is discovered that the Black Edelweiss Institute is a Swiss
Holmes and Watson travel to New Orleans to intercept the transfer of the stones. They are soon taunted and harassed by the local sheriff who recognises them and appears to have some connection to the cult. They learn that the stones were sold to the bank by the butler of a local man known as Mr. Arneson. Both Arneson and his servant, a young lad named Davy, have been missing for days. They find Davy, who is mute due to psychological trauma. After Watson treats him, Davy writes on a
Back in London, Holmes and Watson learn from the book about a mythical sea god who could be awakened by the sacrificing of persons representing the different nations. They also decipher Davy's numbers, which they find are co-ordinates pointing to Ardnamurchan Lighthouse on a Scottish coastline. Once at the lighthouse, Holmes and Watson have a final confrontation with the cultists and their leader Lord Rochester, whose fortune finances the sect. Holmes manages to stop the 'summoning', but a fierce storm appears, which Rochester assumes is the coming of Cthulhu. Despite Holmes' attempt to stop him, Rochester jumps to his death into the raging sea below. Upon returning to London, Watson plans to write their adventure into a book, however Holmes tells him to not do it as the knowledge they have witnessed may fall into the wrong hands, which Watson thankfully accepts.
Gameplay
The Awakened is the first Frogwares title to allow gameplay to take place in an entirely real-time 3D landscape and from a first-person perspective, losing the
Some of these conversations are triggered merely by clicking on a character, while others require complete a series of tasks before they will happen on their own. While most of Holmes' conclusions in the game come from gathering random clues found around the crime scenes, the players will have the opportunity to take evidence back to Holmes' famous 221 B Baker Street flat and examine it under a microscope or put it through chemical tests. They will also have puzzles to solve throughout the game like picking combination locks, deciphering cryptic messages and solving a clock puzzle to open a safe.
The game can be viewed from a first- or
Although the game had adopted a view popularized by the
Remaster and remake
The remastered version allows for gameplay in a third-person perspective, similar to other Frogwares titles, such as Sherlock Holmes: Secret of the Silver Earring and Dracula: Origin.
Updated features of Sherlock Holmes: The Awakened Remastered Edition include two view modes (the original 1st-person mode, along with the new 3rd-person mode), a new Help Bar which allows players in the 3rd-person mode to instantly discover all the available actions on the screen, an updated help system that offers gamers step-by-step solutions to the game's puzzles, and improved graphics which feature new lighting, HD effects, shaders, shadows and new animations.
A full remake of the game featuring a substantially rewritten script was developed by Frogwares and launched on Microsoft Windows,
Reception
Aggregator | Score |
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GameRankings | 71.32% (31 reviews)[6] |
Metacritic | 72% (28 reviews)[7] |
Publication | Score |
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Eurogamer | 6/10[8] |
GameSpot | 8.3 of 10[4] |
IGN | 8.1 of 10[5] |
Digitally Downloaded | 3.5/5 (iPad)[1] |
The game received mostly positive reviews, receiving a score of 72 out of 100, collated from 28 critics, and 7.2 from users at
GameSpot praised the game's engaging story, puzzles, and visuals, but also adding that the only negative aspect of it is that players can't skip cutscenes.[11]
Awards
The game earned GameSpot's "Best Use of a License" award in 2007.[12] It was also nominated for GameSpot's and IGN's "Best PC Adventure Game of 2007" awards.[13][14]
In 2011, Adventure Gamers named The Awakened the 80th-best adventure game ever released.[15]
See also
- All-Consuming Fire
- Shadows Over Baker Street
- Still Life 2
References
- ^ a b M., Jason (13 March 2013). "Review: Sherlock Holmes: The Awakened (iPad)". Digitally Downloaded. Retrieved 27 April 2023.
- ^ Legally, Focus Home Interactive was not a publisher but a licensee (distribution intermediary): "It needs to be clear it wasn't a "developer and publisher" situation" (Waël Amr), Planète Aventure, 22 February 2020.
- ^ Romano, Sal (1 September 2022). "Sherlock Holmes: The Awakened remake launches in February 2023". Gematsu. Retrieved 2 September 2022.
- ^ "Xbox review". GameSpot. Archived from the original on 27 November 2011. Retrieved 22 August 2008.
- ^ "Xbox review". IGN. 13 September 2007. Archived from the original on September 18, 2007. Retrieved 22 August 2008.
- ^ "Aggregate score". GameRankings. Retrieved 22 August 2008.
- ^ "Aggregate score". Metacritic.
- ^ Dan Whitehead (3 April 2007). "Aggregate score". Eurogamer.
- ^ "Sherlock Holmes: The Awakened". Metacritic. 1 March 2007. Retrieved 29 December 2010.
- GamesIndustry.biz. February 19, 2009. Archived from the originalon July 14, 2018.
- ^ "Gamespot: Sherlock Holmes: The Awakened Review". GameSpot. Archived from the original on 22 February 2012. Retrieved 27 August 2011.
- ^ "Frogwares Game Development Studio". GameSpot. Archived from the original on 30 March 2012. Retrieved 21 June 2007.
- ^ "IGN: Best of 2007". IGN. Archived from the original on 25 December 2007. Retrieved 21 June 2007.
- ^ Staff. "Best of 2007; Genre Awards: Best Adventure Game". GameSpot. Archived from the original on November 30, 2009.
- ^ AG Staff (December 30, 2011). "Top 100 All-Time Adventure Games". Adventure Gamers. Archived from the original on June 4, 2012.
External links
- Official site (archived)
- Sherlock Holmes: The Awakened at MobyGames
- Sherlock Holmes: The Awakened at IMDb