RecommendedSteam player
[SPOILER FREE] Sherlock Holmes: Crimes and Punishment is a beautiful and impressive adventure puzzle game starring a very popular detective who players will enjoy playing as to solve crime and choosing thier own choices in a case's outcome through deduction. First off, the graphics of the game use the unreal engine 3 and a step up for the series.The facial features of the characters such as pores, scars, and even the detail on the clothing. Not only is the character detailed but so are the aesthetics and details put into each of the maps that the players will traverse to solve crimes, which gives it a it more immersion. The music is appropriate for the game and kicks in at the right moment though the rest of the time the game is pretty quiet to letting concentrate and could use more to bring immersion. The voice acting is also decently done for most of the characters in the game and brings them to life in the game world. Players can play the game with either a keyboard and mouse or with a game pad. Both are configured well and didn't include key binding, which isn't too bad since there aren't many keys to press for this type of game genre. Players be able to play this game in first or 3rd person whichever choice you decide. The controls may feel a bit stiff but overall it is not too bad at all. Each of the maps in this game is really focused on the area where the crime appears. You won't find yourself in unnecessary places or free roaming since it isn't that sort of game though it is something to suggest for a future sequel. The game uses a fast travel system to travel around the map with a push of a button. With a button click, players can bring up a map and click on locations to travel where they need to go whenever you want. With each loading screen, Sherlock in the cab where the interface can also be brought up for the menu to look over the clues, evidence, and deduction while they wait. The menu itself is very sleek and organized. The game play to Sherlock is to solve puzzles, gather evidence and to come up with deduction and solve crimes. The puzzles range from ordinary lock puzzles where you match locks to complicated puzzles where you rebuild molds, combine chemicals or find clues to fix certain situation, compare notes, Extreme arm wrestling and lots more variety to keep the game intriguing. There is a skip function for those that get frustrated or stuck at a puzzle but keep in mind that it is a puzzle game, and that self-satisfaction comes from solving by oneself. Sherlock is armed with an arsenal of tools to help him combine clues and solve puzzles. Focus will help him see things that he will miss at times such as small marks and such. Imagination is when he gathers enough clues to solve a puzzle, he will be able to recreate the scenario in his mind to gather more clues and evidence and finally when he does get all this, he will be capable to go into deduction. In deduction mode, Sherlock can look over his facts and evidence, draw a line between them and form bubbles and by doing so created deductions. Sometimes there is only one deduction in a bubble but other times. There will be two totals. As players look through all these bubbles, they'll be able to draw and combine a conclusion to the case. If the case is a contradiction, it will tell you between the bubbles. If it combines there will be a larger bubble and there will be a choice to the entire scenario. Either the person is guilty/innocent or an alternative choice route opened will be up to players to decide by finding enough clues and evidence. The game introduces five case scenario total and may take a player 12-15 hours total to complete depending on how good they are at gathering clues and puzzles. My opinion is that this is possibly the best puzzle/adventure game I have yet played. I enjoyed it though some of my cons are that the disguise function wasn't used as greatly as I thought and that the game hopefully will be even frequently more expansive with the deduction system in the future because that felt like the real meat of the game to me personally. Pros + The graphic details are beautiful. You can see the details of the faces of characters, clothes, and the aesthetic to the background looks great with the Unreal 3 engine. + The puzzles are brilliant + The case themselves are very realistic in a sense + Brilliant story and cases. Especially the third case Blood Bath. + The voice acting is decently done. Most of the characters sounded great. + Deduction offers the players choices and replayability. Multiple choices on how to punish a crime or finish it off with another outcome. + Game lasts 12-15 hours Cons - Though beautiful the maps were decently sized and it felt too closed in especially with parts blocked off. Hopefully we'll see even larger areas in the future. - Disguises weren't used as much in the game - There is a skip button that pops up everytime that just seems to invite players to push it. Should be something you can turn off - The online feature should take in more stats instead of just who chooses the choice or discovering it. Youtubet/Twitch- Kenuty Subscribe if you like my review and follow up on curator search "stream". Video review - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OlfGZpYF4BM&feature=youtu.beShow moreShow less
11.2 hours at review299 people found this helpful