Sherlock Holmes Chapter One, the preview of the new thriller signed Frogwares

Index Reinventing a legend A new approach to gameplay Certainties and Doubts Surprising but not too much, the Ukrainian studio Frogwares has abandoned the crazy Lovecraftian shores to return to the character on which it built its reputation: with Sherlock Holmes Chapter One however, a title probably indicative of a project destined to become a series, there is talk of a return to origins - or perhaps it would be better to say a discovery, since its origins have never known anything except vague hints by Arthur Conan Doyle himself. The developers therefore took the risk of going to dig in a very unclear past and build their next game on that, involving him personally when he wants to discover the truth never revealed behind the death of his mother. Not only that, the Sherlock we are going to impersonate will be as far away from the compassionate investigative genius to which we have been accustomed: we will have to deal with an impulsive and cheeky young man, a diamond still unconscious of being taking the road that will lead him to legend. The game was presented with an announcement trailer and is expected in 2021 for current, next-gen and PC consoles, while the gameplay we have only information without any accompanying video. These are the first details that make the project undoubtedly interesting, given Frogwares' previous history, and may be able to smooth out those corners that are still a bit too rough.



re-invent a legend as much as go to touch a "sacred monster" as Sherlock Holmes in a past deliberately left ambiguous can be hair-raising to the fans more pure (those of novels, having regard to the numerous interpretations of the character over the course of time), the brave intention of Frogwares deserves, at least, attention: based on the previous reviews of Sherlock Holmes: Crimes & Punishments, and Sherlock Holmes: The Devil's Daughter , but also of the recent The Sinking City , more of a problem than the recurring in the game of Frogwares when you touch the scope a narrative from the construction shaky history itself up to an unsatisfactory impact of the characters. Aspects which, although they have been shown to make small steps ahead of the game in the game (sacrificing but others), have always cozzato with the staging of the surveys much more eye-catching and comfortable. The decision to return to the origins of Sherlock can be seen from a side with a certain fear, but on the other, with the hope that the team has made the most of the views gathered in the course of the years, and decided therefore to run a calculated risk and aiming to make the entire story a point of strength all round. On the other hand, when you choose to tap precise the fundamental pillars of the character and passion for the violin, his hat badge, or drug dependence you must be fully aware that the return stroke, in the case of a false step, will be very strong.

In this sense, the choice to abandon the well-known victorian London in favour of an unspecified island in the Mediterranean , where Sherlock would spend his childhood, allows developers to play the most customization without having to conform to a context, social and not well-rooted and known with which it can be difficult to confront, and respectful in the deep. While remaining, of course, in the nineteenth century, we are in a place "virgin" with Horror you can have fun and managed to make the island potentially consistent with the history of Sherlock. The fact that it's all explorable, and go, therefore, to return to the foundations laid down with The Sinking City, could be a value add to enrich the game of shades - narrative, but not only.

Finally, an essential factor is represented by Jonathan , the best friend before the entry into the scene of John Watson and the relationship with our detective will be the central part of the experience. As far as I know, considered the nature of the rebellious and reckless of Holmes, Jonathan could be his conscience, a jiminy cricket, very quick-and-dirty (the idea that we have made, at least by appearance, is the one that you don't want to upset you) that will have to straighten the friend when you will leave a little too much to take the hand. It is not easy in a duo consolidated as the Holmes/Watson, insert a character before the good doctor and all of the unknowns, Jonathan is the most under the spotlight: its characterization must be worthy of a supporting actor who takes on the task of working alongside Sherlock.



A new approach to the gameplay In the video game of Frogwares the spearhead has always been the investigation, which is followed by less prominent (and often effective) combat: the Sherlock Holmes Chapter One the developers have decided to create a personal nucleus around which to pivot its main mechanics, the System of Investigation Global . This approach is even more free to the already appreciable work done with The Sinking City, thought to ensure that players rely on more own instinct and judgment, while making use of a real arsenal - mental and not - Sherlock to get to the crux of the problem. Certainly doesn't want to be a system of trial-and-error, or at least so we read from the words of Yaroslav Martyniuk, Lead Feature Designer, but as every thing you need to test it with your hand or at least see it in action to better understand the intentions. If, however, we think that the SIG is intended to enhance a survey system that we have had the opportunity to praise in The Sinking City, the conditions are more than good: where the previous title is focused on a greater linearity investigation, favouring instead the morality of the protagonist, and therefore entrust to our instinct in the decision as to whether a person was innocent or not, we would like that Chapter One would recapture the reins of what is shown in the Crimes & Punishment so as to improve it further. Therefore, blind alleys, wrong conclusions, false steps, and even the innocent sent to jail. In short, something that yes weights on the consciousness, but it arises mainly from errors in our survey.

as For the combat system , one of the most coarse of The Sinking City, we are quite sure that the team has made the most of the feedback collected and is ready to show us a total revision of the same - which was allegedly built from scratch. Without concrete information about it we can express ourselves a little but we suspect that in some way will match with the personality, the most insolent of Sherlock, weighing more on the intellect than on the brute force (that maybe could be left to Jonathan). It is not excluded to arrive at a conflicting body-to-body, however, it would not hurt to have before the chance to play all their cards on the intellectual plane, displaying a wit and a silver tongue able to cavarci from thorny situations.



Sherlock Holmes Chapter One is an interesting project not only because it brings Horror to his character of tip, but especially for the intention of wanting to improve compared to the past, making the most of the feedback I received. Without a concrete proof, or even just an explanatory video of the gameplay is difficult to understand how to be effective, certain decisions taken, but the willingness to go further, run the risk of not just considering the fame of the protagonist is commendable, and seems to be a harbinger of surprises. The perplexity the more they remain the narrative as a whole, by becoming less attractive compared to the staging of the surveys, and the constant technical imperfections that accompany their games for a long time. Considering that we are talking about a planned title for next-gen, we may well hope for a leap in the quality of a game that seems to be the prelude to a real series.

CERTAINTIES The System Global Survey of the maintenance of The freedom of exploration The risk to dig in the past, the unknown of Sherlock DOUBTS There will be still many technical uncertainties? The narrative manages to be captivating in his complex?