Video Game Vintage Title: The Testament Of Sherlock Holmes

The Testament Of Sherlock Holmes

The Testament of Sherlock Holmes is an adventure video game in the Adventures of Sherlock Holmes series developed by Frogwares and published by Focus Home Interactive. After being delayed from an original 2010 release, the game was released in Europe on 20 September 2012 and in North America on 25 September 2012.

Trailers were shown at E3 2011, with further screenshots being released months later. More screenshots were also posted. The game was developed primarily for consoles, and features a new graphic engine and gameplay mechanics.

The game is based on the fictional detective Sherlock Holmes, the protagonist of 56 short stories and 4 novels by Arthur Conan Doyle. Like many other games in the series, the game itself presents an original story and plot that is not based on any of Doyle's works. The Testament of Sherlock Holmes is set in the London of 1898, with Holmes presented as the main suspect in a case in which he is unable to prove his innocence.

The Testament Of Sherlock Holmes Plot

In London, 1898, Holmes has just successfully solved a new case by retrieving a priceless set of jewels that had been stolen. Unfortunately, the jewels' owner reveals that the necklace Holmes returned to him is a pale imitation and everything seems to incriminate the detective. During the next sequences, Holmes tells Watson he has an immediate appointment with the Bishop of Knightsbridge. Upon arriving, he discovers that the bishop has been tied up, burnt and mutilated. A new character named Inspector Baynes also appears.

Investigating the bishop, Holmes learns his murderers are a group of poor workers from near a cemetery. He also finds that the murderers had a poison that caused a form of psychotic madness.

Investigating a compatible poisoning case, Holmes interviews Hans Scheilman, the Rat Killer, who describes the poisoner as using the initial murders as tests, as the poison is volatile and can not yet be stored for long periods. Realizing that Scheilman has an accomplice in the prison, Holmes engineers his escape using Scheilmans poison, similar to scopolomine, to allow Scheilman to escape and then wait for Holmes to come and collect him.

The Testament Of Sherlock Holmes Gameplay

The player takes the role of Sherlock Holmes for the majority of the game, though there are also sections in which they control Dr. Watson. The majority of the game involves exploring crime scenes and examining clues. An ability called 'sixth sense' is available, which will briefly highlight all the objects which can be interacted with in the player's field of view; this ability must then be allowed to recharge before it can be used again. Once discovered, clues are added to a 'deduction board', a gameplay mechanic which involves linking pieces of information and selection from a number of possible deductions. Once all clues are discovered and the correct deductions selected, the story progresses. There are also several puzzles which must be solved, most of which take the form of locked puzzle boxes.

Three camera views are available � a first person point of view, an over-the-shoulder camera and a static third person camera. The player is able to change between them at any time. The Testament of Sherlock Holmes is also the first game in the Adventures of Sherlock Holmes series to support the use of a gamepad. Dialogue and documents which have been discovered are stored for the player to review.

Reception
The game received mostly positive reviews. GameSpot awarded it 8.0 out of ten and said "Even with the minor issues with pixel hunts and puzzle overloading, this is an uncompromising, riveting adventure game". Game Informer awarded it 7.50 out of ten and said "True to his past exploits, Holmes' newest case provides an intriguing mystery to unravel, despite still falling for some common adventure game pitfalls".

The game was awarded "Best of the Rest" in the Honorary Aggie Award category by the website Adventure Gamers, saying that "the surprising story of Sherlock's apparent fall from grace was thoroughly engaging right from the start and kept the momentum up through well-crafted characters and plenty of twists and turns. Topped off with stunning visuals and an impressive orchestral soundtrack, this was Frogwares at their finest.