Sherlock Holmes: The Awakened

 PC
Sherlock Holmes: The Awakened Image
Metascore
72

Mixed or average reviews - based on 28 Critics What's this?

User Score
7.5

Generally favorable reviews- based on 42 Ratings

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  • Summary: A veritable adventure game licence, Sherlock Holmes returns in a superb third episode that gives a whole new angle to the series. The game rises to the challenge of being entirely in 3D; while the creators have kept classic game mechanics, the game benefits from the freedom and the immersionA veritable adventure game licence, Sherlock Holmes returns in a superb third episode that gives a whole new angle to the series. The game rises to the challenge of being entirely in 3D; while the creators have kept classic game mechanics, the game benefits from the freedom and the immersion brought by a superb animated and detailed real time 3D environment. The game has traditional Point & Click game play, in a real time 3D environment, while offering numerous enigmas and varied puzzles including some that use physics and light for the first time. The game plunges the player into the heart of a terrifying investigation. Sherlock Holmes, assisted by the loyal Doctor Watson, investigates strange disappearances which seem related to the activity of a secret sect. The adventure begins in London, in the renowned Baker Street, taking us then to investigate a disturbing psychiatric hospital near Bale, Switzerland, then on to Louisiana and finally to Scotland. [Ascaron]… Expand
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Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 14 out of 28
  2. Mixed: 12 out of 28
  3. Negative: 2 out of 28
  1. Pelit (Finland)
    90
    The combination of Holmes and Cthulhu works very well. The puzzles are challenging but realistic, and the plot is intriguing. On the minus side, there is too much running to and fro and sometimes the 3D environment makes it hard to find the needed things. [Feb 2007]
    All this publication's reviews
  2. Cheat Code Central
    84
    The Awakened is a good romp. It treats the subject matter with respect, always mindful that this is first and foremost a detective game. Get out your pointers, and start clicking.
  3. IC-Games
    80
    The move to first person works exceptionally well and anyone who has played "Call of Cthulhu: Dark Corners of the Earth" will feel at home straight away.
  4. Jolt Online Gaming UK
    71
    The story and puzzle solving elements work really well, but Sherlock Holmes: The Awakened is badly let down by this insistence on making some clues as obscure as possible.
  5. GamingTrend
    70
    On the one hand, Sherlock Holmes: The Awakened is a modern adventure game with upgraded production values and a compelling premise. On the other hand, it’s kind of a disappointment in terms of gameplay, relying heavily on pixel-hunting reminiscent of the bad old days of the early point-n-click adventure games.
  6. Gamers' Temple
    67
    The Awakened will only appeal to those intrepid adventure gamers used to a healthy dose of frustration in their gameplay.
  7. GameShark
    25
    From the uninteresting story, to the mediocre voice acting, uninspired puzzles, and serious technical issues, there's really nothing to recommend here. The adventure game genre is not what it once was and your choices may be limited; nevertheless, The Awakened is not worth your time.

See all 28 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

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Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 2 out of 6
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 6
  3. Negative: 2 out of 6
  1. AndrewM.
    Feb 5, 2007
    9
    Am only a little over half way through but feel compelled to vote already. If you like adventure games mixed with genuine detective work and Am only a little over half way through but feel compelled to vote already. If you like adventure games mixed with genuine detective work and straight-forward mental challenge - you truly can't go wrong with The Awakened. Great story (thus far), voice acting, location and design; if only the loading times were significantly shorter, this would be a perfect 10. Great game for mystery buffs who enjoy adventure!… Expand
  2. RiderA.
    Sep 14, 2007
    8
    Deep, exciting, with puzzles that are interesting, logical, and very Sherlock Holmes. The Cthulhu element is a huge bonus pitting the most Deep, exciting, with puzzles that are interesting, logical, and very Sherlock Holmes. The Cthulhu element is a huge bonus pitting the most logical of detectives with the most chaotic of elder beings. The game would have been perfect if it is not for the buggy and picky game engine. It could be fixed with a patch but doubt with the non-existing replayability the game would fair any better.… Expand
  4. Gelaos
    Sep 20, 2018
    7
    Really very well done adventure game. Perfect voice acting, exciting puzzles that require logical thinking and overall the game follows theReally very well done adventure game. Perfect voice acting, exciting puzzles that require logical thinking and overall the game follows the tone of A. C. Doyle's work. However, the Cthullu element could be used in a much better way.… Expand
  5. GolovA
    May 4, 2012
    6
    I must agree with some of the reviews - the puzzles are... well... either too easy (you just follow the plot and do whatever Homes says) orI must agree with some of the reviews - the puzzles are... well... either too easy (you just follow the plot and do whatever Homes says) or make no sense whatsoever. If you are looking for an adventure where you solve an inventive riddle using your mind - look some place else: this rendition of Holmes has no such puzzles. That said, the game still has some grabbing power - the intermixing of Lovecraft and Conan Doyle is quiet inventive and innovative; the execution of such **** however, suffers from lack of detail and general harmony between the two. Any adventure fan, or Holmes fan, or Lovecraft fan for that matter should definitely try this title considering the fact it is on sale on Steam for 2 bucks or so. But i would definitely not recommend it to an Adventure (Quest) fan of oldschool or newage.… Expand
  6. Bmane
    May 8, 2014
    3
    A quick review on this one, because I couldn't bear myself to play the game any further...

    Sherlock Holmes: The Awakened is very much a    A quick review on this one, because I couldn't bear myself to play the game any further...

    Sherlock Holmes: The Awakened is very much a game I wanted to love. I wasn't put off by the outdated graphics, so I was expecting solid gameplay, solid voice acting and solid writing to compensate.

    Sadly, none of that is the case here. I'm a big fan of Sherlock Holmes, (particularly Jeremy Brett Holmes) so I do expect a certain level of a quality when it comes to these games to set them apart.

    I've tried the other Sherlock Holmes games in the past and found them completely and utterly devoid of essence of what Sherlock Holmes should be. This game does no better, although it does improve on several designs, namely the remastered edition that features a 1st person mode. However the game should be reviewed in its original state.

    To summarise:

    Voice Acting - Dreadful. The only decent voice acting that game from this is Watson. Holmes was flat, dry and contained none of the eccentricity that the character should have. It was as if they hired Microsoft Sam to take the part of Holmes in this one. I can't say their support cast were great either. There is one scene in which Holmes is speaking to a (indian?) foreigner in their native language, and it had me in stitches at just how bad it was. I was literally face palming.

    Theme: I'm a fan of Cthulhu. Not a huge fan, but I've read the books and anything Cthluhu related gets my juices flowing, so this is why I really wanted to like this game. However, since I didn't play the game through its fullest it would be unfair to review it in full on this (despite looking up the plot after). I can say however that from what I played of it, the premise was not exactly subtle, which is a bad thing in my books.

    Writing: Really bad. Enough sad on this the better I reckon.

    Setup/Puzzles: The general logical setup had me stumped. Why was Holmes interested in a book on piracy (it has relevance to the plot later, but why at the start?) and fish (again relevance, but much later) at the start... These were books that would be useful later on, but at the very start you acquire them despite not having any need of them. It was nothing but lazy writing and plot setup. I can say the same for a lot of the detective work.

    I would like to say more but want to avoid spoilers, but I found the whole way they laid out the puzzles as bizarre.    … Expand
  7. BobH.
    Mar 10, 2007
    0
    I have often found myself wondering why this French studio keep making Sherlock Holmes games; they haven't done any research, care I have often found myself wondering why this French studio keep making Sherlock Holmes games; they haven't done any research, care little for the characters and history and include some of the worst puzzles and voice acting I have ever experienced. Then, in the product description, I noticed that 500,000 games have already been sold. That says everything, really. There is no real care or thought behind the games except to cash in on the names created by Conan Doyle over a century ago. This latest adventure, which I finished in one sitting, see our 'hero' (wrong eye colour, voice tone and outfit) hunt for demons in the USA. Now, if you are thinking that doesn't sound very 'Holmes', you'd be right. The game, as it is, is a poor excuse for an adventure, and gives the genre a bad name. There have been quite a few point and click games released these past few months, so I would suggest you seek those out, and avoid this cash-in stinker.… Expand

Awards & Rankings

75
#75 Best PC Game of 2007

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