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The burden of power is supposedly a crushing one, but you'd never guess it from Frogwares' latest take on Sherlock Holmes. The great detective's dead-eyed stare and insufferably smug attitude belie the power that he wields to condemn or absolve. Over the course of six cases, a sycophantic Dr Watson, a moronic Inspector Lestrade and the whole of the British constabulary hang on his every word, and what Holmes says goes. Justice is meted out or mercy is exercised depending on his whim and, in the eyes of those around him, the great detective is infallible. Surprisingly, this audacious show of egotism makes for a largely entertaining and involving detective game.
Much of the success of Sherlock Holmes: Crimes and Punishments - an awkward but deliberate play on the title of Dostoyevsky's novel - is due to its mechanics. By piecing together clues that can be interpreted in different ways and collecting frequently conflicting verbal statements, you guide Holmes to building a picture of the events that transpired, but it's ultimately up to you to decide which of the facts are relevant and which are mere happenstance. Once enough evidence has been collected and a plausible chain of events established, you deduce who is guilty and, leveraging the moral choice mechanic, decide how you'll present your findings to the feckless Lestrade and his clueless bobbies.
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