Sherlock Holmes: Chapter One Review (PS5)

The newest Sherlock Holmes games is not a simple prequel, but a breath of fresh air that the series needed so badly. Although risky, going back to the first cases of the most brilliant detective in the world, long before Baker Street and Doctor Watson, is exactly what makes relevant this 20-year-old franchise.     

Along the years the developers from Frogwares released no less than eight games, with various success. Chapter One is an origin story that cuts all the safety nets and presents, a younger, more dynamic and much edgier Sherlock, that is refreshing amidst all the stroll through the Victorian age. The biggest gamble is the gameplay though, Chapter One being an open world that lets go of the players hand and encourages free exploration.

The stories of the Sherlock Holmes developed by Frogware have always been independent from the legendary work of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. This time the leap is even bigger compared to the source material, since we have to deal with a 21-year-old youngster who arrives on the isle of Cordona to face the daemons of his past. It becomes obvious pretty quickly that your companion on this trip is not a real person, but rather a figment of our hero’s imagination.

Nonetheless the two make a great team and soon you will be wrapped in figuring out what happened so traumatic that the world’s greatest detective needs as imaginary friend. Being an open world game, there is plenty to investigate in Chapter One, besides the main storyline. You will also be able to refurbish the old family estate, find hidden treasures and collectibles, buy and use different disguises. If you want to experience everything the game offers you are looking at around 30 hours of gameplay.

The gameplay mechanics themselves are also adopted to the enlarged game world. Next to the already known “Mind Palace”, that helps make deductions based on the evidence you have gathered, the reconstruction mode in which our detective puzzles together the correct order of events is a returning fan favourite, just as the detective mode. You will still gather clues and extra details by going through the archive of the local newspaper or the one of the townhall, and the police database. Things are made even more complicated by the occasional chemical analysis, but at last this time it is a much easier and more engaging mechanic than in the precious episodes.

A new mechanic is the disguise system that allows Sherlock you to blend in with the different social circles of Cordona. Changing your attire to be able to question witnesses is one of the most heavily used mechanics in Chapter One. The other new feature is represented by the need to use firearms. This new Sherlock is not exactly pacifist and as a special deputy for the local law enforcement, he will not shy away of using firearms to neutralize the criminals.

The game world itself is built with great care, the different sections of the city having different styles, each with its own particular vibe. The navigation is not the easiest, but it is somehow true to the spirit of the series. Chapter One is a game that requires you to pay attention and activate your brain cells in order to progress. If you are on the wrong path, the game will let you walk it all the way. There is no end game screen if you mad a mistake, your imaginary friend being the only measure of how well you are actually doing.

Jon is a big part of the entire experience, being almost the antithesis of Sherlock. Despite their obvious differences, the two have a very intimate connection, that reveal a new side of the detective. While Sherlock is cocky and full of himself, Jon is almost childish, without being naïve, and constantly makes fun of our hero for taking himself too seriously. Him being a figment of imagination is not a spoiler, and as you uncover more details about Sherlock’s childhood this symbiosis that build the entire atmosphere of the game will finally make sense.

Th gam is a hug lap forward also technically. Th open world is full of details and compensates for the first few hours when Chapter One confides your movements to a hotel lobby and a few rooms. The streets are full of people, and although some character models repeat a bit often, there is a feeling that the world around you is alive. The soundtrack is equally well crafted, enhancing the atmosphere and the things happening on the screen.

The Good

The Bad

Conclusion