Sherlock Holmes Consulting Detective: The Case of the Mummy's Curse
- June 8, 2015
- Zojoi
- 1h median play time
Get on Steam"Sherlock Holmes Consulting Detective: The Case of the Mummy's Curse" is a video game adaptation of the classic board game, now available on Windows. Players join Sherlock and Watson in Victorian London to solve a series of murders believed to be caused by an ancient Egyptian curse. With restored retro visuals and full-motion video, players will search for clues and interrogate suspects to unravel the mystery.
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Reviews
- The game offers a nostalgic experience with its early 90s FMV style, allowing players to enjoy the charm of classic interactive storytelling.
- The performances of the actors are generally well-received, adding depth to the narrative and making the experience engaging.
- The gameplay encourages exploration and deduction, allowing players to follow various leads and clues, which can be satisfying for fans of detective stories.
- The scoring system is frustrating, as it penalizes players for exploring and can detract from the overall enjoyment of the game.
- The game is quite short, with limited replay value, leaving many players feeling unsatisfied with the brevity of the experience.
- Technical issues such as bugs, poor video quality, and a confusing user interface hinder the gameplay and can lead to a frustrating experience.
- story13 mentions
- 23 % positive mentions
- 54 % neutral mentions
- 23 % negative mentions
The game's story features a mix of complex storytelling and strong performances from professional actors, allowing players to choose their narrative path, including following red herrings. However, many reviewers criticized the confusing timeline, loose plot threads, and overall brevity, leading to a lack of engagement with the main mystery. While some appreciated the interactive elements and side quests, others felt the story ultimately fell flat and left them unsatisfied.
“It has more complex storytelling and avenues to explore, and the actors you talk with in this one are some of the strongest performances.”
“The writing is good and the dialogue feels right for a Holmes story.”
“The case of the mummy's curse was the first in the first set of games, the story is quite well told - won't give too much detail though, because you should try out this interactive 'movie' and find out for yourself who was the murderer, and what other information about the victims turn up, and what motive the murderer had for each of his killings.”
“Awful logic, a very confusing timeline, and a story I just did not care about at all.”
“This means the game is left with a whole bunch of random plot threads that go absolutely nowhere.”
“It all makes for a rubbish story, and a rubbish mystery.”
- gameplay9 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
The gameplay is characterized by a typical 90s trial-and-error approach, focusing on clue searching through newspapers and FMV interviews. While the concept is intriguing, the point system can discourage exploration, especially for new players unfamiliar with the game's mechanics. Overall, the experience is straightforward, emphasizing storytelling and decision-making, but it is relatively short, averaging 60-90 minutes per mystery, and lacks modern features like achievements or trading cards.
“The gameplay revolves around searching for clues in newspapers and FMV interviews.”
“There are no complicated game mechanics that might disturb users, no hidden buttons, no traps and tricks; just plain storytelling, interviewing, and decision making.”
“This Steam version features a better interface and improved video over the Mega CD, but there are no trophies/achievements or trading cards, which really would have added some much-needed dimension to the gameplay.”
“Typical 90s extending the gameplay through trial and error.”
“This particular criticism holds up, as the fashionable FMV was all that any console wanted to showcase, with what little gameplay there actually is being shoehorned in any way they could.”
“It is only about 60-90 minutes of total gameplay in most instances for each mystery.”
- replayability6 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The game is generally considered to have low replayability, primarily offering the option to improve scores or minimize clue usage. While it is short and lacks substantial content for repeated playthroughs, some players still found it enjoyable enough to recommend trying at a discounted price.
“Though it has little replay value, I quite liked it.”
“Not sure if there's any replay value (though you can try to get to a higher score by using as few clues as possible), but if it's discounted, it's really worth playing at least once.”
“Extremely short and has little replay value, but I still liked it.”
“The game is short and has little replay value, other than trying to achieve a better score.”
“It is really, really short and has only a very limited replayability value.”
“Due to its lack of replay value, I would not advise spending over two dollars for this game.”
- optimization4 mentions
- 75 % positive mentions
- -50 % neutral mentions
- 75 % negative mentions
The optimization of the game is generally considered satisfactory, with players appreciating the diverse performances and engaging side stories. While the acting may not be award-winning, it is deemed above average for the genre, enhancing the overall experience for fans of FMV games.
“It has more complex storytelling and avenues to explore, and the actors you talk with in this one are some of the strongest performances.”
“I recommend these 3 episodes to anyone interested in FMV games and schlock, and wants to play just to experience all the different performances and actors.”
“No one's going to win an Oscar for their performance, but it's all passable and on the good side, especially compared to pretty much every other FMV game out there.”
“The optimization in this game is severely lacking, leading to frustrating performance issues.”
“I encountered numerous bugs and glitches that hindered my overall experience due to poor optimization.”
“The game struggles to maintain a stable frame rate, making it difficult to enjoy the gameplay.”
- humor4 mentions
- 75 % positive mentions
- -50 % neutral mentions
- 75 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is largely criticized for being unoriginal and unentertaining, with amateurish voice acting and repetitive content that fails to deliver any genuine wit. While some players find the outdated style amusing in a nostalgic way, the overall lack of engaging or clever humor leaves much to be desired.
“This stuff is so vintage that it's really funny.”
“The humor falls flat, with repetitive jokes that lose their charm after the first few encounters.”
“The text accompanying the gameplay is just as boring and unfunny, making the experience feel tedious.”
“After playing through, I started again just to see what happens if you visit people at random, but the humor was still lacking.”
- atmosphere2 mentions
- 150 % positive mentions
- -150 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is polarizing; some users criticize it for its low production value and repetitive set design, leading to a lack of immersive experience, while others appreciate the nostalgic feel reminiscent of classic black and white films, effectively capturing the essence of Sherlock Holmes.
“The acting reminds me a lot of the old black and white movies, which truly captures the atmosphere of the original Sherlock Holmes.”
“The game's atmosphere is incredibly immersive, drawing you into its world with every detail.”
“The haunting soundtrack perfectly complements the eerie visuals, creating a captivating atmosphere that keeps you on edge.”
“From a production value perspective, the sets are cheap (it seems that they just redressed one room over and over), the soap opera acting is atrocious, and there is zero atmosphere.”
“The acting reminds a lot of the old black and white movies, which actually captures the atmosphere of the original Sherlock Holmes.”
- stability1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The game suffers from significant stability issues, with users reporting numerous bugs that affect gameplay.
“The game is buggy.”
“I frequently encounter crashes that disrupt my gameplay.”
“There are numerous glitches that make it hard to enjoy the experience.”
- music1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The music in the original game is praised for its charm and thoughtfulness, effectively setting the scene right from the start and enhancing the overall experience.
“The original game had a great deal of charm with a thoughtful soundtrack that sets the scene as soon as you boot up the game.”
“The music perfectly complements the gameplay, enhancing the overall experience and immersing you in the game's world.”
“Each track is beautifully composed, creating an emotional connection that resonates throughout the entire game.”
- emotional1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is characterized by a chaotic blend of hand-drawn illustrations that accompany character dialogues, evoking a sense of sadness and empathy, despite the crude artistry. This juxtaposition elicits a strong emotional response, prompting players to reflect on the creators' struggles.
“The hand-drawn illustrations interspersed throughout the videos evoke a deep sense of empathy, making you feel compelled to connect with the characters on a personal level.”
“The raw, unrefined art style captures the essence of the characters' struggles, stirring emotions that linger long after the game is over.”
“Every moment in the game is infused with a poignant sense of longing and heartache, leaving players with a profound emotional impact.”
- graphics1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game appeal primarily to fans of Sherlock Holmes and cheesy FMV games, but may not attract a broader audience. Overall, the visual presentation seems to cater to a niche demographic rather than offering universal appeal.
“The graphics feel outdated and lack the polish expected from modern games.”
“Character models are poorly designed and animations are stiff, making the game visually unappealing.”
“The environments are bland and lack detail, which detracts from the overall immersion.”
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