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Sherlock Holmes versus Jack the Ripper

75%Game Brain Score
story, graphics
stability, grinding
77% User Score Based on 1,096 reviews
Critic Score 69%Based on 2 reviews

Platforms

PCPCWindowsWindowsXboxXboxXbox 360Xbox 360

About

"Sherlock Holmes versus Jack the Ripper" is a single-player mystery arcade game with an intriguing story, set in 1888 London. As Sherlock Holmes, you'll investigate a series of gruesome murders committed by the infamous Jack the Ripper, navigating the dense atmosphere of Whitechapel's dark alleyways. The game boasts spectacular mechanics, a good soundtrack, and some humor, but can be very grinding, buggy, and has moments that may elicit laughter.

Sherlock Holmes versus Jack the Ripper screenshot
Sherlock Holmes versus Jack the Ripper screenshot
Sherlock Holmes versus Jack the Ripper screenshot
Sherlock Holmes versus Jack the Ripper screenshot
Sherlock Holmes versus Jack the Ripper screenshot
Sherlock Holmes versus Jack the Ripper screenshot
Sherlock Holmes versus Jack the Ripper screenshot
Sherlock Holmes versus Jack the Ripper screenshot
Sherlock Holmes versus Jack the Ripper screenshot
Sherlock Holmes versus Jack the Ripper screenshot
Sherlock Holmes versus Jack the Ripper screenshot

77%
Audience ScoreBased on 1,098 reviews
story255 positive mentions
stability60 negative mentions

  • Engaging story that intertwines historical facts about Jack the Ripper with the fictional narrative of Sherlock Holmes.
  • Interesting puzzles and deduction mechanics that make players feel like real detectives.
  • Atmospheric depiction of Victorian London, enhancing the immersive experience.
  • Frequent bugs, including a save function that often fails, leading to potential loss of progress.
  • Some puzzles are poorly explained or require outside knowledge, making them frustrating to solve.
  • Graphics and voice acting feel dated, which may detract from the overall experience for some players.
  • story
    525 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The story of "Sherlock Holmes vs. Jack the Ripper" is a compelling blend of historical fact and fiction, immersing players in a gritty detective narrative that explores the infamous murders in Victorian London. While the storytelling and character development are praised for their depth and engagement, some players noted pacing issues and tedious fetch quests that detract from the overall experience. Despite its dated graphics and occasional gameplay bugs, the narrative remains a highlight, offering intriguing twists and a satisfying conclusion that keeps players invested until the end.

    • “The storytelling and character development are top-notch, capturing the essence of Sherlock Holmes and his world.”
    • “The story is well made, it has several twists and the obvious explanations are almost never the right ones, pushing the player to go more in depth in all the available tracks, in search of Jack.”
    • “The story is gripping as the true events and that's probably what kept me playing this game to the end.”
    • “Unfortunately, the plot takes its sweet time to get going; you need to finish some boring tasks for the police before you can get into the murders.”
    • “Half of the story just leads you on in a narrative story type of game with no real puzzles, but then there are some puzzles which are just tedious, petty and not fun.”
    • “Unfortunately, the story only barely holds together, with lots of running back-and-forth and long-winded, badly acted dialogue.”
  • graphics
    248 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The graphics of the game have been widely criticized for being dated and reminiscent of early 2000s visuals, which can detract from the overall experience for some players. While some reviewers noted that the graphics still manage to create a fitting atmosphere, particularly in the context of the game's Victorian setting, many felt that modern updates could significantly enhance the visual appeal. Overall, the graphics are considered a weak point, but the engaging story and gameplay often compensate for this shortcoming.

    • “The graphics overall remain the same as the previous few titles and I think are still interesting and hold up to this day.”
    • “The game's graphics were good and the story keeps players interested as they carefully follow the clues to catch the tricky serial killer.”
    • “The graphics are ok for a 2009 game and the story is well presented.”
    • “The game suffers from graphics that look like it came from the early 2000s despite the game being released in 2009, cheap audio and music mixing, poor voice acting, clunky controls and other technical issues, as well as having half of the game being filled with fetched quests and random puzzles.”
    • “Unfortunately, the graphics are dated, the gameplay is very clunky and the game aspect ratios are distorted, and haven't been updated for 16:9 monitors.”
    • “Expect poor graphics and non-immersive interactions with NPCs as well since this is a 2009 game.”
  • gameplay
    224 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay of "Sherlock Holmes versus Jack the Ripper" is a blend of classic point-and-click mechanics and modern twists, featuring deduction schemes and immersive environments. While some players appreciate the engaging detective elements and improved mechanics over previous titles, many criticize the dated graphics, clunky controls, and poorly explained puzzles that can hinder the experience. Overall, the game offers a nostalgic adventure for fans of the genre, but it may not meet the expectations of those seeking contemporary gameplay standards.

    • “The gameplay this time did seem more focused.”
    • “I really enjoyed the game mechanics of how to piece together all of the information and come to the conclusion at the end of the game.”
    • “The detective part of the gameplay might be one of the best, if not the best in the series.”
    • “The puzzles frequently made no sense and had no guidance whatsoever on what you were supposed to do or how (mechanically) to do it.”
    • “Unfortunately the graphics are dated, the gameplay is very clunky and the game aspect ratios are distorted, and haven't been updated for 16:9 monitors.”
    • “The gameplay itself is alright, but you will find yourself mostly doing petty fetch quests, and solving poorly-explained, awkwardly designed puzzles.”
  • atmosphere
    88 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game excels in creating a haunting and immersive atmosphere that authentically captures the grim realities of Victorian London, particularly in areas like Whitechapel. Players appreciate the dark, eerie environments, complemented by effective sound design and strong writing, which enhance the overall experience despite some dated graphics. The atmosphere is often described as heavy and despondent, making it a standout feature that draws players into the narrative and detective work.

    • “Indeed, I would say one of the main strengths of the game is how it creates an impressively despondent 19th century atmosphere with appropriate art design, good use of classical background music, and strong writing.”
    • “The atmosphere is great; it really gives you a feel of how desperately poor and destitute the working class was.”
    • “Not only does the game perfectly recreate the atmosphere of the London slums from the 19th century, but it is also one of the few games I know in which you actually do detective work, instead of just clicking senselessly around.”
    • “Overall a fully on-rails game with small locations and lack of atmosphere.”
    • “The atmosphere is truly heavy and there are not many laughing moments.”
    • “Despite some very dated graphics, it still manages to conjure some genuinely sinister and creepy atmospheres.”
  • stability
    60 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's stability is a significant concern, with numerous players reporting frequent bugs, crashes, and issues with the save feature, including game freezes that can lead to lost progress. While some users managed to enjoy the game despite these glitches, many found the experience frustrating, particularly due to the lack of autosave functionality and performance drops towards the end. Overall, the game's age and technical issues detract from its potential enjoyment.

    • “On top of that, as I neared the end of the game, the performance started to decrease dramatically, with slowdowns, audio glitches, and finally - a complete crash near the end of the game upon trying to travel to Joseph Levy's house. This has caused me to abandon this game.”
    • “This game is just a buggy mess; more often than not, the game just stops working and crashes abruptly. Not to mention the problem of being unable to save for no apparent reason. There were times when I made huge progress and solved difficult puzzles or ran around just to find clues without any clear objective, only to encounter that save game problem.”
    • “I've had to restart the game 3 times now because of corrupted saves and bugs, and have replayed numerous parts again and again because of freezes and saving issues.”
  • music
    46 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music in the game is generally praised for its immersive quality, effectively enhancing the bleak atmosphere of the 19th-century setting, particularly in areas like Whitechapel. While some tracks are reused from previous installments, the soundtrack includes new pieces that contribute to the overall ambiance, although it may not be particularly distinctive. Despite minor audio issues, the classical background music and ambient sounds are considered a strong point, adding depth to the gameplay experience.

    • “Each area has its own unique music, and I especially liked the music that plays when you explore Whitechapel.”
    • “Indeed, I would say one of the main strengths of the game is how it creates an impressively despondent 19th-century atmosphere with appropriate art design, good use of classical background music, and strong writing.”
    • “As you wander the dark streets, ominous ambient music hanging in the air, you get a chilling feeling knowing that a particularly vicious serial killer is somewhere nearby...”
    • “Music isn't particularly distinctive, just standard Sherlock's tunes.”
    • “They didn't waste too much effort in music as there are still the classic melodies from the previous chapters and one or two new tracks, but still they fit as they rarely pretend to stand in the gameplay unless the cutscene requires it to better represent the events.”
    • “-audio bug where two pieces of music play at the same time, which is distracting.”
  • humor
    26 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The humor in the game is characterized by a mix of witty interactions, particularly between Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson, which often elicits laughter despite the game's heavy atmosphere. While some moments are genuinely funny, particularly involving eccentric characters and clever puzzles, the overall tone balances humor with darker themes, leaving players with a sense of charm typical of the Sherlock Holmes series. However, some players noted that the humor can be overshadowed by the more serious elements of the narrative.

    • “The characterization is strong, and there are a lot of funny moments of interaction here between the eccentric Holmes and his hapless helper Dr. Watson.”
    • “It also had some really funny moments and definitely keeps up with the charm attached to the whole Sherlock Holmes series.”
    • “If you have played the other Sherlock Holmes games, you will probably recognize some of these weird but funny shenanigans.”
  • grinding
    22 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Reviews highlight that the grinding aspect of the game is characterized by tedious and often unintuitive puzzles, as well as repetitive fetch quests that detract from the main narrative. Many players find the gameplay experience marred by the need to engage in monotonous tasks, leading to frustration rather than enjoyment. While some players did not find the grinding overly burdensome, the consensus leans towards it being a significant drawback.

    • “The game has a tad bit of grindy elements, but it keeps the experience engaging.”
    • “While it can feel a bit grindy at times, the rewards make it worthwhile.”
    • “There are some grindy aspects, but they add depth to the gameplay.”
    • “Setting & main story should make for a great suspenseful investigation but instead the game is sending you on tedious fetch quest after tedious fetch quest that have nothing to do with the murders you're supposedly investigating.”
    • “The technical issues with not being able to save your game can be solved with constant tedious alt+tabbing back and forth.”
    • “Half of the story just leads you on in a narrative story type of game with no real puzzles, but then there are some puzzles which are just tedious, petty and not fun.”
  • replayability
    6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game has a moderate replayability score of 5/10, indicating that while it is enjoyable and worth playing, it lacks significant incentives for repeated playthroughs. Some players appreciate the meta-game elements that enhance replay value, but overall, the consensus suggests limited reasons to revisit the game frequently.

    • “It is for this meta-game that I grant extra points for replayability.”
    • “A good game, worth the time to play it, but low replay value.”
    • “Replay value: 5/10”
    • “Replay value: 5/10”
  • optimization
    6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The optimization of the game is highly inconsistent, with many users reporting very poor performance characterized by sluggishness, significant slowdowns, and audio glitches, particularly towards the end of the game, leading to crashes. However, some players have noted that it performs well on higher-end rigs, achieving 30 to 60+ fps. Overall, the experience varies greatly depending on the system used.

    • “This game has good performance and plays well on a rig that pumps 30 or 60+ fps.”
    • “Very poor performance (often runs sluggish, making it a pain to click things).”
    • “On top of that, as I neared the end of the game, the performance started to decrease dramatically, with slowdowns, audio glitches, and finally - a complete crash near the end of the game upon trying to travel to Joseph Levy's house. This has caused me to abandon this game.”
  • character development
    4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Character development in the game is highly praised, with reviewers noting that it effectively captures the essence of Sherlock Holmes and his world. The character designs and voice acting are also commended, particularly given the game's release in 2009. Overall, the storytelling and character development are considered exceptional.

    • “The storytelling and character development are top-notch, capturing the essence of Sherlock Holmes and his world.”
    • “The character designs are nice (considering it is from 2009), and so is the voice acting.”
  • emotional
    4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The emotional aspect of the game elicits strong feelings, with some players expressing a sense of warmth and nostalgia, while others are frustrated enough to abandon it entirely, preferring to watch playthroughs instead. This dichotomy highlights the game's potential for emotional connection, overshadowed by technical issues that detract from the experience.

    • “It all worked together in a way that made me feel warm and fuzzy inside.”

Buy Sherlock Holmes versus Jack the Ripper

8h Median play time
11h Average play time
4-12h Spent by most gamers
*Based on 16 analyzed playthroughs

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