Sherlock Holmes versus Jack the Ripper

77%
Game Brain Score Based on 472 reviews
  • story
  • graphics
  • gameplay
Sherlock Holmes versus Jack the Ripper Game Cover
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"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.

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Reviews

77%
Audience ScoreBased on 472 reviews
story106 positive mentions
stability26 negative mentions
  • Engaging story that effectively combines historical facts with fictional elements, making it captivating for fans of true crime and detective narratives.
  • Challenging puzzles and deduction mechanics that encourage players to think critically and piece together clues, enhancing the detective experience.
  • Atmospheric depiction of Victorian London, immersing players in the gritty and dark setting of the Jack the Ripper case.
  • Frequent bugs and issues with the save system, leading to frustration as players may lose significant progress due to crashes or inability to save.
  • Some puzzles are overly complex or require outside knowledge, making them feel unfair or tedious, which can detract from the overall enjoyment.
  • Graphics and voice acting feel dated, which may hinder immersion for players accustomed to modern game standards.
  • story218 mentions

    The game's story, centered around the infamous Jack the Ripper murders, is praised for its engaging narrative and historical accuracy, effectively blending fact and fiction. While some players found the pacing slow due to numerous fetch quests and tedious puzzles, many appreciated the character development and twists that kept them invested. Overall, the storytelling is considered one of the game's strongest aspects, making it a worthwhile experience for fans of detective narratives.

    • “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 rich, but the ending personally just felt anti-climactic.”
    • “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 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.”
    • “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 fetch quests and random puzzles.”
  • graphics103 mentions

    The graphics of the game have been widely described as dated and mediocre, often reminiscent of early 2000s titles, which may detract from the experience for some players. While some appreciate the quirky visuals and atmospheric design, many reviewers note that the graphics do not hold up well against modern standards, with issues such as poor texture quality and occasional glitches. Despite these shortcomings, the overall gameplay and engaging story often compensate for the lackluster visuals, making it a worthwhile experience for those who prioritize narrative over graphical fidelity.

    • “The graphics overall remain the same as the previous few titles and I think are still interesting and hold up to this day.”
    • “The graphics are simple (and admittedly dated), but effective.”
    • “Despite some very dated graphics, it still manages to conjure some genuinely sinister and creepy atmospheres.”
    • “Graphics: the visuals are a bit quirky and feel dated, which might be off-putting at first.”
    • “The game suffers from graphics that look like they 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.”
    • “Expect poor graphics and non-immersive interactions with NPCs as well since this is a 2009 game.”
  • gameplay89 mentions

    The gameplay of "Sherlock Holmes versus Jack the Ripper" is a blend of classic adventure mechanics with some modern twists, featuring deduction schemes and immersive exploration of Whitechapel. While the game introduces interesting mechanics and builds on previous titles, it suffers from dated controls, occasional bugs, and puzzles that can be overly obscure or frustrating. Overall, it offers a solid experience for fans of the genre, though players should be prepared for some technical shortcomings and a lack of guidance in certain areas.

    • “Gameplay-wise, it supports both point-and-click and first-person viewpoint (recommended).”
    • “The gameplay is more fun, the story is more exciting, it feels more 'real' and offers you more or less accurate information on a real case.”
    • “Building the case piece by piece is a pleasure, and though progress feels plodding at times, the deduction mechanics are great fun, and it all builds to a satisfying conclusion.”
    • “The puzzles frequently made no sense and had no guidance whatsoever on what you were supposed to do or how (mechanically) to do it.”
    • “There's a bug where you cannot save the game after a couple of hours of gameplay.”
    • “The mechanics aren't the most ironed out, and I ran into a bug where the game wouldn't save, and thus I lost 6+ hours of progress.”
  • atmosphere41 mentions

    The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its authentic and immersive portrayal of Victorian England, particularly the dark and desolate conditions of Whitechapel in 1888. Reviewers highlight the effective use of art design, music, and strong writing to create a heavy, eerie ambiance that enhances the storytelling and puzzle-solving experience. Despite some dated graphics and occasional voice acting issues, the overall atmosphere remains a standout feature, making it a compelling choice for fans of adventure and mystery games.

    • “Few games are able to convey the Victorian atmosphere in a brilliant way, and this is one of those games.”
    • “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.”
    • “The atmosphere is truly heavy and there are not many laughing moments.”
    • “Overall a fully on-rails game with small locations and lack of atmosphere.”
    • “Despite some very dated graphics, it still manages to conjure some genuinely sinister and creepy atmospheres.”
  • stability26 mentions

    The game's stability is a significant concern, with numerous users reporting frequent bugs, crashes, and issues with the save game feature, including game-breaking glitches that can lead to lost progress. While some players managed to enjoy the experience despite these problems, the overall consensus is that the game is quite buggy and lacks reliable autosave functionality, making it frustrating for many.

    • “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 a saving issue.”
    • “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, only to encounter that save game problem.”
    • “Gameplay is super buggy, there's no auto-save, and most of the puzzles are incredibly obtuse.”
  • music23 mentions

    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 re-used from previous installments, the soundtrack features a mix of classical pieces and original compositions that contribute to the game's chilling ambiance. However, there are occasional audio issues, such as overlapping tracks, which can detract from the overall experience.

    • “Overall, all the audio is great, immersing you in areas with music and incidental sounds.”
    • “Each area has its own unique music, and I especially liked the music that plays when you explore Whitechapel.”
    • “As you wander the dark streets, ominous ambient music hangs in the air, giving you a chilling feeling knowing that a particularly vicious serial killer is somewhere nearby...”
    • “Music isn't particularly distinctive, just standard Sherlock's tunes.”
    • “The game suffers from graphics that look like it came from the early 2000's 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.”
    • “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.”
  • humor12 mentions

    The humor in the game is a mixed bag, featuring strong character interactions, particularly between Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson, which often elicit laughter through their eccentricities and misadventures. While some moments are genuinely funny, the overall atmosphere leans towards the heavy, with fewer comedic instances than expected. Fans of the Sherlock Holmes series will appreciate the quirky humor and familiar shenanigans, though the balance between humor and darker themes may leave some players feeling sympathy for Watson's plight.

    • “The characters are funny and likable.”
    • “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.”
  • grinding10 mentions

    Reviews indicate that the grinding aspect of the game is often characterized by tedious and unengaging puzzles, as well as repetitive tasks that detract from the overall experience. While some players found certain elements enjoyable, many noted that navigation and specific puzzles can feel frustratingly grindy and unintuitive.

    • “The game has a grindy aspect that keeps me engaged and motivated to level up my character.”
    • “I find the grinding to be a tad bit grindy, but it adds a rewarding challenge to the gameplay.”
    • “The grind is satisfying and feels like a natural part of the progression system.”
    • “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.”
    • “Navigation can also be a little tedious and some puzzles are unintuitive.”
    • “It can get tedious.”
  • replayability3 mentions

    Overall, the game's replayability is considered moderate, with some players appreciating the meta-game elements that enhance the experience, while others find the replay value to be relatively low, rating it around 5/10.

    • “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”
  • character development2 mentions

    Character development in the game is highly praised, with reviewers noting its exceptional storytelling that effectively captures the essence of Sherlock Holmes and his universe. The character designs and voice acting are also commended, adding depth to the overall experience.

    • “The storytelling and character development are top-notch, capturing the essence of Sherlock Holmes and his world.”
    • “The character designs are impressive, especially considering it is from 2009, and the voice acting is equally commendable.”
  • emotional2 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game is polarizing; while some players find it evokes warm and fuzzy feelings, others express frustration and disappointment, leading them to abandon the game in favor of watching playthroughs instead.

    • “It all worked together in a way that made me feel warm and fuzzy inside.”
  • optimization2 mentions

    The optimization of the game is inconsistent, with some users reporting very poor performance and sluggishness, while others experience smooth gameplay at 30 to 60+ fps on capable rigs.

    • “This game has good performance and plays well on a rig that pumps 30 or 60+ fps.”
    • “Very poor performance; it often runs sluggish, making it a pain to click on things.”
    • “The game suffers from severe optimization issues, leading to frequent frame drops and lag.”
    • “I experience constant stuttering and long load times, which really detracts from the overall experience.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

69% average critic score

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Play time

8hMedian play time
12hAverage play time
4-10hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 6 analyzed playthroughs

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