Sherlock Holmes: Chapter One

The opinions of the critics regarding the Story of Sherlock Holmes: Chapter One are generally positive. Many critics praise the game's story, highlighting its focus on Sherlock Holmes' origins and his journey to uncover the truth about his mother's death. Critics like COGconnected and GameSpew appreciate the emotional transition of Holmes and the exploration of his childhood home. The story is described as authentic, well-written, and captivating by critics like WellPlayed and Softpedia. The narrative is also commended for its darker tone, exploration of mental health and trauma, and the poignant finale by critics like GameGrin and Guardian. The setting of the fictional Mediterranean island of Cordona is praised for its immersive atmosphere and interesting cast of characters by critics like Impulsegamer and GAMES.CH. However, there are some critics who express more negative opinions about the story of Sherlock Holmes: Chapter One. Gaming Age mentions that the story is forgettable and lacks innovation compared to previous Sherlock Holmes games. Pure Xbox criticizes the presentation of the story, noting unclear directions and instances of roadblocks. Movies Games and Tech mentions that the game becomes filled with odd encounters and weird characters, which may detract from the overall storytelling experience. Overall, the consensus among the critics is that the story of Sherlock Holmes: Chapter One is engaging and enjoyable. It is praised for its exploration of Sherlock Holmes' origins, the portrayal of a younger Holmes, and the themes of mental health and trauma. The narrative is described as well-structured, captivating, and offering a unique insight into Sherlock's thoughts and emotions. The game's setting and atmosphere also contribute to the positive reception of the story. While there are some criticisms regarding forgettable elements, unclear directions, and odd encounters, the overall sentiment is that the story of Sherlock Holmes: Chapter One is a solid and captivating experience.

The opinions of the critics regarding the gameplay of Sherlock Holmes: Chapter One are generally positive. Many critics highlight the engaging and immersive gameplay mechanics that involve investigating crime scenes, gathering evidence, and making deductions. Critics like GameSpew, GamesRadar+, and Worth Playing appreciate the game's focus on detective work and the satisfaction of piecing together clues to solve mysteries. The inclusion of new elements, such as side-cases and various investigative tasks, is also praised by Video Chums. The core mechanics of investigation, including Holmes' ability to observe and learn intricate details, are well-implemented, according to CGMagazine. The open-world aspect of the game, mentioned by GameStar and Pure Xbox, adds a sense of freedom and exploration to the gameplay experience. However, there are also some negative opinions regarding the gameplay of Sherlock Holmes: Chapter One. COGconnected criticizes the investigation mechanics for being opaque, and Softpedia mentions that the game requires attention and brain cells. Screen Rant criticizes the frustrating puzzles and the combat system, which contradicts the core concept of Sherlock Holmes. Gaming Nexus mentions feeling overwhelmed with side quests and experiencing moments of being stuck, which detracted from the overall enjoyment. The combat sequences are considered awful by WellPlayed and not well-implemented by GameGrin and Gaming Nexus. The lack of hand-holding and specific order of completing tasks can be frustrating, as mentioned by Movies Games and Tech and Pure Xbox. Overall, the consensus among the critics is that Sherlock Holmes: Chapter One offers a satisfying and immersive gameplay experience. The game successfully captures the essence of being a detective, with engaging mechanics that involve investigating crime scenes, gathering evidence, and making deductions. The inclusion of new elements, such as side-cases and various investigative tasks, adds depth and variety to the gameplay. The open-world aspect allows for exploration and adds to the sense of immersion. However, there are some areas of improvement, such as the opaque investigation mechanics, frustrating puzzles, and underwhelming combat system. Despite these flaws, the gameplay of Sherlock Holmes: Chapter One is generally well-received by critics, offering an enjoyable and challenging experience for fans of the detective genre.

The opinions of the critics regarding the Graphics and Visual Design of Sherlock Holmes: Chapter One are mixed. Several critics praised the game's visuals, particularly the detailed open world and the beautiful setting of the fictional Mediterranean island of Cordona. Critics such as GameSpew, God is a Geek, and Softpedia appreciated the impressive architecture and the attention to authentic details in the game's environment. The visuals were also commended for their sharp details on clothing and cleaner character faces, as mentioned by Worth Playing. The game's world-building, architecture, and art direction were considered significant accomplishments by COGconnected. The graphics were described as gorgeous and the attention to detail was praised by GameGrin and Impulsegamer. However, there were also negative opinions regarding the Graphics and Visual Design of Sherlock Holmes: Chapter One. Some critics, such as Gaming Age and Worth Playing, mentioned issues with character design, facial animations, and lip-syncing, which they felt were outdated and broke the mood and immersion of the game. PlayStation LifeStyle and Screen Rant criticized the open-world setting of Cordona for feeling empty in places, having repeated NPC models, and struggling with frame rate issues, making the gameplay feel choppy. Pure Xbox mentioned technical issues like texture pop-in, character glitches, and a poor framerate, which affected the overall visual experience. Overall, the consensus among the critics is that Sherlock Holmes: Chapter One has visually appealing aspects, such as the beautiful setting, impressive architecture, and attention to detail. However, there are also significant drawbacks, including outdated character design and facial animations, repetitive NPC models, technical issues, and performance problems. While some critics, like GameGrin and Impulsegamer, found the graphics to be impressive and praised the attention to detail, others, such as PlayStation LifeStyle and Pure Xbox, expressed disappointment with the technical issues and lack of polish. It is evident that the game's Graphics and Visual Design received a mixed reception from the critics, with both positive and negative aspects being highlighted.

In analyzing the opinions of the critics regarding the Sound Design and Music of Sherlock Holmes: Chapter One, it is evident that there are several positive aspects highlighted by the reviewers. COGconnected commends the musical score and overall sound design, considering them excellent. Softpedia also praises the well-crafted soundtrack for enhancing the atmosphere. Video Chums appreciates the immersive experience created by the constant murmurs and background sounds of the island's inhabitants, as well as the well-done voice acting, particularly for the younger version of Sherlock. WellPlayed highlights the high-quality voice acting and writing, particularly in the relationship between Sherlock and Jon, which feels authentic and invests the player in their relationship. GameWatcher acknowledges that the music fits the atmosphere of the game, and Guardian praises the voice acting. TheXboxHub emphasizes the exciting and dynamic soundtrack, along with great audio effects in detective mode. Xbox Achievements states that the voice acting is rock solid and the music is lovely. However, there are also some negative aspects mentioned by the critics. COGconnected notes that some investigations can become repetitive. Worth Playing criticizes the voice-overs, stating that they range from mediocre to bad, with minor personalities sounding like random people reading lines without awareness of the situation. CGMagazine mentions that some dialogue can become repetitive when talking to certain classes of citizens. Movies Games and Tech raises concerns about the inclusion of offensive comments in the dialogue. Guardian finds the imaginary friend character, Jon, annoying and lacking helpful hints. Overall, the consensus among the critics is that the Sound Design and Music of Sherlock Holmes: Chapter One are generally well-received. The positive aspects highlighted include the excellent musical score and overall sound design, the well-crafted soundtrack that enhances the atmosphere, and the high-quality voice acting that brings authenticity to the characters and their relationships. However, there are some criticisms regarding repetitive investigations, mediocre to bad voice-overs, repetitive dialogue in certain situations, offensive comments in the dialogue, and an annoying imaginary friend character. Despite these negatives, the overall sentiment leans towards appreciation for the sound design and music in the game.

The overall sentiment regarding the voice acting in Sherlock Holmes: Chapter One is mixed, with some critics praising it while others have reservations. Several critics, such as Video Chums and CGMagazine, commend the voice acting, describing it as well-done and enjoyable. Video Chums specifically highlights the younger version of Sherlock, stating that the voice acting for this character is particularly well done. CGMagazine adds that the voice acting never feels repetitive or unnatural, further emphasizing its quality. Additionally, GameGrin gives special recognition to Alex Jordan for his portrayal of young Sherlock Holmes, praising the depth of emotion he brings to the character. However, there are also critics who express more negative opinions about the voice acting in the game. Worth Playing and TheXboxHub both mention that the voice acting ranges from mediocre to bad, with minor characters suffering more than main ones. Worth Playing even goes as far as to say that the voice acting significantly disrupts the experience at times. TheXboxHub specifically points out that some extras come across as a bit 'Dick Van Dyke in Mary Poppins', suggesting that their performances may not be up to par. Overall, the consensus among the critics is somewhat divided. While some, like WellPlayed and Guardian, praise the high quality and authenticity of the voice acting, others, such as Worth Playing and TheXboxHub, have reservations about certain aspects. It is worth noting that the majority of critics seem to appreciate the voice acting, with only a few expressing more negative opinions. This suggests that, despite some shortcomings, the voice acting in Sherlock Holmes: Chapter One generally leaves a positive impression on reviewers.

In terms of the technical performance on the PS5, the opinions of the critics are mixed. GameSpew acknowledges some rough edges such as duff textures and lip syncing issues, but they don't significantly impact the gameplay experience. Worth Playing and PlayStation LifeStyle both mention frequent frame rate drops and muddy textures, making the game's performance on PS5 rough. Screen Rant adds that there are performance issues such as stuttering, slowdown, and assets disappearing & reappearing. However, Video Chums only mentions occasional issues with progression and a suggestion for a HUD option. Despite these technical issues, WellPlayed mentions that Frogwares plans to fix the performance problems with a patch. On the PC platform, the technical performance seems to be relatively better. PC Invasion states that the game runs at a stable 60 fps at 4K resolution on high settings, but this is based on a high-end system. Impulsegamer mentions that there were few and far between framerate stutters and cuts. Guardian, on the other hand, simply mentions that the game has some technical issues without going into specific details. GameWatcher also notes minor frame rate hiccups and occasional drops, but considers them tolerable overall. Moving on to the Xbox Series X, the critics' opinions are more negative. Pure Xbox mentions technical issues such as texture pop-in, character glitches, and a poor framerate. Xbox Achievements, however, states that the game has minor flaws like clipping and flickering textures, but overall remains stable. NME points out that the controls are described as clunky and not fluid, especially when playing on a console, but it is not considered a dealbreaker. Overall, the consensus among the critics is that Sherlock Holmes: Chapter One has technical performance issues across all gaming platforms. The PS5 version seems to suffer the most, with frequent frame rate drops, muddy textures, and various performance issues. The PC version generally performs better, with stable frame rates and occasional minor hiccups. The Xbox Series X version also has its fair share of technical problems, including poor frame rates and control issues. Despite these technical issues, some critics mention that the game's performance is tolerable or can be improved with future patches.

The opinions of the critics regarding the replay value of Sherlock Holmes: Chapter One are generally positive. Many critics mention the presence of side content and additional activities that contribute to the game's replayability. GamesRadar+ states that the game offers replay value for players who enjoy the investigative gameplay and roleplaying as Sherlock Holmes. God is a Geek mentions that while the main story can be completed in under 8 hours, there is additional side content to explore. PlayStation LifeStyle highlights the open-world setting with various activities to investigate, which adds to the game's replay value. Video Chums also emphasizes the presence of numerous detailed side-stories, hidden items, and collectibles that enhance the replayability of the game. WellPlayed mentions the inclusion of side cases to be solved, providing additional content and replay value. CGMagazine also supports the notion of numerous side quests adding to the replay value of the game. GameGrin suggests that the game offers numerous side quests that further develop the understanding of the characters, recommending players to give the game the time and love it deserves to fully appreciate it. MondoXbox mentions the substantial amount of content in the game, with optional side quests and a 100% completion goal, indicating a high replay value. However, there are some critics who express concerns about the replayability of Sherlock Holmes: Chapter One. Worth Playing mentions that while the game offers multiple endings and allows players to reach their own conclusions, the open world lacks content and becomes repetitive after a few hours. PC Invasion criticizes the game for lacking replayability, stating that it becomes too linear and lacks long-term consequences or branching paths. Overall, the consensus among the critics is that Sherlock Holmes: Chapter One offers a decent amount of replay value. The presence of side content, side quests, additional cases, and multiple endings contribute to the game's replayability. Positive reviews from critics like GamesRadar+, God is a Geek, PlayStation LifeStyle, and Video Chums highlight the enjoyable investigative gameplay and the presence of various activities to explore. However, critics like Worth Playing and PC Invasion express concerns about the lack of content in the open world and the linear nature of the game. Despite these criticisms, the majority of critics acknowledge the game's replay value and recommend it to players who enjoy the Sherlock Holmes experience.