Sherlock Holmes: Crimes & Punishments

The opinions of the critics regarding the Story of Sherlock Holmes: Crimes & Punishments are generally positive. Many critics praise the game for its immersive mechanics, high production values, and compelling mysteries. Pure Xbox, Hardcore Gamer, ZTGD, ActionTrip, COGconnected, Digitally Downloaded, Gamers' Temple, GamingTrend, God is a Geek, PlayStation Universe, Polygon, The Digital Fix, TheSixthAxis, VideoGamer, Hey Poor Player, and Pure Nintendo all highlight the game's engaging and well-crafted cases, with fascinating mysteries, unexpected twists, and enjoyable 'Eureka' moments. They appreciate the game's ability to capture the essence of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's short stories and novels, providing a brilliant mystery-solving experience. The game's faithful portrayal of Sherlock Holmes, its immersive and thoughtful atmosphere, and the ability for players to make moral choices and pass judgement based on their investigation are also commended. However, there are some criticisms regarding the lack of narrative cohesion and character development in the game. Eurogamer, IGN, Game Informer, Metro GameCentral, and Nintendo Life all mention that the cases in the game are standalone stories with little long-term consequence for choices and no overarching narrative. They feel that the lack of connection between the cases reduces their impact and prevents a grand denouement. While the game successfully emulates a short story anthology, the narrative is sometimes disjointed. Despite these criticisms, the overall sentiment towards the game's story remains positive. In conclusion, the Story of Sherlock Holmes: Crimes & Punishments is generally well-received by critics for its compelling and immersive mysteries. The game successfully captures the essence of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's works and provides an engaging mystery-solving experience. Critics appreciate the game's immersive mechanics, high production values, and the ability for players to make moral choices and pass judgement based on their investigation. However, there are some criticisms regarding the lack of narrative cohesion and character development. Despite these criticisms, the overall consensus among the critics is that the game offers a satisfying and entertaining experience for fans of Sherlock Holmes and detective games.

The opinions of the critics regarding the gameplay of Sherlock Holmes: Crimes & Punishments are generally positive. Many critics praise the game for its variety of gameplay elements, including dialogue choices, crime scene investigation, and mini-games. Pure Xbox, Eurogamer, and ActionTrip all highlight the satisfying experience of interrogating witnesses, searching for clues, and solving puzzles. They appreciate the immersive and innovative gameplay mechanics, which allow players to piece together clues and make deductions to solve cases. The ability to interpret evidence in different ways and the inclusion of multiple possible conclusions to each case, as mentioned by ZTGD, adds depth and replayability to the gameplay. Additionally, the deduction mechanic, as praised by Game Informer and Digitally Downloaded, is well-designed and allows for significant impact on the investigation. The inclusion of unique mechanics, such as different vision options and observational moments, mentioned by Hey Poor Player, also enhances the gameplay experience. However, there are some criticisms regarding the gameplay of Sherlock Holmes: Crimes & Punishments. Hardcore Gamer and COGconnected mention clunkiness and arbitrary-feeling mechanics that hold the game back. EGM points out that some puzzles are unintuitive in regards to their controls, and Game Over Online mentions clunky controls and long loading screens. Gaming Age describes the gameplay as slow-paced and finicky, with puzzles that are not enjoyable. Additionally, COGconnected criticizes the game for being simplistic and linear, with clues and hints telling players exactly where to find everything, and for the ability to skip through challenging sections. Overall, the consensus among the critics is that Sherlock Holmes: Crimes & Punishments offers a satisfying and immersive gameplay experience. The game effectively utilizes Holmes' skills and offers dynamic sequences that require thorough investigation and player choice, as noted by Game Informer. The variety of tools, mini-games, and gameplay mechanics, such as the deduction mechanic, add variation and depth to the traditional point-and-click gameplay, as mentioned by PlayStation Universe and Polygon. While there are some criticisms regarding clunkiness, arbitrary-feeling mechanics, and unintuitive controls, the positive aspects of the gameplay, such as the innovative ideas, freedom of choice, and ability to interpret evidence in different ways, outweigh the negatives. The game's unique mechanics and attention to detail in detective work, as highlighted by critics like Hey Poor Player and Nintendo Life, contribute to the overall positive reception of the gameplay in Sherlock Holmes: Crimes & Punishments.

In terms of the graphics and visual design of Sherlock Holmes: Crimes & Punishments, the majority of critics had positive opinions. Many praised the level of detail and intricate rendering of the environments, particularly in depicting Victorian-era London. Critics such as PC Gamer and COGconnected commended the stunning visuals and the careful attention to recreating the historical setting. IGN also praised the game's graphics and detailed character rendering, while Digital Spy highlighted the impressive visuals with rich environments and detailed facial features and expressions on characters. Additionally, critics like Pure Nintendo and Nintendo Life specifically noted the superb detail and crisp graphics, especially on the Nintendo Switch. However, there were some negative aspects mentioned by critics regarding the graphics and visual design of the game. Several critics, such as Pure Xbox and Game Over Online, pointed out issues with character animations and movements, describing them as stiff and stilted. The Digital Fix and EGM also mentioned that the graphics were not the most impressive, with EGM stating that they were not the prettiest even on the new generation of consoles. Starbit further highlighted performance problems in crowded scenes, resulting in slow and tedious gameplay, and issues with character interactions and facial expressions. Overall, the consensus among critics is that Sherlock Holmes: Crimes & Punishments has impressive graphics and visual design, particularly in terms of the level of detail in the environments and character rendering. The game's depiction of Victorian-era London and the attention to historical accuracy were widely praised. However, there were some criticisms regarding stiff character animations, occasional technical issues, and limitations in character interactions and facial expressions. Despite these drawbacks, the positive aspects of the graphics and visual design outweigh the negatives, making for an overall visually appealing experience.

The opinions of the critics regarding the Sound Design and Music of Sherlock Holmes: Crimes & Punishments are varied. Some critics praise the voice acting and sound design, while others have mixed opinions. Pure Xbox mentions that the voice acting can feel stiff and soulless, while Hardcore Gamer states that the game has appropriate music and a well-created audio environment. IGN and ZTGD both highlight the well-done voice acting, with IGN mentioning that it suits the style and time period of the game, and ZTGD specifically enjoying Sherlock's quirky and slightly condescending tone. COGconnected adds that the music helps create atmosphere, tension, and enhances the overall experience of the game. The Digital Fix notes that the sound and voice acting are suitably styled from the 1800s period. These positive opinions indicate that the game's sound design and music contribute positively to the immersive experience. However, there are also critics who express negative opinions about the sound design and voice acting. PC Gamer mentions that while the voice acting is decent, it lacks empathy for the main character. Critical Hit states that the vocal performances range from spot on to spotty, suggesting inconsistency in the voice acting quality. EGM and Metro GameCentral both criticize the voice acting, with EGM mentioning that it feels distant and disconnected, and Metro GameCentral describing it as mediocre. These negative opinions highlight areas where the sound design and voice acting may fall short in delivering a fully immersive experience. Overall, the consensus among the critics is mixed regarding the Sound Design and Music of Sherlock Holmes: Crimes & Punishments. While some critics praise the voice acting and sound design, others have reservations. The positive opinions from critics such as COGconnected, The Digital Fix, and ZTGD indicate that the game's music and sound design successfully contribute to the atmosphere and immersion. However, the negative opinions expressed by PC Gamer, Critical Hit, EGM, and Metro GameCentral suggest areas where improvements could be made. It is worth noting that some critics, such as IGN and Digitally Downloaded, have differing opinions within their own reviews, highlighting the subjective nature of evaluating sound design and voice acting. Ultimately, players may have varying experiences and preferences when it comes to the sound design and music of Sherlock Holmes: Crimes & Punishments.

The voice acting in Sherlock Holmes: Crimes & Punishments has received mixed reviews from critics. Some critics, such as IGN and ZTGD, praised the voice acting, stating that it is well done and suits the style and time period of the game. The voice work for Sherlock Holmes, in particular, is described as enjoyable, with a quirky and slightly condescending tone. Additionally, ActionTrip commends the spot-on vocal performances for Holmes and Watson, capturing their eccentric personalities. These positive reviews highlight the successful portrayal of the characters and the authenticity brought by the variety of English accents. However, there are also critics who have expressed negative opinions about the voice acting in the game. Pure Xbox and Eurogamer both criticize the stiffness and soullessness of the voice acting. Eurogamer further mentions that the dialogue feels staid and the interaction with other characters is stilted. PC Gamer adds that while the voice acting is decent, it lacks empathy for the main character. God is a Geek also mentions that the majority of the voice work is poor and leads to irritating characters. These negative reviews highlight issues with the delivery and emotional depth of the performances, which can detract from the overall experience. Overall, the consensus among critics regarding the voice acting in Sherlock Holmes: Crimes & Punishments is mixed. While some critics appreciate the well-suited and enjoyable performances, others find them lacking in emotion and connection to the characters. The Digital Fix and TheSixthAxis both mention inconsistent voice performances, further emphasizing the varied reception. It is worth noting that Polygon stands out by praising the voice performances as the best in the series, suggesting that there may be differing opinions on the quality of the voice acting within the Sherlock Holmes franchise. Ultimately, the mixed reviews indicate that the voice acting in the game is a subjective aspect that may appeal to some players while leaving others wanting more depth and emotion in the performances.

In terms of the technical performance on PC, there are mixed opinions among the critics. Eurogamer notes that there are irritatingly frequent pauses for loading, which can disrupt the gameplay experience. PC Gamer mentions that high-resolution textures and cluttered levels may cause performance issues on weaker PCs. However, ZTGD states that the game's technical performance is generally stable, with only occasional artifacting and jumping in smaller shadows. Overall, it seems that the technical performance on PC is decent, but players with lower-end PCs may experience some performance issues. On the PlayStation 4, the critics unanimously point out several negative aspects of the technical performance. COGconnected mentions frequent load times and clunky controls, especially when navigating tight spaces with Watson. Critical Hit describes the controls as erratic and mentions a deluge of loading screens. Digital Spy notes frame-rate issues and lengthy loading screens, while Digitally Downloaded finds the long load times frustrating and immersion-breaking. God is a Geek highlights frequent frame rate drops, texture pop, and tearing. Metro GameCentral mentions technical issues, including lengthy loading times and slowdowns. PlayStation Universe mentions frequent loading screens and sluggish animation of Holmes. The Digital Fix also points out the frustration caused by long loading screens. The SixthAxis simply states that the gameplay is clunky. Overall, the critics' opinions on the technical performance on PS4 are largely negative, with issues such as long loading times, clunky controls, frame rate drops, and animation problems. For the Nintendo Switch version, there are fewer critics' opinions available. Nintendo Life mentions that the game runs at a locked 30fps and looks impressive. However, they also note that loading sequences are lengthy and frequent, which negatively impacts the game's stability. Pure Nintendo echoes this sentiment, mentioning long and frequent load times as a drawback. While the game's performance on the Switch seems to be stable in terms of frame rate, the frequent and lengthy loading times are a common concern among the critics. Overall, the consensus among the critics is that the technical performance of Sherlock Holmes: Crimes & Punishments is lacking, particularly on the PlayStation 4. Issues such as long loading times, clunky controls, frame rate drops, and animation problems are frequently mentioned. While the PC version seems to have a more stable performance, it is not without its own set of issues, such as frequent pauses for loading and potential performance issues on weaker PCs. The Nintendo Switch version, while running at a locked 30fps, also suffers from lengthy and frequent loading times. It is clear that the technical performance of the game across all platforms leaves much to be desired, with various technical issues hindering the overall experience for players.

The opinions of the critics regarding the replay value of Sherlock Holmes: Crimes & Punishments are generally positive. Several critics, such as Eurogamer, ZTGD, ActionTrip, Gamers' Temple, and Slant Magazine, highlight the game's multiple outcomes, moral choices, and branching paths, which allow for replayability and exploration of different solutions and conclusions. The ability to make different choices and see the percentage of players who made the same choices, as mentioned by Eurogamer, adds an interesting dynamic to the replay value. The game's self-contained cases, mentioned by PC Gamer and The Digital Fix, also contribute to the replayability, as players can replay parts of a case or rewind to make different conclusions. The interplay between Sherlock and Watson, mentioned by Digitally Downloaded, adds depth to the cases and enhances the overall replay value. However, there are some criticisms regarding the replay value of Sherlock Holmes: Crimes & Punishments. Critical Hit mentions that while players can replay their final point of the finger and its resultant moral choice, there is little genuine consequence to the moral choices. Metro GameCentral points out that the lack of connection between the cases reduces the replay value, as there is no overarching narrative or progression. The existence of a real answer, as mentioned by Polygon, also diminishes the power of the game's structural choices. Overall, the critics' consensus is that Sherlock Holmes: Crimes & Punishments offers replay value through its multiple outcomes, moral choices, and branching paths. The game's ability to explore different solutions and conclusions, as well as the interplay between Sherlock and Watson, adds depth and interest to the gameplay experience. However, there are some criticisms regarding the lack of genuine consequences to the moral choices and the lack of connection between the cases. Despite these criticisms, the overall sentiment is positive, with the majority of critics acknowledging the replay value provided by the game's mechanics and storytelling.