It seems that most of the casual games I play today are simple designs quickly fabricated into a rather generic game. Unfortunately, this appears to define what it means to be a casual game. It is the lack of depth of many casual games that makes them so unattractive to me. It really isn't enough to create a themed game, slap on a one minute story and some graphics along with it. The Lost Cases of Sherlock Holmes is one of the few that attempts to be more than just another generic themed puzzle game.
What better puzzle game could there be than one based on Sherlock Holmes? I guess the developers had the same idea. While The Lost Cases of Sherlock Holmes is primarily a hidden object game, there is also incorporated a variety of well known, and a few unique types of puzzles into the game. Your purpose in the game is to assist Sherlock and Watson in solving 16 cases by finding and deciphering the clues at various crime scenes.
Most cases proceed in a somewhat predictable (with just a touch of randomness thrown in) fashion; you will first meet Holmes and Dr. Watson along with a victim reporting the crime to hear the story. Story is something I find to be missing from so many casual games, something so minor... just a detail, right? But it makes the game! The story brings all the rounds of game play together, it gives you a purpose and mission instead of just playing a game; I just love it!
After the story you begins the seek and find portion of the game; it can accomplished in one of two ways, either finding items Sherlock is expecting to find on a list, or by comparing two scenes and searching for items which have been altered as evidence. Collecting a series of items will eventually lead to a suspect, and when you have found all the suspects the round will end. Occasionally you'll come across items in your search that require even further examination: These can be puzzle pieces, figuring out locks, discovering peculiar marks on paintings or other items.
Near the end of each case you'll head back to 211b Baker Street to close the case. Your next job is to sort out the suspects, and then to eliminate all but one. Of all the rounds of game play, this seems to be a bit inconsistent. You work through the rounds discovering and unlocking clues, yet in the end the culprit just pops out at you. It feels like you don't really do the work on this part and is rather a letdown. [Ed. - In classic Holmesian style.]
Once you wrap up a case you'll gain access to the next. As you continue through the cases the puzzles will start to increase in complexity. In each case you are allowed to use clues to assist you, and if you find Sherlock's hidden pipe in the scenes you gain more clues to use. In a similar fashion if you find all of Sherlock's caps (one in each case) you unlock a bonus game.
Though the casual games I've played have generally been bug free, I didn't find that to be the case here. In split screen mode - where you compare two scenes - there are significant brightness differences between the two. Also, in scenes where objects have been added, often (though not always) there appears to be an outline or much different style in coloring which makes them stand out. I found at least three of the mini-game puzzles that I simply could not complete; even using a hint my mouse just failed to register and I needed to quit the game and restart. For those with weaker eyesight there is a magnifying glass (which works quite well) that allows you to zoom in, and you'll probably need it no matter how your eyes are.
The Lost Cases of Sherlock Holmes stands out in the genre of hidden object games; it is one of few I've come across that actually incorporates a story and processes behind finding the hidden items. The mini-games are well done and are plain cool at times as are designed with the flavor of the story in mind. For $19.99, you'll get six hours or so of playtime and a whole host of game types that you won't normally find at this price and in this genre. While I did find the game to be too easy (hence 16 cases in less than six hours,) the game is still fun, and should be on top of the casual gamer's list to try.
I am just a single guy that likes to play games when he gets home from work. I have loved computers ever since being allowed to play and mess around with our first 8086 computer. During my younger years I went through the console phase, with Atari, NES, Sega, and then I pretty much got bored of the typical console games by the time the SNES generation was finished. I greatly enjoy the
>potential uniqueness, challenges, and flexibility you are given in computer games, and anything that breaks the stereotypes and molds of the genres I often greatly enjoy. On the other hand a game that just copies another's success with no real innovation, or real effort put into that game severely disappoints me.
I currently work at a company soon to be mine, wearing many hats from management, purchasing, non-destructive testing, and even general labour when I need to get things done. I enjoy that I can be creative, and design what I need to get problems solved. As in games, if I can not be creative, if I can't construct and manage
things in game, I tend not to be happy.
Having recently bought my first house, In the future, I'll sure to be having less time for games, unfortunately.
