Searching can be a little frustrating
Searching for clues in the game can be tricky due to the fact that there is no cursor on screen. A hand icon only appears if you are looking in the same direction as an interactive spot or item. So, while the view from the first person perspective isn’t restricted by an ever present icon, this does mean that you need to search every inch of a room or an outdoor location in order to gather every necessary clue. This can become frustrating and very early on in the game we were flummoxed because we couldn’t find a clue despite searching the same area repeatedly. By referring to the walkthrough, we discovered that we had to find some footprints on the ground. Sadly, if we hadn’t been directed to the exact spot, we would have probably still been there now, becoming increasingly frustrated at pixel searching every inch of the environment.
Despite this annoyance, those familiar with the point and click adventures may enjoy the challenge of finding these hidden clues - and to be fair - the developers have tried to balance the restrictive search options by giving the NPCs dialogue that occasionally contains clues for your objective.
Click for larger imageNevertheless, the frustrating search function in the game is a let down and the lack of freedom imposed as you move around the environment restricts the experience. When we first stepped out onto the streets of London we assumed that we would be able to walk up and down and streets, but the illusion is shattered with numerous invisible walls that prevent you from leaving an area. Of course this does have its upside as it means that your search area is smaller, but it also means that the locations lack realism. We’ve only explored a handful location, so we’d hope that there is more freedom to explore in the full version
Click for larger imageThe puzzles in Sherlock Holmes: The Awakened range from simply locating an NPC in order to gather clues to forensically examining and combining items back at the Holmes residence. It’s a tried and tested adventure formula, but Frogwares have added some new ideas in an attempt to make the game more immersive. For example, while examining footprints you can use a tape measure that you need to drag alongside the mark in order to find out the shoe size or use Holmes’s microscope and analyser back at Baker Street to combine objects, such as using tweezers to break a rock and then adding acid to the contents to discover the clue.