The idea is quite exciting; a game in which you help Sherlock solve lots of little cases in order to lead you to the solution of a kidnapping that hits very close to home. There are lots of mini games (which I'll get to in a bit), AND exclusive content- a whole new story starring Benedict Cumberbatch, Martin Freeman and Mark Gatiss (this was what really impressed me, those guys have an ENORMOUS workload but can still provide audio and video footage for a little game).
A screenshot from the iPhone/iPod version
A £2.99 it is a bit of a gamble. Tie-in games are often hit-and-miss, and you don't want a game to spoil anything you may not have seen.
I think that the developers manage to pull it off. Somewhat. There are no spoilers for series three. In fact so far there doesn't seem to be anything to spoil the ending to Reichenbach, so that should be a relief. However, for the easily frustrated (like me) there are issues that may or my not put you off many aspects of this game.
See that little counter, bottom left of the above screenshot? That's right, it's a timer. You have a limited amount of time on all the games to complete whatever task is required. The above is a de-scrambler game, this particular one is an audio version but there is a picture de-scrambler as well. These are actually some of the easier tasks you are given, and once you get the hang of the controls can be successfully achieved more times than not. And if it is really impossible a little "skip" button allows Sherlock to solve it for you. BE WARNED THIS WILL COST YOU RANKINGS AND MONEY. Oh yeah. There's money to be collected..
And you'll need it.
You see, you are a member of Sherlock's Homeless Network (see what they did there?). And the money you find (little green pound signs on the map of London, which is your game board, so to speak) and what you earn when you solve a case help you actually buy your way around the city to each crime location, St. Bart's or Scotland Yard. But this is also where the frustrated gamer may find they've ground their teeth to the gums.
Two of the mini-games you're required to complete or lose time and money.
The games you get when you choose to either take the underground or a taxi are.. Difficult. Or at least I find them hard to achieve. The first requires you to clear a path for your taxi, whilst the metre is running! And they don't seem to start you with an easy one (par for the course with The Network) but instead leave you pulling on your hair trying to move the vehicles enough to get through. If they were going for realism in this game I'd say they've managed it.
The second, on the underground, allows you a few seconds to take the shapes on the bottom row and make a track. Though luck (bad usually) leaves me with shapes that don't seem make much sense in getting from one end of the screen to the other. And the train is still running and you've got to make sure to insert the junction AND use the appropriate colour track for the station you're heading too!
Phew!
And then there's this charming puzzle..
A combination you have to break, where the game tells you correct numbers and even correct positions, but never specifics. I understand that these aren't easy, but they're not really for casual perusal. More for people who like Sudoku. And have a deep knowledge of cryptography.
The pay-off at the end of these cases is, of course the money and rankings. So to complete a case you have to gather clues. This is just a crime scene that you hunt around for and tap anything that looks half-way useful, and interviewing those who are involved. And then, once you gather the clues you go to your Mind Palace..
I'll be honest here. Sometimes I have nooooooo idea how these clues add up to solve the murder/robbery etc. I mean, you get a summery via Sherlock, explaining everything. But I don't really have a clue (ha ha) how they come together sometimes. In the show you get 90 minutes to absorb everything, and then to guess ahead of the finale. But here you can be so focused on getting the little games and puzzles done that (I find) the major revelation to be nonsense half the time.
Admittedly I have been getting better at certain aspect of this game as I've played it. But it definitely requires more smarts then I can muster most of the time.
And it does have the irritating habit of crashing just when you're about to start, or even complete a task.
So is it worth it? Hard to say. I regret that I don't seem to have the skill to solve the puzzles as quickly as I expect others will. But It is entertaining, and the original content does at least bring a smile to my face.
