Sherlock Holmes: The Devil's Daughter Preview

The figure of Sherlock Holmes has been altered greatly since its original conception. From TV shows, to films, to videogames, to the original books, Mr Holmes has had many faces and attitudes. We’ve seen him as a skilled pugilist, a refined gentleman or as a high-functioning sociopath, but rarely do we see him as a father. His detached attitude and introspective mannerisms, no matter the version presented, are seldom combined with any care or interest in the welfare of other people, which makes this entry in the life of Mr Holmes a particularly poignant one in the retelling of the character. However, the dramatic touch in this game is added by the fact that Katelyn, his adoptive daughter, is the biological daughter of James Moriarty, Sherlock’s archenemy and criminal mastermind. To top it all off, Sherlock is the one responsible for his death; a secret that he refuses to share with Katelyn. This plot point renders Sherlock questionable, as he’s always secretive about this issue, and in a way, he took over her life.

In an event held in London, we were able to have a go at the first case in the game’s storyline, which contrasts darker and more twisted events than the previous ones, but has included a more comedic tone than in Crimes & Punishments, its previous entry. This humour does not undermine the plot’s events, but it makes the relationships among the characters much more endearing, varying the pace of the game without relieving the story from its more grotesque parts. This version of Sherlock presents him much younger and much more hands-on than what we know of him from the books, which is neatly transposed to the gameplay.

The Devil’s Daughter is a continuation and a successor of Crimes & Punishments, with a style of gameplay that we’ve been seeing since The Testament of Sherlock Holmes. Frogwares studio improves upon the basis of previous games and manages to deliver a mix of mechanics that perfectly accompany the plot’s tone. Whereas most of the time you’ll be playing as Sherlock, the game may ask you to take the role of Wiggins, a child beggar and ally of Mr Holmes, in order to tail suspects in a blend of stealth and platforming. Returning basset hound Toby, the canine pride of Mr Holmes, will feature some other missions in which you’ll have to track the origin of smells. The rest of the time, Sherlock will interview people and gather clues, but will too have to sneak in mansions and nimbly deal with platform sections, a welcome addition to the game that, despite being skippable, revamp the gameplay making it blither. From what we have seen, the game resembles LA Noire more than its predecessors, albeit not with a fully open city, and more emphasis on deductions.

Most sections feel very like a natural progression of what we know from previous games. For example, the deduction trees are still present, in which you have to link events logically, but once a connection has been made, you will have to deduce the outcome of it from the options presented. A similar mechanic is seen when examining characters. Once time has stopped, you’ll be able to scan a person’s outfit and details on their body and objects around them, but rather than having these conclusions spoonfed to you, you will have to choose from the pool of possible deductions. All in all, this system challenges your deduction skills by allowing you to make more of the thinking. Due to the nature of games, it is hard to find any that work like a real case, but luckily, The Devil’s Daughter gets closer to that feeling of accomplishment. That is, if you get the case right, as often you will be facing the conundrum of deciding for yourself who’s guilty, and will have to live with the consequences.

Despite the animations of some characters, like Katelyn’s, for example, looking a bit off at times, London looks beautiful and full of life and character. The visual design perfectly complements the attention to detail required to succeed in this game, with the missions designed in a way that it never feels like a small, self-contained sets emulating London, but a whole city in itself. The charismatic voice acting fits every character perfectly, creating a charming and enticing casting that gives personality to every scenario.

With the release set on 10th June, the oncoming Sherlock Holmes promises to be on par with such a legendary character, and with stories that are as morbid as ever. Thankfully, this seems to slightly steer away from the handheld gameplay in previous games, and allowing you to dive in and embody Sherlock’s persona and deduction methods. John Watson, Lestrade, Mrs Hudson and other characters will make their reappearance, giving a sense of continuity to the series. Full of character and personality, Sherlock Holmes: The Devil’s Daughter excels for being a brilliant sequel and another interesting exploration of Mr Holmes.