Frogwares has announced a new Sherlock Holmes game for its extensive repertoire of cinematic thrillers, Sherlock Holmes: Chapter One. However, its newest story shows Sherlock at the beginning of his career, rather than during his prime. Players will be able to look at the world through Sherlock's eyes as he uncovers the mystery of his mother's death.
According to Frogwares, the game will take place in the late 19th Century, on a small Mediterranean island where Sherlock supposedly grew up before moving to England. Coming back as an outsider to his hometown at the age of 21, he will be forced to relive his mother's death, which "scarred his childhood." This newest installation to Frogware's collection of games introduces a new open world concept, giving players a chance to fully immerse themselves in Sherlock's story.
This new open world approach restricts in game prompts and "hand-holding" that are present in many of Frogwares' other games, though this should not discourage fans. Producer Sergey Oganesyan elaborates on this tactic, saying: "In this game, we are introducing the concept of global investigation gameplay, that is heavily based on the feedback that we received from players of our previous games. We are bringing in numerous detective features and mechanics that not only synergize with one another, but also allow you to interact with the world around you." These new additions allow players to talk to random passerby on the street, asking them for directions, or interrogating those that fit the profiles of their suspects.
Sherlock Holmes: Chapter One promises a new and unique story to the well-known detective of the 19th century, and this new reveal of open world exploration will allow players to truly become the detective, searching out clues for themselves. Learning from other Frogware games, such as its newest installment, The Sinking City, players are likely to come across a slew of Easter Eggs and unique clues that would not have otherwise been revealed within the game.
Sherlock Holmes: Chapter One is set to release for PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series One X in 2021.