Sherlock Holmes: Consulting Detective
| Sherlock Holmes: Consulting Detective | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Developer(s) | ICOM Simulations |
| Platform(s) | FM Towns DOS Macintosh CDTV TurboGrafx 16 CD-ROM Sega CD |
| Release | 1991 |
| Genre(s) | Adventure, Interactive movie |
| Mode(s) | Single player |
Sherlock Holmes: Consulting Detective is a full motion video (FMV) based video game predicated on a book-based game of the same name. It was first developed by ICOM Simulations for the FM Towns computer and later ported to DOS, Apple Macintosh, Commodore CDTV, TurboGrafx 16 and Sega CD with all versions being distributed on CD-ROM. The game uses live actors and sets as the player controls Sherlock Holmes and his longtime partner Dr. Watson, trying to solve three separate crimes by visiting various locations, listening to the dialogue, reading the included mock London newspapers, and, when the player gets enough evidence, answering the judge's questions.
Cases
At the beginning of each case a full motion video clip depicts Holmes and Watson meeting a client and learning a few background clues about the case. Then the player must visit a particular location or person, read the London newspapers for clues or ask one of the young Baker Street Irregulars to investigate. The object of each case is to gather enough clues in the shortest time possible, then go before a judge who will then ask the player to answer the important questions about the case. If the player is successful, a full motion video clip will take the player back to Holmes' and Watson's study where they will review the events that transpired, and Dr. Watson will inform the player of his or her score, based on the length of time it took to solve the case.
There are three cases in this volume: "The Mummy's Curse", which concerns the gruesome deaths of three men, supposedly by an ancient mummy with powers; "The Mystified Murderess", about a convicted woman who can not recall killing her beau and is convinced she didn't do it; and, finally, "The Tin Soldier", about an old General whose lusty past comes back to haunt him, and through a series of unfortunate circumstances, is murdered.
Sequel
A sequel to the game was also released in 1992 called Sherlock Holmes: Consulting Detective Vol. II with three new cases to be solved.
In 1999 this was re-released as a DVD for use with a standard DVD player and television.