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Sherlock Holmes: The Case of the Silver Earring

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Sherlock Holmes:
The Case of the Silver Earring
European cover art
Developer(s)Frogwares
Publisher(s)
Designer(s)Jalil Amr
SeriesAdventures of Sherlock Holmes
Platform(s)Microsoft Windows, Wii
ReleaseMicrosoft Windows
Wii
Genre(s)Adventure
Mode(s)Single-player

Sherlock Holmes: The Case of the Silver Earring (known in North America as Secret of the Silver Earring and as Sherlock Holmes: The Silver Earring) is a computer game developed by Frogwares and published in 2004 on two CD-ROMs for Microsoft Windows by Digital Jesters in Europe and Ubisoft in North America. While the game is "inspired by The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes," it uses an original plotline — set in London in 1897 — and allows the player to investigate a murder as Sherlock Holmes and Dr. John H. Watson. A version for Wii was also released in Europe in 2011.

The second in the Adventures of Sherlock Holmes series of adventure games developed by Frogwares, it was preceded by the 2002 game Sherlock Holmes: The Mystery of the Mummy, and was followed by Sherlock Holmes: The Awakened in 2006. The game acts as a prequel to Mystery of the Mummy - despite being released two years after the earlier game, it is actually set two years earlier (in 1897 as opposed to 1899). However, it is revealed in Sherlock Holmes: Nemesis (set in July 1895) that the events of this game are set before Holmes' encounter with Arsene Lupin, therefore creating a continuity error in the series.

Plot

Holmes and Watson must investigate the murder of Sir Melvyn Bromsby at Sherringford Hall. Bromsby's daughter Lavinia is among the suspects.

Development

The game's story and design is credited to Jalil Amr, based on an unpublished pastiche novel by Amr. Both sound and voiceovers for the English version are credited to Pteroduction Sound, Alexander Dudko, and Sergey Geraschenko. Unlike the English version, however, the German voice cast is listed at the Internet Movie Database. Music within the game consists of compositions by Antonín Dvořák, Edvard Grieg, Robert Schumann, and Pyotr Tchaikovsky.

Gameplay

Silver Earring is a point-and-click (mouse controlled) third person adventure in which you play as both Holmes and Watson. Clicking in the general direction you wish to go will usually cause your character to move in that direction. When you see the footsteps icon, clicking will take the character to the next “authorized” spot. Double-clicking makes Holmes or Watson run.

Right-clicking brings up the inventory bar. Throughout the game, Holmes’s tools of the trade (a magnifying glass, measuring tape and test tube) are in inventory. These are frequently used. Inventory also includes a notebook, which is essential to understanding the game. The notebook has transcripts of the witnesses’ conversations (thankfully, only the important bits). Also, the notebook contains documents and an analysis of the physical evidence.

As Holmes, you spend time searching for important clues, most of which the bumbling police force will miss. Items are at least partly visible, though some don’t become “hot” until an action in the game triggers them. You also analyze various clues using Holmes’s desktop laboratory.

Reception

The PC version was met with average reception, as GameRankings gave it a score of 70.23%,[1] while Metacritic gave it 68 out of 100.[2]

Music

The game's soundtrack has the following pieces from late-romantic era composers:

Robert Schumann - Piano Quartet in E flat major, Op. 47, II. Scherzo: Molto vivace

Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky - Souvenir d'un lieu cher, Op. 42, III. Mélodie ("Chant sans paroles")

Antonín Dvořák - Humoresque in G flat major, No. 7, Op. 101 (For Piano, Violin & Cello)

Edvard Grieg - Violin Sonata No. 2 in G major, Op. 13, III. Allegro animato

The remaining music, such as in Mr. Fowlett's house, are original to the video game.

References

  1. ^ a b "Sherlock Holmes: The Silver Earring for PC". GameRankings. Retrieved December 17, 2014.
  2. ^ a b "Sherlock Holmes: The Silver Earring for PC Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved December 17, 2014.
  3. ^ Gifford, Kevin (December 6, 2004). "Sherlock Holmes: Secret of the Silver Earring". 1UP.com. Retrieved July 4, 2016.
  4. ^ Allin, Jack (August 27, 2004). "Sherlock Holmes: Silver Earring [sic] review". Adventure Gamers. Retrieved December 17, 2014.
  5. ^ Osborne, Scott (October 8, 2004). "Secret of the Silver Earring Review". GameSpot. Retrieved December 17, 2014.
  6. ^ Harker, Carla (October 29, 2004). "GameSpy: Secret of the Silver Earring". GameSpy. Retrieved December 17, 2014.
  7. ^ Lighty, Zachary (October 11, 2014). "Secret of the Silver Earring Review". IGN. Retrieved December 17, 2014.
  8. ^ "Sherlock Holmes: The Case of the Silver Earring". PC Format (167). November 2004.
  9. ^ "Sherlock Holmes: Secret of the Silver Earring". PC Gamer: 61. February 2005.
  10. ^ "Sherlock Holmes and The Case of the Silver Earring [sic]". The Times. September 18, 2004. Retrieved December 17, 2014.(subscription required)
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