Retro Replay Review

Gameplay

The core of Sherlock Holmes: Consulting Detective Collection lies in its rich, investigative gameplay. Rather than guiding a character through action set-pieces, you assume the role of Holmes himself—poring over clues, interrogating witnesses, and examining crime scenes with nothing more than your wit and an in-game directory. Each case begins with a summary of the crime and a list of locations to visit; from there, your job is to decide where to go, whom to question, and which evidence to pursue. There’s no hand-holding here—if you miss a crucial interview or overlook a detail in the newspaper archive, the solution may slip through your fingers.

A standout feature is the use of multiple information sources to piece together the truth. Alongside personal interviews you’ll consult the London Times, access London Directory listings, and dispatch the Baker Street Irregulars to scout locations you haven’t yet visited. This layered approach allows you to cross-reference tidbits—perhaps a receipt in one location corresponds to a witness’s alibi mentioned elsewhere. It’s a satisfying juggling act that rewards methodical note-taking and lateral thinking.

Unlike many adventure games, Consulting Detective is non-linear: you decide which leads to follow first, how much time to spend tracking minor threads, and when you’re ready to name a suspect. When you believe you have the culprit, you submit your guess and outline your reasoning. Getting the right answer quickly earns bonus stars, while incorrect conclusions result in a terse Holmesian admonishment and a chance to revisit clues. This “true detective” format fosters total player agency over each of the nine intricate cases.

Graphics

Visually, the Consulting Detective Collection is a time capsule of early ’90s multimedia. The cases feature full-motion video sequences of live actors portraying key characters, interspersed with digitized stills and hand-drawn illustrations of London in the Victorian era. While the footage can appear grainy and the color palette muted by today’s standards, it retains an undeniable period charm that helps transport you into the cobbled streets of the 1890s.

The user interface is elegantly simple: a clean menu overlays the screen, listing possible locations and references. Selecting a venue brings up a static background image—such as the foggy façade of Scotland Yard or the shadowed interior of a museum—into which video inserts of witnesses or Holmes himself are layered. The straightforward presentation keeps the focus squarely on dialogue and deduction, rather than flashy visuals.

Despite its dated appearance, the diversity of art styles—from photographic backdrops to stylized sketches—creates an immersive tapestry that suits the detective theme. If you’re coming from a modern, photorealistic adventure game, the look may feel austere, but long-time fans appreciate the nostalgic authenticity. The collection’s CD-quality audio is sturdy too, with clear voice acting and atmospheric sound effects that round out London’s rainy nights and creaking floorboards.

Story

Sherlock Holmes: Consulting Detective Collection encompasses all nine original cases, each a self-contained mystery penned with cunning plot twists and period detail. Volume I includes “The Mummy’s Curse,” where an Egyptian artifact sets off a chain of sinister events, “The Case of the Mystified Murderess,” revolving around a cryptic note, and “The Case of the Tin Soldier,” which hides secrets in plain sight. Each scenario challenges you to sift through red herrings and uncover Holmes’s trademark deductive leaps.

Volumes II and III continue the saga with equal flair: you’ll unearth smuggled paintings in “The Pilfered Paintings,” race against time to thwart international intrigue in “The Murdered Munitions Magnate,” and delve into high finance malfeasance in “The Banker’s Final Debt.” The concluding “Thames Murders” sends you chasing a shadowy killer along London’s famous riverbanks. Though standalone, the nine tales share a consistent narrative voice and Holmesian logic that make the collection feel cohesive.

Dialogue is rich with Victorian idiom, and each script strikes a fine balance between exposition and character. Interviews with suspects often reveal unexpected personal stakes, while Holmes’s occasional interjections offer dry humor and brilliant insights. Whether you’re unmasking a vengeful sibling or dismantling a complex conspiracy, the writing keeps you invested from the first clue to the final reveal.

Overall Experience

As a bundle, the Consulting Detective Collection provides an immersive window into classic interactive storytelling. Each case typically takes between thirty minutes and an hour to solve, making them perfect bite-sized mysteries for evenings when you crave mental challenges rather than button-mashing thrills. The non-linear structure and branching investigative paths give the package strong replay value—once you know the answer, you can speed-run your way to a top-score solution.

On modern platforms, the collection plays smoothly, and the digital manual included on most releases offers helpful background on Holmes’s world, cast lists, and even period advertisements. Though newcomers might initially find the archaic interface unintuitive, the learning curve is part of the fun: it hearkens back to an era when solving puzzles meant pausing to jot down notes on paper. In a gaming landscape dominated by hyper-cinematics, Consulting Detective stands out as a pure, brain-teasing experience.

For mystery aficionados and fans of classic adventure games, this collection is more than just nostalgia—it’s a masterclass in deduction and narrative design. The nine cases deliver hours of engrossing gameplay, and the mixture of live action, archival audio, and period artwork creates an atmosphere that no modern gadget-spinning mystery can quite replicate. If you’ve ever dreamed of walking alongside Holmes down Baker Street and outsmarting London’s most elusive criminals, Consulting Detective will fulfill that desire with intellectual rigor and old-world charm.

Retro Replay Score

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