Retro Replay Review

Gameplay

Sherlock Holmes: Nemesis delivers a classic point-and-click detective experience, immersing you in Frogwares’ fourth installment of the Sherlock Holmes series. You’ll guide Holmes (and occasionally Watson) through a sequence of five high-stakes investigations, each taking place over the course of a single day. The central challenge is simple in concept but rich in execution: prevent Arsène Lupin, the infamous French thief created by Maurice Leblanc, from stealing five priceless objects in five consecutive days.

Interaction is handled entirely with the mouse, allowing you to examine crime scenes, pick up clues, and engage in dialogue with over 40 citizens of London. Puzzles range from ciphered letters and mechanical locks to logic riddles based on historical artifacts. A journal automatically logs every lead, document, and suspect profile you encounter, giving you the freedom to revisit hints and piece together the timeline of Lupin’s audacious heists.

The pace is methodical yet dynamic. Time advances as you explore each location—from Buckingham Palace to the Tower of London—so you must balance thorough investigation with the ticking clock. Switching between Holmes’s razor-sharp analytical mind and Watson’s more tactile approach adds variety to your sleuthing, ensuring that no two sequences feel exactly the same. Overall, the gameplay loop rewards close observation and deductive reasoning, appealing to puzzle enthusiasts and fans of classic adventure titles alike.

Graphics

Sherlock Holmes: Nemesis presents turn-of-the-century London with a blend of 3D-rendered environments and pre-rendered backdrops. Key landmarks such as the British Museum, Buckingham Palace, and the Tower of London are richly detailed, with ornate décor, period-accurate costumes, and ambient lighting that captures the foggy, gaslit streets of Victorian England.

Character models and facial animations remain serviceable, though a few NPCs exhibit stiff movement by modern standards. Cutscenes employ subtle camera pans and close-ups to heighten dramatic reveals, while in-game conversations are framed against beautifully painted backdrops that reflect the social status of each location—from the splendor of royal chambers to the shadowy back alleys of Whitechapel.

While occasional texture pop-ins and longer loading times remind you of the game’s era, performance is generally stable on contemporary hardware. The color palette leans toward muted browns, grays, and dark greens, reinforcing the somber mood of a cat-and-mouse game between Britain’s greatest detective and his wily French counterpart. Fans of historical settings will appreciate the attention to architectural authenticity and period props.

Story

At the heart of Nemesis lies the thrilling duel between Sherlock Holmes and Arsène Lupin. Inspired by Maurice Leblanc’s famous gentleman thief, Lupin arrives in London with a lofty goal: to steal five prized artifacts from five prestigious sites in as many days. The premise provides a clear narrative framework, structuring gameplay into daily “episodes” that build suspense as the deadline for each heist approaches.

Dialogue and character interactions reveal depth beyond the central crime spree. As you question witnesses and suspects—including museum curators, palace guards, and underground informants—you uncover subplots about political intrigue, class tension, and the burgeoning rivalry between Holmes’s forensic precision and Lupin’s flair for the dramatic. Every conversation tree contains vital hints, so careful reading (and sometimes re-reading) is essential to stay one step ahead of the thief.

The story culminates in a tense finale that ties together all five cases, rewarding players who have meticulously tracked clues and solved side puzzles along the way. Although the narrative occasionally leans on familiar detective tropes, strong voice acting and well-written exchanges elevate the experience, making Sherlock Holmes: Nemesis a satisfying adventure for mystery aficionados.

Overall Experience

Sherlock Holmes: Nemesis is a compelling blend of classic adventure mechanics, atmospheric presentation, and cerebral challenge. The game’s structure—five sequential mysteries set against iconic London backdrops—creates a consistent sense of urgency, while the variety of puzzles and investigative tools keeps the experience fresh across each chapter.

If you relish methodical clue-gathering and enjoy mentally piecing together complex riddles, Nemesis delivers ample satisfaction. The point-and-click interface is intuitive, though some may find the lack of a hint system daunting during certain locked-door puzzles. Fortunately, the in-game journal does an admirable job of tracking leads and reminding you of unanswered questions.

Overall, this fourth entry in Frogwares’ Sherlock Holmes series stands as a strong recommendation for players who appreciate narrative-driven detective adventures. Its combination of rich historical settings, engaging storytelling, and thoughtfully designed puzzles makes it a worthy addition to any mystery lover’s library. Whether you’re a longtime fan of Holmes or new to Frogwares’ interpretation, Nemesis offers an engrossing chase that keeps you guessing until the final reveal.

Retro Replay Score

7.1/10