The first gameplay trailer forSherlock Holmes: The Awakenedhas been revealed by developer Frogwares. Sherlock Holmes is a character known by many, and though the elite detective may have first appeared over 100 years ago, there have been plenty of adaptations featuring the character since, including movies, TV series, and video games. Previously, a lot ofSherlock Holmesvideo games have seen the detective in his home of Victorian era England. However, a recent title is looking to change this, returning Holmes to a Lovecraftian adventure.
Frogwares, the developer known for creating a lot of Sherlock Holmes games, firstrevealedSherlock Holmes: The Awakenedearlier this year, describing it as a rebuilding of the classic 2006 adventure that saw the detective in a crossover with the hugely popular Cthulhu mythos. First conceived by the cosmic horror of H.P. Lovecraft, the Cthulhu mythos is full of beings that transcend reality and themes revolving around what the human mind can withstand before it goes insane.
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Fans were excited to hear about Frogwares' take on the 2006 Sherlock Holmes classic, and now thanks to a new gameplay trailer, they can get their first look at what the new title looks like. From the first few seconds of the trailer, it’s clear thatSherlock Holmes: The Awakenedwon’t be like the typical adventure for the detective, as Holmes arrives at a strange place where he already it appears some people have lost their minds. From there, fans familiar withFrogwares’Sherlock Holmesgameswill see recognizable features, including the ability to connect the threads of Holmes' investigation.
It’s also clear thatSherlock Holmes: The Awakenedtakes clear inspiration from Frogwares' previousLovecraftian gameThe Sinking City. It seems in the perilous Louisiana wetlands, Baker Street, a psychiatric ward in Switzerland, and all the other locations in the game, that Sherlock Holmes will be tested in unusual ways, as the trailer is full of sections that do not appear to be taking place in reality. At the end of the teaser, Holmes can even be seen holding his face, seemingly unaware of his surroundings.
From Frogwares' experience with Sherlock Holmes as a character and creating mystery games, it seems its take onSherlock Holmes: The Awakenedwill please both fans of the detective and those more interested in the Cthulhu mythos. There are plenty of other titles that take on the cosmic horror subgenre, most of which also show a clearinfluence from H.P. Lovecraft’s workand the Cthulhu Mythos as a whole.
Sherlock Holmes: The Awakenedis set to release for PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X in 2023.
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