Sherlock Holmes VS Arsène Lupin
The genre of graphic adventure games has often been declared dead, yet it continues to thrive despite the upheavals in gaming trends, introducing innovations in gameplay and settings that satisfy enthusiasts. The enduring appeal of this genre is evident from the success of new Sam & Max episodes distributed via Steam and available in retail, and the re-release of Lucas titles from the 80s. Updated for modern operating systems, these re-releases allow even the younger generation to experience what are undoubtedly milestones in video game history. The resurgence of interest is credited to some software houses that never ceased to value a well-told story (as the huge success of BioShock shows, this applies across all game types), producing and distributing high-quality adventures.
Among these firms is Frogwares, which has distinguished itself by focusing on characters and stories inspired by the most significant literary works of the last two centuries. Particularly, it has chosen Jules Verne and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle as its muses, creating games based on "Around the World in 80 Days" and "Journey to the Center of the Earth", and four titles featuring the adventures of Sherlock Holmes. Indeed, "Sherlock Holmes versus Arsène Lupin" is not a new franchise for Frogwares, but in Holmes' latest adventure, after delving into Egyptian mysteries and mysterious earrings and venturing deep into the secrets of Cthulhu, the London detective appears on our screens to challenge one of the most charming thieves of all time, Arsène Lupin, created by Maurice Leblanc.
Set in the late 19th century, the adventure recounts how the young French thief, in his early major exploits, decides to steal five precious items from the National Gallery, the British Museum, and other real museums within just five days— all to humiliate England (so much so that in some countries, the adventure is subtitled "England VS France"). Racing against time, Sherlock Holmes will interact and converse with about forty representative characters of the Victorian era to gather as many clues as possible about his adversary's activities. The game interface maintains its flexibility in this latest installment, requiring the player to combine collected elements and use them at opportune moments, as every enthusiast knows. Compared to the last adventure, the development of the story seems to hinge more on solving puzzles and traps set by the gentleman thief on the streets of London, and it remains to be seen if this twist will be appreciated by the series' longtime fans.
The game, which largely follows the same format as previous versions, presents itself as a classic "21st-century" graphic adventure, moving away from the traditional two-dimensional view that long characterized the genre. Frogwares has adopted a flexible graphic engine capable of rendering action in three dimensions, alternating between first-person views (default when playing as Watson and exploring the adventure's scenes) and third-person views typical of action games. The proprietary graphic engine, which also utilizes Ageia acceleration, is impressive, rivaling contemporary FPS games in quality despite lacking some latest-generation graphic effects. The game environment is rendered in full detail and is entirely satisfactory.
As expected in an adventure game, it's possible to observe and interact with many objects in various settings, although not everything visible is interactive (not even in the most significant RPGs). To assist players, SCUMM interface users will know, context-specific icons appear, such as an eye icon for items to examine or a hand icon for things to manipulate. To initiate conversations, it's enough to turn towards characters and click the left mouse button, bringing up a menu that collects the topics of conversation. All collected items, which will need to be combined or used at certain moments, are stored in a handy inventory accessible with the press of a button. Alongside this system is a convenient diary that automatically records every conversation (players are even advised to manually note some clues to advance in the game), a map showing the surrounding world for immediate transfers to key points, and a document holder for letters and other written clues gathered.
Another striking aspect, especially for those new to the genre, is the continuity of the game world, far removed from the static screens of years past. After visiting a room in an apartment, one moves to the adjoining one without any loading, and when deciding to leave the house, simply opening the door immerses one in a populated Victorian street. It's worth noting that the representation of scenes, particularly the museums, is done with profound accuracy: the hundreds of objects, sculptures, and paintings that Sherlock Holmes will inspect are not only actually present in their real locations but are also perfectly reproduced down to the smallest details. Clicking on one of these items allows for a closer look and even includes commentary from the good old detective...
