Mashing up two iconic characters such as Jack the Ripper and Sherlock Holmes, or just blending facts with fiction, is an experiment that can go terribly wrong and often does.
Frogware's attempt to reconcile Conan Doyle's beloved detective and one of the most gruesome serial killers in history works better than you might expect.
The strong point of this title is, without a doubt, the story. Storytelling is an art that seems somewhat lost in modern video games and is definitely refreshing to see a game developer go all out in this department. The game follows Sherlock Holmes and his trusted sidekick, Dr. Watson, in unraveling the identity of Jack the Ripper. Here's the kicker: pretty much every single detail in the story, from character's looks, their names, the killings, to items you might find during the game are carefully contextualized within the real life events that took place when Jack the Ripper was active in London. This makes people who are familiar with this piece of history to enjoy the game a thousand times more than those who might be completely clueless. The game's intention is to tell the "real" (fictionalized) story of what happened behind all the killings and the investigations, tossing Holmes and his unique skill-set into the mix. Evidently, it draws many licenses and this might put off hardcore scholars of one of the biggest mysteries of the 19th century. From the narrative side, even though you might feel like you're not making much progress at times, the plot twists are really well placed, the story flows naturally and everything falls into place right when it has to.
Graphically, the game looks pretty slick. It's not Crysis, but then again, it's not really about graphical awesomeness and special effects. Still, everything looks smooth, detailed, the textures are well made and landscapes seem pretty genuine. Also, the gray, foggy atmosphere that London is said to/does have is a very tangible element throughout the entire game, which adds to the immersion of the whole experience. On the other hand, animations do seem a bit out of place sometimes. Watson talking at the same time he sips on some wine comes to mind. Neat parlor trick.
Music complements the graphical counterpart of Sherlock Holmes vs Jack the Ripper really well. It's not over-the-top, and you probably won't finish the game and think "hey, I gotta get me that soundtrack!", but it really adds to the experience when it has to. Climatic moments are usually accompanied by the appropriate melodies in the background, adding to the general ambiance and even causing the occasional goosebumps.
The voice acting is great, overall. After seeing so many depictions of Holmes on TV, films and media in general, it might take a bit of getting used to, since it's a more sober, austere approach, probably closer to what Doyle originally had in mind for his character. In the context of this specific game, it works almost flawlessly. Again, some snippets might make your eyebrows raise, but given the length of the game, is understandable. Just don't expect to encounter a witty, Downey-esque, lady-killer badass inspector.
Gameplay-wise, simplicity is the keyword. You can pretty much play the entire game from start to credits roll by just using your mouse and left click. There's also an option to switch the camera from third person to first person at any given time, which is a nifty feature. For those of us who hate getting stuck in adventure games, you can tap space bar and see the hotspots, which are basically item labels that hint objects you might have missed on the current screen. Puzzles come in many different flavors, from cryptography, jigsaw puzzles, to drawing deductions and conclusions of the case so far, and everything in between.
In closing, Sherlock Holmes vs. Jack the Ripper is a great adventure game that pulls off what most games can't: telling a damn good story and making you feel part of it; solid and polished in every respect. References to Doyle's novels are abundant, so if you're a Holmes fan, this is a must. Alternatively, if you enjoy mystery, crime thrillers or if you just enjoy a good story, you definitely should give it a go.
