DS GAME REVIEW
Sherlock Holmes: The Mystery of the MummyA case of mis-identity |
There are many things we can blame Guy Ritchie for. The current glut of Sherlock Holmes games might not even be top of the second page, but his Robert Downey Jr and Jude Law vehicle has definitely incited publishers to start plundering their back catalogue of point-and-click adventure games.
Which accounts for the less-than-mysterious case of Sherlock Holmes: The Mystery of the Mummy, a DS port of a years old PC game.
The setup is much as you'd expect. Holmes responds to a plea following the suspicious death of famous explorer Lord Montcalfe. The plot quickly thickens with twists and turns as you search Montcalfe manor for the telltale signs of sinister happenings in the elegant Victorian setting.
Being cast as the greatest detective of all time is less of a chore than it could be thanks to the DS's touchscreen. You'll be using your stylus throughout the game for all kinds of tasks, from navigation to exploring your inventory of useful items. In fact you'll spend the majority of your time doing both.
As with all point-and-click titles, the onus is on you to fully explore your surroundings and find the vital objects that will enable you to unlock rooms and access secret documents either by using them alone or combining them with each other.
It all sounds rather exciting, but in reality things just don't add up.
Though bearable, navigating your way around the rooms can be frustrating, especially with no mini map to help you keep on track. Equally, considering the natural emphasis these games place on plot, it came as a surprise to discover my attention span wandering as I failed to be gripped by the non-existent nail-biting action. Unfortunately the short cut-scenes become more dreary as the story goes on.
Add to that the poor and peculiar accent of Sherlock Holmes, which never failed to disappoint, and some less than inspiring problem solving, and you're left with little of true value. You will hit some tricky moments searching for hidden objects - perhaps a little too well hidden at times - and this only helps to further anger an already seething gamer.
Still, if there's a positive side to The Mystery of the Mummy, it's that it won't take you too long to sail through the chapters and saving is straightforward as there's no worrying about pesky save points.
So while where's no denying that point-and-click titles will always grab the attention of those who enjoy a riddle or two, in this case I'd advise you to put your detective skills to good use and give this one a miss. It's elementary, really.
Sherlock Holmes: The Mystery of the Mummy |
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With the Holmes industry gearing up for Robert Downey Jr, The Mystery of the Mummy is more Charlie Chaplin than world famous detective
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