Review:

Casual games players are fond of hidden object and detective games. That's not a surprise for all the rest of the players. Everyone who cares about playing casual games tried hidden object games I bet. May be just once. The game we want to present you is not a brand new title. If you are a fan of “point and click” game-plays you might have played this detective case a long time ago in 2004. The original story written by Arthur Connon Doyle is called Secret Of The Silver Earring became the name of the game. So let's check all pros and cons of this quest adventure. Hey, the famous pair of world-popular detectives has just come back!

The game was developed by Frogwares and recently was available only on CDs. Now all the players can download and play this amazing Sherlock adventure for one free hour. The game starts in the house where Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson live. They were called to visit a party devoted to the return of lord Bromsby's daughter. The lord said that he needs the presence of these two detectives urgently. Without any hesitation two gentlemen moved to the lord's house. As soon as they arrived Holmes stared using his brilliant mind by guessing what kind of people were also invited. Get ready for a long conversations held by Holmes (they last about three hours in total). When the dinner began lord Bromsby started his speech but suddenly everyone heard the shot sound and the lord fell down. Everyone saw a red spot of blood on his shirt and understood that he is dead. So now it is right time for you to join Holmes in his investigation.

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You start the case from the room where the lord was shot. After questioning several guests you understand that there is only one accused person and it is lord's daughter Lavinia. But she seems to be innocent. Who accuses her? Well, it's just the time to use the famous method and find the real murderer. To start investigation you need to point your mouse to the place where you want to go and then click. But this doesn't mean that your mind won't be involved into a game-play. Astonishing graphics (mind that the game was developed in 2004) make you think that this case will be the great adventure of your life and you will feel that you are Holmes indeed.

Unfortunately, graphics and the professional voicing that make you think you are watching a movie are the only things in the game that will impress you a lot. The game-play leaves much to be desired. You have no clues on where to come and what to search. You can just speak with the persons inside the house without any option to skip the dialogue. Then you need to decide which way to go. Mind that you have no hints, you need to decide everything yourself.

The whole investigation lasts 5 chapters (i.e. 5 days). During this period you need to find all the evidences, examine them and then find the murderer. Holmes can pick up items, study them with the magnifying glass and measuring type. In case you need one of these objects you can hear Sherlock's voice “I need something” and use it in a particular situation. The game-play process can remind you CSI game: either you successfully passing the chapter or you need to start the whole process from the very beginning if you were moving the wrong way.

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The other thing that can irritate you is that you can find some objects that couldn't be moved or investigated by visiting the location for the first time but then they became active on the second visit. For example, when you need to extinguish the fire you need to come back to the house and take the bucket that wasn't active a minute ago.

The game itself is a mystic mix of great ideas, true to life graphics, professional voicing and a dull game-play and obscure actions. The game is worth at least trying the trial period.