"Whatever are you on about, Holmes, so early in the morning?"
The Lost Files of Sherlock Holmes: The Case of the Serrated Scalpel contains what I consider to be the most well-told story in the history of adventure gaming. It is so captivating, so fascinating, so compelling, and (as I would discover later) so amazingly true to the spirit of Sherlock Holmes, it inspired many more of the over 100,000 who would purchase the game to dig deeper into the fantastic legends of Holmes.
From bottom to top, there has never been a more well-executed plot than the one contained in this enthralling mystery through London. The scope of it is amazing; it's one of the longer and truly substantial games I have played. Everything that you could ever love about a detective mystery is perfectly realized here.
It's so clear, and thankfully so, that this game was produced by a true fan of Sherlock Holmes. The dialogue is completely authentic and believable, with the English manner of speaking emulated so well, you'd think the game came straight from London (Lost Files was developed in Tempe, Arizona). The traditional mannerisms that distinguish Watson and Holmes so well are preserved perfectly, with no noticeable deviations.
There is not a better word to describe this game than engrossing. Clue after clue, twist after twist, lead after lead, it's impossible to give up because there's always the sense that the big break is right around the corner. Along the way there will be more deaths and some shocking revelations as the truth about the murder of a young actress is revealed. To give you an idea of how complex the plot is, the murderer is captured and forced to confess only barely halfway through the game! Layer after layer is peeled away, and when the game is finally over, to sit back and consider the depth of the story is mindboggling.
Lost Files is easily the greatest mystery game ever produced, and I believe it unlikely that the sheer volume of plot and dialogue could ever be challenged (sequel notwithstanding). Games like these, focusing on the essentials and creating such a mesmerizing experience, make me proud to be an adventure gamer. It's only elementary that The Lost Files of Sherlock Holmes is the #9 adventure game of all-time.
Last time: How about that? The first game that hasn't moved; Lost Files fit just as well into the #9 spot three years ago as it does this year.
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