Sherlock Holmes: Consulting Detective

[Melf]

One of the first games on the Turbo Grafx-16 CDROM to drop people's jaws was Sherlock Holmes: Consulting Detective. An FMV game that proved much harder than it was interactive, it was eventually ported to the fledgling Sega CD (along with its sequel). Though it made impressive use of audio and video, the actual game itself wasn't as ground-breaking. Many Sega CD owners today still steer clear of this one, and our full review breaks this case wide open.

[Joe Redifer]

I bought this for the TurboGrafx-16 CD-ROM Entertainment Supersystem upon it's release just for the fact that is was an FMV game and it was the wave of the future. I would not have purchased the Sega CD version, but it was included. It is much smoother than the TG-16 version, though if that version had run at the same resolution as the Sega CD version instead of the ridiculously high 512-pixel mode, it probably would have been as smooth. The sound is a bit smoother on the Sega CD as well, but the game is every bit as dull.

[Aarzak]

I'm guessing that this was the weak link of all the playable Sega CD pack-ins? "Sol-Feace" and the "Sega Classics 4-In-1" were badass, though the lack of two player on 'Axe SUCKED.

The initial Sega CD pack-in deal has to be right up there with the Sega Saturn holiday '96 "3-Pack" bundle (Daytona USA, Virtua Cop w/NO stunna, and Virtua Fighter 2) as bundles that are well..........packed to the brim. You don't see stuff like that anymore.

[AxelStone]

FMV games have never really been great, this sounds like another blackspot on their reputation, I personally like them though. Great review.

[Rusty Venture]

I'm guessing that this was the weak link of all the playable Sega CD pack-ins? "Sol-Feace" and the "Sega Classics 4-In-1" were badass, though the lack of two player on 'Axe SUCKED.

Funny thing is that the music in "Golden Axe" is redbook audio and that is the only game on the comp that is like that.

I wonder why SEGA only had redid music for GA...

[Aarzak]

Actually, I think "Super Monaco GP" CD's music is slightly enhanced if not near arcade-quality, and the voices were improved DRAMATICALLY over the Genesis cart...........oh wait, that's the 5-in-1 compilation.

Anyways, I believed they changed 'Axe's music because it was the only arcade port out of all the games.

[Joe Redifer]

Yeah, the Golden Axe music and sound was from the arcade game (voices included). Why they removed the two player is beyond my comprehension. Maybe because it was too awesome and Sega just didn't like their players that much. I think the only thing Super Monaco GP changed (in the later 5-in-1 release) was the voice quality.

[Benjamin]

I actually enjoyed Sherlock Holmes a good bit and was disappointed that the sequel I recalled reading about never materialized as well as not having access to J.B. Harold Murder Club. I enjoyed the mysteries, thought it did a great job of capturing the feel of the novels (such as including the Baker Street Irregulars), and the acting was well done. I'd agree in some sense that it was a poor pack-in choice, but then again, it did show what the unit was capable of which the Genesis could not handle and the only title included to do so. I also don't remember the disc being as difficult as the review makes it out to be, but then I know some say Myst's puzzles are illogical and exceedingly difficult, and I blew though that game in four hours.

[Joe Redifer]

There was a sequel. It exists.

[evildragon]

You talking about volume 2? I have that one...

[Aarzak]

About the "Sega Classics" mumbo-jumbo again, you can tell which games were spiced up and which weren't by checking out the RedBook tracks on the CD itself. "Axe" got the coin-op soundtrack and (most) of the coin-ops death cries and voices, while "Columns" got a RedBook track or two for its title screen or something. "Streets of Rage" received new voice clips for the characters and opponents, unique to only this (Sega CD) version. "Revenge of Shinobi" was completely untouched while "Super Monaco GP" received infinitely better speech quality and.........yes........slightly cleaned-up renditions of the Genesis music. Its all done within the hardware though.

What I liked about the SCD pack-ins was those badass jewel case-size, fold-out cases. I always wanted a copy like that for "Sonic CD"...........hell, back in the '90's I would've died for a SCD packed-in with "Sonic CD". Things have changed drastically since then though.

[Rusty Venture]

Those newer voice clips for "SOR" are horrible.

[Dirt Ball Gamer]

I got a sonic cd like that, ha, never play it though cause I have the jap version also. Sherlock holmes I popped in for about two seconds when I first got my sega cd, was like Ughhh, turned it off never played it since! Sol Feces I still pop in every two to three years or so for a laugh. Its not too bad an gives me that nostalgia feel as it was the first game I played when I entered the "Next Level" for the first time.

[Joe Redifer]

I don't think they're "newer", but the same exact voices at a much higher sample rate. I'll record comparisons and post them in a different thread. I'll also check out Super Monaco GP for any differences. Revenge of Shinobi did have a new voice when using ninja magic that sounds like someone spitting out something that tastes really, really bad.

[Warman]

I for one really enjoyed the sherlock H. games, it was a clever way to use FMV to enhance the story. but always acted as a support for the biggest gameplay element ( puzzle solving ) , the FMV in itself wasnt a part of the gameplay like it was in other games like Nighttrap.