movies, TV, video tapes, old and new radio shows, books on tapes,
board games, mystery weekends, stage and computer games. There is
even a chain of mystery-oriented restaurants! With the advent of
interactive multimedia computers, gamesters have a new exiting way
of enjoying their favorite genre.
Sherlock Holmes, Consulting Detective, consists of three volumes,
each containing three separate games officially authorized by the
estate of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. In each game you are given a chance
to match wits with the Master Detective as you head down the foggy
streets of Victorian London. At the beginning of each case, there
is a short video clip in which Holmes and Watson, (Peter Farley and
Warren Green,) are having tea and "Mrs Hudson's crumpets," when they
are presented with the mystery. Now you're on your own. You must
read the newspaper articles, inspect Holmes files, search the London
directory of people and places, send out the Baker Street Irregulars,
that ragamuffin group of youngsters who are the eyes and ears of the
Great Detective, and guide Holmes and Watson as they interview the
suspects and question the authorities.
The directions state that: "your task is to glean the most information
from the least number of resources. If you gather key facts and are
able to answer a judges's questions correctly, you will learn of Holmes'
solution to the case. But, miss a single query, and you'll be sent
back for more clues".
Sample stories include: The Case of the Mummy's Curse- when the
Times attributes a number of murders to an ancient Egyptian curse,
Watson accuses the papers of capitalizing on the superstitions of
the populace. However four men are dead, and each was found with
a strip of the wrappings of a 4,000- year-old mummy coiled around
their throats!
The Case of the Mystified Murderess-After a kind and gentle lady
is charged with the murder of a scoundrel, her infuriated suitor consults
with Holmes. Rumors abound that the young cad was romantically involved
with her sister.
In The Case of the Tin Soldier an officer and member of high society
collected treasures and enemies. Another story The Case of the
Two Lions. Was it a pun? Surely death is not a game.
Review by Bill and Karen Palmer for New Mystery Magazine