Frogwares has shared a new trailer for Sherlock Holmes: The Awakened, which will release on Nintendo Switch early next month.
“One of the biggest changes we made narrative-wise in this remake is how the young Holmes and Watson relationship plays out,” explains lead narrative designer Antonina Melnykova.
“It’s our creative take on what horrors the two could have encountered in their first major case that would then go on to solidify their famous bond. And so we’ve given much more of a spotlight to Watson here than before. He has a totally unique storyline compared to the original game, he is playable in parts of the game, and the new ending is very much influenced by him as much as by Sherlock.
“Since Sherlock is dealing with Eldritch gods, monsters, cults and the questioning of his very existence, Watson often acts as an anchor to stop Sherlock drifting too far into insanity. But we couldn’t just have it feel like Watson is this one-dimensional safety net with no character or flaws of his own. So this new version of the story is as much about them as two people as it is about unfathomable Lovecraftian monstrosities.”
Pitched as “a Cthulhu meets Sherlock Holmes detective horror adventure,” with Sherlock Holmes: The Awakened the Ukraine-based developer has returned to the original game in looking to deliver a “full remake and substantial rewrite being rebuilt and redesigned from the ground up to run in Unreal Engine 4.”
You will have the chance to become Sherlock Holmes, finding yourself at the heart of the terrifying Cthulhu Mythos as you investigate a series of mysterious disappearances in Europe and the United States that have been linked to a dark cult that worships an Ancient God.
For the first time in his life, Sherlock is truly afraid. Having always relied on rationale and reason, he is now confronted with an otherworldly entity that defies all logic – a discovery that is as enlightening as it is shattering. Pursuing the truth pushes Sherlock to the verge of madness, and it’s the only story that Watson will never publish…
The developer has outlined the game’s key features as below:
- Investigate the Cthulhu Mythos as imagined by H.P. Lovecraft and face Eldritch horrors beyond human comprehension
- Fight encroaching insanity as you pursue answers to questions that have no rational explanation whatsoever
- Find clues that will lead you through the famous Baker Street in London, a haunting psych ward in Switzerland, the perilous Louisiana wetlands and more
- A reimagining of the 2008 title: Rebuilt from the ground up in Unreal Engine, The Awakened boasts modern graphics and animations, an expanded storyline, numerous side quests and new mechanics including unique insanity gameplay.
Sherlock Holmes: The Awakened will release digitally on the Nintendo eShop for Nintendo Switch worldwide on 11th April 2023.
