To people who played the original, question about the story:

[LennyNew]

I've read every Lovecraft story and love his work. I've never played any Sherlock games though, but afaik they're rooted in reality.
In the original, how seriously was the story taken? No "it was all a hallucination" BS at the end or something like this right?

[SledgeHammer]

Actually It was ... and I was disappointed in the original The Awakened at the end. The game was at a few moments very atmospheric and mysterious. Got some creeps at swamp and another location , I dont want to spoil all that places and things that got me creeped out. But the Ending was ... yes not as good as in any Lovecraft game .
And I have similar thoughts that in this new The Awakened it will have hallucinations and possibly same or similar ending at the last location.
I played Original The Awakend after games like The Sinking City, Call of Cthulhu Dark Corners of Earth, Call of Cthulhu 2019, and I'm afraid this game can't beat these 3 Lovecraftian games with another Lovecraftian setting. Sherlock games are good games for the Sherlock's stories. It will be mysterious and atmospheric for sure, but Im pretty convinced that they end the story like they did it in original (which was for casuals - rational explanation, and fir Lovecraft fans - just poor) . Maybe they add some new elements, something will be connecting the reality from hallucinations with the other worlds but still it'll be weaker as it will be a game about Sherlock Holmes not exactly about Lovecraftian monsters, worlds, which are a real threat in that universe .
The best 'non-hallucination stuff' games with Lovecraftian themes are CoC (2019) and The Sinking City, regarding their unearthed threats to players.

[LennyNew]

Originally posted by SledgeHammer:

and for Lovecraft fans - just poor

Thanks, I'll calm my enthusiasm, will wait for reviews.

[Gilmaris]

Originally posted by SledgeHammer:

Actually It was ... and I was disappointed in the original The Awakened at the end. The game was at a few moments very atmospheric and mysterious. Got some creeps at swamp and another location , I dont want to spoil all that places and things that got me creeped out. But the Ending was ... yes not as good as in any Lovecraft game .
And I have similar thoughts that in this new The Awakened it will have hallucinations and possibly same or similar ending at the last location.
I played Original The Awakend after games like The Sinking City, Call of Cthulhu Dark Corners of Earth, Call of Cthulhu 2019, and I'm afraid this game can't beat these 3 Lovecraftian games with another Lovecraftian setting. Sherlock games are good games for the Sherlock's stories. It will be mysterious and atmospheric for sure, but Im pretty convinced that they end the story like they did it in original (which was for casuals - rational explanation, and fir Lovecraft fans - just poor) . Maybe they add some new elements, something will be connecting the reality from hallucinations with the other worlds but still it'll be weaker as it will be a game about Sherlock Holmes not exactly about Lovecraftian monsters, worlds, which are a real threat in that universe .
The best 'non-hallucination stuff' games with Lovecraftian themes are CoC (2019) and The Sinking City, regarding their unearthed threats to players.

This is not entirely accurate.

First of all, there is no rational explanation given in the original Awakened. On the contrary, everything suggests that if Sherlock doesn't stop the ritual at the end, Cthulhuh would awaken. Sherlock follows the clues logically, so there is a rational explanation as to why he needs to go here or there - but the plot is rooted in a supernatural cause.

Second of all... well, I guess that's it. I guess I can add my own favourite Lovecraftian game to the list: Shadow of the Comet. Old as the hills, clunky controls, but the story is top notch. The first Alone in the Dark is also excellent. But your suggestions are also great.

[SledgeHammer]

Originally posted by Gilmaris:

Originally posted by SledgeHammer:

Actually It was ... and I was disappointed in the original The Awakened at the end. The game was at a few moments very atmospheric and mysterious. Got some creeps at swamp and another location , I dont want to spoil all that places and things that got me creeped out. But the Ending was ... yes not as good as in any Lovecraft game .
And I have similar thoughts that in this new The Awakened it will have hallucinations and possibly same or similar ending at the last location.
I played Original The Awakend after games like The Sinking City, Call of Cthulhu Dark Corners of Earth, Call of Cthulhu 2019, and I'm afraid this game can't beat these 3 Lovecraftian games with another Lovecraftian setting. Sherlock games are good games for the Sherlock's stories. It will be mysterious and atmospheric for sure, but Im pretty convinced that they end the story like they did it in original (which was for casuals - rational explanation, and fir Lovecraft fans - just poor) . Maybe they add some new elements, something will be connecting the reality from hallucinations with the other worlds but still it'll be weaker as it will be a game about Sherlock Holmes not exactly about Lovecraftian monsters, worlds, which are a real threat in that universe .
The best 'non-hallucination stuff' games with Lovecraftian themes are CoC (2019) and The Sinking City, regarding their unearthed threats to players.

This is not entirely accurate.

First of all, there is no rational explanation given in the original Awakened. On the contrary, everything suggests that if Sherlock doesn't stop the ritual at the end, Cthulhuh would awaken. Sherlock follows the clues logically, so there is a rational explanation as to why he needs to go here or there - but the plot is rooted in a supernatural cause.

Second of all... well, I guess that's it. I guess I can add my own favourite Lovecraftian game to the list: Shadow of the Comet. Old as the hills, clunky controls, but the story is top notch. The first Alone in the Dark is also excellent. But your suggestions are also great.

Welll yes and no. True is that Sherlock wasn't assured if he has stopped that ritual. But, you can call it as ritual, however it wasn't looking that paranormal with invoking a cosmic being as a Lovecraftian fan could have expected. Apart from their talks in 'R'lyeh' language it was loooking like a mass suicide and histeria even Sherlock mentioned in dialogues, seeing them(cultist) falling just as a suicide act: "Watson we must stop this madness, before everyone dies" or sth like that.

It had potential especially with this huge giant storm that condensed at the end. But nothing had I observed to call it supernatural.

The ritual or invoking at the end of Cal of Cthulhu (2019) that was huge. Especially when 'He arrives'.

[Gilmaris]

Originally posted by SledgeHammer:

Originally posted by Gilmaris:

This is not entirely accurate.

First of all, there is no rational explanation given in the original Awakened. On the contrary, everything suggests that if Sherlock doesn't stop the ritual at the end, Cthulhuh would awaken. Sherlock follows the clues logically, so there is a rational explanation as to why he needs to go here or there - but the plot is rooted in a supernatural cause.

Second of all... well, I guess that's it. I guess I can add my own favourite Lovecraftian game to the list: Shadow of the Comet. Old as the hills, clunky controls, but the story is top notch. The first Alone in the Dark is also excellent. But your suggestions are also great.

Welll yes and no. True is that Sherlock wasn't assured if he has stopped that ritual. But, you can call it as ritual, however it wasn't looking that paranormal with invoking a cosmic being as a Lovecraftian fan could have expected. Apart from their talks in 'R'lyeh' language it was loooking like a mass suicide and histeria even Sherlock mentioned in dialogues, seeing them(cultist) falling just as a suicide act: "Watson we must stop this madness, before everyone dies" or sth like that.

It had potential especially with this huge giant storm that condensed at the end. But nothing had I observed to call it supernatural.

The ritual or invoking at the end of Cal of Cthulhu (2019) that was huge. Especially when 'He arrives'.

The victims had been lobotomised and conditioned to commit suicide - it was not something they partook in out of their own free will, but something they were induced to do precisely in order to facilitate the awakening. There was no point in stopping the ritual for their sakes - they were mindless zombies in any case, with no hope of recovery.

And Watson tells Holmes to hurry, "or we are lost". Holmes also seemingly kills a henchman at the lighthouse by an incantation - and the final villain is devoured by an unnaturally tall wave. There are also clues in The Strand that there are unprecedented storms all over the world, which seem unnatural.

And then, at the very end, even Holmes displays uncertainty as to what would have happened had they not stopped the ritual in time.

[Nanashi]

Originally posted by SledgeHammer:

Welll yes and no. True is that Sherlock wasn't assured if he has stopped that ritual. But, you can call it as ritual, however it wasn't looking that paranormal with invoking a cosmic being as a Lovecraftian fan could have expected. Apart from their talks in 'R'lyeh' language it was loooking like a mass suicide and histeria even Sherlock mentioned in dialogues, seeing them(cultist) falling just as a suicide act: "Watson we must stop this madness, before everyone dies" or sth like that.

It had potential especially with this huge giant storm that condensed at the end. But nothing had I observed to call it supernatural.

The ritual or invoking at the end of Cal of Cthulhu (2019) that was huge. Especially when 'He arrives'.

I think that's the biggest point really. Yes, the game goes deep into the whole cult thing and everything but at no point in the story Sherlock seems to believe he is dealing with the supernatural if I remember it correctly.

And the games does end on that note. I'm not even sure if they needed to pull any "cheap tricks" like everything was a hallucination or anything. There was nothing in the game that was supernatural in the first place. Just a lot of suggestion and playing with your hopes of a true Cthulhu story so to say. With Sherlock Holmes reasoning everything was perfectly explained by reality.

I might have forgotten a thing or two though. It's been a few months since I played the earlier games.

[cloister56]

Originally posted by Nanashi:

Originally posted by SledgeHammer:

Welll yes and no. True is that Sherlock wasn't assured if he has stopped that ritual. But, you can call it as ritual, however it wasn't looking that paranormal with invoking a cosmic being as a Lovecraftian fan could have expected. Apart from their talks in 'R'lyeh' language it was loooking like a mass suicide and histeria even Sherlock mentioned in dialogues, seeing them(cultist) falling just as a suicide act: "Watson we must stop this madness, before everyone dies" or sth like that.

It had potential especially with this huge giant storm that condensed at the end. But nothing had I observed to call it supernatural.

The ritual or invoking at the end of Cal of Cthulhu (2019) that was huge. Especially when 'He arrives'.

I think that's the biggest point really. Yes, the game goes deep into the whole cult thing and everything but at no point in the story Sherlock seems to believe he is dealing with the supernatural if I remember it correctly.

And the games does end on that note. I'm not even sure if they needed to pull any "cheap tricks" like everything was a hallucination or anything. There was nothing in the game that was supernatural in the first place. Just a lot of suggestion and playing with your hopes of a true Cthulhu story so to say. With Sherlock Holmes reasoning everything was perfectly explained by reality.

I might have forgotten a thing or two though. It's been a few months since I played the earlier games.

Yeah that was my takeaway and I preferred that they did that. The game didn't confirm conclusively that any of the supernatural cosmic horror was real. But it left that doubt at the end, what would have happened if they hadn't stopped the ritual.
In the end the acts that the cult members did to try and perform the ritual were horrifying enough.

[ihyw]

Some spoiler tags in this thread would've been much appreciated.

[BDO]

Originally posted by ihyw:

Some spoiler tags in this thread would've been much appreciated.

The thread title didn't tip you off?

[Kouvei]

If I remember right, it was a little ambiguous if the supernatural was real or not even if it leaned toward not, although the mystery was more solving the multiple murders/kidnappings. However, considering the direction Frogwares has taken both with the Sinking City and in Chapter One considering the more supernatural elements, it might be a bit more overt in this one that something could be happening, although it will likely still be ambiguous. However, keep in mind, it's common in remakes to drastically change elements of the story and/or ending, so we are all flying a bit blind here.

[Snort Cannon]

Originally posted by Aninx:

If I remember right, it was a little ambiguous if the supernatural was real or not even if it leaned toward not, although the mystery was more solving the multiple murders/kidnappings. However, considering the direction Frogwares has taken both with the Sinking City and in Chapter One considering the more supernatural elements, it might be a bit more overt in this one that something could be happening, although it will likely still be ambiguous. However, keep in mind, it's common in remakes to drastically change elements of the story and/or ending, so we are all flying a bit blind here.

It's heavily implied throughout the entire game that the ritual actually has the ability to awaken "The One" although it flips between people being insane and it actually being a legit threat.

The ending even implies that they only stopped the cult for now and they might try again in the future. The other games in the series didn't follow up on any of this (apart from a few mentions in Nemesis) so how you choose to interpret this is up to you. I think there's enough evidence that suggest it was legit.

[bilko]

There are holmsian stories involving holmes and lovecraft by a more contemporary author. You should find those books and read them perhaps. I havent read them but know of them.

As for the original the awakened.

Holmes was a stickler for the scientific method.

In the game story, the lord who believed in the prophecy about the kraken bringing the end of the world...the prophecy involved the sacrifice of one person from every nation on the earth. So he paid a criminal gang to kidnap people like stenwick's maori servant.

That is what got holmes and watson onto this whole nutty investigation. the lord paid criminal elements who were into all sorts of dodgy activities. That is what they were investigating...criminal activity. Of course holmes discovered what motivated the lord and his minions to do such foul deeds.

Yes the things they did were horrible. But I dont think holmes would've believed in the curse.

In this latest version of holmes.... they seem to like the idea of the tormented, tortured genius.

So of course the case will likely have him descending down a rabbit hole where he is so freaked out, he begin to be convinced that the curse is real. It was in the trailer for this game...


But they are moving further and further away from what is considered canon.

Though Doyle himself did get into spiritualism in his later years.

[halfmonkey]

^ 'Shadows Over Baker Street' is the most prominent Holmes/Lovecraft story collection.
Some of the stories are quite good at replicating Doyle's style.

[bilko]

seen some of them on my local library catalogue. i will have to check them out and see if shadows over baker street is among them. thanks for the tip half monkey.

[Kouvei]

Originally posted by bilko:

There are holmsian stories involving holmes and lovecraft by a more contemporary author. You should find those books and read them perhaps. I havent read them but know of them.

As for the original the awakened.

Holmes was a stickler for the scientific method.

In the game story, the lord who believed in the prophecy about the kraken bringing the end of the world...the prophecy involved the sacrifice of one person from every nation on the earth. So he paid a criminal gang to kidnap people like stenwick's maori servant.

That is what got holmes and watson onto this whole nutty investigation. the lord paid criminal elements who were into all sorts of dodgy activities. That is what they were investigating...criminal activity. Of course holmes discovered what motivated the lord and his minions to do such foul deeds.

Yes the things they did were horrible. But I dont think holmes would've believed in the curse.

In this latest version of holmes.... they seem to like the idea of the tormented, tortured genius.

So of course the case will likely have him descending down a rabbit hole where he is so freaked out, he begin to be convinced that the curse is real. It was in the trailer for this game...


But they are moving further and further away from what is considered canon.

Though Doyle himself did get into spiritualism in his later years.

This is so very off topic on this, but I love this certain Doyle fact: he very much believed in the supernatural. He also knew Harry Houdini, who did not. So the two would get into actual arguments over the existence of magic and whether Harry himself had magical powers(Harry, I'd like to remind you, was on the side of "magic isn't real" in this argument) And his interest in spiritualism? Started in the 1880s, although it took off to new heights around WWI after his son's death.