Can i enjoy this game without having played Chapter One?

[ChubbiChibbai]

I was hoping chapter one would go on sale.
I have only played Sinking City from frogwares before but thoroughly enjoyed the game and was looking forward to picking this one up at launch.

I'm just curious if i am going to do myself or the game a disservice by not playing Chapter One first?

[Math Murderer]

The game does frequently reference Chapter 1, and you might get confused when Sherlock references a specific character from it, but outside a few cutscenes you won't be confused much.

That said, I think it's best to play Chapter 1 first

[malksrather]

You can. I haven't finished Chapter One, and although they sometimes mention it, it's not confusing

[Budoshi]

Originally posted by malksrather:

You can. I haven't finished Chapter One, and although they sometimes mention it, it's not confusing

would you say this one is better ?

[Bjørn]

Originally posted by ffrasisti ARG:

You are probably better off not playing it and pretending the mistake that was CO never happened. You should play Crimes and Punishments

I've seen people who like Chapter One and people who don't, now. There must be something 'hate / love' in it, I suspect?

I recently played Crimes and Punishments for the first time, and was so happily surprised I had forgotten to play it before, since it was so good! And recently bought Chapter One, but haven't started playing yet.

So I was also wondering which one to play first, but I think I'll go for Chapter One since I've also heard good things about it

[Arcturus Asriv]

Looks like Chapter One is on sale now.

[¸מטסﬣ]

Well, I enjoyed my time in Cordona with dashingly handsome Sherry and Jon.
Get CH1 on sale, there is subtle referring to previous game, but its not a massive big deal

[JKDarkseid]

You should be fine, though I do recommend Ch1.

The important stuff from that game does get explained and mentioned, and the one unexplained bit you can easily understand just by knowing Jon was Sherlock's "imaginary friend," which is in the store page blurbs as part of the basic set up.

[East]

No need to bother with Chapter One, at least from my perspective. Spent over 80 hours in it doing all sorts of stuff, but the "main" cases in that game do not have a real solution. You will never know if you made the the right choice even during the ending (which involves the death of your mother lmao).

So feel free to skip Chapter One.

[JKDarkseid]

Originally posted by Flenser:

No need to bother with Chapter One, at least from my perspective. Spent over 80 hours in it doing all sorts of stuff, but the "main" cases in that game do not have a real solution. You will never know if you made the the right choice even during the ending (which involves the death of your mother lmao).

So feel free to skip Chapter One.

...that's literally wrong? Just because the game does not tell you the answer doesn't mean there isn't one. They're all easy to make out if you pay attention to the clues.

[East]

Originally posted by JKDarkseid:

Originally posted by Flenser:

No need to bother with Chapter One, at least from my perspective. Spent over 80 hours in it doing all sorts of stuff, but the "main" cases in that game do not have a real solution. You will never know if you made the the right choice even during the ending (which involves the death of your mother lmao).

So feel free to skip Chapter One.

...that's literally wrong? Just because the game does not tell you the answer doesn't mean there isn't one. They're all easy to make out if you pay attention to the clues.

Well obviously there is one if the game refuses to not tell said answer. I did not say there is no answer at all, I said there is no definitive conclusion. If suspect A killed someone and I sent suspect B to death row, I want the game to make it clear I messed up big time. It does not matter how "easy they are to make out" or how elementary each deduction is.

My issue is that this game just leaves major events open for interpretation (which is fine for certain types of media). You could go wrong at every turn and nothing really changes. Take Crime and Punishments for example: There was a cut scene for each choice and if you accused the wrong guy the game bloody well let you know. You also had the Moral aspect, which Chapter One also has, but that is the only real way of "coming to terms" with your choice.

Take the last part: It would have massive implications if Jon or Sherlock did kill his mother. Same with Richer trying to save Violet or actively murdering her. Sure, one of those makes more sense than the other, but the game basically says Sherlock killing his mother is equally valid as Richter trying to save her. And the game does not really put in the effort to absolve Sherlock of matricide, same if you decide Jon did it. I'd say that's an oversight on Frogwares' side.

Edit on the next day after sleeping over having finished Chapter One: You know what OP, give Chapter One a shot if you can pick it up on sale. You might very well find out if you like it or not rather quick, it should come down to how comfortable you are in an open world Sherlock Mystery game. The Awakened has more tightly sectioned off parts for each chapter, so you will find a somewhat clear direction what you have to do.

If you do, please check out Jack the Ripper and Crime and Punishments (if you have not already).