How do you play?

[winnieandtom]

at a loss, rookie game player. Start the game and don't seem to find any guide to controls other than f1 which has not been helpful to this point. For example, somehow blundered my way to the garden and to the policeman who speaks "Mr Holme" - find no way for Holmes to respond. Also "examine the garden" is their something to be found. A mannifying glass appears but what and how do you do with it?? Assist will be appreciated

[RRevy]

Quite complicated game you've choosen for a start, but hey - you'll learn how to play after the first case.

The goal is to solve the case, but that's obvious. Although you have to put some of your own thinking in it, the game will lead you through the story. You have a notebook which you can always look to and check what you can do to push the investigation further.
You can also ask Watson - he'll sometimes tells you what to do next ;)

The magnifying glass is a sign, that there is something to examine - depends on the thing, Sherlock (means You) will examine it closely or just say something about it. Nevertheless, if everything was examined good, the magnifying glass will turn green (the next time you look at the thing you examined earlier).

"Examine the garden" might mean that you have to look around it (it's always good to look around places! :) or just look at it - and as far as I remember it was it - Holmes said that the garden is well maintained. That's it! You've made a statement and got a point (for example: well maintained garden might means, that there is a gardener here, so...? Maybe the old lady who lives here will tell me something about it? And so on.).

Go and find all the other clues!

There are many aspects in this game - deduction board, matching clues, some mini-games, which each of is different... If you'll find yourself in a "no-idea-what-to do-with-this-puzzle", go to some video walkthrough and see a bit to get the point of it.

Oh and - yes, it's normal in games that sometimes people talk to you and you can't respond.

Good luck!