Sherlock Holmes: Secret of the Silver Earring
Encyclopedia
Sherlock Holmes: The Case of the Silver Earring (known in North America as Sherlock Holmes: Secret of the Silver Earring) is a computer game developed by Frogwares
and published in 2004 on two CD-ROM
s for Microsoft Windows
by Digital Jesters
in Europe and Ubisoft
in North America. While the game is "inspired by The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes
," it uses an original plotline — set in London
in 1897 — and allows the player to investigate a murder as Sherlock Holmes
and Dr. John H. Watson. A version of the game was also developed for mobile phones by Xendex, and released in 2006.
The second in the Adventures of Sherlock Holmes series
of adventure games developed by Frogwares, it was preceded by the 2002 game Sherlock Holmes: Mystery of the Mummy, and was followed by Sherlock Holmes: The Awakened
in 2006. The game acts as a prequel to Mystery of the Mummy - despite being released two years after the earlier game, it is actually set two years earlier (in 1897 as opposed to 1899).
. Music within the game consists of compositions by Antonín Dvořák
, Edvard Grieg
, Robert Schumann
, and Pyotr Tchaikovsky
.
Right-clicking brings up the inventory bar. Throughout the game, Holmes’s tools of the trade (a magnifying glass, measuring tape and test tube) are in inventory. These are frequently used. Inventory also includes a notebook, which is essential to understanding the game. The notebook has transcripts of the witnesses’ conversations (thankfully, only the important bits). Also, the notebook contains documents and an analysis of the physical evidence.
As Holmes, you spend time searching for important clues, most of which the bumbling police force will miss. Items are at least partly visible, though some don’t become “hot” until an action in the game triggers them. You also analyze various clues using Holmes’s desktop laboratory.
gave the game 7.3/10. Their summary cited "interesting characters, an engaging plot, and beautiful graphics" though they cited a lack of puzzles and a "mystery where you don't actually solve the mystery." Further reviews were published by IGN
, 8.3/10, GameSpy
3.5/5, while collected reviews can be found at Game Rankings
.
Frogwares
Frogwares is an independent adventure game development studio, having branches in Ukraine, Ireland and France. Its president is Waël Amr.It is best known for its ongoing Sherlock Holmes series of adventure computer games starring Sherlock Holmes and Dr...
and published in 2004 on two CD-ROM
CD-ROM
A CD-ROM is a pre-pressed compact disc that contains data accessible to, but not writable by, a computer for data storage and music playback. The 1985 “Yellow Book” standard developed by Sony and Philips adapted the format to hold any form of binary data....
s for Microsoft Windows
Microsoft Windows
Microsoft Windows is a series of operating systems produced by Microsoft.Microsoft introduced an operating environment named Windows on November 20, 1985 as an add-on to MS-DOS in response to the growing interest in graphical user interfaces . Microsoft Windows came to dominate the world's personal...
by Digital Jesters
Digital Jesters
Digital Jesters was a British video game publisher, based in Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire. The company was founded in 2003 by veterans from CDV UK , and their first UK-releases were TrackMania and Virtual Skipper 3, both by Nadeo.In the beginning, they concentrated on the UK market only, but...
in Europe and Ubisoft
Ubisoft
Ubisoft Entertainment S.A. is a major French video game publisher and developer, with headquarters in Montreuil, France. The company has a worldwide presence with 25 studios in 17 countries and subsidiaries in 26 countries....
in North America. While the game is "inspired by The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes
The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes
The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes is a collection of twelve stories by Arthur Conan Doyle, featuring his famous detective and illustrated by Sidney Paget....
," it uses an original plotline — set in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
in 1897 — and allows the player to investigate a murder as Sherlock Holmes
Sherlock Holmes
Sherlock Holmes is a fictional detective created by Scottish author and physician Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. The fantastic London-based "consulting detective", Holmes is famous for his astute logical reasoning, his ability to take almost any disguise, and his use of forensic science skills to solve...
and Dr. John H. Watson. A version of the game was also developed for mobile phones by Xendex, and released in 2006.
The second in the Adventures of Sherlock Holmes series
Adventures of Sherlock Holmes series
The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes series is a series of adventure games, developed by the independent game development studio Frogwares, based on Arthur Conan Doyle's famous work The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, featuring the famous detective and his companion Dr. John H. Watson. To date, five...
of adventure games developed by Frogwares, it was preceded by the 2002 game Sherlock Holmes: Mystery of the Mummy, and was followed by Sherlock Holmes: The Awakened
Sherlock Holmes: The Awakened
Sherlock Holmes: The Awakened is an adventure game developed by Frogwares and published in 2006 for Microsoft Windows. The game follows an original plotline as Sherlock Holmes and his companion Dr. John H...
in 2006. The game acts as a prequel to Mystery of the Mummy - despite being released two years after the earlier game, it is actually set two years earlier (in 1897 as opposed to 1899).
Plot
Holmes and Watson must investigate the murder of Sir Melvyn Bromsby at Sherringford Hall. Bromsby's daughter Lavinia is among the suspects.Credits
The game's story and design is credited to Jalil Amr, based on an unpublished pastiche novel by Amr. Both sound and voiceovers for the English version are credited to Pteroduction Sound, Alexander Dudko, and Sergey Geraschenko. Unlike the English version however, the German voice cast is listed at the Internet Movie DatabaseInternet Movie Database
Internet Movie Database is an online database of information related to movies, television shows, actors, production crew personnel, video games and fictional characters featured in visual entertainment media. It is one of the most popular online entertainment destinations, with over 100 million...
. Music within the game consists of compositions by Antonín Dvořák
Antonín Dvorák
Antonín Leopold Dvořák was a Czech composer of late Romantic music, who employed the idioms of the folk music of Moravia and his native Bohemia. Dvořák’s own style is sometimes called "romantic-classicist synthesis". His works include symphonic, choral and chamber music, concerti, operas and many...
, Edvard Grieg
Edvard Grieg
Edvard Hagerup Grieg was a Norwegian composer and pianist. He is best known for his Piano Concerto in A minor, for his incidental music to Henrik Ibsen's play Peer Gynt , and for his collection of piano miniatures Lyric Pieces.-Biography:Edvard Hagerup Grieg was born in...
, Robert Schumann
Robert Schumann
Robert Schumann, sometimes known as Robert Alexander Schumann, was a German composer, aesthete and influential music critic. He is regarded as one of the greatest and most representative composers of the Romantic era....
, and Pyotr Tchaikovsky
Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky (Russian: Пётр Ильи́ч Чайко́вский ; often "Peter Ilich Tchaikovsky" in English. His names are also transliterated "Piotr" or "Petr"; "Ilitsch", "Il'ich" or "Illyich"; and "Tschaikowski", "Tschaikowsky", "Chajkovskij"...
.
Gameplay
Silver Earring is a point-and-click adventure in which you play as both Holmes and Watson. Silver Earring is a point-and-click (mouse-controlled) third person adventure. Clicking in the general direction you wish to go will usually cause your character to move in that direction. When you see the footsteps icon, clicking will take the character to the next “authorized” spot. Double-clicking makes Holmes or Watson run.Right-clicking brings up the inventory bar. Throughout the game, Holmes’s tools of the trade (a magnifying glass, measuring tape and test tube) are in inventory. These are frequently used. Inventory also includes a notebook, which is essential to understanding the game. The notebook has transcripts of the witnesses’ conversations (thankfully, only the important bits). Also, the notebook contains documents and an analysis of the physical evidence.
As Holmes, you spend time searching for important clues, most of which the bumbling police force will miss. Items are at least partly visible, though some don’t become “hot” until an action in the game triggers them. You also analyze various clues using Holmes’s desktop laboratory.
Reception
GameSpotGameSpot
GameSpot is a video gaming website that provides news, reviews, previews, downloads, and other information. The site was launched in May 1, 1996 by Pete Deemer, Vince Broady and Jon Epstein. It was purchased by ZDNet, a brand which was later purchased by CNET Networks. CBS Interactive, which...
gave the game 7.3/10. Their summary cited "interesting characters, an engaging plot, and beautiful graphics" though they cited a lack of puzzles and a "mystery where you don't actually solve the mystery." Further reviews were published by IGN
IGN
IGN is an entertainment website that focuses on video games, films, music and other media. IGN's main website comprises several specialty sites or "channels", each occupying a subdomain and covering a specific area of entertainment...
, 8.3/10, GameSpy
GameSpy
GameSpy Industries, Inc., known simply as GameSpy, is a division of IGN Entertainment, which operates a network of game websites and provides online video game-related services and software. GameSpy dates back to the 1996 release of an internet Quake server search program named QSpy. The current...
3.5/5, while collected reviews can be found at Game Rankings
Game Rankings
GameRankings is a website that collects review scores from both offline and online sources to give an average rating. It indexes over 315,000 articles relating to more than 14,500 games.GameRankings is owned by CBS Interactive...
.