Not long now and Sherlock Holmes Chapter One will be available for PC and next-gen consoles. To allow us a glimpse into the game’s cinematic craft, developer Frogwares released a new developer video. In it, the development team has their say and talks about the challenge of visualising certain facts.
Sherlock Holmes Chapter One tells the story of a still inexperienced genius who, together with his childhood friend, wants to uncover the gruesome secrets of the Mediterranean island of Cordona. Using his intellect and means of camouflage, he gathers circumstantial evidence and may even uncover the truth about his mother’s death. But a lot is also happening on a psychological level with Sherlock and his friend Jon. The developer studio shows how Frogwares wants to turn the inside of the protagonists inside out in a new developer video.
Let the emotions flow
To create an emotional connection between players and the game, the developers use various cinematic tricks. For example, the team works with negative spaces that are meant to create a sense of enclosure. Depending on the situation, a crime suspect is supposed to feel cornered by Sherlock – or even the future master detective himself. Another popular device used in Sherlock Holmes Chapter One is the so-called frame within a frame. This is intended to come into play in a conflict situation, for example, and visualise the wedge between the two protagonists.
When things need to get a bit more dramatic, the creative designers also like to turn the world upside down. In one scene, for example, Jon suffers a panic attack. To visualise his state of mind, the developers let the entire image rotate. By distorting reality in this way, the player is supposed to feel the emotions depicted and sink deeper into the immersion.
You will soon be able to find out for yourself whether the developers have succeeded with these tricks as desired. Sherlock Holmes Chapter One will be released on 16 November for PC and next-gen consoles. Versions for Xbox One and PlayStation 4 will also follow at a later date.
