Chris Lawton reports:
''Sherlock Holmes: Nemesis is the fourth title by developer Frogwares that puts players in the shoes of England's greatest detective and his constant companion, Dr. Watson. Unlike the prior game, Sherlock Holmes: The Awakened, which took the Victorian era and combined it with the supernatural Cthulu mythos, Nemesis keeps its feet firmly planted on the ground as Holmes is summoned to stop the famed French thief, Arsène Lupin, and protect England's honor.
Nemesis begins with Holmes and Watson enjoying a nice morning in their home at 221B Baker Street. We learn of the trouble that the European police have been having with Lupin, who is constantly eluding them and making them look like fools. With the morning mail, Holmes receives a disturbing letter that invites him to participate in a game. It doesn't take much to realize that the writer of the letter is none other than Lupin, who has set his sights on some of England's most prized possessions and considers Holmes to be the only competent detective in London and, therefore, a worthy opponent.
This direction with the story is actually one of the most intriguing parts of Nemesis. In the books, Holmes rarely, if ever, lost; he almost never came up against anyone who was even close to his equal in intelligence. However, Lupin thinks like Holmes and easily has the same level of deductive reasoning. I have to give props to Frogwares for this part of the game because they handled it terrifically. They've always written Holmes as arrogant, cold and calculating, and it fits so well when it comes up against Lupin's charming demeanor. Through the entire narrative, Holmes is kept on his toes as he tries to figure out his opponent's next move. The entire story culminates in such a way that when the credits roll, you feel satisfied - with the story, anyway.''
