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	Title: (Adventure) Sherlock: The Riddle of the Crown Jewels
	Source: Zzap!64, #37
	Date: May 1988
	Transcription by Steve Derby
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**Infocom, £19.95 disk**

The crown jewels have been stolen -- and the Queen is to lead a procession
through the streets of olde London towne in two days time! Without her glittering
finery the news of the theft would spread, and the British Government fall into international
disgrace. Scotland Yard have tried everything to track down the
criminal and failed, so it's time to instigate the aid of the world's
finest detective -- Sherlock Holmes.

This is a tried and tested scenario which has been covered by many
facets of the media, and adventurers have had at least three games
to play based on the super sleuth. However, Infocom are giving the
player a slightly different slant on the story by allowing him to take
the role of Watson. Holmes is to be present for most of the game, but
it is the good doctor who eventually cracks the case.

As the early Saturday morning pea souper drifts eerily around the
gas lit cobbled streets of London, the story of the jewel theft
opens...

Watson arrives at 221b Baker street to see his good friend
Holmes. As Mrs Hudson the housekeeper opens the door she
reveals that Mr Holmes has been in his room for the last three days
suffering from one of his deep depressions. He hasn't eaten or
ventured out in that time, and she's very worried.

The first problem is how do you get Holmes out of his dark mood.
This shouldn't present too much of a problem, and the meeting with
the PM -- complete with clue sheet and threat to Holmes's life --
should swiftly follow.

Once outside Holmes's home, the great detective informs you
that Moriarty is at the bottom of the theft, and it is because the
arch-criminal knows how Holmes thinks that he delegates the
sleuthing to you. This tactic should also hinder the criminal's attempt to
kill our pipe-smoking hero.

Movement around London is achieved by either walking or taking
a cab. The former takes up a lot of time -- you have only until 9
o'clock Monday morning to bring Moriarty to justice -- and the cabs
can be unreliable if you don't know what you're doing.

Exploring the many famous and the not so well known places in
the town is interesting and some research has obviously gone into
the game background. Unfortunately it's not as thorough as it
might have been. The Tower of London is closed -- as are most of
this places of interest -- and it bears a sign to this effect... a sign
which concludes with 'HAVE A NICE DAY.' Was this Americanism
in existence in this time period? Also, make sure you're not sitting
in a Growler cab when trying to converse with anyone, or you may
find yourself being misunderstood buy the cabbie who will proceed to
take you to a random location miles form your desired position.
This small bug can prove very annoying when in the middle of a
deep and meaningful conversation with a local.

The page layout is standard Infocom style with a status bar at
the top of the screen and the more than adequate text descriptions
smoothly scrolling beneath. The disk supplied includes both 64 and
128 versions, although an 80-column monitor is required to play
the latter.

The overall feel of *Sherlock -- The Riddle of the Crown Jewels* is one of
interest. The locations, most of the conversing and the puzzle solving
are straight forward and suitably periodic. Unfortunately, once in a
while there is a slip and you find yourself back in the present day
sitting in front of your computer. The pigeon puzzle, the notices
placed on certain buildings and the slightly feeble reason why you
may not go in some directions -- 'A CROWD OF TOURISTS PUSHES YOU BACK' --
all help to kill the atmosphere that the previous few pages of text had so lovingly
created. However, the initial ease with which the game allows you
to play and the overall inclination it builds up to make you want to
crack the case helps to compensate for these minor glitches. Infocom
have once again produced an above average adventure...
even if it's not as high as some of their previous offerings.

<table class="larger" style="font-weight: bold;"><tbody>
<tr><td>Atmosphere</td><td>78%</td></tr>
<tr><td>Interaction</td><td>79%</td></tr>
<tr><td>Challenge</td><td>84%</td></tr>
<tr><td>Overall</td><td>81%</td></tr>
</tbody></table>