<!--
	Title: The Riddle of the Crown Jewels
	Author: William E. Carte
	Source: QuestBusters, v5(4)
	Date: April 1988
	Transcription by Steve Derby
-->

<div class="article-sidebar-box float-left">
<strong>Type:</strong> All-text Mystery<br>
<strong>Systems:</strong> Apple 2, C 64/128, IBM, Mac, Amiga, ST
</div>

Anxiously I dug into the package, expecting to step into the shoes of Sherlock Holmes trying
to solve yet another mystery—what a surprise to find that instead I would
be Dr. Watson. You remember Watson, don't you? That friend, that sidekick, that helpful pal who
gets as much credit as a vice president (none). Well, the shoe's on the other foot and the
pipe's in the other mouth in this new twist on an old story line.

The setting is of course downtown London, where the crown jewels have just been stolen.
Everyone in town is preparing for Her Majesty's Golden Jubilee Festivities, which will be
ruined if the people learn of the theft. As the story begins, you are summoned to 221 B
Baker Street by Sherlock Holmes' housekeeper. You discover Holmes in a state of deep depression
and find the game's first series of puzzles. After getting Holmes to snap out of
his gloomy mood, you have to round up numerous items from the house, things that will
prove useful on the case.

It seems that archvillain Moriarity has, besides stealing the jewels, set a trap for Holmes;
that's why you, as Dr. Watson, lead the investigation while Holmes tags along. But Sherlock
provides more than just company, for occasionally he gives valuable information
or hints. He might tell you a particular item should be hidden from view, for example.

With Holmes helping out, Watson finally has a chance for some glory. There's just one
little catch: You have only 48 hours to solve the crime. After that, the public learns of the
crown jewels' theft, the festivities are ruined and the game lost.

One thing that stands out is the game's tremendous scope. With a seemingly infinite
number of locations, it's a monster to map. A map of London is included to help you find famous
locations such as Westminster Abbey, Buckingham Palace, Trafalgar Square and the
Bank of England. One hint It's impossible to do so on foot There are two cab companies,
but only one will be any help.

Your travels will take you all over London, from the Palace to the slums.
Everything about the town is highly detailed—Big Ben even strikes every hour,
on the hour. You'll meet some interesting characters, people like the Palace
Guard and a vendor who may have something you can use. And there are lots of
buildings you must find a way to enter. As in Bureaucracy, when you read a sign
its message fills a white square that appears in the center of the screen. Amiga,
ST and Mac versions have sound effects.

## A Case in Points

Perhaps you've tired of games that can be fiilished in a matter of days. If so,
Sherlock is for you. Because of its vast size and multitude of puzzles, it is guaranteed
to last a long time. Puzzles are good, fairly tough and require some
thinking through.

Points are awarded for solving certain puzzles or obtaining specific items. I like
this, for it's a big help. You may pick up five items, for example, wondering if
they're important. If you get three points for one of them, you definitely know it's
of value. Top score is 100 points. Invisi-Clues are built into the game, which will
be appreciated by all novices and no doubt by some experts.

<blockquote style="padding: 0.5em 1em; border-top: 4px double; border-bottom: 4px double; font-size: 1.5em; text-align: center;">
"Invisi-Clues
are built in."
</blockquote>

As we have come to expect from Infocom, the parser is first-rate. It's certainly
frustrating to try solving a puzzle in a game that repeatedly rejects your commands.
There are no problems like that with Sherlock.

You can save three games in progress on a separate disk, and restoring one is almost
immediate. Text is displayed in 80 columns on the Apple, which was disappointing
for me, since I prefer to see it in 40-column mode. Most Infocom games
offer a choice, but not Sherlock. GS owners will have to settle for the Apple 2 version,
because the scheduled GS conversion has been cancelled.

Documentation is superb, including story background and a sample transcript
that holds a big key to success. You also get a London newspaper, a discount coupon
for *The Witness* and the aforementioned map. I must admit I'm confused
about the copy protection. Infocom maintains none of their games are protected,
but I've tried some of the most sophisticated back-up programs to no avail. [This
only occurs with the Apple version. If you are aware of a copy program that
works with the latest Infocom games, please let us know about it.]

Conclusions: One of the few Infocom adventures written by someone who is not
on the staff—Bob Bates—*Sherlock: The Riddle of the Crown Jewels* is a challenging
game that I recommend to those willing to stick with a text adventure for a
prolonged period. Mystery lovers will certainly enjoy it—the solution is anything
but elementary, my dear Watson.

<hr style="border-top: 6px double;">

**Skill Level:** Advanced<br>
**Protection:** In Manual (see above note on Apple version)<br>
**Price:** $C-64, 34.95; others, $39.95<br>
**Company:** Infocom
