Sherlock Holmes: The Awakened successfully brings the exploits of the Master Detective into 3D puzzle adventure gaming. Join Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson as they travel the world and solve unimaginable mysteries in this story based on H.P. Lovecraft's Cthulhu world.

The game starts with some people suddenly disappearing under mysterious circumstances in the Master Detective's own backyard. His investigation subsequently leads him and his constant companion Dr. Watson to far-off places like the Louisiana Bayou and from there to other parts of the world trying to uncover the reason for all these disappearances and locate the group that is kidnapping these unfortunate people.

Sherlock Holmes: The Awakened is a truly immersive game. The 3D graphics and playing the game via a first-person perspective makes you feel like you are really there trying to solve these inexplicable mysteries. The 3D world also adds a great new dimension (pun intended) to puzzle gaming. The entire world is interactive, with any little detail being potentially a vital clue in helping Holmes solve the case.

The artwork is top notch as well. You can see the little details in the characters, their faces and their clothing. Every little shadow and texture in every object is finely detailed and looks real in that old Victorian England style.

The mysteries and the story are also nearly perfect. You wouldn't normally expect the highly logical Sherlock Holmes dealing with mystical and supernatural things like Lovecraft's Cthulhu, but it actually works surprisingly well in this game. Kudos to the designers for great storytelling and for being able to perfectly incorporate this style and feel, while still staying true to what you'd expect out of a mystery thriller involving the Detective from Baker St.

The game itself involves a lot of exploration and being alert to the many items scattered across every locale that could potentially be clues to help Holmes solve the case. Small things such as discarded newspapers, finger stains and an innocent passerby could provide that last vital clue to trigger that "Aha!" moment.

And things aren't always what they seem. If something looks fishy, you can whip out your trusty magnifying glass and take a closer look at any suspicious objects. There are also action sequences in the game to break up the slow pace of puzzle-solving. Nothing gets your adrenaline pumping like being chased by mindless Cthulhu worshipers!

In all, Sherlock Holmes: The Awakened is a great puzzle adventure game that captures the essence of both the Sherlock Holmes mythos and Lovecraft's Cthulhu world. It also introduces gamers to a beautifully rendered and detailed 3D world that is seldom found in casual games.

A few warnings though. The game has been designed for a mature audience in mind. There is a fair amount of graphic content and references to the occult in the game. So be warned if you get squeamish seeing a naked dead body lying on an altar with body parts missing... Otherwise, this is a great immersive game that is well worth your time.

Rating: 4.5/5.0

You can read more about Sherlock Holmes: The Awakened at http://www.hidden-puzzles.com/sh-awakened.html