Ms. Holmes: The Adventure of the McKirk Ritual Collector's Edition > iPad, iPhone, Android, Mac & PC Game

Overall rating

5 / 5

167 of 180 found this review helpful

A Vast Improvement Since Five Orange Pips

PostedDecember 23, 2021

caseyduhamel

fromMerry Christmas and Happy New Year from South Dakota!

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This "Key Contributor" plays, rates, and reviews a lot of games. We think you'll trust their thoughts and opinions about games.
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Skill Level:Intermediate

Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Card & Board, Hidden Object, Large File, Mahjong, Match 3, Puzzle, Strategy, Time Management

Current Favorite:

True Fear: Forsaken Souls Collector's Edition

(322)

Fun Factor

5 / 5

Visual/Sound Quality

5 / 5

Level of Challenge

5 / 5

Storyline

5 / 5

Firstly, I love when developers give us something different like murder mysteries instead of saving the world, or saving other worlds, or saving my missing sister, brother, mother, father, cousins, in-laws, well, the whole family. I was not going to purchase this game as I had played the first installment and was not impressed- there was no mystery to the mystery (we knew the culprit from the ...Show more

Firstly, I love when developers give us something different like murder mysteries instead of saving the world, or saving other worlds, or saving my missing sister, brother, mother, father, cousins, in-laws, well, the whole family. I was not going to purchase this game as I had played the first installment and was not impressed- there was no mystery to the mystery (we knew the culprit from the start) and the game play and storyline was tepid. Also, it really chafes me when characters played in countries other than America speak with straight-up American accents. And that bothered me in Five Orange Pips- took me out of the story's atmosphere. Here we had the British granddaughter of the most famous British detective ever...speaking with an American accent. Total lack of cultural detail. If I remember correctly, all the characters in that game spoke with American accents. So, I took a chance and purchased Ms. Holmes again to see if the series was starting to mature. TAH-DAH! British accents!! And good ones too! Wonderful!! The graphics and characters are gorgeous and very well executed, wonderful palette with scenes full of appropriate color and detail that really immersed me into the story (love the passing ominous clouds!). As is Elephant is want to do, they hit you with puzzles and HOPs immediately. The HOPs don't have a match-3 option, so you have to play through the junk piles but they are well presented and can be solved with a minimal amount of frustration. Most of the puzzles are tough! Love the new takes on typical puzzle models. Really enjoyable- might take some time though! Now, a couple of things that did make me roll my eyes- right off the bat we are hit with the two oldest tasks in the casual gaming world: the broken key in the keyhole and the thorny bush. Maybe Elephant was just trying to get them out of the way as soon as possible but those two tasks need to be banished from the gaming environment permanently as they are older than the dirt I usually have to dig up that's right next to the thorny bush. Be gone bush and key!!! Then there's the inexplicable items found in inappropriate places. I, Sharlotte Holmes, master detective, need a match to light a candle in my office. One would think a master detective would have a book of matches hanging around. But no, my client gives me her file packet containing her dossier...and a box of matches. This makes no sense...what are matches doing in her file packet? And then there's the dreaded mailbox...what the heck was going to be in this one? The operative word here is "MAIL"...do we dare hope? YES, there's mail in this mailbox...plus two inexplicable items, but hey- MAIL!
And the ghostie- she needs to float a bit more, her movements are a bit stiff and mechanical. BUT (there's my big 'BUT'...did you really think I would leave it out?) the positives absolutely outweigh the negatives in this much improved installment of Ms. Holmes. Great graphics, great characters with depth, terrific storyline, puzzles that really take some thought, enjoyable HOPs. Elementary that dear Dr. Watson would be very impressed. Show less

I recommend this game!

+154points

167of 180voted this as helpful.

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Overall rating

5 / 5

33 of 37 found this review helpful

Finally! A game that's easy enough, but not simple

PostedDecember 26, 2021

notbarb

fromConcordia, Kansas

Skill Level:Intermediate

Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object, Mahjong

Fun Factor

5 / 5

Visual/Sound Quality

5 / 5

Level of Challenge

5 / 5

Storyline

5 / 5

I don't usually review games, but I had to say something about the McKirk Ritual CE. It's a relief to finally get a game that I can figure out without hitting the hint button a hundred times to figure out what to do next!
I just finished the trial, and I plan to buy the full CE. I buy a game thinking about relaxation. I have a ton of games, most of which I buy for the story content, and ...Show more

I don't usually review games, but I had to say something about the McKirk Ritual CE. It's a relief to finally get a game that I can figure out without hitting the hint button a hundred times to figure out what to do next!
I just finished the trial, and I plan to buy the full CE. I buy a game thinking about relaxation. I have a ton of games, most of which I buy for the story content, and unfortunately I'm not a sleuth by nature, even though I like this genre.
I agree with caseyduhamel in that it's a relief that we already know the culprit and we're not tasked with saving our world, another world, or some member of our family. I also like that we aren't required to travel to strange places via magic mirror, etc. Show less

+29points

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Overall rating

5 / 5

23 of 26 found this review helpful

Fun game without breaking the brain

PostedDecember 27, 2021

danceswithcats

fromThe Emerald City

Skill Level:Expert

Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Puzzle

Fun Factor

5 / 5

Visual/Sound Quality

4 / 5

Level of Challenge

5 / 5

Storyline

5 / 5

I play these games to have a fun adventure with a bit of an intellectual challenge, and that's exactly what I got in this game. I enjoy the setting of the game, both in location and in time, and I like seeing a woman hero who is smart and strong. If you're looking to spend an enjoyable several hours in the early 20th century world of Sharlotte Holmes, and you want an intellectual challenge without ...Show more

I play these games to have a fun adventure with a bit of an intellectual challenge, and that's exactly what I got in this game. I enjoy the setting of the game, both in location and in time, and I like seeing a woman hero who is smart and strong. If you're looking to spend an enjoyable several hours in the early 20th century world of Sharlotte Holmes, and you want an intellectual challenge without breaking your brain, this is a great game. Show less

I recommend this game!

+20points

23of 26voted this as helpful.

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Overall rating

5 / 5

20 of 23 found this review helpful

This game deserve a 5!

PostedDecember 25, 2021

sopalin

fromMontréal

Skill Level:Intermediate

Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Card & Board, Hidden Object

Current Favorite:

Christmas Stories: Yulemen Collector's Edition

(47)

Fun Factor

5 / 5

Visual/Sound Quality

5 / 5

Level of Challenge

5 / 5

Storyline

5 / 5

It was a good idea to bring the detective side of us for Christmas! The game could have been a Halloween game. I am not the one who would complain... For me, it looked a lot like the White lady of Grim Tales. I really enjoy playing. Merry Christmas everyone!!!

I recommend this game!

+17points

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Overall rating

5 / 5

5 of 5 found this review helpful

A Game for Ease and Enjoyment

PostedJanuary 16, 2022

Spoodlehead

fromKnoxville, TN

Skill Level:Intermediate

Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object, Mahjong, Puzzle

Fun Factor

4 / 5

Visual/Sound Quality

4 / 5

Level of Challenge

4 / 5

Storyline

3 / 5

I really enjoyed this game because it progresses in a linear fashion and was easy to recognize where to go and what to do next. I prefer games like this for relaxing at the end of the day or clearing my head mid project. Fun!

I recommend this game!

+5points

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Overall rating

5 / 5

6 of 7 found this review helpful

Sharlotte Is At It Again!

PostedJanuary 2, 2022

CNew

fromLas Vegas, NV

Key Contributor
This "Key Contributor" plays, rates, and reviews a lot of games. We think you'll trust their thoughts and opinions about games.
Key Contributor

Skill Level:Expert

Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Brain Teaser, Hidden Object, Mahjong, Match 3, Puzzle, Time Management

Current Favorite:

Crossroads: On a Just Path Collector's Edition

(74)

Fun Factor

4 / 5

Visual/Sound Quality

5 / 5

Level of Challenge

4 / 5

Storyline

5 / 5

Elephant Games has come up with a winner in my detective book. Really like the mystery case storyline in this game as well as the first one in the series, Five Orange Pips. The current game takes it up a notch.
Enjoy the interactive questions and clues and putting them together.
In each scene is a puzzle piece to find and in some scenes a figurine. The map shows if you found the puzzle piece ...Show more

Elephant Games has come up with a winner in my detective book. Really like the mystery case storyline in this game as well as the first one in the series, Five Orange Pips. The current game takes it up a notch.
Enjoy the interactive questions and clues and putting them together.
In each scene is a puzzle piece to find and in some scenes a figurine. The map shows if you found the puzzle piece but not the figurine. From the map is an option to view the silhouette of the figurine and that offers some help.
Like the older fashion graphics and feel of the game including the map. It goes well with the storyline. Voiceovers are done well and appropriate for the character.
Like the puzzles there are some inventive ones and enjoyed the HOS although fairly standard for the most part. I really enjoyed this game it is a buy for me hope you will enjoy it too!
Achievements are standard, wish they would come up with some new ideas. Show less

I recommend this game!

+5points

6of 7voted this as helpful.

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Overall rating

5 / 5

32 of 60 found this review helpful

Ms. Holmes: The Adventure of the McKirk Ritual Collector's Edition

PostedDecember 24, 2021

andrewhow240

Fun Factor

5 / 5

Visual/Sound Quality

5 / 5

Level of Challenge

5 / 5

Storyline

5 / 5

I enjoy playing games through this developer it makes a change to play a game based on a detective. I enjoy playing detective games because they are different to play and not have the usual type of gameplay

I recommend this game!

+4points

32of 60voted this as helpful.

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Overall rating

4 / 5

12 of 14 found this review helpful

Main game was just fine

PostedDecember 28, 2021

jennsmom

fromWestern New York

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This "Key Contributor" plays, rates, and reviews a lot of games. We think you'll trust their thoughts and opinions about games.
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Skill Level:Intermediate

Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Card & Board, Hidden Object, Match 3, Word

Fun Factor

4 / 5

Visual/Sound Quality

4 / 5

Level of Challenge

3 / 5

Storyline

3 / 5

I enjoyed the main game. I have others in the series, and they are not flashy or terribly complicated, just enjoyable to play, and so was this...and then came the bonus. I wasn't sure at first who I was supposed to be, and I certainly had no idea what was going on. The story line was practically non-existent. The ending was most unsatisfying, as were the characters therein. I'd recommend waiting ...Show more

I enjoyed the main game. I have others in the series, and they are not flashy or terribly complicated, just enjoyable to play, and so was this...and then came the bonus. I wasn't sure at first who I was supposed to be, and I certainly had no idea what was going on. The story line was practically non-existent. The ending was most unsatisfying, as were the characters therein. I'd recommend waiting for the standard addition, since the extras in the Collectors were really not all that extra. Show less

I recommend this game!

+10points

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Overall rating

4 / 5

122 of 189 found this review helpful

DECK THE HALLS WITH MURDER

PostedDecember 23, 2021

sunnyglow

fromDeck the halls with murder? While you are eating your Christmas turkey or goose, remember somebody committed a murder most “fowl!”

Key Contributor
This "Key Contributor" plays, rates, and reviews a lot of games. We think you'll trust their thoughts and opinions about games.
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Skill Level:Expert

Fun Factor

4 / 5

Visual/Sound Quality

5 / 5

Level of Challenge

3 / 5

Storyline

4 / 5

REVIEW BASED UPON THE ENTIRE GAME
5 Chapters Plus a Bonus Chapter – Strategy Guide: 47 pages (My Time: 5 Hours)

Super sleuth, Sharlotte Holmes, (Sherlock’s copycat relative), returns in another whodunit! Discover who is behind a rash of robberies at an old English manor, the McKirk Estate. Are ghosts involved, or could there be a less ethereal, flesh-and-blood culprit behind the missing ...Show more

REVIEW BASED UPON THE ENTIRE GAME
5 Chapters Plus a Bonus Chapter – Strategy Guide: 47 pages (My Time: 5 Hours)

Super sleuth, Sharlotte Holmes, (Sherlock’s copycat relative), returns in another whodunit! Discover who is behind a rash of robberies at an old English manor, the McKirk Estate. Are ghosts involved, or could there be a less ethereal, flesh-and-blood culprit behind the missing McKirk jewels? Unfortunately, this case will develop into more than theft - find yourself investigating a murder as well. Can ghosts commit murder? Enjoy your romp in the English countryside as you deal with the estate’s conniving butler and rude staff. Watch out for "ghosts" as well!

This is a nice relaxing game for detectives of all ages. This is an “okay” game. I use the word, “okay,” because there is nothing spectacular nor sensational about this game; however, it is a decent game. For me, it is a nice change from the overabundance of sugary, glittery Christmas fare. I welcomed playing a game which did not reek of angels, goody two-shoe elves, Rudolf, Santa, nor a ton of tempting pictures of high-calorie, sugary delights. After being “over-glitterized,” and Christmas caroled to death, having a good detective game to play was a nice change of pace and a treat!

The game has the same format as Elephant’s other games. There are two collectibles, detective paraphernalia, and puzzle pieces which produce a picture at the end of the game. I found the picture pieces easy to locate; however, it seems that this developer along several others have begun designing collectibles which appear smaller and smaller within the scenes - in other words, hard to see. I realize this is a detective game; however, I don’t’ want to use a magnifying glass to search for collectibles, nor do I wish to go blind. Again, I make my plea to this developer to please make those collectibles easier to see within the scenes. The game is short, but I feel it has a good pace throughout. It is not the best game this developer has produced; however, it is a decent game and a nice whodunit for those who enjoy this type of game.

BONUS CHAPTER: Detective Holmes is off on another case involving a hotel, the Tower Bridge Guest House, which may be housing some criminal elements. Uncover the secrets of this guest house. I uncovered a chapter which is identical to the main game. Continue to search for the hard-to-see collectibles. There are four (4) HOP scenes plus a few mini-HOP scenes with searches for six items. There are five (5) mini-games. Personally, I had a difficult time assessing what the story was about in this chapter. To me, there seems to be a lack of clarification of the storyline at the beginning of the chapter.

MECHANICS:
• Four (4) levels of play including a customized version.
• 19 achievements.
• Collect 12 items belonging to Sharlotte Holmes.
• Collect 23 puzzle pieces which create a picture upon completion of the game.
• 7 wallpapers along with concept art, music, and video sequences
• Expedition room allows the player to return to scenes to retrieve missed collectibles.
• Replay 13 HOP scenes and 13 mini-games hidden within the Archives room.

HOP SCENES: There thirteen (13) HOP scenes, all of which can be replayed upon completion of the game. In my opinion, they are standard fare, lackluster in comparison to those from other developers. They include scenes with standard lists of items, silhouette scenes, story centered scenes which flush out the story behind the game, and matching scenes. There are also quite a few mini-HOP scenes with searches for six items.

MINI-GAMES: There are twenty (20) mini-games, thirteen (13) which can be replayed upon completion of the game. They are easy puzzles and ones which have appeared in other games in one variation or another. I thought two were somewhat creative. I enjoyed an escape puzzle in which the player must encircle a fishing rod with a net so it cannot escape the grid. The net has squares which cover several squares of the grid. I thought that was a unique approach to this puzzle. The other I enjoyed is a connection puzzle in which the player must recreate a given image by connecting dots within the grid to defeat a criminal. However, overall, I was not enthralled with puzzles within the game.

SPOILERS: HERE ARE SOME OF THE MINI-GAMES AFTER THE DEMO:

A. Gear puzzle. Switch gears which have picture fragments on them, so they restore the complete image.
B. Assembly puzzle. Create medicine by following given instructions. 3X
C. Block puzzle. Create a path for a fastener to reach the end of a grid by pushing blocks out of the way to create a path.
D. Switch puzzle. Switch two rows of clamps (8 on each side) so that each two which face each other mesh.
E. Escape puzzle. Surround a fishing rod in the “water” by using a net to enclose it so it cannot escape. The net will close off squares within the grid There are only 6 moves to trap the item so it cannot escape
F. Connection Puzzle. Create a given pattern on a grid with dots. If you fail 3 times the game restarts. 6 images
BONUS CHAPTER:
G. Sequence puzzle. Move gems on a peacock to the top of the plumage so that all are on top. Moving one affects the others.
H. Picture puzzle. Rotate and place hexagonal picture fragments into position to restore a picture on a hexagonal shaped grid.
I. Chess puzzle. Use a knight to defeat a queen on a chessboard. 2X Show less

I recommend this game!

+55points

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Overall rating

4 / 5

7 of 10 found this review helpful

No echo's in this past

PostedJanuary 1, 2022

RPgames

fromNM

Key Contributor
This "Key Contributor" plays, rates, and reviews a lot of games. We think you'll trust their thoughts and opinions about games.
Key Contributor

Skill Level:Intermediate

Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object, Puzzle

Fun Factor

4 / 5

Visual/Sound Quality

5 / 5

Level of Challenge

4 / 5

Storyline

5 / 5

Good game I liked it.
Not spooky at all as I thought it maybe . The ghost didn't have anything to do with the game to me. Only seen it couple times, which is weird unless I missed something.
I like the main game better as the bonus game didn't seem to make sense to me.
Both parts were a little short with the main game ending coming up fast like it had a time limit. To me anyways.
The puzzles ...Show more

Good game I liked it.
Not spooky at all as I thought it maybe . The ghost didn't have anything to do with the game to me. Only seen it couple times, which is weird unless I missed something.
I like the main game better as the bonus game didn't seem to make sense to me.
Both parts were a little short with the main game ending coming up fast like it had a time limit. To me anyways.
The puzzles were good with the only one that I skipped since I had no idea what to do which maybe my fault more than the games.
Still a good game with it maybe a tad worse than the first . Graphics are very well done with voice actors really good.
Try the demo if you like it the rest of the game you will like it also. Show less

I recommend this game!

+4points

7of 10voted this as helpful.

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Ms. Holmes: The Adventure of the McKirk Ritual Collector's Edition

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