“Sherlock Holmes: The Awakened” is an adventure video game developed by Frogwares and published in 2006. It blends Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s iconic detective, Sherlock Holmes, with the lore of H.P. Lovecraft, specifically his mythos surrounding Cthulhu. Here’s an extensive plot summary and explanation of the ending:
Plot of Sherlock Holmes The Awakened
In 1894, Sherlock Holmes and his trusted associate Dr. John Watson are pulled into a complex case involving the disappearance of a sailor, James Armitage. The initial investigations point to a mundane kidnapping case, but soon Sherlock realizes that there is more than meets the eye, and the game’s events are set in motion.
Holmes discovers a piece of a statue and a map at the sailor’s place of residence. These findings, coupled with the suspicious behavior of the sailor’s landlady, lead him to suspect a broader, more mysterious plot. Holmes and Watson proceed to interrogate various individuals connected to the sailor, including his colleagues and employer, eventually tracing the mystery to a mental asylum.
Inside the asylum, they discover that the patients are being drugged into a comatose state and used in dark rituals involving the statue piece they found earlier. These rituals seem to be linked to a cult that worships Cthulhu, a deity from the Lovecraftian mythos. The plot thickens when they discover a connection between the asylum, a London-based antique dealer, and a mysterious group in Switzerland.
Our duo travels to Switzerland, where they infiltrate the cult’s lair, hidden inside a mountain, and discover plans for a massive ritual to awaken Cthulhu. They also find evidence that this cult has spread its influence far and wide, with links traced back to New Orleans.
Holmes and Watson head to New Orleans, where they dig deeper into the cult’s operations. They discover that the cult has been kidnapping people, primarily immigrants, to use as sacrificial victims in their ritual.
Ending Explained: Sherlock Holmes The Awakened
The climax of the game takes place in a Louisiana swamp, where the cult is preparing for the ritual to awaken Cthulhu. Holmes, Watson, and a group of their allies manage to infiltrate the ritual site. They disrupt the ritual by destroying the Cthulhu statue with dynamite, causing a massive explosion.
However, during the confrontation, Holmes is captured by the cult and prepared as a replacement sacrifice. Watson, in a desperate act, manages to free Holmes, and together they escape the collapsing ritual site. In the ensuing chaos, most of the cult members are killed, effectively dismantling the cult’s operations.
In the end, Holmes and Watson return to Baker Street, contemplating the strange and horrifying events they have witnessed. They decide to keep the whole ordeal a secret, fearing that the public disclosure of such horrifying events would cause mass panic. The game concludes with Holmes pondering the fact that evil can take many forms, some of which are too terrifying to comprehend.
This intricate narrative masterfully combines the logical, deductive universe of Sherlock Holmes with the eerie, otherworldly lore of H.P. Lovecraft, offering players an immersive, thrilling experience.
