History VideoGame / SherlockHolmesVersusJackTheRipper

''Sherlock Holmes Versus Jack the Ripper'' is a 2009 game developed by Frogware, which pits the famous detective against UsefulNotes/JackTheRipper. The fifth game in the ''VideoGame/SherlockHolmesFrogware'' series, the story takes place in VictorianLondon and the major focus is on the district of Whitechapel, where the infamous murders took place. This puzzle/adventure game has a surprisingly large amount of historical accuracy, as real evidence is used to help deduce the identity of the killer, and the player, as either Holmes or Watson, can interrogate real suspects from the period.

''Sherlock Holmes Versus Jack the Ripper'' is a 2009 game developed by Frogware, which pits the famous detective against UsefulNotes/JackTheRipper. The fifth game in the Frogware series, the story takes place in VictorianLondon and the major focus is on the district of Whitechapel, where the infamous murders took place. This puzzle/adventure game has a surprisingly large amount of historical accuracy, as real evidence is used to help deduce the identity of the killer, and the player, as either Holmes or Watson, can interrogate real suspects from the period.

** A milder example occurs at the start of the game: Sherlock finds himself needing to do a chain of favors in order to get important information from the police. In a rare moment of frustration, he bitterly jokes that if he needs to do one more favor, the next murder will be that of Watson.

** A milder example occurs at the start of the game: Sherlock finds himself needing to do a chain of favors in order to get important information from the police. In a rare moment of frustration, he bitterly jokes that if he needs to do one more favor, the next murder will be of Watson.

* FreudianExcuse: [[spoiler:Jacob Levy was rejected by the Jewish community after stealing from a butcher. He later contracted syphilis from low-class prostitutes, which he then unknowingly spread to his wife and child.]]

* CureYourGays: Inverted with Tumblety, who shows men his collection with the goal of turning them to masculine relationships.

* LadyDrunk: There are lots of these in Whitechapel (a pretty bad neighborhood at the time). Danny is prime example.

* NothingIsScarier: [[spoiler:Holmes's confrontation with Jack the Ripper is surreal and disorienting, and ''you don't get to hear a single word of it.'']]

* PoliceAreUseless: Hoo boy. For starters, they tear up two witness' written down testimonies, as well as dismiss a third witness, because the times, while consistent with each other, don't agree with the coroner's time of death. Holmes has to do all the investigating on his own practically. Sadly TruthInTelevision, which is why the Ripper was never caught in real life.

* ShownTheirWork: In spades! The game shows off many real ripper suspects, and references many others as one offs. The district of Whitechapel is accurately modeled, and the walls contain many real advertisements from the period. References are made to historical events other than Jack's crimes as well, such as a warehouse fire the night of the first murder. Furthermore, Holmes' and Watson's rooms at Baker Street contains many, many references to the original stories.
* SickeningSlaughterhouse: Sherlock comes across a messy slaughter house in his search.

* ArtisticLicenseHistory: In reality, Creator/ArthurConanDoyle only introduced Sherlock Holmes to the world the year before the Jack the Ripper murders took place, and it was not until 3 years after-wards (i.e. in 1891) that the fictional detective was well known to the public, incidentally this was also the year the case was filed away.

* HeManWomanHater/ EffeminateMisogynisticGuy: Tumblety, who really despies women.

* ShownTheirWork: In spades! The game shows off many real ripper suspects, and references many others as one offs. The district of Whitechapel is accurately modeled, and the walls contain many real advertisements from the period. References are made to historical events other than Jack's crimes as well, such as a warehouse fire the night of the first murder. Furthermore, Holmes' and Watson's rooms at Baker Street contains many many references to the original stories.

* WhatTheHellIsThatAccent: Sherlock's young assistant Wiggins. The voice actor seems to understand that he's a Victorian street urchin but be uncertain whether he's supposed from London or New York.

* ContinuityNod: References are made to Sir Bromsby from the Case of the Silver Earring. As the game is set in 1888[[note]]The first Holmes story was published 1887, but was itself set in 1881[[/note]], it also contains nods to future adventures, such as Watson noting how he and Holmes should visit [[ArchEnemy Switzerland]] one day, and the French champagne from a "young admirer", signed Raoul d'Andresy[[note]]A pseudonym of Literature/ArseneLupin, the antagonist of ''Nemesis'', a previous game set in 1895[[/note]].

* TheVoiceless: Except for some panicked breathing and maniacal laughter, [[spoiler:Jacob Levy, a.k.a. Jack the Ripper]] is never heard saying a word in the ending scene. He's only heard to talk once, during [[spoiler:Annine Chapman's murder]].

* StockUnsolvedMysteries: This centers around the Jack the Ripper killings, of course

* MsKitty: A DownplayedTrope example with Bella. She cares for her prostitutes but is a ruthless businesswoman.

* NothingIsScarier: [[spoiler:Holmes's confrontation with Jack the Ripper is surreal and disorienting, and *you don't get to hear a single word of it.*]]

* NothingIsScarief: Holmes's confrontation with Jack the Ripper is surreal and disorienting, and *you don't get to hear a single word of it.*