Great game -- but some caveats
I agree with other reviews -- there's a lot to love about this game...if you can live with the clunky stuff.
The mechanics are very similar to Sherlock Holmes Chapter One. It has the same 'Mind Palace' detection mechanic as SH Chapter One. And you'll visit various places, such as police, hospital, and newspaper achives to research clues.
Just like SH Chapter One, the 'open world' element is hit and miss. To begin with, it's not simple to get around and there's not much hand-holding. It does get easier as you get used to it and unlock fast travel points.
The combat is marginally better than Chapter One, but not by much. Combat does serve a real purpose here, but it's hard to understand why it's so badly done given that it's a Unreal engine game. If the shooting/melee had been even half decent it could have massively elevated this game.
So why 4 stars? Well, it's a good, detailed story, with some difficult choices. It's hugely atmospheric. The main characters and NPCs are interesting and and the voice acting is terrific. Despite the flaws, I couldn't wait to get back playing it. Like most Frogware games, it has its own unique feel, which is very different from many bland AAA experiences.
I hope they make a Sinking City 2 one day, with much improved combat. That would be a 5 star game.
7 gamers found this review helpful