221b is a two-player online game immersing you into the world of Sherlock Holmes and Dr.John Watson and which takes you through the events leading up to the very first scene of the new Sherlock Holmes film.

You can play with a friend, one as Holmes, one as Watson, or you can even play alone if you like, taking on the role of both characters. Just as in the stories, you and your friend will investigate crimes, sift through evidence and solve mysteries. You’ll also have to stake your reputation as detectives on your deductions. Get them right and you’ll soon be the envy of Scotland Yard.

A  flash-based games came to my attention when I googled a new browser game. More often than not, 221B is designed to promote movies but this one caught my eye as a gamer and a Holmes fan as being something a bit different. The game is designed to be played in the 8 weeks leading up to the release of the Sherlock Holmes movie and features a prologue followed by 8 chapters. So you can see this isn’t just some 30 seconds and its done flash game, this is what some might term an ARG (alternate reality game). I’m fond of these types of game as they’ve often been used to promote the TV series LOST in a way which is both fun and expands the mythology of the series. This isn’t quite the same but it will allow players to deduce their way through events which finish where the movie begins.

The game is a combination of clue finding, trail following and examining evidence in order to make a deduction. In the prologue it is your job as Holmes or Watson to discover who was the inside person in a robbery of the British museum. The game is designed to be played by two people, connected via Facebook, one taking the role of Holmes and the other Watson, or you can play on your own by doing the work of both characters. As I said this isn’t some ordinary flash game and the quality of the graphics is very high. Action sequences such as the one in the prologue consist of moving your character around in a top-down view using the arrow keys to follow the trail of the robbers. Once you find their hideout you can then explore it for clues in a sort of point-and-click style.

Sherlock Holmes the movie will be released in the UK on Boxing Day. It stars Robert Downey Junior as Holmes, Jude Law as Watson and is directed by Guy Ritchie, so don’t go expecting a Holmes movie which is accurate to the book, but judging by the trailer it looks like a lot of fun. To play 221b head over to the official site, the only requirement is you have a Facebook account, friends aren’t even necessary (but they could help, as would a good pipe and a penchant for taking cocaine).

In “221B,” players team up as Holmes and Watson, who together will chase villains, interact with other characters from the movie, explore locations and make deductions as they journey through eight chapters of intrigue and mystery, concluding in a segue into the start of the movie. Played online, free of charge to all, the rich audio-visual experience brings alive the 1890s London of Guy Ritchie’s film by blending cutting-edge technology, exquisite design and a world of unique content, drawn from exclusive access granted to the cast, crew and locations during the making of the movie itself. It will also allow fans a special preview look into the world of “Sherlock Holmes” prior to its worldwide in-cinema debut.

Sue Kroll, President, Warner Bros. Pictures Worldwide Marketing, said: “Due to the iconic stature of Sherlock Holmes across the globe, we wanted to offer moviegoers the opportunity to enter Holmes’ world. In addition to seeing the movie’s trailers and other content, fans can actually interact as one of the main characters and test the same skills that Holmes and Watson need in the movie, using the most stunning new technology available.”

“221B,” named after Sherlock Holmes’ famous house on Baker St, London, uses Facebook integration to allow players to share their successes with their network of friends as they progress through the game, and includes a series of firsts. These include an innovative natural language processing system which allows players to interrogate suspects by putting their own questions to characters in the game, and interactive crime scenes created using 3D Photosynth visualizations, where players can zoom in to see the smallest of details and find crucial hidden pieces of evidence. Action-loving players will also be able to chase thugs, pick locks and follow trails in a range of Flash mini-challenges designed to test their dexterity and puzzle-solving skills.

About the movie

In a dynamic new portrayal of Conan Doyle’s famous characters, “Sherlock Holmes” sends Holmes and his stalwart partner Watson on their latest challenge. Revealing fighting skills as lethal as his legendary intellect, Holmes will battle as never before to bring down a new nemesis and unravel a deadly plot that could destroy the country. Robert Downey Jr. brings the legendary detective to life as he has never been portrayed before. Jude Law stars as Holmes’ trusted colleague, Watson, a doctor and war veteran who is a formidable ally for Sherlock Holmes. Rachel McAdams stars as Irene Adler, the only woman ever to have bested Holmes and who has maintained a tempestuous relationship with the detective. Mark Strong stars as their mysterious new adversary, Blackwood. Kelly Reilly plays Watson’s love interest, Mary.

Warner Bros. Pictures presents, in association with Village Roadshow Pictures, a Silver Pictures Production, in association with Wigram Productions, a Guy Ritchie Film, Sherlock Holmes. With a screenplay by Michael Robert Johnson and Anthony Peckham and Simon Kinberg, screen story by Lionel Wigram and Michael Robert Johnson, the film is directed by Guy Ritchie and produced by Joel Silver, Lionel Wigram, Susan Downey and Dan Lin. Michael Tadross and Bruce Berman serve as executive producers.

Sherlock Holmes will be distributed worldwide by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company, and in select territories by Village Roadshow Pictures.