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Sherlock Holmes: The Mystery of the Mummy isn't really a mystery at all when you think about it. With a new Sherlock Holmes movie right around the corner, companies are scrambling to grab anything featuring the Scotland Yard sleuth that's cheap and will provide a quick buck.

So while many gamers may think they're in store for a brand new adventure, what's really lurking in the shadows is a DS port of a PC game which is far past it's prime.

Gameplay::So before you walk into the store, see this game and think you're about to control Robert Downey Jr., know that this point and click adventure doesn't have anything to do with the new movie. You will however get the opportunity to solve the murder of legendary (not real) explorer Lord Montcalfe. It's just as exciting as it sounds. You'll start off by looking for clues around the explorer's mansion. As you search the Victorian manor for a lead to Metcalfe's death, the plot of the game will begin to unfold before you.

You'll notice that navigating through the game's environments is made easy by using the Dual Screen's stylus. You'll use the stylus to maneuver through areas, but just as you do in most point and click adventure titles, you'll be tapping all over the screen to make sure you've “investigated” all areas to the best of your ability. Truth be told, the game really boils down to nothing more than navigating from one area to the next so that you can then click around the screen trying to find the next clue.

And while The Mystery of the Mummy seems like it could be exciting for a point and click adventure, nothing ever really pans out. You'll get stuck trying to find “secret” documents. And once you do, you're left feeling unimpressed and more like you've wasted your time then had fun. It's even more disappointing when you think about the fact that this is supposed to be the most exciting detective in (fictional) history. The lack of a map on the screen, or even a compass, leaves you directing the most famous sleuth around like a lost dog with no urgency. The developers obviously thought that they would be able to pull us back into the story with mini cut-scenes. But sadly, these little videos serve as just another distraction and thus an annoyance more than anything.

Extras::The only real positive of the game is the save system which is pretty simple and gives you the opportunity to ensure Sherlock's survival through to the end. The biggest problem with this is that the end comes pretty soon. Well, depending on who you are, that can be a bad thing. Since playing this game was one of my hardest tasks this week, the short time it took to beat it was a blessing.

Overall:: The fact that this game has even made it to market shows that there is still room for point and click games. But if you really like clicking around the screen to find clues and then solve puzzles, I'd suggest dusting of your old copy of Professor Layton. If you asked Sherlock the age group who might find this game entertaining, he'd simply reply “Elementary kids my dear Watson.” And then I'd chuckle at my own horrible closing. Find something else to play.

Score:: 3.0/10