Dracula: Origin is a new point and click adventure game from developers Frogware Studio.
Since it was published at the end of the 19th Century, Bram Stoker’s Dracula has been the inspiration for countless books, movies, comics, stories and indeed games. Some have been faithful to the original while more have had little in common with the novel beyond a dodgy bloke with pointy teeth and an aversion to French cooking. Dracula: Origin falls somewhere inbetween, with an arch gothic atmosphere and familiar cast of characters: Van Helsing, Jonathan Harker, his fiancé Mina, the bug-eating Renfield and other Dracula staples all putting in an appearance.
Main Protagonist Professor Van Helsing
Professor Abraham Van Helsing is the main protagonist and the game starts with him receiving a letter from Harker (who is currently detained at Castle Dracula) and hotfooting it over to Mina’s house. From there he has to track down Drac’s London lair and, on paying the place a visit, uncovers a nefarious plot revolving around the bloodsucker’s hunt for a book called the Demonomicon of Wliwggi (no, not Luigi) – the recovery of which will unleash a plague of evil spirits on the world, with all the usual downfall of humanity such a thing usually entails. So far, so apocalyptic. The plot deviates further with visits to Egypt and later Transylvania but the game’s storyline is gripping enough in its own right and always at least keeps the original Dracula vision in view.
Dracula: Origin Classic Adventure Game Style
The gameplay follows the usual adventure game point and click mechanics, with a third person view (switching to first person for certain puzzles) and reasonably lush and atmospheric rendered environments. Pressing the space bar will briefly illuminate any item, location or person with whom Van Helsing is able to interact and, while adventure game purists might baulk at such a labour saving device, it’s invaluable to the casual player.
Adventure Game Puzzles
Dracula: Origin is heavy on the puzzles, with some requiring a Mensa-like aptitude to solve. It’s also big on item combination and the usual rule applies: take anything that’s not nailed down. If this involves stealing from the museum you’re a guest at or grabbing an item that no doubt belongs to some impoverished peasant, you can always take solace in the fact that your quest is for the greater good of humanity.
In the final verdict, Dracula: Origin uses both a well-worn theme and style of play. It doesn’t really add anything new to either the horror or adventure game genres but it is a challenging, well-crafted game that ticks all the correct boxes and, coming in at the mid-budget price range (£19.99 in the UK) is well worth a look.
Rating: 7/10
Release date: 6th June 2008
For more new adventure game reviews check Overclocked: A History Of Violence
Paul Travers - Paul Travers is a full-time journalist and writer. He has had work published as far afield as Musikexpress in Germany and Smash Hits ...
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