Previewed: May 13, 2008
Previewed by: Jason Flick

Publisher
The Adventure Company

Developer
Frogwares Studios

Release Date: May, 2008
Genre: Adventure
Players: 1

Screenshots (Click Image for Gallery)
Have you ever wondered what it would be like to travel along side Van Helsing on the elusive trail of Dracula, the famed bloodsucker himself? If you’re the adventurous type like me, then the answer to my question is surely “Yes.” Well you wait will soon be over with the release of Dracula: Origin for PC. The developers at Frogwares return with what looks like a very creepy adventure having just finished their work on the last two Sherlock Holmes tiles, especially Sherlock Holmes: The Awakened. We’ll find out just creepy in this preview of Dracula: Origin

Features:

  • An unrelenting pursuit of one of the most terrifying figures from fantasy literature.
  • Confrontation between two antithetical heroes: Van Helsing, the restrained scientist and spiritual hero, and the young and high-spirited Dracula, whose inhumanity matches his malevolence.
  • Superb graphics, combining 2D environments and 3D characters.
  • A deep storyline, focusing on Van Helsing's quest to kill the king of all vampires, and Dracula's quest to find the manuscript to raise the dead.
  • Interact with over 40 characters. Combine and use over 150 objects associated with the vampire-themed storyline (stake, statue, garlic, mirror, etc.).
  • A romantic, bloody and violent Gothic ambiance which is true to the original world created by Bram Stoker, providing total immersion into the adventure.
  • A progressive Help System leads players to the solution with increasingly accurate hints.
I was surprised to see that Frogwares took a step backwards in their approach in Dracula: Origin considering the recent success of the fully 3D Sherlock Holmes titles. However taking a step backwards sometimes is a good thing, a very gothic and bloody good thing. Dracula: Origin goes back to the tried and true, third-person, point and click style that most of us adventure fans love more than anything else.

During this adventure you play as the famed scientist and vampire slayer, Van Helsing, in race to stop a younger high-spirited Dracula from supposedly raising the dead. As this was a preview I didn’t get to delve into the actual story line much, but what I have seen so far is very impressive.

I have a lot of good things to say about the short time I had to traverse through two locations in London. I got to see the inside of a very exquisitely detailed 19th century parlor and a creepy yet serene cemetery. Dracula: Origin is done completely in 2D so the level of detail and graphics is much higher, as should be expected of a Frogwares title.

One of the things that immediately or in some cases not so immediately, caught my eye were the several clever puzzles hidden throughout the areas that I had access to. I started out my adventure in the parlor of the beautiful Mina Harker. After a brief exchange of word, Mina leaves you alone to investigate clues on the whereabouts of the evil Dracula. At first I didn’t have the slightest idea where to begin, but after a bit of trial and error I figured out the puzzle in this room which was very cleverly designed.

After that was whisked off to an old cemetery to seek further information regarding the various murders that have plagued London. I will not go into too much detail about this area, but all I can say is that that was the most elaborate way I’ve ever seen to open a door in my life. I was fairly impressed with the levels in this area, and I can only imagine what the finished product will have in store for us.

Visually, Dracula: Origin is quite possibly the most gorgeous adventure title I’ve seen to date. From the get go I was presented with a very creepy looking menu screen. From there, the imagery just got better. The opening cutscene features Van Helsing showing the player the most proven ways to kill a vampire. I was then presented with one of the most beautifully designed, decorated, and detailed rooms I have ever seen in an adventure title. That chandelier literally looked like it was popping off my computer screen. I also noticed little details like the swaying of Mina’s dress as she moved and the moving shadow she cast due to the light from the window behind her.

The cemetery was also just as appealing to the eye as the parlor was, albeit a little creepier. There was one puzzle that had a”bloody” awesome animation to it upon completing the puzzle. I also really liked many of the statues that littered the cemetery. Everyone was beautifully detailed and aged. I also liked how the grass, bushes and even flowers moved to create a pretty believable wind effect. The character models were also very well done and fairly detailed from what I saw. Unfortunately I didn’t catch any glimpses of the head bloodsucker but I can only imagine that he will look absolutely stunning.

Of what I’ve heard so far of Dracula; Origin, the sounds are brilliantly creepy and the background music is over the top awesome. I was pleasantly surprised to hear that the voice acting is pretty good so far. I can only imagine that the voice acting is only going to get better with the final release. The voice acting while being quite remarkable, takes second place to the dark, gothic, ambience that floats through the air. It hangs there surrounding your senses waiting to lull you in before it sinks its fangs into your unsuspecting mind.

From what I’ve played in this preview of Dracula: Origin, I found it highly enjoyable. This title follows the story by Bram Stoker closer than any Dracula inspired title I’ve seen in my lifetime. If the preview is any indication of the final release, then gamers will be in store for one hell of a bloody ride. I definitely look forward to sinking my fangs into this title when it releases later this month.