Metascore
70

Mixed or average reviews - based on 31 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 12 out of 31
  2. Negative: 2 out of 31
Buy Now
Buy on
  1. PC Gamer UK
    49
    Dark, moody, and full of hate. Your reviewer the day after the diary puzzle. [Aug 2008, p.89]
  2. In many respects, the game feels as though it was rushed out the door several iterations early, before they had a chance to clean up the place-holder artwork and streamline the gameplay.

Awards & Rankings

User Score
6.5

Mixed or average reviews- based on 21 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 8 out of 21
  2. Negative: 4 out of 21
  1. Jun 17, 2013
    7
    It is by far not the best adventure game, but it has that charming limitation of relatively old games I personally like. You must read allIt is by far not the best adventure game, but it has that charming limitation of relatively old games I personally like. You must read all documents you find, for many times the answer is in them. I actually like that, and the texts are not long nor too many so reading them isn't boring at all. You can talk just to a few people and just about certain things, but most of them would be the ones you would have asked for, so you don't get that 'hey, I want to know about this other thing!' feeling. In the game you keep taking items from the scenario, not knowing really why you can take those and not others until you actually need them. I think it would make much more sense if it didn't allow you to take anything until you knew that you need it. In any case, that's a general issue of many adventure games, not only this one. Also, as in most adventure games, you'll have to combine the items in your inventory many times to discover others, which is a good feature. The game is not hard, but if you have trouble spoting items, by simply pressing the space bar you can see what you can do in an scenario, which is quite useful in a specific part of the game. As I said, the game is not very hard, for most cases when an item is needed the game shows where (a hand icon appears when you put your mouse over the spot) and (by clicking on it) Helsing says 'I need something more', so you only need to figure out which item could fit the place. However some puzzles simply stand there and you have to solve them with no previous explanation of what you should do. I found this really cool, for it feels more like the real thing, but you may find some of them a little more challenging, which I particularly liked. As to the graphics of the scenarios and characters, I didn't expected much, and maybe due to that the game looked really good to me. There are even some cutsceenes that, although short, make the game more enjoyable. The only problem about them were the low volume they had, but I just raised the volume whenever one of them started and that's it. As to the sound, I found the music very appropriate, not standing out but just giving the game a bit of its mystery atmosphere. And I actually liked the spanish voice of Helsing, although sometimes the emotions were a bit exaggerated. As to the duration, it took me just 9 hours to complete it, so it isn't very long, but in these days it's easy to find it in offers for 2€ or less, so if you aren't very demanding and like puzzle-adventure games it is worth a try. Graphics: 7.5. Sound: 7.0. Gameplay: 7.5. Duration: 6.0. Price(without offers): 6.5. Replayability: No. Final Mark: 6.9 Full Review »
  2. Marz
    Jan 5, 2009
    4
    Must say I was a bit disappointed by this one. I was expecting a Gabrial Knight-type mystery/adventure, and got a myst-like puzzle solvingMust say I was a bit disappointed by this one. I was expecting a Gabrial Knight-type mystery/adventure, and got a myst-like puzzle solving game instead. The puzzles are simple and good, but sometimes infuriating. The atmosphere didn't really immerse me in the game, and van Helsing's voice annoyed me. I was expecting more cutscenes to advance the story, instead the plot mostly advances through stilted interactions in in-game graphics, and via diary entries and newspaper clippings. If I wanted to read the story... I would've bought the book! :) I guess I've been out of the adventure game genre too long? Saved from a lower score due to the pretty graphics and music. Full Review »
  3. Nov 2, 2013
    8
    Although I can understand some criticism about this game (which certainly is not perfect, and it cannot be considered a classic) I do notAlthough I can understand some criticism about this game (which certainly is not perfect, and it cannot be considered a classic) I do not understand some ratings... some very negative.

    I must say, despite the general graphics (not up-to-date, not for the 2008) and some enigmas (a bit 'too difficult sometimes), the interesting setting, the very complete and mature plot, the sense of growing tension, and some small "gems" that I do not reveal (spoiler), made ​​me really appreciate this game.

    Overall, it is a perfect 7-rating-game, but considering the length and the care given to the plot, I will go for an 8.
    Full Review »