Dracula: Origin

 PC
Metascore
70

Mixed or average reviews - based on 31 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 12 out of 31
  2. Mixed: 17 out of 31
  3. Negative: 2 out of 31
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  1. GameWatcher
    72
    It's well presented, incorporates some intriguing puzzles and actually involves a good deal of thinking. It's also repetitive, obtuse, and frustrating with game mechanics that seem a little dated.
  2. AceGamez
    70
    It won't appeal to everyone, but those who like adventure games and vampire mythology should feel right at home here.
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  3. GameSpot
    70
    Spooky atmosphere and a great story save Dracula: Origin from being a formulaic pixel hunt.
  5. PC Gameworld
    70
    Definitely worth playing for adventure fans, or gamers curious for something different.
  6. Worth Playing
    72
    Remarkably short.
  7. Adventure Gamers
    70
    Despite the criticism that prevent it from realizing its potential, this is by no means a bad game and could serve you well if you're looking for something new to try.
  8. Just Adventure
    58
    All in all Dracula Origin is not a bad game, it just seems to fall flat in some areas that are important to AG players.
  9. Gamers.at
    73
    I'm not really happy with Dracula: Origin. At places we get nice old-school gameplay with demanding puzzles. But Origin isn't very extensive, the characters aren't very charming, the story is unspectacular and from time to time the puzzles are extremely hard. Advanced Fans of Adventures will have fun, everybody else will find more accessible alternatives.
  10. Gamers' Temple
    70
    It's not without its share of the frustrating aspects of the adventure game genre, but Dracula: Origin still manages to provide an interesting story and some good gothic atmosphere.
  11. Armchair Empire
    70
    As a light adventure outing, I can recommend Dracula: Origin if only for the puzzle elements because even though the source material is treated with a great of respect and care there's not a lot present to keep the tension up to find out what happens next.
  12. PC Zone UK
    65
    A good puzzler if you're prepared to not only outwit, but second guess the quirks of the development team. [Sept 2008, p.75]
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  13. PC Gamer
    57
    But it seems that developer Frogwares spent more time attending to the genre's flaws than crafting an engaging adventure game. [Sept 2008, p.72]
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  14. Eurogamer
    70
    Personally, it feels a little unbalanced to me. I like adventure games because of the "adventure" aspect, the blend of a compelling story, immersive dialogue and logical deduction. This game favours the last element at the expense of the first two, and therefore left me somewhat unsatisfied.
  15. Total PC Gaming
    70
    Beautifully written and visualised. Adventure fans will be seduced. [Issue#9, p.59]
    All this publication's reviews
  16. Level7.nu
    70
    This is yet another modern adventure game that's competent without offering anything out of the ordinary. The environments provide a great framing for the experience and the vampire hunter Van Helsing isn't difficult to like. There is a great wealth of challenging puzzles, as there should be. If you're a fan of vampires and the puzzle solving adventure genre you should definitely take a closer look.
  17. PC PowerPlay
    60
    Dracula: Origin is an average point-and-click Adventure game with a few cool new features. The Dracula theme is the game’s biggest plus, and starved adventure fans may have fun with it as long as they think outside the square. [Jul 2008, p.56]
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  18. Meristation
    70
    Frogwares invites us to go after the Prince of Darkness, in this interesting and traditional point'n'click adventure, which delivers us impressive and polished backgrounds . However, the quality of the whole game seems to be diminished by its linear plot and also its lack difficulty.

Awards & Rankings

88
#88 Best PC Game of 2008

User Reviews

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User Score
6.5

Mixed or average reviews- based on 21 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 8 out of 21
  2. Mixed: 9 out of 21
  3. Negative: 4 out of 21
  1. skweeze
    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. Corwin86
    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 »
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