It's like an IQ test, only more funnier.
Dracula: Origin was one of the better gaming experiences I've had in a long time. At least in an adventure genre. The story is not so well developed as GameSpot states, it's rather short, but solid. There could've been more branching, possibly several endings, but then there wouldn't be place left for the successor. Game is pretty short, I have finished it in 15 hours, maybe less, so I guess there's not much room for story developing.
The graphics are brilliant, I am impressed by AGEIA physics and what it can do. Although the characters are not using it much, it just comes when it is needed. It gives a pure pleasure watching how 3D models blend with 2D renderings (which are also wonderful).
Graphics: 9/10
The sound is not top-class, but not boring too. The background music is well composed and it fits the location where you currently are. Voice acting is a bit melodramatic, and I personally do not prefer it that way. There's a lack of emotions, and the consecutive lines of text are not too well mixed together. But the overall sound experience is rather good, and it does not affect the gameplay in negative way. Also I have to mention that Mina has rather sexy voice, which of course gives a plus to the voice-acting.
Sound: 8/10
The gameplay itself is similar to the other point-and-click games. You can click on various objects, pick them up, use them, use an item on them or just look at them. The collecting of various objects along the way to lord Dracula's castle is of great importance, and you will not be able to proceed to next section if you haven't found out everything in the current one. That's a good thing, cause you won't have to come someplace and realize you needed to pull that rope 15 screens behind you. The objects you collect are rather strange and there is really no asking how you might have use of a jar of flies or stuff like that but if you can pick up something, then you're surely need it somewhere during the game. You can also mix the objects in your inventory and make the new ones of them. Objects are sometimes blended with background, so they will be hard to find. There is a solution though. You can use space bar to reveal all possible actions that you can do at that time. Some call it cheating, but I wouldn't say that. I would say that playing the game with the space bar would turn out much funnier in the end. Cause the main focus of the game is not really on how patient you are to click every single pixel on each screen, but on the riddles you come across. I recommend using the space bar, it will save you from a lot headache which is definitely not necessary, you'll agree.
So you progress from room to room, from city to city until you get to lord Dracula himself.
Gameplay: 8/10
The riddles are the most glorious thing in this game. I was impressed with them, how cleverly they were made. You have to put all your brains into it, without pencil and paper you're doomed forever! You will stuck at the moments, as the riddles are somewhat hard to solve, but the excitement you encounter when you solve one - it's unmatchable. And don't get on the forums asking how to solve this, how to solve that. I saw a lot of people posting the question at 3 PM, reading answer to it 15 minutes later, and coming back in a half an hour posting another question. How stupid is that?
I have found only one riddle that is, well, I can clearly say, impossible to solve, the others just need thinking So warm up your chair and be prepared for IQ testing that will push your brain to the edges.
Riddles: 10/10
A great game, I would recommend it to everyone who likes thinking and enjoying good story, even if it is a bit short. Great stuff!