Vampire Saga is a hidden object game which over-reaches in its attempt to be a point and click adventure game.
For me VSPB is primarily a hidden object game with individual puzzles linked by a vampire genre mystery point & click adventure. Make sense? Simply, VSPB is more of a hidden object game (HOG) than an adventure. Sure there is a story, but the focus, no pun intended, is on finding hidden objects, much like in Scholastic's I Spy series of educational but fun games. As such VSPB is closer to the I Spy Spooky Mansion HOG than the Dracula: Origin adventure game. So categorisations aside what did your humble reviewer think of this game?
Well overall after having recently played two rather good P&C adventure games and currently immersed in a third, VSPB was disappointing. Partly because the story, while appropriately mysterious, is not very well told. Alas there is no voice acting to supplement the otherwise excellent spooky score and ambient sounds of creaking boards, mysterious footsteps, whispered mutterings and the sounds of the sea. The story is told entirely by "cut scenes" with sub-titles, which at times reveal that English was not the game design team's first language. To call the game progression transitions "cut scenes" is somewhat inappropriate. There is little in the way of 3D animation as the scenes are essentially "manipulated" 2D stills.
The installed size of VSPB is only ~120MB which is tiny for an adventure game these days and this explains the lack of 3D graphics and voice acting. The lack of voice acting and bland (poorly animated and slow) scene transitions really prevented the game from becoming the immersive experience promised by the title and description.
Despite this the game, when viewed as a HOG rather than adventure game, is quite enjoyable and indeed addictive. The HOG screens were quite well presented, although from time to time language issues arose when the intended hidden item did not quite match its text description. For example, lots of tools need to be found but whether you are used to their names in English or American (English) you may end up scratching your head or reaching for your Oxford or Websters. Also the odd spelling mistake creeps in, for example a "dolly" in the text was actually three rolled up towels or napkins (doily?). Some players may be amazed by the variety of brushes in the HOG screens and indeed what is and is not considered a "brush". Fortunately a "hint" function helps find that rare elusive item.
As in adventure games of the point & click variety, there is a deal of walking from area to area. These areas are neatly self-contained so there is no getting lost or indeed much in the way of exploring the Pandora or grandfather Matthew's house. Also like in most adventure games the items found in the HOG screens are used to activate or open various mechanisms, but this is usually a case of finding the right (single) item rather than making an apparatus (out of a number of items). Unlike adventure games there are no particularly challenging puzzles, again its all about completing HOG screens.
The HOG screens themselves seem rather repetitive, often screens are used several times but with different items to be found. Players having seen some HOG screens numerous times means that finding items becomes easier as the game progresses. What becomes quite tedious, especially in the latter stages of the game, is that there is an inordinate amount of going backwards and forwards to find the items required to progress the story. These two aspects, the ease of progression and repetitiveness, conspire in making the impact of the ending somewhat muted.
There are two inter-related stories, one set in the 1950s featuring Tyler Ward and the other in 1898 featuring his grandfather Matthew Ward. The story begins with Tyler going to vist his Grandpa's house after recieving a cryptic message. After solving several HOG screens Grandpa reveals his mysterious story to Tyler. Matthew's story is told retrospectively in a number of extended flashbacks with numerous HOG screens to progress his tale. The link between the two stories is Laura, a passenger on the ship Pandora on which Matthew, promptly rendered unconcious, boards while trying to escape Cuba during the Spanish-American War (1898). We awakes on what has become a blood soaked ghost ship. The narrative switches between the two stories at key junctures especially as the conclusion is approached. Elements of the story are rather predictable for those familiar with the vampire genre, and indeed apart from the strange endings to both stories there were few surprises. You may well be wondering who were or are the vampires in this story.
Overall the game is quite easy ... a casual game, I guess. There are no difficulty settings, no performance statistics to say how well you played, how often you needed to use the hints, etc. The player characters cannot die by any action, inaction or delay in solving the puzzles. So it's more a case of progressing, rather than playing a particular style to get through the game safely or quicker. There is thus little sense of achievement, or indeed much fun, apart from unravelling the story. But wait, there's more ... yes indeed, the closing credits proudly announce: "To be continued". Add solid voice acting and some challenging puzzles to the sequal and then, perhaps, I may be tempted.
As noted the game can ultimately become somewhat addictive, albeit for me it was probably more a case of getting it over and done with. As with most HOG or adventure games there is limited replayability, except that the passage of time may result in a revisit. I Spy Spooky Mansion is more fun and has "three games in one" which unusually for a HOG means it is replayable. Alas it has no vampires ... for those with a thirst or hunger for the creatures of the night, I would recommend Dracula: Origin.
OVERALL: Vampire Saga: Pandora's Box is a good game for the HOG fan looking for a bit extra, however a potential disappointment for the adventure gaming fan. There simply is not enough challenge in the game to immerse the player. Based on my play through I will not be rushing out to buy the strongly hinted at sequal.