This game is a blast from the past, and somehow it's still fabulous. But let's get real; there are a few things you'll have to swallow with a pinch of salt to truly savor this vintage masterpiece: 1. Gag-worthy graphics: Honey, if you think these visuals were the crème de la crème of 1995, you must be dreaming! Even back in the day, players had to squint through the pixelated mess. But hey, at least the devs tried to push the envelope, bless their hearts. It's like the first Resident Evil; ambitious, but not quite as pretty as it could be. 2. Clumsy controls: Oof! I had to deduct a star for the utterly tragic controls. It's like trying to ice-skate in high heels while running from point A to point B. Imagine the original Resident Evil controls, but now add hand-to-hand combat to the mix. Talk about a hot mess! You might get used to it, but it'll still be a thorn in your side. Now, if you can look past those two tiny imperfections, you're in for an absolute treat! This game is like a delicious cake with a rich, complex, and sometimes creepy story filling. It's all about discovering who you are and why you're in this peculiar predicament. The plot may seem simple at first, but it'll soon have you tangled in its web of intrigue. Forget about achievements, loot boxes, or frag counters, darling. This game is like an interactive graphic novel served with a side of puzzles, fights, and time challenges. It's the perfect blend of Sci-Fi and Mystery, and it'll have you coming back for more. So, indulge in this quirky classic, and let it take you on a wild ride!
So after all these years the graphics of course look like garbage, but still the game manages to keep you excited long enough to finish it, even though it's not exactly short. Let me walk you through this: Players who played this game at the time when it was first published spent more time finding bug fixes, than actually playing the game - we still played it. The first version had no saving outside the hideout, so players spent a considerable amount of time running back and forth, just for saving - we still played it. When the players died - and the players died often - they reawakened at the hideoud, not seldomly quite far from where they died, having to run all the way back to that boss they were fighting - only to die again - we still played it. The dungeons were partly so messed up, that players got stuck and couldn't break lose without losing a considerable amount of playtime since their last save. Also after finishing a dungeon, you usually have to walk back through all its' levels to get back to the overworld - WE STILL PLAYED IT! So the fact that so many people played it from start to finish often times more than just once, despite the myriads of frustrating flaws it had, ought to tell you how good a game this is. Surely today the graphics look like garbage alright, but in turn you don't have to cope with all the bugs and best of all: you can save anywhere anytime. It's a vampire story, but not one for the little girls. instead it's very coherent and deals with a lot of ethical and moral aspects of being something like a vamipire with all the potential consequences in a relatively adult manner. So while it doesn't always take itself too seriously it's made in a believable fashion, which definitely makes it an enjoyable RPG even with the outdated graphics.
Comparing this game to the classics like Secret, Revenge, and Curse is like comparing a toddler's scribbles to a masterpiece. Sure, it's solid compared to the forgettable Escape and Tales, but that's not exactly a high bar to clear, is it? - Classic controls: It's point and click like in the old times. Interactions have been simplified, similar to Curse, but no complicated mechanics like in Tales & Escape, so definitely a plus. - Atmosphere: While it captures some of the magic of the old games occasionally, those moments are few and far between. - Puzzles: They're an insult to the intelligence of anyone who played 1-3. It feels like it's dumbed down for the modern-day player. If you're used to hard puzzles, you can just point and click your way through the game like a mindless zombie. - Graphics: The cel-shading-collage-billboard-comic type of look is about as appealing as a root canal, but I got used to it fairly quickly, so while it's not exactly pretty, it's still way better than the 3D garbage we got in Escape and Tales, so I would say 'not great, not terrible'. - Story: The story is a complete disaster, from start to finish. If you're looking for coherence, closure, or even just a basic understanding of what's going on, then you're out of luck. The ending is so nonsensical that you'll be left wondering if Gilbert was on drugs when he came up with it. I mean, sure, Monkey Island games aren't exactly known for their realism or logical storytelling, but come on, at least give us something that we can follow. Otherwise, you'll be left scratching your head and wondering why you bothered playing this game in the first place. I guess the joke's on us for expecting anything remotely coherent. So all in all a mediocre game, not too bad, but certainly not on par with the old titles. Expect a smirk here and there, but don't prepare for mind-boggling puzzles or intelligent laughs, or else you'll be disappointed as a vegan at a steakhouse.
