Dracula: Origin
Preview
He rises again to attempt to raise his love from the dead
by Deis
previewed on PC
He’s Back...
I haven’t checked my facts here, but I’m willing to bet that Dracula is easily in the top five of the fictional horror characters of all time list. Everyone knows who Dracula is. If you haven’t read the original novel, there are a number of summarised versions, films, parodies and plays of the book. And the list of works inspired, in whole or in part by the novel, probably number into the millions by this time. And those based on the character alone number even more. Even those who would not recognise Bram Stoker’s name, let alone be able to name any of his other works - even they know exactly who Count Dracula is. But how will a game based on the character fare?
Frogwares Goes to the Library
It should not be surprising that Frogwares studio, the group behind the popular Sherlock Holmes series for the PC, has gone back to Stoker’s original novel for this work. Those familiar with the aforementioned Sherlock Holmes: the Awakened, which blended Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s work with that of the inimitable H.P Lovecraft, will already be aware of Frogwares literary preferences.
However, some minor liberties have been taken with the original novel. Although many of the basic elements seem similar, and many familiar faces show up, a far more detailed back-story has been attached to the Count, with rippling effects over the rest of the plot. The original was a Gothic horror, and while the game retains this, it also ups the romance factor, with a younger-looking, driven, dark and brooding count.
Alucard Fo Erised Eht
I don’t know whether the developers at Frogwares studio have played the old Playstation Gothic horror Koudelka, prequel to the Shadow Hearts series, but it would not be at all surprising to learn that they had. Since both games focus on the supernatural in Victorian times, similarities are to be expected, but the most notable is that of a document which can bring the dead back to life.
Once an ardent Christian, it seems Dracula lost his faith in god when his only love married someone else, and eventually committed suicide. In despair, he began engaging in darker and darker practices, finally reaching the point where he imbibed the blood of one of the victims of these satanic masses - essentially, selling his soul to the devil, in order to become the immortal blood-sucker we all know and love. Dracula is cursed and immortal, sentenced to stalk the night, drink blood and be alone forever.
