It seems that you're using an outdated browser. Some things may not work as they should (or don't work at all).
We suggest you upgrade newer and better browser like: Chrome, Firefox, Internet Explorer or Opera

×
Community
General discussion (archive)Release: Dracula 4: Shadow of the Dragon(41 posts)(41 posts)
(41 posts)
Pages:
1
2
3
This is my favourite topic
Posted July 09, 2013
The dark heritage of blood.

Dracula 4: Shadow of the Dragon, a contemporary tale of mystery and terror delivered in the form of an intriguing and immersive point-and-click adventure game, is available on GOG.com for only $19.99. Special offer: a copy of the preceding Dracula Trilogy comes free with every purchase!

In the ominous reaches of the Carpathian mountains a ruthless voivod ruled from the height of his throne red with blood of his enemies. Whoever met him in battle would call him a demon, or a devil. His subjects had a different name for him, though, in their tongue. They called him Dracul, the Dragon. The legend has it, that this fierce warrior renounced God and become cursed to roam the Earth forever, restless, hungry for innocent blood, and doomed never to see the light of day again. But the curse came with power growing with every century of roaming the darkness. Thus, Dracul became the embodiment of evil and darkness itself, the one that fills our hearts with fear whenever the light goes out. The Vampire, the immortal enemy of man, that hunts in the night up to this day. So the legend says. There is at least a grain of truth to every legend.

Dracula 4: Shadow of the Dragon takes the vampire lore into the modern setting. We follow Ellen Cross, a young art restorer, on her journey across Europe. In her way she's confronted with mysterious and terrifying events that will make her question everything us humans assume to know about the world. Secret societies, dark rituals, and powerful demons stand in her path. Will you dare to follow her blood-chilling story, in this atmospheric point-and-click adventure?

Immerse yourself in the twisted, dark, and dangerous world of the vampire mythos and challenge the Dark Lord of Carpathia himself! Get Dracula 4: Shadow of the Dragon for only $19.99, and receive Dracula Trilogy for free, to enjoy the complete saga. Don't miss out!
Posted July 09, 2013
avatar
N0x0ss: I'm talking about the fact that they're trying to hide the EXORBITANT price of the 4th installment by offering the 1st 3 for free.

snip

I think the 4th installment should be sold at 9.99, and they're trying to justify the insane price by gifting the 3 prequels or other games or whatever....
Yep, I'm right with You on that, only that the justification... kinda works for me ;) (in light of the availability and pricing of the games elsewhere).
But when the bundle promo ends... not seeing Dracula 4 climbing too high in the sales charts at that price (but hey, wouldn't be the first time I disagree with an AGs review, so I'll reserve judgment until I actually play it... not holding my breath though).

What I really don't appreciate on Microids' side though, is that if this was indeed supposed to be an episodic release, and they were planning it as such, it should be evident either from the title or their description or something. As it is now, they're labeling it as a full-blown, standalone adventure, which it apparently is not and is leaving a bad taste in the ol' mouth (but maybe I'm misinformed on this).
Post edited July 09, 2013 by MoP
Posted July 09, 2013
From what I've read, Dracula 4 does feel like an episodic game rather than full blown stand alone game. From that alone the price does seem quite steep.
Posted July 09, 2013
Is the new one actually episodic or just short? I see people saying episodes and whatnot but it just seems to be a short game.

Anyway... played the original and thought it was crap. I hear 3 is good, I'll get the trilogy pack someday to play 3. Thanks GOG.
Posted July 09, 2013
Why is the (2 of 24 people found this helpful) review appearing above the (23 of 25 people found this helpful) review.

Also GOG should not just parrot what a publisher tells them and allow the publisher to post lies on their store page.

The description contains no less than 2 lies, that I am aware of.
avatar
StingingVelvet: Is the new one actually episodic or just short? I see people saying episodes and whatnot but it just seems to be a short game.

Anyway... played the original and thought it was crap. I hear 3 is good, I'll get the trilogy pack someday to play 3. Thanks GOG.
No, it is absolutely, 100%, no discussion needed, an episodic adventure.
Post edited July 09, 2013 by wisnoskij
Posted July 09, 2013
avatar
MoP: Take a look how much You'd have to pay at full price on or [url=http://eu-adventureshop.gamesplanet.com]TAS for the original trology alone (not saying it's not too expensive, especially in light of the apparent quality of the latest one, but still; I'm also not sure if the whole series is sold anywhere else, maybe I'm just not seeing the good places).
Yes it is pretty expensive on both those sites. But on GOG, or on Amazon (new physical disk) you can get the whole trilogy for $10.
avatar
GOG.com: Secret societies, dark rituals, and powerful demons stand in her path.
False.

Neither Secret societies or dark rituals are even mentioned in this game.
And while Dracula is mentioned, he never stands in your path.
Post edited July 09, 2013 by wisnoskij
Posted July 09, 2013
So, the promo thing makes it $10 instead of $20. Oookayokayokay. Now, is it worth $10.

Can we have some blue clarification on the "episodic" thing, please ? If I remember well, all other chapter-long episodic adventure games (telltale's, that is) have been sold as full story packages...




(Also... "Ellen Cross" ? Seriously ? Does she team up with Joe Garlic at some point ?)
Post edited July 09, 2013 by Telika
Posted July 09, 2013
avatar
MoP: Take a look how much You'd have to pay at full price on or [url=http://eu-adventureshop.gamesplanet.com]TAS for the original trology alone (not saying it's not too expensive, especially in light of the apparent quality of the latest one, but still; I'm also not sure if the whole series is sold anywhere else, maybe I'm just not seeing the good places).
avatar
wisnoskij: Yes it is pretty expensive on both those sites. But on GOG, or on Amazon (new physical disk) you can get the whole trilogy for $10.
Yep, I've been eying that box-set, here I was only talking about a digital backup though (was kinda jumping around this and the Trilogy release threads, and didn't make it clear enough in here).
Posted July 09, 2013
avatar
G-Doc: Nope. Not there either :-) As soon as you add Dracula 4 to your cart, you'll be able to add the Trilogy as well, with a $0.00 price tag. This can also be accomplished after buying Dracula 4. If you have it in your collection, your price for the Trilogy becomes $0.00 and it will remain so until the promo ends (Sunday, 9:59AM GMT).

I know we haven't been entirely consistent with our method of delivery for the free bonus games, recently, but technical reasons dictate so at this time.
What if, let's say... one have both games, then choose to add the trilogy to the cart, one more time.... it'll be free again? :)
Post edited July 09, 2013 by Stooner
Posted July 09, 2013
avatar
StingingVelvet: Is the new one actually episodic or just short? I see people saying episodes and whatnot but it just seems to be a short game.
I've found no hint that it's an "episodic game"; from what I've read it's short and the story is to be continued in the next installment coming soon, but I guess that will be Dracula 5, not Dracula 4, Episode 2. Of course, depending on your definition, there might be little difference between these options; I assume it's as 'episodic' as Syberia and Still Life, but not like e.g. The Walking Dead or Sam & Max Season One.
Posted July 09, 2013
avatar
StingingVelvet: Is the new one actually episodic or just short? I see people saying episodes and whatnot but it just seems to be a short game.
avatar
Leroux: I've found no hint that it's an "episodic game"; from what I've read it's short and the story is to be continued in the next installment coming soon, but I guess that will be Dracula 5, not Dracula 4, Episode 2. Of course, depending on your definition, there might be little difference between these options; I assume it's as 'episodic' as Syberia and Still Life, but not like e.g. The Walking Dead or Sam & Max Season One.
Well there's http://www.adventuregamers.com/articles/view/24869 :

"All in all, The Shadow of the Dragon’s shortcomings would be far more forgivable if this had been clearly marketed as "Episode 1". The game ends on an abrupt cliffhanger after Ellen makes a discovery regarding the painting she’s been hunting that, whilst surprising, offers no closure to the events so far. By naming it Dracula 4, Microïds have taken a three-hour prelude and made the purchasing public think it’s a complete adventure game. In fact, your only reward for completing this game is a teaser for Dracula 5; there isn’t even a closing cinematic.

Even with this foreknowledge, my advice to fans of the franchise is to wait before buying. As the first episode of an ongoing series, presumably both the story and challenge level will be ramped up in future instalments (assuming they're ever made), but for now all that's offered is a short, rather drab and lifeless casual adventure to reboot the Dracula brand, and much like the good vamp’s tipple of choice, on its own is only destined to leave a bad taste in the mouth."

Kinda ouch.
Posted July 09, 2013
avatar
StingingVelvet: Is the new one actually episodic or just short? I see people saying episodes and whatnot but it just seems to be a short game.
avatar
Leroux: I've found no hint that it's an "episodic game"; from what I've read it's short and the story is to be continued in the next installment coming soon, but I guess that will be Dracula 5, not Dracula 4, Episode 2. Of course, depending on your definition, there might be little difference between these options; I assume it's as 'episodic' as Syberia and Still Life, but not like e.g. The Walking Dead or Sam & Max Season One.
If you played it you would.
A single game in a series is still a full game, if it contains a full story and has a introduction, middle, and end. Even if it is only 10 minutes long.
And sometimes it is hard to differentiate. Half-Life 2, part 1, could be called Half-Life 3, or Half-Life 2: Kill more things. It very well might stand as a whole game.

But Dracula 4 is not a whole game, any more that the first 30 minutes of Batman 3 is a whole movie.
Posted July 09, 2013
avatar
wisnoskij: A single game in a series is still a full game, if it contains a full story and has a introduction, middle, and end. Even if it is only 10 minutes long.
I meant to say that there are other games that don't give their story the conclusion you'd expect and instead end on a cliffhanger, story to be continued in the sequel, and they're not officially considered episodic games, even though you could argue they are. But you're right that there's a thin line and each case has to be judged individually.

From your previous post it wasn't 100% clear whether you had actually played through Dracula 4 yourself, but it sounds like you did? In that case, of course, your experience is a lot more reliable than my guesswork. :)
Posted July 09, 2013
avatar
Leroux: From your previous post it wasn't 100% clear whether you had actually played through Dracula 4 yourself, but it sounds like you did? In that case, of course, your experience is a lot more reliable than my guesswork. :)
The day after it was released. So like half a month ago.
Post edited July 09, 2013 by wisnoskij
Posted July 09, 2013
avatar
Leroux: I've found no hint that it's an "episodic game"; from what I've read it's short and the story is to be continued in the next installment coming soon, but I guess that will be Dracula 5, not Dracula 4, Episode 2. Of course, depending on your definition, there might be little difference between these options; I assume it's as 'episodic' as Syberia and Still Life, but not like e.g. The Walking Dead or Sam & Max Season One.
avatar
Telika: Well there's http://www.adventuregamers.com/articles/view/24869 :

"All in all, The Shadow of the Dragon’s shortcomings would be far more forgivable if this had been clearly marketed as "Episode 1". The game ends on an abrupt cliffhanger after Ellen makes a discovery regarding the painting she’s been hunting that, whilst surprising, offers no closure to the events so far. By naming it Dracula 4, Microïds have taken a three-hour prelude and made the purchasing public think it’s a complete adventure game. In fact, your only reward for completing this game is a teaser for Dracula 5; there isn’t even a closing cinematic.

Even with this foreknowledge, my advice to fans of the franchise is to wait before buying. As the first episode of an ongoing series, presumably both the story and challenge level will be ramped up in future instalments (assuming they're ever made), but for now all that's offered is a short, rather drab and lifeless casual adventure to reboot the Dracula brand, and much like the good vamp’s tipple of choice, on its own is only destined to leave a bad taste in the mouth."

Kinda ouch.
Thanks for the link.

After reading the amazon reviews I wasn't sure wether to buy this game or not, especially with the added bonus of the Dracula Triology.

I'll settle on just buying the triology later.
Post edited July 09, 2013 by Ichwillnichtmehr
Posted July 09, 2013
avatar
G-Doc:
Is the pre-order for RotT the same way?

I'll have to flutter around for a few days and see what people say about Drak4.
Pages:
1
2
3
This is my favourite topic
Community
General discussion (archive)Release: Dracula 4: Shadow of the Dragon(41 posts)(41 posts)
(41 posts)