Neroli's Opinion: Vampire Saga: Pandora's Box is a spooky hidden object adventure game that's similar in feel to Mystery Case Files: Return to Ravenhearst. The objects are clear, the game play is just the right level of challenge, and the story is dark with plenty of twists.

Game Genre: Hidden Object, Adventure

Release Date: September 28, 2009

Platform/OS: Windows XP/Vista

Screenshot:

Game Review:

Vampire Saga: Pandora's Box starts in the 1950s, when Tyler gets a very disturbing phone call from his Grandfather. Gramps tells him he fears he's killed a woman, and that he may be going mad. Obviously distressed, Tyler rushes to his aid, only to find the house has been wrecked and signs of a violent struggle.

The story is very well written, and genuinely entertaining. I was in suspense from the first scene, wanting to know what would happen next. Before I started playing, my first thought was, “Oh no, here we go again.” Don't get me wrong – I love a good vampire story – but there have been a lot of them recently. Vampire Saga Pandora's Box has proved me wrong, though. It's one of the better vampire games I've played so far, which is really saying something!

This game is strongly reminiscent of Mystery Case Files: Return to Ravenhearst. The graphics, the game play mechanics, and the overall spookiness are definitely in the same style, which is a great thing considering how popular Ravenhearst is. Like in Ravenhearst, you play through both hidden object scenes, inventory puzzles, and logical minigames. Sections of each scene glitter when you can click for further HOG scenes.

The graphics are gorgeous! Items look exactly like they should, and everything is original and seamlessly blended. The difficulty level is just right, being challenging but not impossible. There's no timer, and the hints are rechargeable. If you make too many random clicks, you lose control of the mouse for a couple seconds as it spins around, but otherwise there's no penalty.

It's not perfect, of course. Occasionally, items are labeled in an unusual way, like “pry bar” for crowbar.  Also, I did sometimes spot an ambiguity, like when I was asked to find a shovel, but a small garden spade was not accepted because the game wanted a large shovel. Another time, I clicked on a bunch of bottles before finding the one the game wanted. Ditto for finding brushes in multiple scenes. This is a pain, but not a deal breaker. Also, you do visit the same locations multiple times, which can turn off some players.

In addition to hidden objects, there are also inventory puzzles, and logical minigames. For example, when you notice the door to your grandfather's home is locked, you must find a rock to break the window, flip on the lights inside, locate a safety pin, and pick the lock by twisting it around. You also need to do things like use a screwdriver to remove screws, reconnect wires in a fuse box, use a wrench to tighten bolts, etc. These generally make sense, but if you get stuck, you can check out a walkthrough on BFG blog. It really helps

Vampire Saga: Pandora's Box went by very quickly, and didn't take as long to beat as some other adventures. It's definitely shorter than Ravenhearst. What's neat though is that the game is non-linear, so there's more than one way to win. The ending is a real scary shocker, too, so be prepared!

Where to get the game, or play the free demo:

DOWNLOAD TRIAL

Big Fish: $6.99

Disclaimer: Casual game companies change their prices like most people change socks! Always check before you buy.