Sean Tonks writes:
''Adventure gaming has been on life support for some time now. And this is a sad fact for me to admit, since some of my most fond memories are of guiding unwitting heroes through a global chase to "get the bad guy", solving puzzles around each corner, and meticulously exploring each room for any piece of evidence to the overall mystery. Adventure games are just that, a great mystery. They all have a story to tell, and they thrive on being able to suck players into their world. But gaming has evolved, where the old point-and-click games of item-hunting and mystery-solving have not.
With the majority of gaming audiences now needing explosions, gun-fire, and full hands-on play with their gaming experiences, it is great to see a developer willing to attempt to revive our beloved genre. Frogware Studio's recent release of Dracula: Origin is a great start in bringing adventure-based mysteries back to our modern circle of gaming.
You play as Dracula's archrival, Professor Van Helsing. The game begins as Van Helsing is investigating a flood of murders around London. But soon you find your friend is being held by Dracula, and his wife has been bitten. Not only this, but Dracula is after the ancient "Demonomicon" the secret that could cause Armageddon.''
Hardcore Gamer: The games offered up in the pay what you want tier include Department 42: The Mystery of the Nine, Journey to the Center of the Earth, Journey: The Heart of Gaia, Dracula: Origin, and Dracula: Love Kills.
PC Games published an overview of quest mods for Dragon Age: Origins. The list includes four already released download modifications and one mod which is currently in development (a project called "Icewind Dale").
Bioware released 12 new screenshots, showcasing combat in various forms.
