It's not often that vampires return to a host for a second bite. The meal in question is usually either dead or using its newfound fangs to suck something else's blood in turn.
The second helping of Chillingo's bloody adventure is nothing more than a second serving of the slow adventure gameplay of the introductory episode.
While the plot has moved forward a bit, the story of Father Arno Moriani is no more the engaging to play in Dracula: The Path of the Dragon - Part 2.
Tapping the same vein
The game continues as what can only be described as a 360-degree point-and-click adventure. Using a finger, you navigate a series of connected screens in the first-person. It's a darker, seedier Myst in which you interact with objects and chat to characters using contextual icons.
The visuals are just as stark as in the original, filling play with the eerie feeling that something horrible is about to happen.
But such moments are especially rare. On the whole, Dracula: The Path of the Dragon is a slow adventure with literally reams of dialogue to sift through – dialogue that's neither concise nor especially gripping.
Anaemic actingThe actors do little to lift the script, which could do with having a knife taken to it in parts. If there's one element that pulls you away from the experience, it's the writing and voice acting. (Isn't that two elements? - ed).
However, while Dracula: The Path of the Dragon is a league or two below Hollywood, it would be unfair to claim it doesn't come with a certain charm. The second chapter has a heavy focus on patience, exploration, and a plot that feeds its juice in slow drops, rather than a full on gush.
But it's unlikely to win you over if you haven't already completed the first chapter, and it's questionable whether Dracula: The Path of the Dragon – Part 2 will satisfy even if you're familiar with the introduction.
Without a better script and more engaging adventuring, it's hard to recommend this second serving.