Note: An awesome friend gifted me a copy of this game. ^^
[h1]Bureaucracy at work :o[/h1]
[h2]Introduction[/h2]
[i]Incredible Dracula: License to Relax[/i] is a time management game developed by Game Mixer and published by Alawar Casual. It is the 12th game in the [i]Incredible Dracula[/i] series. (Yup, it's incredible that there are that many games. :o) You take on the role of Count Dracula, and this time, he's at the reading of his late uncle's will, and it turns out that his uncle has named Dracula as his successor to his hotel, Dark Dreams. However, once Dracula and his wife learn that bringing the hotel back to its former glory is going to require cutting a lot of red tape and that refusal of the inheritance isn't an option, the couple get to work. They have quite the challenge, but with the help of their loyal zombie butler, Rufus, as well as their many friends they've made along the series, they can overcome any obstacle. XD
As for the gameplay, you can choose from among the usual three difficulty levels: relaxed, normal, or expert. (For review purposes, I chose to play on normal mode.) In the main game, there are 50 levels, with an additional 15 levels in the bonus section that are unlocked afterwards. In each level, you have the usual tasks, ranging from fighting ghosts to getting permits. You'll need to construct production buildings, such as for food and wood, in order to complete these tasks as well as to destroy any roadblocks. Depending on how quickly you complete all the tasks, you can earn up to 3 stars per level. (Of course, in relaxed mode, you can take all the time you want.) Since this is a collector's edition, there's the usual added content, such as a guide, wallpapers, and so forth. Also, Steam achievements are present, and they count towards a user's global total.
[h2]Review[/h2]
I've been following and played every [i]Incredible Dracula[/i] game since [i]Chasing Love[/i], and they've all been enjoyable. It probably goes without saying that I wanted to get around to playing this latest installment, and thanks to a wonderful friend, I had the chance to do so and share my thoughts. ^^
The story is very fun as always. I like the concept of Dracula inheriting a hotel with its share of issues. Who ever thought that one day, Dracula would become a hotel owner? lol Anyway, the story narrates the problems with getting the hotel up and running, mainly in that lots of government permits are required. This explains why Dracula's late uncle couldn't keep up with its maintenance. However, Dracula is up to the task, and he has his wife, Elizabeth, as well as his loyal butler, Rufus, and all his friends to help out. Also, this might be a bit of a spoiler, but I like that in a small part of the game, there's a reference to the previous game, [i]Academy of Shadows[/i]. Of course, we can all probably guess the results of Dracula's efforts, and in the bonus levels, there's a new story about a pirate and his cursed treasure, which is quite fun to look into.
As for the gameplay, the levels are pretty doable to complete and earn three stars. I didn't encounter any technical issues although I would like to address a bit of an issue with the in-game guide. Even though the guide is accurate with most of the levels, I found that for a few of them, especially in the bonus levels, it's way off. This was a bit frustrating for me although looking at things on a positive note, I had to come up with my own strategies for earning 3 stars. Still, it wouldn't hurt for the developers to test these guides in the future to ensure complete accuracy. All the achievements unlocked for me, and you have to play all of the levels except for the final bonus one in order to get them all. For the supernatural person achievement (earning 3 stars on all levels), you only need to do so for the main story.
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3501717022
In regards to the art, it keeps that cartoony, colorful style that has become a familiar look in these games. Since most of the characters are the same as in previous games, their sprites look the same. Backgrounds are pretty much the same as in previous games, too, although I don't personally find it boring since I focus more on the gameplay. XD I like that there are the usual, still cutscenes in between a few levels to progress the story along.
With the music, the tracks are the same as in previous games. It can be a bit boring for those who want a new track or two, but the current music present works. The tracks fit well with the game's theme and are a great accompaniment to the fun gameplay.
[h2]Conclusion[/h2]
Would I recommend [i]Incredible Dracula: License to Relax[/i]? If you are a time management fan, especially enjoy games in the [i]Incredible Dracula[/i] series, and/or are looking for obtainable, countable Steam achievements, then it's worth taking a look. It's worth the asking price, as it took me over 16 hours to 100% complete the game. (Well, it probably would have taken less time if I hadn't run into a few troublesome levels. :o) I hope that the developers will take my feedback into account, especially in regards to the guide.
[quote]For more detailed, fully complete, high quality reviews like this, please follow [url=https://store.steampowered.com/curator/44702020/]The Introverted Gamer[/url], prioritizing heart and soul always. ^^[/quote]
