So it's October, that most magical of months, where a young gamer's thoughts turn to vampires and murder, hidden objects and point-and-clicks. No use denying it, we have statistics here that most certainly were not made up. Vampire Saga: Pandora's Box fulfills all of the above requirements, as it starts off a new series. You receive a frantic phone call late one night from your grandfather, panicked, ranting about a woman... a woman he says he shot. But that's crazy! He'd never actually hurt anyone... would he? You'll soon discover that the past has come back to haunt your family, and will find yourself investigating a strange ship at sea. Where has the crew of the Pandora gone? And more importantly, what's in those crates?
You'll explore the game by navigating with your mouse. A magnifying glass icon when you move it over an area means you can click for a closer look, and a winking light means you can interact with something. Move the cursor towards the bottom of the screen to bring up your inventory, and you can click on an item, then on a place on the screen to use it. Most importantly, you'll be watching for areas that shine with a strange, rippling purple light; clicking on one of those will activate a hidden-object search.
For the most part, the hidden object scenes are done well. Something of a relief, since you'll be seeing most of them more than once. Items blend in well, though not unfairly, and there were only one instance of what felt like a case of "lost in translation", where a "dolly" turning out to be a pile of rolled up towels. If you say so, Vampire Saga. Then again, this is the late eighteenth century, so one can always assume children back then were forced to make do with whatever was available. Don't imagine Mattel was around then.
If you're looking for a brain teaser, Pandora's Box probably isn't for you, since most of the puzzles are simply based around using items in the right places. And, happily, they're pretty logical, if some are made a little more complicated than they need necessarily be. If you're stuck, you can click on the hint button in the lower right when the time has refilled, and your inventory will glow to show you which item you should be using.
Fortunately, most of the game is lovely to look at. A lot of effort has gone into painting the often gloomy environs, from the way dust motes dance in a beam of light, to the shadows cast by a flickering light. It's an odd blend of hand-drawn art and computer rendered visuals, but for the most part it works. Well, all except for the people, who make you wish they'd gone with more of the actual art instead of stiff-looking rendered models with thousand-yard stares.
Analysis: Okay, so vampires don't exactly strike terror into anyone's heart anymore. You can point a lot of fingers to assign blame, but whatever the source the fact remains that these days vampires are more typically revered as icons of tragic romance than, oh, say, monstrous creatures of the night more interested in blood and fear than poetry. As it happens, Vampire Saga: Pandora's Box winds up sort of straddling the middle ground, decidedly more Bram Stoker than Anne Rice, although admittedly a little more ham-handed in the execution of dialogue than either.
For the first half of the game, that story is told at a decent pace through your grandfather's memories. In the beginning, the game does a very good job at establishing atmosphere, both with moody visuals and, in particular, audio; the sound of distant footsteps, the soft creaking of a ship, faint whispers you can't... quite... make out. There are some genuinely eerie scenes, and it goes to great lengths to foster a sense of dread as you investigate your surroundings.
So it's a bit unfortunate that the latter half of Pandora's Box feels like it's been padded for length by too much back-and-forth. Why should you have to hunt down six individual bullets instead of simply finding a handful of them in a single scene? Sure it would have been "easier", but it also would have been less tedious. It breaks up the narrative when all you want to do is find out what happens next.
While hidden-object enthusiasts may find it a little short, around the four-to-five hour mark, Vampire Saga: Pandora's Box sets the stage for an interesting new series judging by the cliff hanger it ends on. If vampires are sacred ground and serious business to you, Pandora's Box may not be your cuppa. But for those of us who know the bloodthirsty undead are best enjoyed with a big heaping helping of cheese, Pandora's Box is an easy but enjoyable game to help kickstart the holiday season. Who needs pumpkins and black cats to feel festive when you've got fangs and murder at sea?
Windows:
Download the demo
Get the full version
Mac OS X:
Not available.
Try Boot Camp or Parallels or CrossOver Games.
Walkthrough Guide
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Vampire Saga: Pandora's Box Walkthrough
Walkthrough
Notes about the Game
You can click the hint button if you are having difficulty with the hidden objects. After a few minutes the timer will refresh and another hint will be available.
Some the the objects in the scenes are described poorly. For example, there is a dolly which refers to rolls of towers. Sometimes pans refers to pots. Cabbage refers to broccoli. A spoon can refer to either a conventional spoon or a honey dipper.
Getting in Grandfather's House
Outside the house, examine the sparking area to the right of the front door. You will receive a stone.
Zoom in on the front door of the house and notice the light switch behind the window to the left. Use the stone from your inventory on the window. Now you can flip the switch to turn on a light and examine more areas.
Zoom in on the door again and this time examine the mat on the ground. Click the right top corner to expose and pick up a pin.
Use the pin to pick the lock of the front door. Just click four times to open the lock.
Before you enter the house, notice a new sparkling hidden object scene is available to the left of the door. Find pliers.
Use the pliers to cut the chain holding the door.
Enter Grandfather's House
Examine the china cabinet on the right. Click the object in the bottom right to reveal the bullets.
Enter the bathroom. Click the cabinet above the sink to reveal a hidden object scene. Get the electrical tape in the scene.
Return to porch. Click on electrical box to left. Place the electrical tape on the exposed wires to repair the circuit. This allows you to turn on the light in the hallway.
While you are outside, complete the hidden object scene on the left to receive a wrench.
Return to the bathroom and grab the ladder on the right wall. Then do the hidden object scene in the cabinet to get pills.
Reviving Grandfather
Use the ladder to repair the stairs. Now you can access the living room upstairs. Try talking to grandfather - you need pills and a glass of water to revive him.
Pick up the gun on the sofa to the right. Take out the empty shells from the barrel. Then use the cartridges in your inventory to load the gun. It will go into your inventory.
Examine the cabinet on the left. Notice it needs a key. Pick up the glass on the table.
Return to the hallway and flip the switch on the left to turn on the chandelier. Use the gun on the light fixture and pick up the fallen handle on the floor.
Go into the bathroom and notice the dripping sink. Use the handle on the water valve under the sink and a little to the left. Click the handle. Then use the wrench on the pipes to repair the sink.
Click the handle again to reactivate the water. Now you can use the glass on the sink to fill it with water.
Return to your grandfather and give him the pills, then the water.
Escape the Cargo Hold
You now play your grandfather on a ship.
Pick up the matches on the left on a crate. Light the lamp in the upper right using the matches.
Complete the hidden object scene to get the cane.
Use the cane to knock over the jar of oil on top of the crate. Now the crate moves exposing the stairs. Pick up the prybar on the stairs.
Click on the crate to zoom in and use the prybar on the top left to remove the screws, then again to remove the planks.
Grab the rag inside the crate to the left of the sarcophagus. Zoom back out and find the barrel of water on the left of the cargo hold. Use the rag in the water.
Zoom in on the crate containing a car on the left. Use the prybar to take all the screws out and until the car is fully exposed. Look under the hood of the car to find a wrench.
While looking at the car, notice the dusty window above. Zoom in, and use the wet rag to clean the glass. Use the wrench to break the window and get the ax.
Use the ax on the blocked opening above the stairs three times to gain access to the deck.
Fix the Compressor
Zoom in on the red gas tank in front of the compressor. Use the wrench on the knob to unscrew it. You'll need a funnel to put in fuel.
Go up to the bow by clicking up. Complete the hidden object scene to get a key.
Return to the main deck and lower the rolled up stairs on the right edge of the ship. You can now access the side of the ship, but you can't dive until you get scuba gear.
From the main deck, click down to go to the stern of the ship. Do the hidden object scene to get a screwdriver.
Use the ax on the double red doors until they are completely destroyed. You gain access to the corridor.
Open the left door to enter the captain's cabin. After the cutscene, complete the hidden object scene to get the pencil.
Click the globe on the right, then the screen behind it to expose the cabinet. Open the cabinet and pick up the scuba gear. We'll return for the safe in a moment.
Click the chest on the left near the window. Use the prybar to open it, and get the gas can from inside.
Click on the edge of the carpet in front of the chair. After you zoom in, click on the corner of the carpet to reveal the journal. Click on the journal. Use the pencil from your inventory three times to reveal the code to the safe: 4679
Return to safe in the cabinet. Click on safe and then enter in the code: 4679. Pick up the fuse. Read the letter. Notice the gun. It needs silver bullets.
Return to Cargo Hold. In hidden object scene, get funnel.
Return to Compressor.
Click out then click on the gas tank. Place funnel from inventory into the opening. Then, use fuel can from inventory to fill tank. Click out to view of entire compressor. Place Scuba (aka. Scuba Gear) on the right of compressor.
Click on Compressor buttons. Use screwdriver on each of the four screws to open panel. Place Fuse (aka. Protector) in to complete circuit. Click on green button to start compressor.
Dive and Open the Captain's Desk
Go to the side of the ship and then click the water to scuba dive down. Click down once more until you see the captain. Click the captain to zoom and take the ring on his finger and the key hanging down.
Notice the large rock - we need to move it.
Return to the ship and go to the stern for another hidden object scene. Get the hook (crook).
Go the captain's quarters and do the hidden object scene to get a key.
This key opens the lock on the chain on the door to the hold. Use the key on the lock and click the hold three times to gain access.
Place the hook (crook) on the winch above the hold door.
Return to the cargo hold and move the crate containing the sarcophagus back by clicking it. Then complete the hidden object scene on the left to get a rope.
Go to the captain's cabin and do the hidden object scene and get the bullet.
Click on small window on right. The bird prevents you from going down to boat.
Do hidden object scene in Main Cabin to get knife.
Use knife from inventory on fabric to left of stairs to get Tarp.
In Galley, do hidden object scene to get fish. Return to the small window on the right in the Captain's Cabin and give the fish to the bird. Descend to the ship and take the skull key.
Return to Captain's Cabin. Use ring on lock of desk to open. This triggers a puzzle. The object is to hit the panels in the correct order. When you hit the correct button, it darkens. Whenever you hi the wrong one, it resets. Solution:
Upper right, bottom left, bottom right, upper left.
Inside Desk read the journal. Pick up Oil Can and Glue Bottle.
Load the Gun and Discover Laura
Return to Stern Deck. Oil winch twice. Zoom out of close-up view and turn handle. Go down to Cargo Hold. Use the cane from your inventory on the rope hanging from the crate.
Go back to the Stern Deck and turn the crank to lift the crate. Afterwards, complete the hidden object scene to obtain another bullet.
Patch hole in boat located in the Main Galley with Glue, then Tarpauline. Pick up boat by clicking on the boat twice.
Go the the Bow and Galley and do the hidden object scenes for Bullets.
Go underwater and use the rope on the large rock on the left which is holding down the anchor. Then place the boat on the rock.
Return to Cargo Hold and Main Cabin and do hidden object scenes to find bullets.
Take all six bullets to the gun in the safe in the Captain's Cabin. Take gun. Behind gun is the forth Skull Key. Pick up Skull Key.
Put skull Keys in the door to the Second Cargo Hold behind the crate in Cargo Hold. Do puzzle.
Go to main cabin and do hidden object scene. Get bottle of rum.
Go to Galley, do hidden object scene and get peppers.
Make Peppered Rum. Open bottom door of stove. Pick up wood. put wood in stove. light wood with matches. pick up teapot to the right. put the teapot on the stove. pour in rum and add peppers to teapot. take teapot. click on mug. click teapot from inventory and pour into mug. pick up mug. Take to Woman in second Cargo Hold for a cutscene.
Return to Second Cargo Hold. Pick up Air Tank in the closet which was behind Laura.
Go to the bottom of the sea and use the Air Tank to inflate the inflatable boat. This releases the anchor from under the rock.
Return to the Deck and click the mechanism near the stairs which pulls up the anchor. This triggers a cutscene.
Find the Music Box for Grandfather
Talk to your grandfather. He will tell you to get a music box in the bathroom.
Go outside to the porch and do the hidden object scene to get a screwdriver.
Go into the bathroom and examine the vent above the shower. Use the screwdriver on all four screws holding in the grate. Examine the music box.
Go back to the living room and talk to Grandfather to ask about the missing roller in the music box. He doesn't remember where it is, but wants the window open. Click the curtain behind him, then examine the window.
Return to the bathroom and complete the hidden object scene to get a hammer.
Go upstairs and hit the window latch with the hammer twice, then zoom back out to open the window.
Click on plate on the wall of living room to the left of Grandfather. Pick up Bureau Key taped to the back of plate. Click on Bureau on the left. Use Bureau Key on lock. Pick up Roller. Notice unloaded gun.
Return to Music Box in bathroom and insert Roller. Click on button on the right to start music box puzzle. The object of the puzzle is to select the note in each row that matches the ones on top. Start with the first note and match it to the corresponding symbol in the bottom row, then the 2nd on the next row up, etc. After five notes, click the button on the right and you will get another set of five. Do this three times.
When Puzzle is completed, Music Box opens. Pick up Bullet (cartridge) and Pendant Part. Return to Living Room.
Go to Bureau drawer. Load Bullet into the gun. Click the center of the gun chamber to close the gun. Click the gun again to pick it up. Take it to Grandfather for a cutscene.
Defeat a Monster
Laura wants an apple. Go down to Galley. Get apple from hidden object scene. Bring apple back to Laura to trigger a cutscene.
Complete hidden object scene in Captain's Cabin to obtain telescope.
Go up to Bow of Ship. Use telescope to look at Island. Go down to cargo hold.
There is a monster down there. Use the revolver to shoot it. The gun will be shaking, try to click to shoot when the target is on the monster. After several shots, it will approach you and run away.
Go check on Laura in the Captain's cabin. Look in the journal to see that you should take the scepter and place it in the small boat.
Return to the cargo hold and take the scepter on the floor near the right crate.
Go to the boat outside the Captain's cabin window and place the scepter on the corpse. Return to the cabin, then back out the window. Use the knife on the rope tying the boat to the ship to cut loose the monster.
Reach the Shipwreck
Click the anchor chain from the main deck to drop the anchor. Click the side of the ship and go underwater. There is a set of stairs to the island that needs repair.
From the underwater scene, go up clicking the arrow that says "to the ship's cargo hold". In this area, click the chain hanging down from the damaged ship and drag it to the metal door on the ground.
Go up hitting the arrow that says "skeleton". Do the hidden object scene for a hack (pickaxe).
Return to the underwater stairs scene and use the pickaxe on the ocean floor to reveal the ladder. Place it on the stairs. Examine the stairs to discover you need bolts to fasten them.
Go back up to the skeleton and do the hidden object scene to find a bolt.
Return to your boat and find the other three bolts in hidden object scenes at the bow, stern, and main cabin. Then use the wrench to tighten the bolts. You can now ascend the stairs to the shipwreck.
Explore the Shipwreck
Examine the boarded up area on the left. Use the prybar on the boards until the skeleton is visible. This is the other side of the cargo hold containing the skeleton.
Examine the engine in the water. Zoom in on the engine again and use the oil on it.
Zoom out and continue up the passage until you reach the steamboat. Complete the hidden object scene to get belt. Examine the man in the ocean, the chest, the balloon, and the broken balloon burner.
Go back underwater and up to the damaged cargo hold. Take the chain and click the pulley on the ceiling to fasten it, then the opening behind the skeleton.
Return to the shipwreck up the stairs and click the chain sticking out between the boards, attach it to the pulley, and then to the engine propeller. Now pull the red starter on the engine. It should prompt you to go see if the door lifted.
Go back to the underwater scene approaching the cargo hold and notice the latch door has been pulled up. Take the burner part now exposed.
Go up to the shipwreck and see that the boat has been pulled up - take the boat hook on the boat.
Return to the steamboat and use the boat hook on the man in the water. He is alive but unconscious - you need smelling salts. Return to your ship and go to the main cabin. Get the sal ammoniac from the hidden object scene.
After talking to Elias, return to Pandora. Go to the Captain's cabin and examine the white bed behind the desk. Zoom in and you'll see the other half of the pendant. Use your half of the pendant on the half in the bed to trigger a cutscene.
Enter the Bedroom
After the cutscene, move the furniture blocking the bedroom on the left - first the chair on top, then the shelves.
Enter the bedroom. Do the hidden object scene to get bolts. Examine the rightmost mirror on the vanity. Use the bolts on the hinge, then the screwdriver to tighten them.
Zoom out and click the rightmost mirror again to access the lamp. Examine the lamp. Unplug the lamp from the wall. Then zoom in again for the top view. We need something to help take out the broken bulb.
Go downstairs to the bathroom and complete the hidden object scene to receive a light bulb. Then go out to the porch for another scene where you receive a glove.
Return to the bedroom. Zoom in on the lamp and use the glove to remove the broken bulb. Replace it with the new light bulb in your inventory. Then zoom out and plug the lamp into the socket.
Examine the girl on the bed, and the pendant around her neck. Use the pendant half in your inventory on the one the girl is wearing.
Return to the living room to talk to Grandfather.
Assemble the Hot-Air Balloon
Back on Pandora, return to Elias at the steamboat. Do the hidden object scene to get the torn paper. Then a puzzle to assemble the manual will begin. Simply put the puzzle pieces together to complete the instructions.
Now drag the instructions onto the pile of broken burner parts. Drag the parts onto the burner in the order numbered on the instructions.
After assembling those parts, take the burner piece from your inventory and drag it onto the nearly completed burner. Then put the burner on top of the balloon.
Blow up Pandora
Go to the skeleton and do another hidden object scene to get a hacksaw.
Return to the steamboat by Elias for another scene and get the lighter.
Zoom in on the chest and use the hacksaw on the lock. Open it to see explosives.
Return to the main cabin of the Pandora to get another piece of tarp. Use the knife on the tarp to pick it up.
Go to the chest at the steamboat with the tarp to pick up the explosives.
Go to the second cargo hold on the Pandora. Place the explosives under the crate right inside the door. Then use the lighter to blow up the ship.
After the cutscene, click the hot air balloon to depart. Click the sandbags around the basket to lift off.
The End
Back at the house, after talking to Grandfather go into the bedroom and do the scene to get a flask of holy water. Zoom in on the girl and pour it on her to trigger a cutscene.
Go into the living room to check on Grandfather. Zoom in to examine the locket.
List of item locations:
Stone -
Outside grandfather's house, 1st time.
Pin -
Outside grandfather's house, under front door mat.
Pliers -
Outside grandfather's house, 2nd time
Cartridges -
Hallway, grandfather's house
Electrical tape -
Bathroom cabinet, grandfather's house, 1st time.
Wrench -
Outside grandfather's house, 3rd time
Pills -
Bathroom cabinet, grandfather's house, 2nd time.
Gun -
Living room, grandfather's house.
Glass -
Living room, grandfather's house, table.
Handle -
Hallway, grandfather's house (falls from chandelier)
Matches -
Cargo hold
Cane -
Cargo hold, hidden object 1st time.
Prybar -
cargo hold, on stairs
Rag -
cargo hold, inside right crate
Wrench -
cargo hold, inside left crate
Ax -
cargo hold, window behind car
Skull Key -
Bow of ship, 1st time
Screwdriver -
Stern of ship, 1st time.
Pencil -
Captain's Cabin, 1st time.
Gas Can -
Chest under window in Captain's Cabin
Fuse -
Safe in cabinet in Captain's Cabin
Funnel -
Cargo hold, hidden object 2nd time.
Knife -
Hidden object scene in Main Cabin
Tarpaulin -
Cut from cloth in Main Cabin
Fish -
1st hidden object find in Galley
Ring -
Underwater (side of ship) on captain
Skull Key -
Underwater (side of ship) on captain
Hook (Crook) -
Stern, 2nd time
Key -
Captain's cabin, 2nd time
Rope -
Cargo hold, hidden object 3rd time.
Bullet -
Captain's cabin, 3rd time.
Skull Key -
Captain's cabin outside window in small boat.
Oil -
Inside Captain's Desk
Glue -
Inside Captain's Desk
Bullet -
Stern deck, 3rd time.
Bullet -
Bow, 2nd time.
Bullet -
Galley, 2nd time
Bullet -
Cargo Hold, 4th time
Bullet -
Main Cabin, 4th time
Skull Key -
Safe in Captain's Cabin
Bottle O' Rum -
Main Cabin, 5th time
Peppers -
Galley 3rd time
Air Tank (Air Balloon)-
closet in Second Cargo Hold
Screwdriver -
Porch outside grandfather's house, 4th time
Hammer -
Bathroom grandfathers house, 3rd time
Bureau Key -
Behind plate on wall of Living Room
Pendant Part 2 -
Inside Music Box
Bullet (Grandfather's Gun) -
Inside Music Box
Apple for Laura -
Galley hidden object 4th time
Scepter -
Cargo hold, on floor to the right
Pickaxe (hack) -
skeleton scene, damaged boat.
Ladder -
ocean floor, under rocks (use pickaxe).
Bolt -
skeleton scene, damaged boat, 2nd time
Bolt -
Bow, 3rd time
Bolt -
Stern, 4th time
Bolt -
Main cabin, 5th time
Belt -
steamboat
Burner -
Outside the skeleton scene on the damaged boat, underwater (under door)
Boat-hook -
Shipwreck, on boat after lifting out of water.
Sal Ammoniac (smelling salts) -
Main Cabin, 6th time.
Bolts -
bedroom, grandfather's house.
Light bulb -
bathroom, grandfather's house.
Glove -
Porch outside grandfather's house.
Burner manual -
steamboat
Hacksaw -
Main cabin
Lighter -
steamboat.
Flask of holy water -
bedroom, grandfather's house
Special thanks to Eileen for this awesome walkthrough :D \o/
Posted by: Kero
|
October 5, 2009 12:59 PM