Incredible Dracula II: The Last Call (Collector’s Edition)

Incredible Dracula II: The Last Call finds the notorious count settling into family life when a mysterious epidemic strikes the land – people are falling under a strange spell delivered through their cell phones! Players guide Dracula on a madcap quest to find the scoundrel behind this dastardly deed, rebuilding ransacked villages, collecting resources for challenging tasks, and overcoming obstacles before time runs out. The Collector’s Edition includes 15 bonus levels, a strategy guide, desktop wallpapers, downloadable soundtrack, collectible stickers, concept art, and spooky recipes.

Incredible Dracula II: The Last Call (Collector’s Edition): Review

Introduction

In the vast and often predictable landscape of casual time-management games, a title emerges not with a gothic snarl, but with a mischievous chuckle. Incredible Dracula II: The Last Call (Collector’s Edition), developed by New Bridge Games and published by Buka Entertainment in 2017, represents a peculiar and charming niche within the genre. It is a game that dares to ask: what if history’s most infamous vampire settled down, only to be driven back to work by a modern technological nuisance? This review posits that while the game operates firmly within the established mechanics of its genre, its true genius lies in its whimsical narrative premise, its commitment to a cohesive and family-friendly horror-comedy aesthetic, and the sheer value proposition of its Collector’s Edition content. It is a title that deserves recognition not for revolutionizing gameplay, but for perfecting a specific, delightful tone within a well-worn framework.

Development History & Context

Incredible Dracula II: The Last Call was born from the collaborative efforts of New Bridge Games and the publishing powerhouse Alawar Entertainment, a studio renowned for its extensive catalog of casual and hidden object games. The development team, led by Vadim Simonov (who also served as programmer), was a compact unit of 21 contributors, including designers Svetlana Simonova and Bogdan Gonchar, and Art Director Inessa Gonchar.

This game was released into a specific and highly competitive ecosystem: the digital download market for casual PC games, dominated by platforms like Steam and Big Fish Games. By 2017, this market was saturated with time-management and “tycoon”-style games, often with fantasy or historical themes. The technological constraints were not those of pushing graphical boundaries, but of ensuring accessibility and smooth performance on a wide range of lower-spec home computers. The vision for Incredible Dracula II was clearly not to compete with AAA titles but to provide a polished, engaging, and humorous experience for a dedicated audience familiar with the conventions of the genre. It stands as a sequel building upon the established “Incredible Dracula” universe, a series that itself was part of Alawar’s strategy to create recognizable, character-driven franchises within the casual space.

Narrative & Thematic Deep Dive

The narrative of The Last Call is its most immediate hook, a brilliant blend of classic horror tropes and contemporary satire. The plot finds Count Dracula attempting to embrace a quieter life as a “family man,” a premise ripe with comedic potential. This domestic tranquility is shattered by a bizarre epidemic: masses of people are being zombified through a spell delivered via their cell phones. This central conflict is a masterstroke of relatable modern anxiety, cleverly repackaged with a supernatural twist.

Dracula, portrayed not as a fearsome predator but as a put-upon aristocrat forced back into action, becomes a reluctant hero. His quest to find the “scoundrel behind this dastardly deed” drives the narrative across dozens of levels. The dialogue and tone, as evidenced by the official description’s use of words like “madcap,” “dastardly,” and “ghoulishly good,” point toward a lighthearted, family-friendly horror-comedy. It evokes the spirit of shows like The Addams Family or Scooby-Doo, where the macabre is a source of charm rather than terror. The underlying theme is one of an ancient world clashing with, and ultimately adapting to, modern technology—a timeless story told through the unlikely lens of a time-management game.

Gameplay Mechanics & Systems

At its core, Incredible Dracula II: The Last Call is a classic time-management/resource management game. The gameplay loop is familiar to genre veterans: players must rebuild ransacked villages by efficiently collecting resources (likely wood, stone, gold, etc.), assigning workers to tasks, and completing specific objectives before a timer runs out or patience is exhausted.

The perspective is diagonal-down, offering a clear view of the playing field, and the interface is entirely point-and-select, ensuring accessibility. The “real-time” pacing means players must think quickly, prioritize tasks, and chain actions together efficiently to succeed. The strategic depth comes from managing these resources under pressure and utilizing acquired bonuses to overcome particularly challenging obstacles.

The Collector’s Edition expands this core gameplay significantly with 15 all-new levels, offering extended playtime and additional challenges. The inclusion of a step-by-step strategy guide is a thoughtful addition for a genre where players can often hit difficult walls, ensuring a smoother experience for all skill levels. The gameplay may not be innovative, but it represents a refined and polished execution of a proven formula.

World-Building, Art & Sound

The game’s world-building is directly tied to its narrative and visual presentation. The setting is a gothic-via-cartoon Eastern European landscape, with villages that are ransacked but never truly grim, maintaining the family-friendly atmosphere. The art direction, led by Inessa Gonchar and executed by 2D artists like Maxim Naboka and Oksana Anastasieva, likely employs a bright, colorful, and slightly spooky palette. Characters are probably designed to be expressive and comical rather than frightening, with Dracula himself being more dapper and exasperated than horrifying.

The sound design, helmed by composer and sound engineer Maxim Ermolaev, would presumably feature a playful, slightly haunting orchestral or synth score that complements the light horror mood. The inclusion of a voiceover by Duffy P. Weaver suggests character barks and story segments are fully voiced, adding a layer of production value and personality that elevates the experience beyond mere silence. The bonus downloadable soundtrack in the Collector’s Edition confirms the value placed on this audio identity. These elements combine to create a cohesive and charming atmosphere that is the game’s primary allure.

Reception & Legacy

Unfortunately, the documented critical reception for Incredible Dracula II: The Last Call is notably absent from available sources; no critic reviews are archived, and no player reviews have been submitted. This is not uncommon for titles in the casual game sphere, which often thrive on direct digital sales and word-of-mouth within their niche community rather than on widespread critical acclaim.

Its legacy, therefore, must be measured within its specific context. The game is a solid entry in a long-running series that includes titles like Incredible Dracula: Chasing Love and Incredible Dracula IV: Games of Gods. It represents the continued viability of character-driven casual franchises in the late 2010s. Furthermore, its thematic choice—satirizing society’s addiction to technology—proves the genre’s ability to engage with modern ideas, however lightly. Its legacy is one of preservation: it is a well-made example of a specific type of game from a specific era in digital distribution, a title that brought a smile to its players and offered a robust package of content through its Collector’s Edition.

Conclusion

Incredible Dracula II: The Last Call (Collector’s Edition) is a fascinating artifact of the casual game era. It does not seek to redefine its genre but instead focuses on executing a proven formula with exceptional charm, narrative creativity, and value. Its greatest strength is its witty premise, successfully blending gothic lore with modern satire, all wrapped in a polished, family-friendly package. The Collector’s Edition, bursting with extra levels, art, music, and even recipes, stands as a testament to the developers’ commitment to delivering a substantial experience.

While it may not have garnered the critical discourse of landmark titles, its place in video game history is secure as a premium example of a niche genre. It is a game that understands its audience and delivers exactly what it promises: hours of engaging, lighthearted strategy and a wonderfully silly story. For fans of time-management games or anyone seeking a dose of humorous gothic charm, Dracula’s call is one worth answering.