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Nosferatu was the first-ever film based on Count Dracula and his blood-curdling habit of turning people into "vampyres" (sic). It was inevitable that someone would turn it into a computer game, and now we're going to get two in quick succession - CRL's Dracula is also due out soon. But will they turn your hair white and make you hide behind the sofa in terror?

The game comes in three parts that take you through the whole gory story. You start in a house containing Nosferatu. You have to escape from it with the deeds. Then you have to control three characters to lure Nosferatu to the home of Lucy, to whom he is specially drawn. Then the final act: Lucy has to keep Nosferatu at bay in her room until the dawn destroys him.

The screens are isometric 3D and show the distinctive characteristics of the programmers, Design Design. Houses and streets are beautifully drawn with lots of detail and atmosphere. In the house you control only one character, Jonathan Harker, and have to fight off dangers like spiders, bats and dogs who all sap your energy. They can be repelled with various weapons. Eating food will replenish energy.

You can pick up several objects to help you in your task, but there aren't any complicated puzzles, it's just a matter of searching for things. If you escape without the house deeds it makes the next part harder, but you can carry on without them.

The second part allows you to wander the town and its buildings where you find the inhabitants and plague rats. You control Harker, Lucy and Van Helsing as they try to kill off people turned to vampyres and plague rats, and lure Nosferatu back to Lucy's house. This is the final act where Lucy has to kill him - not an easy task.

The graphics are excellent and there are nice features like chopping up chairs with an axe to make Stakes with which to impale vampyres. The gameplay won't tax you that much but it does present an entertaining challenge; the second part in particular won't be easy to beat.

Nosferatu is very similar to Nexor in that it is impossible to tell whether or not there is a wall at certain edges. This means every corner of a room must be checked for possible exits tedious. The character you control has difficulty in walking it would seem: the arms tend to flap around ready for take-off, while the legs seem to have a joint only at the hip. Apart from those complaints and the fact that on occasions it was impossible to see anything on the screen (yes, I know it was supposed to be dark, but there is a limit). I have no major criticisms. The game is rather fun, with the usual rush around all the rooms in search of objects.

Complete part one.

Where did Drac go?

P. Great 3D graphics - atmosphere and detail.
P. Three parts take some beating.
P. Entertaining tasks like staking people.

N. Not enough puzzles.
N. Not always an indication of when you can walk off the edge of a room.