Normally, a title that uses “vampyre” as an alternate spelling of “vampire” is a cue to run the hell away because you’re entering cheesy goth territory, my friend. However, A Vampyre Story is a PC game being put together by Autumn Moon Entertainment — and some of the brilliant minds behind the Monkey Island adventures — so run the hell towards it.

The story even features the same (loose) historical fantasy-humor blend as Monkey Island: A young and talented singer named Mona De Lafitte is being held deep in the haunted land of Draxsylvania (tell me that’s not fun to say) after being turned into a vampire by the evil (and oedipal) Baron Shrowdy von Kiefer. When Shrowdy fails to return home after haunting the countryside one evening, Mona seizes her chance for escape and flees for home with the help of her friendly pet bat, Froderick. Her journey is barred by strange creatures and plenty of puzzles.

Vampyre Story’s point-and-click interface should come easy to anyone who’s already familiar with Monkey Island, though Vampyre Story’s Carpathian setting makes for some varied gameplay circumstances. For instance, a Gaming Today interview with Autumn Moon’s founder, Bill Tiller, reveals that Mona is in denial about being among the ranks of the undead. Her new vampire powers bring certain pluses and negatives as a result (she probably shouldn’t stand in full sunlight).

The mix of darkness and comedy in the game’s 3D graphics might bring Tim Burton to mind. Not surprisingly, Tiller cites “The Nightmare Before Christmas” as an inspiration for Vampyre’s Story, though the game’s primary inspiration actually lies with the work of Edward Gorey. But according to his interview with Gaming Today, he doesn’t stop there. “I am also heavily influenced by the Hildebrandt Brothers too.”

“So if you combine Edward Gorey, Universal and Hammer Studios horror movies, the Hildebrandt Brothers art, Monkey Island, and Warner Brothers cartoons together, you get the cartoon style in A Vampyre Story. Let’s say I had a lot of influences, Tim Burton being just one of many. Plus he only uses black in his art. I almost never do. I am all about the color.”

A game like Vampyre Story aches for the right kind of soundtrack, and with veteran compser Pedro Macedo Camacho on the job, it should strike all the right notes. Pedro even talked a little bit about his experience writing the music for Vampyre Story in his interview with Ripten. “The soundtrack will be a mix of my own composing language with a bit of inspiration on John Williams’ work in Harry Potter, some groovy pieces that remind me of the Monkey Island setting and folk music from around the world.”

Will A Vampyre Story siphon the fierce love that gamers have reserved for Monkey Island all these years? We’ll find out after a few more full moons: The game’s release date is set at “early 2008.”

Tags: A-Vampyre-Story, Autumn-Moon-Entertainment, Monkey-Island

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