AKUMAJŌ DRACULA
( Castlevania )
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悪魔城ドラキュラ
©Konami 1986
Release: 1986-09-26 (¥2980)
DiskCard KDS-AKM
Action/Platform game
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Released in Japan (Cartridge) as
AKUMAJŌ DRACULA
( RV003 )
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Released in America as
CASTLEVANIA
( NES-CV-USA )
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Released in Europe as
CASTLEVANIA
( NEC-CV-XXX )
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Akumajō Dracula is the first opus in the popular and celebrated
video game saga also known as Castlevania in the west. The game takes
place at the end of the 17th century and every hundred years, the evil
Count Dracula and his minions have risen from the dead and are now
bringing chaos and death to the land of Transylvania. Simon Belmont,
from the Belmont bloodline of Vampire killers, takes up the challenge.
Armed with his mythic and legendary whip, he begins his journey to the Prince
of Darkness's castle. Dracula's lair counts six large levels guarded by
legions of demonic vampire bats, zombies, fish men, raven, skeletons and so
forth. In addition to his magic whip, Simon can pick up secondary weapons
by breaking candles and other elements of the scenery (usually walls). These
weapons range from a Stop watch (stops enemy action), Dagger
(fast throwing weapon), Axe (slow but powerful overhead attack weapon),
Cross, Holy Water etc... Our hero can only carry one of these
useful weapons at the time and they all come in limited quantities - They can
however be replenished by collecting little hearts scattered throughout the
levels. Other items are also available to help
Simon in his quest such as Crosses or Invisibility Potions.
Two special items are particularly worth mentioning - the double and
triple shots icons get Simon to fire two or three special weapons
at once. Each stage ends with an obligatory boss Simon must take down
before advancing to the next level - they range from the mythological
Medusa to Death itself who appears as a creepy Grim Reaper.
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It looks like the first Akumajō Dracula was actually released for the
MSX-2 computer in Japan in 1986 (Picture on the left). It was also released in Europe as
Vampire Killer. The MSX version is rather interesting - graphics
are sharper and the game shares a lot in common with the Famicom Disk version.
The structure is however quite different - keys must be found to unlock doors
and shops are scattered throughout the game.
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Akumajō Dracula for the Famicom was first released in Japan on
Disk. It was then published in the United States (1987) and Europe (1988)
on cartridge. Both versions are fairly close to the original and only a couple of
item names were changed - the Holy Water that became a less "controversial"
Fire Bomb and the Cross made of stakes became a Boomerang.
Much later, in 1993, Akumajō Dracula was finally released on cartridge in
Japan. The game was also ported to several home systems of the time such as the
Commodore 64 (1990), Amiga (1990), PC (1990).
Akumajō Dracula was also part of the Classic Nes Series for
the Game Boy Advance released in 2004.
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Teaser text from the American version:
Enter At Your Own Risk!
If you think it's scary on the
outside, wait'll you see the basement.
You're in for the longest night
of your time. Ghosts, goblins,
demons, wolves, bats - creatures
lurking around every corner. As you
descend deeper and deeper,
they get thicker and thicker.
Better stick close to the cavern
floor - it's your only chance of
finding a weapon or two. You're
gonna need'em.
Because when you
finally meet the Count,
you know he'll be going
for the jugular. So keep your
courage up and your stake
sharp. And say your prayers.
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G
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D
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Japanese guide Book
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Japanese story Book
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Japanese soundtrack
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LK
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Add your Pov here !
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P
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The first thing that stroke me upon playing Akumajō Dracula
for the Famicom Disk system was the music - Right from the first
minutes of play, the outstanding and familiar melody of the opening level
sets the tone which tickles the nostalgic bone. After the pleasure comes
the pain. Akumajō Dracula is a great example of tough 8-bit love -
the stiff controls lead to countless cheap deaths and Simon's weak
jump gets him to often miss platforms and fall into bottomless pits with
distressing ease. Bosses are also of the worst kind and patience is
a vital virtue in Simon's success. Graphics look overall aged and
some of the levels are blocky and the color palette sorely lacks clarity
in some occasions. But if you put Akumajō Dracula back in its
original context, you get a true classic filled with the same spirit
that was poured onto its numerous sequels. A piece of video game
history that will bring tears of nostalgic joy to the old school players
among us and tears of pain to the others.
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