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Akumajō
Dracula [Super Famicom]
悪魔城ドラキュラ
[スーパーファミコン版]
31 Oct 1991 |
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Expectations
were high for the first 16-Bit Akumajō
Dracula, and to many extents it didn't disappoint.
The SFC Akumajō Dracula looks and sounds amazing. The backgrounds are meticulous in their detail, and
the controls are smooth and perfectly responsive. Combined with what
might well be the finest soundtrack the series has ever
conjured, the game delivers one of the most memorable
environments ever seen on a console
of this calibre.
Presented as a 'remix' of the first Akumajo
Dracula (1986) Simon can now whip up, diagonally, down (in mid-jump) and in some
places latch onto hooks and swing over voids, à
la Indiana Jones.
He can also move while crouching,
jump on & off stairs, and hold out his whip by keeping
the button pressed. Moving the pad around while holding the button flings
the whip around - a useful (but weak) way of disposing
of airborne foes or blocking enemy fire. |
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But once all of these gameplay tweaks are out of the way (and a few years
have slipped by) it is hard not to notice that besides
the atmosphere and zany whip trickery, there's not
much else going on. No twists, no alternate routes,
no extra characters... Coming to think of it, there
are no surprises at all. Everything is very
straightforward, slow-paced, and irritatingly empty.
The game is just a quiet walk through creepy backgrounds,
with the odd enemy thrown in here and there. If ever more than 3 characters appear on screen the hardware
struggles and the game slows down.
The SFC Akumajō Dracula is a slick game, yes,
but it relies way too much on its setting and atmosphere
- which to its credit are both superb. In the action stakes it fails miserably, and suffers
from the same misconceptions as another high profile SFC action game of the period, Chohmakaimura
(1991). Over-drawn levels and wacky rotating backgrounds
do NOT create an exciting experience, far from it. The
whole thing rapidly becomes laborious and a chore
to play.
In all the SFC Akumajō Dracula is just a souped-up
remake; the series' first nervous steps into the 16-bit era. In direct comparison with the pace and structure of its predecessor Akumajō
Densetsu (1989) and its two immediate sequels Akumajo Dracula X68000 (1993) and Akumajo Dracula X (1993), this is nothing
but a slow cruise through familiar territory.
But an enjoyable one nonetheless.
Rating:   |
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Akumajō
Dracula
悪魔城ドラキュラ
SUPER FAMICOM |
DETAILS
| Format |
Super
Famicom |
| Released |
31
Oct 1991 |
| Publisher |
Konami |
| Product
ID |
SHVC-AD |
| Size
(cm) |
19
x 10.5 x 3 |
| Weight
(kg) |
0.16 |
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The
good news is that the SFC
Akumajō Dracula was
a top-seller - so it's still relatively easy to find in good condition.
For now.
Standard
SFC cardboard packaging, 8Mbit cartridge,
32p colour booklet. |
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Akumajō
Dracula no Subete Ga Wakaru Hon
悪魔城ドラキュラのすべてがわかる本
GUIDE BOOK |
DETAILS
| Format |
Guide
Book |
| Released |
30
Nov 1991 |
| Publisher |
ASCII |
| Product
ID |
n/a |
| Size
(cm) |
18.2
x 12.8 x 0.6 (B6) |
| Weight
(kg) |
0.14 |
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Famicom Tsushin 'All About
Akumajō Dracula Understanding
Book' features complete level
layouts, enemy galleries and
more.
Yet another super-sought after
Akumajō Dracula book. (view
back)
98
pages, full colour, Japanese. |
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Akumajō
Dracula no Subete
悪魔城ドラキュラのすべて
GUIDE BOOK |
DETAILS
| Format |
Guide
Book |
| Released |
25
Dec 1991 |
| Publisher |
JICC |
| Product
ID |
ISBN4-7966-0246-1 |
| Size
(cm) |
21
x 14.8 x 0.8 (A5) |
| Weight
(kg) |
0.22 |
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The
second 'All About' guide book
for the SFC Akumajō Dracula
comes from Hippon Super -
it features an extensive bestiary
section with original illustrations,
in-depth gameplay analysis, stage-by-stage walkthrough.
Again, a very rare item.
96
pages, 32 in colour, Japanese. |
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Akumajō
Dracula Best 2
悪魔城ドラキュラ
ベスト2
SOUNDTRACK |
DETAILS
| Format |
Audio
CD |
| Released |
5
Dec 1991 |
| Publisher |
King
Records |
| Product
ID |
KICA-7506~7 |
| Size
(cm) |
14.2
x 12.4 x 1.7 |
| Weight
(kg) |
0.17 |
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Second
Dracula compilation,
a double CD soundtrack set
featuring the BGM collections
for:
- Akumajō
Dracula [SFC] (1991)
- Dracula
Densetsu [GB] (1989)
- Dracula
Densetsu II [GB] (1991)
This original 1991 print is
very hard to find - the 1998
re-issue (listed below) is
still widely available.
View [back]
for track listing.
Double
CD case, 2 x audio CD (CD1
28 tracks, CD2 35 tracks),
8-page booklet, spine card. |
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Akumajō
Dracula Best 2
悪魔城ドラキュラ
ベスト２
SOUNDTRACK (RE-ISSUE) |
DETAILS
| Format |
Audio
CD |
| Released |
23
Sep 1998 |
| Publisher |
King
Records |
| Product
ID |
KICA-7902~03 |
| Size
(cm) |
14.2
x 13 x 1.7 |
| Weight
(kg) |
0.18 |
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Re-issue
edition of the second 'Akumajō
Dracula Best' compilation,
a double CD soundtrack set
featuring the BGM collections
for:
- Akumajō
Dracula [SFC] (1991)
- Dracula
Densetsu [GB] (1989)
- Dracula
Densetsu II [GB] (1991)
Twin CD case, 2 x audio CD
(CD1 28 tracks, CD2 35 tracks),
4-page booklet with notes
& track listing, spine
card. |
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'Akumajō
Dracula', 'Castlevania' and 'Konami' are all registered trademarks
of Konami Corporation
'Super Famicom' and 'Nintendo' are registered trademarks of Nintendo
Co., Ltd.
Akumajō Dracula [Super Famicom] TM & © 1991 Konami All Rights Reserved
Page content, design & layout © 2012 Arcade Gear |
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