Kid Dracula Game by (Konami) Reviewed by (Tuxedo Mask) (tanooki@flash.net) (http://nwjb.vintagegaming.com) Size: (262KB) Save: (Password) Released: (1993) Works with: (Original Gameboy) **************************************************************************** Opening Snide Remarks: Have you ever played Castlevania? How about the Japanese shooter import Parodius? Parodius was a parody of Gradius, as this game is a parody of CastleVania. In Kid Dracula you get the same cutesy big anime look from Parodius with some funny effects. Though in this game you don't use a Belmont, you use Dracula's kid, Alucard. In this platformer you go through multiple challenging levels to thwart the plans of Garamoth. **************************************************************************** Gameplay Descripion: This is after you get passed the parody anime feel that pokes at the Castlevania series, its your typical Gameboy platform game. This game consists of eight quite challenging levels loaded with many unique monsters in each. Added to it the multiple booby traps and other menacing problems it makes this game quite challenging. Fortunately though as you pass each level you can gain a new ability to add to your roster of attacks which will help you greatly. Liked: I loved all the various attacks that you can earn throughout the game and I liked the cutesy horror theme of it all, a great spin off parody. Hated: The learning curve is sort of a nightmare, and there are some really cheap traps now and again. **************************************************************************** Graphics Description: Simply, the graphics are large, clear, distinct, and quite cute in their look and feel. You will notice now and again that some of the monsters you will come across are goofed up versions of old baddies from the Castlevania series such as the Knights and Skeletons. Also due to the fact that the graphics are quite large they are very easy to see on the Gameboy which is quite a bonus for such a small screen. Liked: The look and feel of the graphics and the size they are displayed. Hated: That some of the graphics had been bastardized for the American market due to some things whiners here would love to complain about. **************************************************************************** Sound/Music Description: The sound effects for this game are quite lush and sound great for the attacks and effects that they go for. On the music the tracks sound very upbeat and memorable. They are memorable in a good way though and you might just catch yourself humming one now and again. Liked: The music and sound effects as they were done really well. Hated: Nothing really, a sound effect here and there rarely were annoying. **************************************************************************** Play Control/Game Design: The play control in this game is pretty tight, and the ability to fire not only to the side, but up and down are a great help. The different abilities that you can earn are great too such as morphing into a bat to fly to hard to reach areas and the homing shot are quite useful as well. Liked: I liked all the abilities that you can earn and the freedom to take shots at creatures on multiple levels. Hated: Not really anything I hated, though I wish you could have shot at all four diagonal directions. **************************************************************************** Improve: No real gripes here, though I would have liked to have seen another game to make this a series like Parodius as its quite fun. RIYL: Another other platform game with maybe an anime look but surely a jesting horror theme possibly like Monster in my Pocket. **************************************************************************** Final Words: If you like games with anime graphics, Castlevania, or parody games like Parodius this game is something you should buy. Then again if you don't like either of those, pass it by. **************************************************************************** Score Gameplay: 4 of 5 stars Graphics: 4 of 5 stars Sound/Music: 4 of 5 stars Play Control/Game Design: 4 of 5 stars Personal Opinion: 4 of 5 stars Total: 20 Final Score: 80% **************************************************************************** Currently Known Codes: Passwords Level Password 2 5613 3 3272 4 7283 5 5346 6 7225 7 5539 8 7158