• Tag Archives Dracula

  • Bram Stoker’s Dracula (Super Nintendo)

    Posted on by Azrael Comment

    snes_buyers_guide_v3_i3-44

    Source: Super NES Buyer’s Guide – Volume 3, Issue 3 – Page 44 (Super NES Previews)

    Another licensed title, another mediocre game at best. Bram Stoker’s Dracula is based on the 1992 movie which of course is based on the 19th century novel. There are many vampire games around and as Dracula is really the one that started it all, it really has a lot to live up to.

    The Super Nintendo version of the game, previewed above in volume 3, number 3 of Super NES Buyer’s Guide is a fairly typical side-scrolling hack and slash game. I guess it would be something like Ghost & Goblins if you wanted to compare it to a similar type game. Only this isn’t nearly as good. The game consists of several levels, each of which represents a scene from the movie. The graphics are pretty nice which is really the best that can be said about this game. Reviews varied wildly but at the end of the day, it’s really just another mediocre license. You might enjoy this if you are a big fan of the movie but otherwise I wouldn’t bother.

    The game was released on a wide variety of platforms. The Sega Genesis version was nearly identical to the Super Nintendo version. There were also 8-bit NES, Game Boy, Sega Master System and Game Gear but these were quite a bit worse than the 16-bit versions. Then there was the Sega CD version that made use of digitized backgrounds, crappy FMV sequences and poorer game play. The Amiga version uses graphics lifted from the Sega CD version and is a sort of remixed version of that game. Overall, this was a pretty big disappointment for a Psygnosis game. Finally, there’s the DOS version which was a poor 1st person imitation of Castle Wolfenstein.

    You’ll definitely have to track down an original or use emulation if you do want to play this one. The 16-bit Super Nintendo and regular Genesis versions are the best by far but really there are really at least four different games here. The 8-bit version, the 16-bit version, the Sega CD and Amiga versions which are somewhat similar, and the DOS version.

    Screenshots above are from the Super Nintendo version of the game.

    Check out some of my other recent retrogaming posts!





    📂This entry was posted in Retro Games Super Nintendo (SNES) 📎and tagged

  • Bram Stoker’s Dracula (Sega CD)

    Posted on by Azrael Comment

    mega-play-issue-15-april-may-1993-page-005

    Source: Mega Play – Issue Number 15 – April/May 1993

    Bram Stoker’s Dracula is a video game based on the movie of the same name that was released in 1992 (which in turn is based on the 1897 novel). The game was released in 1994 and came out on a large variety of systems. For the most part, they were all significantly different from each other. This ad highlights the Sega CD version of the game.

    All versions of the game (except the DOS version) were essentially action platform games but the level design, game play and graphics differ significantly. The Sega CD version was unique for its use of digitized backgrounds and full motion video cutscenes from the movie. The Sega CD version was only released in North America. The Amiga version did reuse some of the digitized graphics from the Sega CD version but there were more levels and they were significantly different.

    There were also regular Sega Genesis, Super Nintendo, NES, Game Boy, Game Gear, Sega Master System and DOS versions of the game. The 8-bit versions were mostly the same with the Sega Master System and Game Gear versions having slightly better graphics than the NES version and all three obviously being better than the Game Boy version. The 16-bit SNES and Genesis versions were completely different from the 8-bit versions but similar to each other except for minor differences. The last version to come along was the DOS version. This one was unique because it was more like a first persons shooter instead of a platform action/adventure game.

    With all these different variations of the game you would think at least one of them would be decent. You would be wrong. This game suffers the same fate as the vast majority of movie licenses. It is mostly crap or at best sheer mediocrity. The 8-bit versions are the worst with the Game Boy being worst of the worst. The others are probably a toss-up and depend on personal preference. If you like digitized backgrounds and characters, choppy animation and grainy, blurry FMV then go for the Sega CD version. Minus most of the FMV then go for the Amiga. More standard but below par 16-bit graphics and animation then pick the Genesis or SNES versions. Prefer first person shooter type games? Then go for the DOS version. It doesn’t really matter though as you are sure to be disappointed no matter which one you choose. I thought the movie was decent enough though.

    The ad above is from the April/May 1993 issue of Mega Play and all screen shots are from the Sega CD version of the game.


    📂This entry was posted in Retro Games Sega Genesis 📎and tagged