Vampire Killer

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Vampire Killer

Developer(s)	Konami
Publisher(s)	Konami
Release date(s)	^JP October 30, 1986
Genre(s)	Platform game
Mode(s)	Single player
Platform(s)	MSX2
Media	Cartridge

Vampire Killer (1986) is a game for the MSX2 home computer, produced by Konami and released in Japan, Europe and Brazil. Its original Japanese title is Akumajō Dracula (悪魔城ドラキュラ, lit. "Demon Castle Dracula"). The game's premise is the same seen on many Castlevania games. Simon Belmont ventures inside Castlevania to defeat Count Dracula and restore peace in the land of Transylvania. He fights his way through hordes of monsters, wielding only a whip.

Vampire Killer is seen as unique in the early Castlevania series for containing several features that weren't seen in other games that were intended to be remakes of the original game. For example, to progress in the game, it is necessary to acquire "skeleton keys" hidden in the several rooms within the game's castle, in order to open doors to other rooms. Other keys also have to be found in order to open treasure chests containing useful items, such as shields for protection and speed boots. Merchants can be found along the way (and mostly by breaking open walls with the whip), selling items to the player. These gameplay features were reintroduced to the Castlevania series with Castlevania II: Simon's Quest in 1988 and Castlevania: Symphony of the Night in 1997. As with many other MSX titles such as Metal Gear and Contra, the action takes place one screen at a time in a fashion similar to the original The Legend of Zelda for the Nintendo Entertainment System.

[edit] Other meanings

Vampire Killer is also the original Japanese title of Castlevania: Bloodlines/Castlevania: The New Generation, released for the Sega Mega Drive in 1994.

"Vampire Killer" is also the title of a song played in many Castlevania games.

"Vampire Killer" is also the name given to the whip wielded by several heroes in the Castlevania saga. It was originally created with alchemy by Rinaldo Gandolfi, a tale which is recounted in Castlevania: Lament of Innocence.