Vampire Killer
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| Vampire Killer | |
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| Developer(s) | Konami |
| Publisher(s) | Konami |
| Series | Castlevania |
| Platform(s) | MSX2 |
| Release date |  October 30, 1986 1986 1986 |
| Genre(s) | Platform game |
| Mode(s) | Single player |
| 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" or "Dracula's Satanic Castle" [the game's European box recognizes it by this translation][1]). 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.
This is the second game released in the Castlevania series. Akumajō Dracula (Castlevania outside Japan) was released for the Famicom Disk System on September 26, 1986 (September 22, 1986 according to certain sources), whereas this game was released on October 30, 1986. However, this is the first game in the series that was released outside Japan, which explains why some gamers think this is the very first release in the series. Its flip-screen approach to the original Castlevania's gameplay is a result of the MSX's scrolling limitations. Contra received a similar treatment when it was ported to the MSX2.
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. While containing considerably different gameplay than the original Castlevania, both games share most of the same background settings, enemies and music.
The unique gameplay features from Vampire Killer 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] Story
Dracula’s Satanic Castle
The Devil lives again – reborn as Dracula! Thrills and suspense in a great adventure. You’ll never get to sleep tonight!
Dracula is back again. The setting is an ancient castle in the tiny European kingdom of Transylvania . Devils and demons are on the rampage. Young Simon Belmont stands alone against the forces of darkness threatening the once peaceful kingdom of Dransylvania. Armed with only the mysterious whip bequeathed to him by his father, he heads for the Satanic Castle!
Be sure to turn off the main power when loading or unloading the cartridge.
(Full text manual of Vampire Killer is available here).
Interestingly, this game was originally set "in the 12th or 13th century" according to its story (as found when selecting "Help" when playing the game):
"During medieval times, around the 12th to 13th century, a city was suddenly founded in Europe by a large group of Germanic immigrants after the collapse of their ancient city. Within there, a bit earlier during the latter half of the 10th century, in the pleasant Transylvanian country, the so-called Germanic society were unable to defend their town. Since ancient times, the Transylvanian people has spoken about the "legend of the hero Christopher". Once in a hundred years, a group of evil men are said to conduct a black mass during each century to resurrect the devil Dracula at the tower of Colbert, where he was sealed by the legendary hero. And exactly a hundred years has passed since he was sealed at the Tower of Colbert. On an Easter night, ominous clouds covered the sky when a thunderstorm tore into the darkness, evil has returned. The city has been demolished by evil spirits and paganists To solve this crisis, Simon, a descendant of Christopher, took his father's enchanted whip and head to the castle haunted by the evil spirits." [2]
[edit] External links
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