GRAPHICS SOUND CONTROL FRUSTRATION FUN FACTOR OVERALL

NES 1 Player Action This game, based on Brahm Stoker's Dracula, takes place in a mansion where Simon has to chase the evil antagonist throughout climaxing in a final battle at the top of the mansion. The bat hunter must go through a series of obstacles that may look familiar to those who read the book. If you can survive the first 17 stages, the last stage is you and the evil guy himself. Will Dracula defeat Simon and end the Belmont line, or will Simon continue the legacy that his grandfather gave unto him. Plot: The whole idea is to chase Dracula throughout the mansion where you finally "catch" and battle him in a deathmatch. Along the way, you have to beat gargoyles, bats, skeletons, and many other creatures of the folklore. You have a trusty whip that can be upgraded by knocking out candles which also contain weapons and hearts which are the "power source" behind the latter. You have an energy tank and it can only be refilled by eating whole turkeys hidden in blocks. Guess back in those days, they really had to earn their meals? Sound: The sound is great for its simplicity. The melodies are worth raising your volume control a little bit higher at times. The plus is that it isn't that repetitive. This fact can probably be attributed to the timer where you are forced to continuously move without stalling for long amounts of time. I recommend searching for a NSF file and taking a listen! Graphics: Looking at the graphics reminds me at times how I feel when I take my glasses off. The pixels are such that they blend in with each other meaning that Simon could well be blended into the background. This can cause confusion especially when you are on a fast moving level and have to keep your eyes on Simon an the surroundings every crucial second. Challenge: Although I did a few illegal save states, the game wasn't terribly hard. The main goal is to recognize the patterns that are obvious from each enemy. If you play this game a million times, you're bound to eventually learn something after all. Gameplay: AAAA!! Stupid control of this game makes me sick! But then I'm using the keyboard on NESticle for playing this game this time around. When I want to jump forward, I actually jump straight up and I'll die b/c I miss a crucial jump onto a moving platform. This same idea happened when I faced Dracula. I would want to move one direction to get away from his fire and I couldn't, so I would lose 4 hit points for being hit. I would otherwise give a higher rating, but I don't own this game ... hah. ......BOTTOM LINE: I certainly enjoyed it for the 3-4 gaming hours I spent playing. The challenge is there and it teaches you the fact that "practice makes perfect". Give it to your 5 year old to show the true meaning of accomplishment! -LordJD