Akumajou Dracula/Vampire Killer MSX2(stage 1)

[MastaGambit]

lol.  The doors were instead portcullises in this game XD

[Solyans]

I did only have the 256KB version...

[Havermayer]

Is it true that this game does not have any continues? So you have to beat it in only 3 lives?

Weird.

[Segacamp]

wow just imagine if all the castlevania games were called Vampire Killer then again today it sound much better being called Castlevania but then this makes it it long list twin to the 1st Castlevania Games

[1983parrothead]

Castlevania - JPN September 1986

Vampire Killer - JPN October 1986

Castlevania came out about a month earlier than Vampire Killer.

[CCrockyourass]

Wrong. Vampire Killer is the first, released in FEBRUARY 1986.

[1983parrothead]

@CCrockyourass Can you prove it?

[CCrockyourass]

1. That info came from the Castlevania wiki, which is a very solid Castlevania info site.

2. Sound quality is much lower than NES.

3. Name of the song was first introduced in the game of the same name, with the whip of the same name.

4. If this game came after the original Castlevania, then it would have been the version used in remakes and enhanced ports. Keys to open chests and doors never made it into the other games, or moving screen by screen, or no continues.

[1983parrothead]

@CCrockyourass Castlevania Wiki is not a source, but a storage mostly full of facts, but may contain incorrect stuff. I know they got it somewhere else, I just don't know where exactly they got it from.

[CCrockyourass]

Castlevania Wiki IS a source. Just because it can be edited doesn't mean it's wrongly edited by a troll every 5 minutes. And, if there's wrong info, it's usually corrected within a week. This has been up there for a while now. Also, what about the level design? It's horrid and much more like a maze, no way Konami would change everything like this for a port and leave it out of the other versions. Oh and stop saying @me, the reply button is there for a reason and it makes you look like a noob.

[Arkhandroid]

the @*name* is automagically appended to replies if youre on IE.

Thus, making you the n00b.

anyway, the sound "quality"? thats how the MSX's PSG sounds. A game made today would sound the same.

FC uses a different chip, hence different sound.

the screen by screen aspect is something in many MSX games due to scrolling limitations.

Man it would be nice if people understood the machines they were commenting on, instead of making the usual poorly informed assumptions.

[coliecolie110]

This version is more playable than the nes version and it had better colours.

[mercatfat]

graphics enhancement has been around for decades.

although very much not the first, the simplest mainstream console example would be snes vs. genesis. 64 versus 256 colors and different sprite limitations makes for a lot of difference.

[karloch]

The MSX2 version was NOT a port, it is the original first one. The "Vampire Killer" was the original name for the game, but later Konami decided to call it "Castlevania".

[explod2A03]

It's not the original first one, but was likely made at the same time. The very first Castlevania was for the Famicom Disk System, titled "Akumajō Dracula". Castlevania for the NES is a nearly identical port of that, being the same system and all.

This alternate version for the MSX came out roughly a month later than the FDS game, according to wikipedia. I don't think a month was enough time to port a complete game over, though, so they were likely co-developed?

[Luigi84289]

Yup and we know which one won out. (though I like the msx better myself.)

[conceitarturo]

This game might have been released later, but the development on this one started first, which means that the NES version finished first because of the simpler level design and graphics.

[Tabuu101]

Vampire Killer was released in 1986

Castlevania was released in 1987

But I do not know which one was made first.

[conceitarturo]

This is not a port. Might have been released after the NES version, but the development of this one started earlier and as such it's rich design is the real form of Castlevania, the NES CV is a simplified more action oriented port.

[somadracula42]

Very interesting! Is there anyway you can heal yourself while progressing through the stages? (I mean through food items and such). 5/5

[johnhassink]

somadracula42: Items in this version are either hidden in walls, found in chests or bought in exchange for hearts from the "Old Crones"; those grannies also hiding behind certain walls.

You can see one in this video at 2:27.

If I remember correctly, the item which heals you (a glass flask with purple fluid in this version) is an item only available from those.

[NeoEveryhobby]

the 2nd game in the series

[Kagereneko]

The only thing I don't like are the static screens... Famicom had an advantage about this cause the rooms were larger... The concept about look for keys looks interesting...

[millsmoney]

Actually this predates the FDS/Famicom version.

[UNOxDExELLOS]

The graphics are better, but I think the NES had a superior soundtrack over this version

[MetalheadsAbyss]

ive neevr herd of the MSX2 before

[virusinfection1]

i was wondering what do you use to record your games?

[Valis77]

Hypercam!

[killuoff]

Man, they get this and Rondo? Man I wanna live in japan >:(

[WeskerSega]

Vampire Killer for MSX2 was also released in Europe. Rondo of Blood for the PCE was the Japan-exclusive (also the Castlevania remake for the X68000).

[millsmoney]

You're wrong. We got the X68000 version on the PS1 known as "Castlevania Chronicles"

[WeskerSega]

I meant the original game for the X68000 computer platform, not that port/revamp for the PS1 that was done afterwards. The same has happened now with the port/revamp of Rondo of Blood for the PSP. These games are Japan-exclusive in their original platforms and that's the main reason they have been ported/revamped to newer systems, for releasing these new versions in the western regions.

[CaRC1n0g3n]

This version of Akumajou Dracula is different from the one we get stateside on the NES... This game was later released as Castlevania Chronicles on the PSX, correct?

[shadowshinobi06]

No, it was the SharpX68000 version of Akumajou Dracula that you are referring to.

[xxhennersxx]

Vampire Killer came out first, and Super Castlevania 4 is actually a combination of the two Vampire Killer and Castlevania. :)

[shadowshinobi06]

It was already officially stated that the famicom disk version came first according to the official Japanese Castlevania website. Are you following the US timeline releases? Follow the japanese one, they are the ones who created the series.

[xxhennersxx]

I am following the time line, the american timeline says Super Castlevania 4 is a sequel, where the japanese one says it's a combination of vampire killer and castlevania. Hence why I said that.

[Temari999]

its castlevania either way, greatest series ever. >:D

[AlucardsQuest]

This is not a port, this was the first game in the series. The Famicom disc, Famicom cart and NES versions of this game were completely remade games using the same character and enemy sprites from this original.

[shadowshinobi06]

According to the official japanese Castlevania site, the Famicom Disk came first before the MSX version.

If the FDS version came after the MSX version, why did they make the graphics looks much worse(Famicom is superior than MSX when it comes to graphics)? Also note that the team behind the Famicom Disk version was credited in 'Special Thanks' in the ending of MSX game.

[AlucardsQuest]

Aparently I ran into some false information, and it wasn't long after posting that I realised I could have been wrong. In an interview with Iga in the Dawn of Sorrow guide he said MSX was first, but Wikipedia has actual dates of release saying FDS came first, so maybe he was incorrect.

[AlucardsQuest]

But I still maintain that it is not a "port" per-say because it's so different from the Famicom Disc original.

[MrSaturn33]

@shadowshinobi06 It is the fact that the Famicom Disc System version came first.

[Luigi84289]

@shadowshinobi06 I like this version of ad the best. The merchants make the game a lot more fun and looking for the keys adds a new exploration aspect to the game like simon's quest.

[conceitarturo]

@shadowshinobi06 it's superior in scrolling and that type of thing but not in graphics, it doesnt have this resolution or amount of colors. Check Metal Gear 2 : Solid Snake it's a lot more like a SNES game than a NES one.

[jeridz64]

i just love the music in this game!! thanx!! :D

[DeWente69]

That was nice...thought you were gonna be all noobish...but you play pretty well. Seems like this is the style of play that Simon's Quest followed. Multiple sub-weapons...how cool is that shit!?!?

[silvianraccoon]

I agree, I don't like linear way to beat the stage against the clock.

[guyvf]

this is more like it.

[nemesisleouf89]

is there a problem with the sound?

[shadowshinobi06]

The screen capturer is a bit buggy, that's why.

[vampirekiller777000]

this looks more like a sega master system game and sounds like one more than a MSX.

[shadowshinobi06]

I capture the video while playing the game in MSX emulator.

[Kriact]

Where you get this sort of thing?