7 comments on “Bram Stoker’s Dracula SNES Challenge!”

1. Steve on June 19, 2014 at 1:45 pm said:

   Oh wow! I remember playing Bram Stokers Dracula on the Sega CD and actually finishing it. That was a strange game. It was basically a 2d “go right and conquer ” kind of game, but with quasi 3d pre-rendered environments. The levels had preset points where you could do something (I think press up) and the level and camera would spin around and you could go in a different direction. Really weird, and the controls were just stiff and terrible. The SNES version looks like a much more conventional platformer/side scroller. I’ll try and tune in.

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   • Cecil on June 20, 2014 at 10:19 am said:

     Yes! I have that one as well, but I opted to play the SNES one this time since it is shorter. The Sega CD one is interesting in the way the levels looked (with the rotating pre-rendered backgrounds) and how there was zero interaction with the world around him. (exiting a level meant he walked THROUGH a closed door)

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2. Cristiona on June 20, 2014 at 4:35 am said:

   I came in kinda late but… daaaaaamn. That was a pretty awful game.

   Giant Tom Waits was still freaking great.

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   • Cecil on June 20, 2014 at 8:34 am said:

     Glad you made it!

     You have no idea. The controls were abysmal. It started off fun but then after dying multiple times because of horrendous game mechanics, it did get painful. Let me go over them for a moment. (indulge me, it will make me feel better to go through these)

     1 – The awful controls – Everything was like walking on wet ice. It wouldn’t be a huge deal, if not for the times when you needed precision for the platforming parts. Landing on tiny platforms only to slide off was maddening. I made it all the way to the last level dying only a few times and then blew through all my continues at that one part with the lava.

     2 – Hit detection – The hit boxes overlapped so you could only hit one enemy at a time. So if you had two enemies coming at you, you would only hit one and then take damage from the other.

     3 – No invincibility period – most games are nice enough to give you a few seconds of invincibility after you take damage. Not this! If you get cornered by an enemy you can’t get out. You will take damage and die.

     4 – Zombies – the can’t be hit and your best hope is to jump over them…but the ceiling in some areas is to low so you can’t jump over them and will take damage.

     5 – The brides – in the start of one level they immediately attack and chase you so if you don’t start running the nanosecond the level starts, they will trap and kill you.

     Aside from all the cheap deaths, the game looked nice for its time…even if the environments were taken from other Psygnosis games. I liked the mist effects they used and the music was quite good. The giant boss fights were hilarious because I was able to beat most of them the same way. Sit in the left corner and slash. I did have fun but mostly because it was great to read the comments about what was going on within the game. Made me laugh out loud more than a few times, which made it all worth it.

     I’m eventually going to do the Sega CD version but I’m going to give the Dracula games a rest for now. Onward to Link!

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     • Chris on June 20, 2014 at 11:54 pm said:

       Cecil,

       Have you tried the Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein game on the SNES? It’s similar to this game, but probably better designed (if I remember correctly).

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3. demonknight on June 20, 2014 at 2:26 pm said:

   Wish I saw this earlier. I was looking for something to do last night.

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4. MH on June 20, 2014 at 3:51 pm said:

   Stayed in so I could watch it…. and sleep took me while I was watching it. Did you beat the game?

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