Kid Dracula is a spin-off of the Castlevania series, starring a chibi version of the Prince of Darkness himself.
It's clear why, initially, this didn't get a worldwide release. Not only because it has a very chibi art-style, something that the USA of old probably wouldn't accept, but it also contains some stuff related to Japanese culture.
In terms of gameplay, this one feels more like a Mega Man game than a Castlevania one, as Kid Dracula's main attack is a projectible very similar to that of the Blue Bomber's. After you beat a stage, you get a new ability to choose from, whether that'd be a homing projectible or an ice attack.
I did feel like the level design only really asked for some of these abilities to be used in some ocassions. There are some interesting set-pieces in the levels themselves, though, and I really liked the variety of environments Kid Dracula goes through.
It wasn't all perfect though, since I did some frustrating times with some of the bosses and some parts of the levels. Stage 6's boss can go suck it, because he constantly summons bubbles at you, but you have little room to avoid them, so you'll most likely get knocked back from them and die.
What doesn't help is that you're sent all the way back towards the middle of the level, and that really grinded my gears. I did use plenty of save-states for this one, and I'm not ashamed to admit it.
Gotta be honest, even with the game's cute aesthetic, I didn't really find this game to be all that interesting. If it wasn't frustrating, then it was just leaving me indifferent.
Again, there were things about this game that I liked, like the overall presentation and some parts of the soundtrack, but it really doesn't feel like anything special.
Overall, Kid Dracula is a fine 2D platformer that sometimes left me frustrated, but other times left me with the feeling that I just wanted this to be done, so I could finish all of the games of the Castlevania Anniversary Collection.
It's clear why, initially, this didn't get a worldwide release. Not only because it has a very chibi art-style, something that the USA of old probably wouldn't accept, but it also contains some stuff related to Japanese culture.
In terms of gameplay, this one feels more like a Mega Man game than a Castlevania one, as Kid Dracula's main attack is a projectible very similar to that of the Blue Bomber's. After you beat a stage, you get a new ability to choose from, whether that'd be a homing projectible or an ice attack.
I did feel like the level design only really asked for some of these abilities to be used in some ocassions. There are some interesting set-pieces in the levels themselves, though, and I really liked the variety of environments Kid Dracula goes through.
It wasn't all perfect though, since I did some frustrating times with some of the bosses and some parts of the levels. Stage 6's boss can go suck it, because he constantly summons bubbles at you, but you have little room to avoid them, so you'll most likely get knocked back from them and die.
What doesn't help is that you're sent all the way back towards the middle of the level, and that really grinded my gears. I did use plenty of save-states for this one, and I'm not ashamed to admit it.
Gotta be honest, even with the game's cute aesthetic, I didn't really find this game to be all that interesting. If it wasn't frustrating, then it was just leaving me indifferent.
Again, there were things about this game that I liked, like the overall presentation and some parts of the soundtrack, but it really doesn't feel like anything special.
Overall, Kid Dracula is a fine 2D platformer that sometimes left me frustrated, but other times left me with the feeling that I just wanted this to be done, so I could finish all of the games of the Castlevania Anniversary Collection.
Fairly decent platformer all things considered.
I am honestly glad Kid Dracula exists... simply because is a great reminder that Konami once cared about being a videogame company, so much so that it was willing to make a silly spin off of a beloved franchise regarding the son of Dracula
This has the same charm of Cpacom's Pocket Fighters: it's just a silly idea to make fun of the castlevania series while also adding a unique twist to a classic game of the same kinda.
Instead of a belmont, you are a little scrinklo vampire, and as such you got vampire powers: shooting fireballs and tricky projectiles but also turning into a bat or switching the gravity to climb through walls. This is already a really cool moveset for a 2D platformer, that makes this game simple but fun to go through.
While the levels are nothing that complicated, they just ooze personality. the first one is a rendition of the classic dracula castle, with giant pendulums, stairs, candles and giant climbable gears, and a remix of the classic team but not witha more upbeat and cheesy tone.
Then you proceed through a desert, space, snow, flygin ariship a city and you fight the STATUE OF LIBERTY... on a quiz show??? And at the end of each stage you have the chance to play slot machines or to spend money on like sexy dencing witches or something.
It is clear this was like a little side prpject made with love by a team in the company, and the fact that it came out in a solid way is really awesome.
Still, not a great videogame, it's kinda short and especially the last levels ahave a weird difficulty spike, especially for the final bosses, but honestly it was worth my time
Kid Dracula is based. THe fact he appears in the SMash Bros stage is so cool. Now he just need to show up in the netflix series or something
This has the same charm of Cpacom's Pocket Fighters: it's just a silly idea to make fun of the castlevania series while also adding a unique twist to a classic game of the same kinda.
Instead of a belmont, you are a little scrinklo vampire, and as such you got vampire powers: shooting fireballs and tricky projectiles but also turning into a bat or switching the gravity to climb through walls. This is already a really cool moveset for a 2D platformer, that makes this game simple but fun to go through.
While the levels are nothing that complicated, they just ooze personality. the first one is a rendition of the classic dracula castle, with giant pendulums, stairs, candles and giant climbable gears, and a remix of the classic team but not witha more upbeat and cheesy tone.
Then you proceed through a desert, space, snow, flygin ariship a city and you fight the STATUE OF LIBERTY... on a quiz show??? And at the end of each stage you have the chance to play slot machines or to spend money on like sexy dencing witches or something.
It is clear this was like a little side prpject made with love by a team in the company, and the fact that it came out in a solid way is really awesome.
Still, not a great videogame, it's kinda short and especially the last levels ahave a weird difficulty spike, especially for the final bosses, but honestly it was worth my time
Kid Dracula is based. THe fact he appears in the SMash Bros stage is so cool. Now he just need to show up in the netflix series or something