Dracula’s Castle (Game Gear)

Genre: Maze Developer: Habit Soft Publisher: Game Impact Players: 1 Released: 2021

With the Genesis getting so much new software in the aftermarket, it’s great to see that fans have remembered to show some love to Sega’s 8-bit machines. Lately, the Game Gear has been picking up steam in this department, and while it doesn’t receive the same number of new releases as its 16-bit sibling, things are starting to change. New games are arriving, coming complete with box and manual, and the quality is improving. A lot stays in Japan though, forcing Game Gear owners to suffer high import shipping prices or brave the scalper-infested waters of eBay.

Somewhere in there falls Dracula’s Castle (Dracula no Shiro in Japanese), a 2021 port of the 2019 Game Boy release and one of the several Game Gear and Mega Drive titles sold by Game Impact that can’t be shipped out of Japan for some reason. The portable version retains all the fun of the original and adds only color, so if you’ve played it on Game Boy already, then you might not find enough to warrant another purchase. I still recommend playing it though, given just how much fun the game really is. Single-screen maze games are an underappreciated genre, in my opinion, and it’s refreshing to see developer Habit Soft bring such a quality title to a wider audience.

The story centers around Dracula’s sinister plot to capture Princess Psycho, who hails from a charming 8-bit world. What else can you do but rescue her? To do so, you must navigate through 32 levels, opening three hidden treasure chests to unlock the door to the next area. The treasure chests also offer a mix of goodies, from knives and Princess Psycho’s lost items to powerful fire attacks that can only be used once. Each stage is packed with quick arcade-style battles against a a small group of foes, including bats, werewolves, and mummies. The fire is especially important since it’s the only weapon that can kill the mummies.

Dracula’s Castle can be challenging at first, but once you figure out how the enemy AI works, it gets a bit easier. The enemies seem to wander in set patterns, and they often don’t actively pursue you unless you get too close. In fact, the bats don’t really seem to notice you at all, and the only enemy that locks in is the mummy. If you’re able to get the knife, you’re set, but it is possible to safely wade through all four foes to get to a chest or the door if you time your movements right. The dual portals that appear in some stages don’t really help after a while, as the enemies tend to crowd them. You’ll escape a bat through one portal only to die instantly on the other side because you materialized on the other one. Looking at the screen shots, you’d be inclined to think that the hearts represent a life bar, but they’re actually a timer. That’s right! Along with avoiding the monsters, you have to open the door and entire before your life runs out. I never found myself dying because of it, but it’s another thing to worry about while trying to figure out the enemy patterns.

Even so, my single biggest issue wither Dracula’s Castle is the lack of a password system. Since the locations of all the items in each stage are randomized and you don’t keep anything you collect when you exit, the only thing that would have to be retained is the level you’re on. The game breaks up the 32 stages into chunks of four, showing a neat little Castlevania-style map each time you complete four levels. If the game is already divided into four-stage sections, why not include a password after each one? It’s kind of frustrating to get past level 16 or so, knowing that you’ll have to do it all over again if you shut off your console or run out of continues. That kind of design makes Dracula’s Castle the type of game you play when you have absolutely nothing else to do or nowhere else to be. Sit down, plug in that AC adapter, and get to business. It’s just a shame that there’s no other way.

If you don’t already have the Game Boy release, or if you’re looking for a fun little game to play in short sessions, then you can’t go wrong with Dracula’s Castle. The overall quality of the physical release is worth noting, as well, shipping with a full-color manual and cardboard box. There’s no clamshell case included, however, but it shouldn’t be too hard to find one. The game looks and sounds great, and it’s challenging enough to keep you coming back for more. If you can find a way to purchase it, Dracula’s Castle would be a welcome addition to your Game Gear library.