PixlBit

Vampires and ghouls have never been more adorable

This little spin-off game from the Castlevania series was developed and published by Konami, and released for the Game Boy in 1993. It's a platformer starring the adorable Kid Dracula, and has nothing to do with vampire hunters or magical whips. Instead the little guy sets off on an adventure to defeat the evil Garamoth (we're not told what Garamoth did, but he's evil!). The game may look kiddie, but don't be fooled: it takes real skill.

The game begins with the hooded skeleton dude asking Kid Dracula if he remembers all of those important magic spells. Kid Drac says he's forgotten all of them except one: the bat transformation spell. Kids! Luckily, he'll remember more spells as you go along, and these spells are very important for the gameplay. The controls are simple: A to jump and B to throw fireballs. You can throw said fireballs left, right, and straight up; if you jump, you can also throw them downwards.

You can press Select to change spells. In order to perform a spell, you hold the B button for just a couple seconds and Kid Drac will flash; release the button to do the spell. You start with two spells: the big fireball spell and the bat transformation spell (in which you change into a bat and can fly for about five seconds). As you progress, you'll learn new spells, some of which are very awesome, such as the Bat Attack, the Contra-style spread shot, and the Bat Umbrella (which blocks enemy fire). One spell even lets you walk on the ceiling! These spells are your greatest asset in making progress in your quest to defeat Garamoth.

Levels are a good mix of enemies and platforming. Some enemies can be defeated with just one fireball while others will take several hits. KD really pays homage to the Castlevania series, giving us classic baddies in cute deformed versions. These baddies include Frankenstein, witches, and even Death; there's even a Death battle in which he throws his sythe at you in a spinning formation. (Plus the entire first level pays homage to Castlevania as you make your way through a castle and even a clock tower.) KD even includes some characters not seen in the Castlevania series, such as Jason from Friday the 13th, who you fight as the second level boss.

The levels are varied and creative in design, and each one will give you new challenges. Each level is composed of small sections; when Kid Drac reaches the end of a section, he puts his cape up and smiles (adorable!). The levels really force you to use those magic spells. One part in level two has you running across a collapsing bridge, and thanks to some jumping fish, you won't be able to get across without using your bat transformation spell. Another good example is in level four, in which you must walk on the ceiling to avoid deadly spikes and other hazards.

Besides the excellent use of the spells in levels, the game also has some standout moments, such as the long roller coaster section in level three. It's a fun ride, but you have to watch out for flying turtles and an adorable Zeus fiend who shoots lightning at you (yes, Zeus made it into the game even though he's not a monster). On the downside, Kid Drac can only take three hits before succumbing to death (isn't he already dead?), which makes this adventure a little more than challenging. Luckily, you have unlimited continues, plus KD uses a password system for each level (only four numbers, thank goodness!).

Between levels you can play mini games to try and earn more coins or lives. For coins, you play a game where you guess a number and hope you get that number. Yeah, it's boring. But if you try for lives, you'll choose a mini game via a crystal ball, and these are much more fun, such as the balloon-popping game, in which you bounce up on a pogo stick and try to pop balloons. Completely out of the blue, but fun! By beating some of these mini games, you'll be awarded extra health! Between levels you also get to see a map as Kid Drac slowly makes his way to Garamoth's evil lair.

The bosses in KD are great, but can be tricky. Each boss has more than one phase and takes a lot of hits to defeat. And remember, you can only get hit three times. This means bosses with simple patterns can become frustrating due to minor slip-ups. But the bosses are great, ranging from ghosts, Jason, Death, a giant robot, and even a giant chicken that throws chicks at you! Gah, horrifying!!! But seriously, it's likely you'll spend the most time fighting these giant yet adorable bosses.

The music in KD is awesome, especially for a GB game! These tunes are simply stellar 8-bit chiptune stuff, like the kind of music you'd hear in a Mega Man game, except more adorable. Konami seemed to know how to do good GB music; as I recall, the TMNT games on GB also had astounding chiptunes. Check below for some great music; it will blow you away.

Final Verdict--4 Stars: Recommended

Thanks to excellent level design, cute characters, and great magic spells, Kid Dracula is a standout Game Boy game. The platforming can be a little tricky at times, and the bosses can be tough, but there's plenty of enjoyment to be had here. Plus, everything is just so adorable. KD is also a good length, having eight levels (some of which are quite long), which is impressive for a Game Boy game of this time. And the awesome music is simply the cherry on top of this delicious vampire cake! So check out this game if you get the chance; there's plenty to love.

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