Kid Dracula (Game Boy)

The most fun you can have with your cape on.

JP release: 3rd January 1993
NA release: March 1993
EU release: 1993
AKA: . Akumajō Special: Boku Dracula-kun (Japan)
Developer: Konami
Publisher: Konami
Nintendo Magazine System UK Review: 77%
Platforms: Game Boy
Version Played: Game Boy

The Game Boy conversion of Kid Dracula acts like a sequel to the NES game, with (villain) returning to get revenge on Kid Dracula, turning his minions against him once again. One interesting boast from the villain is that he says Kid Dracula will always be a kid, which fits with my theory that he’s responsible for him not ageing, preventing him from growing up to be Alucard, with time shenanigans resorting Kid Dracula to the past.

Anyway, this game has been adapted to the Game Boy extremely well, with the Mega Man style gameplay working really well on the small game. You do gain a few different abilities, such as a bat attack, an umbrella shield and your bomb attack being required to break blocks, but there’s not much else to say about the gameplay – it’s more of the same, and impressive for a handheld conversion.

The levels, though, mostly use the same themes as the first game (with a few, like New York) missing. They do feel like completely different levels, with layouts that suit the Game Boy and some unique mechanics. One of the new bosses, which involves hitting blocks to make them fly into him, is one of the best boss battles in the two games.

While these two games are nothing groundbreaking, they’re silly and amusing romps with decent gameplay to back it up. There’s some smart ideas and they’re the kind of games to just put a smile on your face.

Fun

However, fancy graphics doth not a great game make, and the fact is that Kid Dracula is a competent if not unremarkable affair. The game itself is very easy, presenting little challenge for experienced platform fans, and that coupled with the large sprites, leads me to the conclusion of the rather overused cliché that this game is probably best suited for younger players.
Nintendo Magazine System UK Issue #7

Remake or remaster?

It would be nice for this to get a re-release.

Official Ways to get the game

There’s no official way to get this version of Kid Dracula.