Vampire Killer 1986

Is it still worth playing?

Konami's 1986 platformer for the MSX2, known in Japan as Akumajō Dracula, a parallel version of the original Castlevania released a month after the Famicom Disk System one. It shares that game's premise, soundtrack, characters and locations, but its structure differs. There are 18 stages with a boss after every third, in labyrinths where you have to find the exit and the skeleton key that unlocks it. Because of the hardware it uses flip screens instead of scrolling. Items and weapons come from candle stands and certain walls, from merchants hidden in the castle and from treasure chests opened with keys. Simon's whip can be swapped for a chain whip, throwing daggers, a battle ax or a battle cross, and he can carry a map, holy water and an hourglass that paralyzes enemies. The castle is still a maze to search and not a line to run.