Barely a month went by between the Famicom Disk and MSX2 versions of Akumajō Dracula. And although they have the same main character, storyline and artwork, they are far from identical. Here the action involves not only slapping the undead about, but also managing specific items and keys. Gold keys open treasure chests, but what you're really after is a single white key - your ticket to the next level. There are dozens of other items, that can either be picked up throughout the levels, or purchased from merchants.
OK. First off, you have to bear in mind that this is an MSX game, and therefore technically quite weak. The screen doesn't scroll, and the gameplay is seriously fringing on the out-of-date. Yet the game somehow manages to hold together by adding a much stronger ‘puzzle’ element to the quest: you don’t necessarily have to kick large quantities of ass here, all you have to do is find the right items, locate the key, and get out.
There aren't that many MSX games out there that have stood the test of time... Yet the MSX Akumajō Dracula is one of the better titles on the old rig, alongside the various iterations of Konami’s own Gradius and Metal Gear series. It is definitely more of a thinking man’s game than its Famicom counterpart, and one heck of a challenge... Most of the later levels have to be memorised well in advance, with a hefty amount of trial and error. Old school, baby, old school...