Bram Stoker's Dracula
Game by Psygnosis/Sony Imagesoft
Reviewed by Robby Cox
koi@magicnet.net
Save: None
Released: 1992
Works with: None
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Opening Snide Remarks: I remember that I was amazed by this game when it was
released.  I certainly am not, now, but it is kinda fun.

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Gameplay Description: Bram Stoker's Dracula is a rather simple side scroller.
You move from left to right while destroying anything that moves and you also
have to make a few jumps.  That's about as complex as the gameplay gets.  It
was really cool back in the day, but it's not that much fun anymore.  One of
the coolest things about this game was the boss that used to be your fiancee.
You have to fight her and she talks the whole time.  She says things like 
"Don't you love me?", "Please Don't", and she also bad mouths you.  When you 
finally beat her, her head goes rolling across the floor and blood goes 
everywhere.  That little bit was revolutionary.  The rest of the game was 
not.  Another reason that the game was likable was that the FMV Cinemas were
full screen.  None of that cropped or letterboxed FMV here.  Of course it 
looked horrible, but it was fullscreen.  Anyways, the game is somewhat fun, 
but it doesn't last very long.   
Liked: Cool gameplay elements.
Hated: Extremely formulaic.

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Graphics Description: BSD has some great graphics for a 16 bit machine.  The 
graphics are 2-D sprites on FMV backgrounds.  The only problem with this game
is that the entire game is letterboxed.  It's not that noticeable when you're
playing, but the screen is small.  The FMV cinemas are pitiful.  The sprites 
are rather lame and simple. 
Liked: The FMV backgrounds.
Hated: Ugly sprite and the horrible FMV cinemas.

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Sound/Music Description: This was one of those games that showed what a CD 
game could sound like.  It features classical music from the movie and it 
sounds amazing.  The speech is clear as a bell, as well.  The sound fx are 
pretty simple.   
Liked: Amazing music.
Hated: Nothing.

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Play Control/Game Design: The controls are okay.  They're simple and are 
pretty responsive.  You will curse them when you miss a jump, but you will 
get used to them.  The game design is okay, I guess. 
Liked: Good controls.
Hated: Nothing.

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Improve: Better FMV.

RIYL: I really don't know what to say...maybe Demoliton Man(3DO).  It's an 
excellent movie to game translation.  Oh yeah, Goldeneye 007 is too.  

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Final Words: Bram Stoker's Dracula is an okay game that really didn't deserve
the beating that it took from the critics.  It's certainly isn't a classic,
but it's fun in a limited way.  

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Score
Gameplay: **
Graphics: ***
Sound/Music: *****
Play Control/Game Design: **
Personal Opinion: **
Total: 14 out of 25
Final Score: 64 %

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Currently Known Codes: None.

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