Difference between revisions of "Akumajo Dracula X: Gekka no Yasokyoku"

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'''''{{PAGENAME}}''''' (悪魔城ドラキュラX ~月下の夜想曲~) is an entry in the ''Castlevania'' series released for the [[Sega Saturn]] exclusively in Japan in 1998. Although the title translates closer to '''''Castlevania: Nocturne in the Moonlight''''', most Western gamers know this game as '''''Castlevania: Symphony of the Night''''' — the official English title used for the original [[Sony PlayStation]] version, and all successive re-releases.
 
'''''{{PAGENAME}}''''' (悪魔城ドラキュラX ~月下の夜想曲~) is an entry in the ''Castlevania'' series released for the [[Sega Saturn]] exclusively in Japan in 1998. Although the title translates closer to '''''Castlevania: Nocturne in the Moonlight''''', most Western gamers know this game as '''''Castlevania: Symphony of the Night''''' — the official English title used for the original [[Sony PlayStation]] version, and all successive re-releases.
  
It is a direct sequel to ''[[nec:Akumajo Dracula X: Chi no Rondo|Akumajo Dracula X: Chi no Rondo]]'' for the [[nec:PC Engine|PC Engine]] [[nec:Super CD-ROM²|Super CD-ROM²]], and the second and final ''Castlevania'' game to be released on a [[Sega]] system, following ''[[Castlevania: Bloodlines]]''.
+
It is a direct sequel to ''[[nec:Akumajou Dracula X: Chi no Rondo|Akumajo Dracula X: Chi no Rondo]]'' for the [[nec:PC Engine|PC Engine]] [[nec:Super CD-ROM²|Super CD-ROM²]], and the second and final ''Castlevania'' game to be released on a [[Sega]] system, following ''[[Castlevania: Bloodlines]]''.
  
 
==Gameplay==
 
==Gameplay==

Revision as of 19:33, 14 October 2017


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ADXGnY title.png

Akumajo Dracula X: Gekka no Yasokyoku
System(s): Sega Saturn
Publisher: Konami
Developer:
Sound driver: SCSP (1 track)
Genre: Action

















Number of players: 1
Release Date RRP Code
Sega Saturn
JP
¥3,8003,800 T-9527G

Akumajo Dracula X: Gekka no Yasokyoku (悪魔城ドラキュラX ~月下の夜想曲~) is an entry in the Castlevania series released for the Sega Saturn exclusively in Japan in 1998. Although the title translates closer to Castlevania: Nocturne in the Moonlight, most Western gamers know this game as Castlevania: Symphony of the Night — the official English title used for the original Sony PlayStation version, and all successive re-releases.

It is a direct sequel to Akumajo Dracula X: Chi no Rondo for the PC Engine Super CD-ROM², and the second and final Castlevania game to be released on a Sega system, following Castlevania: Bloodlines.

Gameplay

Akumajo Dracula X: Gekka no Yasokyoku in an action RPG, on which you choose one of three characters: Alucard, the main character, Richter Belmont, previously unlockable in the PlayStation game, and Maria Renard, an exclusive playable character.

Upon choosing Alucard, the game starts at the final battle of the previous game of the series, with improved graphics and a cutscene. In this battle you control Richter Belmont rather than Alucard and if you are about to die, Maria Renard appears to save you. The other characters start straight to the main storyline.

All characters can pause the game ( START ), access a castle map ( START  then L), jump (B), use at least one button to attack (A), back dash (R) — Richter doesn't have a second attack button, nor can back dash — and use the special weapons found in candles (Up+A). Richter and Maria don't feature an options menu brought up by hitting  START  like Alucard, and thus cannot equip or use items other than the special weapons (enemies don't even drop anything but hearts and gold for them).

Holding Up when choosing Richter Belmont gives him different clothing. Idling for a few minutes at the title screen makes Shiina Hekiru (the voice actress who interprets Maria Renard and the fairy familiars) inform the current time of the Saturn's clock.

Playable characters

ADXGnY Alucard portrait.png Alucard (アルカード)
Alucard, real name Adrian Fahrenheit Tepes (アドリアン ファーレンハイツ ツェペシュ), is the 400 years old son of Dracula with an human woman named Lisa (リサ). He is the only character that receives experience and use all items. A and C are used to attack/defend, X, Y and Z are used to Transform Into Mist (霧に変身), Transform Into Bat (コウモリに変身) and Transform Into Wolf (狼に変身), respectively; L uses consumable items. His spells are: Dark Metamorphosis (ダーク メタモルフォーゼ) (LeftUpRightA/C — recovers HP when hitting, with physical attacks, enemies which shed blood), Hellfire (ヘルファイア) (UpDownRightA/C — shoots three fireballs; holding Up upon casting shoots meteors), Summon Spirit (サモン スピリット) (LeftRightUpDownA/C — summons a spirit that chases and hit enemies), Tetra Spirit (テトラ スピリット) (hold Up 3sec, then RightDownA/C) and Soul Steal (ソウル スチール) (LeftRightDownLeftRightA/C — hits everything on screen, recovering HP at the same time).
ADXGnY Richter portrait.png Richter Belmont (リヒター ベルモンド)
Richter's secret outfit.
Richter is a 24 years old member of the Belmont clan of vampire hunters. He attacks with his family's legendary whip — the Vampire Killer, which can be fully extended or flailed in multiple directions (hold A and use the D-pad). His only functional buttons are: A for attacking, Y for Item Crash (using it with no special weapon endows his whip with fire) and B to jump. His moves set includes: Backflip (バック宙返り) (BB), Sliding (スライディング) (Down+B), Drop Kick (ドロップキック) (Down+BB), Uppercut (DownUpB) and Tackle (タックル) (UpDownRightA).
ADXGnY Maria portrait.png Maria Renard (マリア ラーネッド)
Maria is 17 years old and the younger sister of Richter's deceased girlfriend. Rather than wield a weapon she fires a magical shot (A — can be charged up), kicks (C) and invokes the "Four Symbols" (Chinese mythological creatures). Her moves are: Guardians' Knuckle (ガーディアン ズナックル) (DownRightA), Sliding (スライディング) (Down+B), 3-steps Jump (3段ジャンプ) (BBB), Jump Kick (ジャンプキック) (BB, hold Down-left/Down/Down-right, B), High Jump (DownUpB) and Drop Kick (ドロップキック) (RightRightC). Summoning spells are: Recall Suzaku (朱雀 召還) (hold Up 2sec, RightDownA/C — owl familiar), Recall Genbu (玄武 召還) (LeftUpRightA/C — recovers about 1/6 of life), Recall Byakko (白虎 召還) (UpDownRightA/C — powerful flamethrower), Recall Seiryuu (青龍 召還) (LeftRightDownLeftRightA/C — dragon controllable with the D-pad, plus invulnerability for its duration) and Shiseijuu Shoukan (四聖獣 召還) (UpRightDownLeft, hold Up 3sec, Down+A/C — invincibility for 40sec, also causing damage if touched).

Versions

The Saturn version of this game contains various exclusive features including a new playable character (Maria Renard), new items, new enemies (sixteen lesser, a boss, plus Maria Renard if playing as Alucard), two new areas (Cursed Prison and Underground Garden) and a secret outfit for Richter Belmont. A third equippable hand is available to Alucard for equipping usable items such as healing items. A relic known as "God Speed boots" become available to Alucard halfway through the game and allow the player to move faster. Classic Castlevania music is remixed and a couple new tracks have also been recorded.

Unfortunately, the game was badly ported to the system. The PlayStation does not have a 2D graphics mode, instead relying on programmers to turn the 3D mode into a 2D one through the use of polygons and textures. The Saturn contains both 2D and 3D graphics modes, which can be used in conjunction with each other, however the developers of this game did not take advantage of it, forcing the Saturn to render it in the same method as the PlayStation.

The results of the bad port include, among other things, stretched graphics (The PS1 runs the game with a 256x224 screen resolution, while the Saturn goes for 352x240) and other distortions. There are longer loading times, and transparency effects in the Saturn version are also altered as the Saturn cannot handle alpha transparency while dealing with 3D polygons. It is believed that many of these issues could be fixed had the game been altered to play to the Saturn's strengths.

Production credits

Dracula X Nocturne in the Moonlight
  • Cast: Ryoutaroh Okiayu, Kiyoyuki Yanada, Chisa Yokoyama, Norio Wakamoto, Rica Fukami, Masaharu Satoh, Hekiru Shiina, Jyouji Yanami
  • Staff
    • Program: Nobushige Takaki, Yasuhiro Masuoka, Akihiro Shimiz, Hideto Imai
    • Support Program: Hiroaki Atsumi, Yoichi Hayama, Kazuo Taniguchi, Norihide Sugimoto
    • Design: Yoshichika Suzuki, Naoya Tanabe, Yasuko Muraoka, Hiroshi Miyata, Yuki Miyagi
  • Sound Staff
    • (Sound Direction): H.Suzuki
    • (Program): Y.Iwata
    • (Music): T.Ohsono
    • (Music/Sound Effect): J.Karashima
    • (Music): K.Okada
  • Product Design: Tsukasa Hiyoshi
  • Special Thanks: Masaki Tanaka, Atsushi Mishima, Nazha Kondo, Satoko Hayashi, Takahiro Nakayama, Toyohiro Yamada, Noriko Uchida, Sachiko Hara
  • Character Design & Illustration: Ayami Kojima
  • Ending Theme: "I Am The Wind"
    • Staff
      • Produced by: Rika Muranaka
      • Music written by: Rika Muranaka, Tony Haynes, Jeff Lorber
      • Arranged by: Rika Muranaka, Jeff Lorber
      • Recorded by: Jeff Lorber, Robert Chinelli, Eric Greedy At Jhl Studio, Larry Mah At Mad Hatter Recording Studio
      • Mixed by: Al Schmitt At Capitol Recording Studio
    • Musicians
      • (Lead Vocal/Back Chorus): Cynthia Harrell
      • (Keyboards): Jeff Lorber
      • (Keyboards): Rika Muranaka
      • (Bass): Nate Phillips
      • (Drums): John Robinson
      • (Guitar): Michael Tompson
      • (Sax): Gerald Albright
      • (Percussion): Louis Conte
  • Original Staff: Toru Hagihara, Kouji Iga, Gagensai.F, Kousuke Iwakura, Reika Bando, Toshiharu Furukawa, Kimihiro Morishita, Hiroto Yamaguchi, Nobuya Nakazato, Shinichiro Shimamura, Noriyoshi Sato, Kenichiro Imaizumi, Michiru Yamane, O.Kasai, Imohore Imai, Takayuki Fujii, Nishimura Oh.Ya.Zi., Kahori Yamane, Shogo Kumasaka, Yumiko Nozawa, Aoni Production, Arts Vision, 81 Produce, Sigma Seven, Dojinsha, Central Studio, Studio24
  • Producer: Hiroyuki Fukui
  • Director: Hiroshi Miyata
  • © 1997 1998 Konami All Rights Reserved.
  • Developed by KCE Nagoya
Source:
In-game credits[1]


Staff
  • キャラクターデザイン&イラストレーション: 小島 文美
  • エンディングテーマ プロデュース: 村中 りか
  • エンディングテーマ ボーカル: シンシア=ハレル
Cast
  • アルカード: 置鮎 龍太郎
  • リヒター: 梁田 清之
  • マリア: 横山 智佐
  • 深見 梨加
  • 佐藤 正治
  • 椎名 へきる
  • 八奈見 乗児
  • ドラキュラ: 若本 規夫
Source:
JP manual credits[2]

Track list

1. [data track]  
2. CD Warning message (00:14) 
Japan 警告メッセージ
Vocals: Ryoutaroh Okiayu
Running time: 0:14

Magazine articles

Main article: Akumajo Dracula X: Gekka no Yasokyoku/Magazine articles.

Promotional material

Logo-pdf.svg
Print advert in Sega Saturn Magazine (JP) #1997-10: "1997-10 (1997-04-04)" (1997-03-21)
Logo-pdf.svg

Artwork

Physical scans

Sega Retro Average 
Publication Score Source
85 №25, p81
92 №79, p86-87
70 №63, p95[3]
80 №498, p35
88 №7/98, p70[4]
83 №58, p16-17[5]
94 №34, p64-65[6]
73 №1998-20, p198[7]
86 №, p9[8]
Sega Saturn
83
Based on
9 reviews
Sega Retro Average 
Publication Version Score
Ação Games (BR)
95
[9]
Consoles News (FR) NTSC-J
85
[10]
Consoles + (FR) NTSC-J
92
[11]
Edge (UK) NTSC-J
70
[3]
Famitsu (JP) NTSC-J
80
[12]
Gamers' Republic (US) NTSC-J
83
[13]
Joypad (FR) NTSC-J
80
[14]
MAN!AC (DE) NTSC-J
88
[15]
Mega Fun (DE) NTSC-J
79
[16]
neXt Level (DE) NTSC-J
80
[17]
Saturn Fan (JP) NTSC-J
77
[18]
Saturn Fan (JP) NTSC-J
81
[19]
Sega Magazin (DE) NTSC-J
83
[5]
Sega Saturn Magazine (UK) NTSC-J
94
[6]
Sega Saturn Magazine (JP) NTSC-J
73
[7]
Sega Saturn Magazine (JP) NTSC-J
86
[8]
Sega Saturn
83
Based on
16 reviews

Akumajo Dracula X: Gekka no Yasokyoku

Saturn, JP
ADXGnY Saturn JP Box Back.jpgADXGnY Saturn JP Box Front.jpg
Cover
AkumajouDraculaX Saturn JP Spinecard.jpg
Spinecard
AkumajouDraculaX Saturn JP Disc.jpg
Disc
Adxgny sat jp manual.PDF
Manual
AkumajouDraculaX Saturn JP Inlay.jpg
Inlay

References

  1. File:ADXGnY_Saturn_JP_SSEnding.pdf
  2. File:Adxgny sat jp manual.PDF, page 30
  3. 3.0 3.1 File:Edge UK 063.pdf, page 95 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:Edge UK 063.pdf_p95" defined multiple times with different content
  4. File:MAN!AC DE 1998-07.pdf, page 52
  5. 5.0 5.1 File:SegaMagazin DE 58.pdf, page 16 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:SegaMagazin DE 58.pdf_p16" defined multiple times with different content
  6. 6.0 6.1 File:SSM UK 34.pdf, page 64 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:SSM UK 34.pdf_p64" defined multiple times with different content
  7. 7.0 7.1 File:SSM JP 19980703 1998-20.pdf, page 200 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:SSM JP 19980703 1998-20.pdf_p200" defined multiple times with different content
  8. 8.0 8.1 Saturn no Game wa Sekai Ichi~i~i~i!: Satamaga Dokusha Race Zen Kiroku, SoftBank Publishing, page 11 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:SnGwSISDRZK Book JP.pdf_p11" defined multiple times with different content
  9. Ação Games, "Setembro 1998" (BR; 1998-xx-xx), page 52
  10. Consoles News, "Septembre 1998" (FR; 1998-xx-xx), page 81
  11. Consoles +, "Août 1998" (FR; 1998-0x-xx), page 86
  12. Famitsu, "1998-07-03" (JP; 1998-06-19), page 1
  13. Gamers' Republic, "September 1998" (US; 1998-08-18), page 86
  14. Joypad, "Septembre 1998" (FR; 1998-xx-xx), page 80
  15. MAN!AC, "09/98" (DE; 1998-08-05), page 52
  16. Mega Fun, "09/98" (DE; 1998-08-05), page 96
  17. neXt Level, "September 1998" (DE; 1998-08-21), page 71
  18. Saturn Fan, "1998 No. 12" (JP; 1998-06-12), page 142
  19. Saturn Fan, "1998 No. 16" (JP; 1998-08-07), page 70



John Morris sprite Castlevania games for Sega systems
Sega Mega Drive
Castlevania: Bloodlines (1994) | Super Castlevania IV‎ (unreleased)
Sega 32X
Castlevania: The Bloodletting (unreleased)
Sega Saturn
Akumajou Dracula X: Gekka no Yasoukyoku (1998) | Castlevania: The Bloodletting (unreleased)
Sega Dreamcast
Castlevania Resurrection (unreleased)