Master of Darkness
From Sega Retro
Master of Darkness | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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System(s): Sega Master System, Sega Game Gear | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Publisher: Sega Enterprises, Ltd. (Europe) Sega Corporation (US, Europe) SIMS (Japan) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Developer: SIMS, Sega CS M2[1] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Distributor: Tec Toy (BR) Zegetron (GR) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Genre: Action[2][3][4][5] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Number of players: 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Master of Darkness, known in Japan as In the Wake of Vampire (イン ザ ウエイク オブ バンパイア) and in the United States as Vampire: Master of Darkness, is a Sega Game Gear action platform game developed by SIMS. Highly derivative of the 1986 Konami game Castlevania, it was first published in Japan by the developer themselves in October 1992 (a week before Halloween), and was brought to the United States, Europe, and Brazil the following year. Later in July 2012, developer M2 ported the Game Gear version to the Nintendo 3DS' Virtual Console service.
In 1993, the same developer ported Master of Darkness to the Sega Master System, where it retained its original name.
Contents
Story
In 19th century London, the young psychologist Dr. Ferdinand Social has been investigating paranormal activity and believes that the vampire Count Dracula is behind a series of killings that have been attributed to Jack the Ripper. However, Jack the Ripper is indeed responsible, for he is using the victim's bodies and fresh blood for sacrificial offerings, as part of a dark ritual being performed by Count Massen to resurrect Dracula. Also taking some part in the murders and the dark ritual is a mysterious Psychic Girl, who is possessed by an evil Skull Spirit. Dr. Social must traverse through Victorian England to locate and defeat the vampire, fighting many monsters along the way.
Gameplay
The game is an action platformer derivative of Konami's popular Castlevania series. The player controls a psychologist named Dr. Ferdinand Social as he investigates a series of killings in Victorian England. He battles supernatural monsters through five rounds, which are divided into three stages each. At the end of each round is a boss, a person with connection to the murders and a dark ritual, who must be defeated. The story is progressed through short cutscenes between each round. Dr. Social walks with or and kneels with . He can move while kneeling with or . He walks up staircases with or and down staircases with or .
Enemies the player must fight include zombies, bats, dogs, wolves, poltergeists, skeleton knights, magical sword-wielding wizards, owls, and ghost maidens. Enemies respawn frequently. Dr. Social's primary attack is a close-combat weapon such as a knife or a saber, which is used with . The primary attack can be done while kneeling or jumping. He can also use secondary weapons, which are long-range weapons such as pistols or bombs with limited ammunition, by pressing +. Secondary weapons can also be used while in midair. The player can only possess one type of primary and secondary weapon. Picking up a new weapon means it automatically replaces the previous weapon in the player's inventory. Picking up the same type of secondary weapon gives more ammunition; picking up a different weapon loses any ammunition for the previous weapon.
Dr. Social has eight health globes, which are diminished as he takes damage from enemies. If he loses all of his health, he loses a life and must start the stage over from the beginning. Each stage is timed, and Dr. Social loses a life if he runs out of time as well. The game ends if he loses all of his lives, but the player has unlimited continues. He can collect items that restore his health or give him extra lives. Some walls are destructible and reveal hidden items or pathways.
Weapons
Primary
Dagger | |
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The starting weapon. Short reach and only does 1 point of damage. | |
Saber | |
Long reach and does 2 points of damage. | |
Stake | |
Long reach and does 3 points of damage. | |
Axe | |
Medium reach but does 4 points of damage. |
Secondary
Pistol | |
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Shoots silver bullets horizontally. Comes with 16 rounds. | |
Bomb | |
Bombs that are thrown parabolically. Comes with 8 bombs. | |
Boomerang | |
Boomerangs that attack enemies coming or going (but can only attack once per throw since it disappears after hitting an enemy). Comes with 15 boomerangs. | |
Projectile | |
Shoots a horizontal projectile that does 4 points of damage. Comes with 8 projectiles. |
Items
Mask | |
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Destroy to release an item or weapon. | |
Bonus Globes | |
Provide bonus points: pink gives 300 points, grey gives 500 points, red gives 1,000 points, and black gives 2,000 points. | |
Emerald | |
Destroys all enemies on the screen. | |
Life Potion | |
Restores four health points. | |
Voodoo Doll | |
Gives the player an extra life. |
Rounds
Thames River | |
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Maps: 1️⃣ | 2️⃣ | 3️⃣
Boss: Jack the Ripper | |
The House of Wax Dolls | |
Maps: 1️⃣ | 2️⃣ | 3️⃣
Boss: Psychic Girl | |
Epitaph | |
Maps: 1️⃣ | 2️⃣ | 3️⃣
Boss: Count Massen | |
The stage is a cemetery that leads to the Castle of Count Massen. | |
Laboratory | |
Maps: 1️⃣ | 2️⃣ | 3️⃣
Boss: Count Massen | |
The stage is a laboratory within Count Massen's Castle. | |
In the Wake of Dracula | |
Map: 1️⃣
Boss: Count Dracula | |
The stage is a dungeon-like labyrinth within Castle Dracula, inside a forest of Transylvania. |
Versions
Localised names
Language | Localised Name | English Translation |
---|---|---|
English | Master of Darkness | Master of Darkness |
English (US) | Vampire: Master of Darkness | Vampire: Master of Darkness |
Japanese | イン ザ ウエイク オブ バンパイア | In the Wake of Vampire |
Production credits
Magazine articles
- Main article: Master of Darkness/Magazine articles.
Promotional material
also published in:
- Hobby Consolas (ES) #18: "Marzo 1993" (1993-xx-xx)[20]
Physical scans
Master System version
Sega Retro Average | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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|
72 | |
---|---|
Based on 20 reviews |
Master System, EU (Classic Master System) |
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Game Gear version
Sega Retro Average | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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|
74 | |
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Based on 18 reviews |
Technical information
ROM dump status
External links
References
- ↑ https://www.mtwo.co.jp/development/retrogame-2/#tab-4
- ↑ File:MasterofDarkness GG EU Box Back.jpg
- ↑ File:MasterofDarkness GG JP Box Front.jpg
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 http://sega.jp/fb/segahard/gg/soft_licensee.html (Wayback Machine: 2013-01-01 20:24)
- ↑ File:MasterofDarkness SMS EU Box.jpg
- ↑ Sega Visions, "June/July 1993" (US; 1993-xx-xx), page 97
- ↑ Sega Pro, "July 1993" (UK; 1993-06-10), page 18
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 Sega Force, "April 1993" (UK; 1993-03-04), page 96
- ↑ Sega Pro, "Juni 1993" (DE; 1993-05-28), page 57
- ↑ Computer Trade Weekly, "" (UK; 1994-08-15), page 10
- ↑ File:SundayMirror UK 1992-12-13 34.jpg
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 Mean Machines Sega, "December 1992" (UK; 1992-11-xx), page 114
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 http://vc.sega.jp:80/3ds/vampire/index.html (Wayback Machine: 2013-03-13 09:33)
- ↑ 14.0 14.1 http://www.nintendo.com:80/games/detail/f6jkUHw0HacOmfJPyAsEansDiGVt-pFB (Wayback Machine: 2013-07-07 01:03)
- ↑ https://www.nintendo.fr/Jeux/SEGA-Game-Gear/Vampire-Master-of-Darkness-774559.html (archive.today)
- ↑ 16.0 16.1 16.2 http://www.nintendolife.com/games/gamegear/vampire_master_of_darkness (Wayback Machine: 2017-07-04 11:40)
- ↑ https://www.nintendo.co.uk/Games/SEGA-Game-Gear/Vampire-Master-of-Darkness-774559.html (archive.today)
- ↑ https://www.nintendo.de/Spiele/SEGA-Game-Gear/Vampire-Master-of-Darkness-774559.html (archive.today)
- ↑ File:Master of Darkness SMS credits.pdf
- ↑ Hobby Consolas, "Marzo 1993" (ES; 1993-xx-xx), page 15
- ↑ Consoles +, "Février 1993" (FR; 1993-0x-xx), page 134
- ↑ Mean Machines: The Essential Sega Guide, "" (UK; 1993-11-18), page 144
- ↑ Game Mania, "May 1993" (UK; 1993-xx-xx), page 81
- ↑ HiScore, "15 Juli - 15 September" (DK; 1993-07-15), page 18
- ↑ Hobby Consolas, "Diciembre 1992" (ES; 1992-xx-xx), page 158
- ↑ Joypad, "Octobre 1992" (FR; 1992-10-xx), page 80
- ↑ Joypad, "Janvier 1993" (FR; 199x-xx-xx), page 159
- ↑ Joystick, "Octobre 1992" (FR; 1992-xx-xx), page 149
- ↑ Mega Force, "Octobre 1992" (FR; 1992-xx-xx), page 70
- ↑ Micromanía (segunda época), "Febrero 1993" (ES; 1993-0x-xx), page 50
- ↑ Player One, "Janvier/Février 1993" (FR; 1993-01-10), page 130
- ↑ ProGames, "Julho 1993" (BR; 1993-0x-xx), page 32
- ↑ Sega News, "Prosinec 1996" (CZ; 1996-1x-xx), page 33
- ↑ Sega Power, "December 1992" (UK; 1992-11-05), page 34
- ↑ Sega Pro, "May 1993" (UK; 1993-04-08), page 63
- ↑ Sega Zone, "December 1992" (UK; 1992-11-xx), page 64
- ↑ Sega Force, "December 1992" (UK; 1992-11-05), page 74
- ↑ Supersonic, "Novembre 1992" (FR; 1992-xx-xx), page 24
- ↑ Video Games, "1/93" (DE; 1992-12-16), page 104
- ↑ Alaab Alcomputtar, "" (SA; 1995-08-xx), page 74
- ↑ Beep! MegaDrive, "November 1992" (JP; 1992-10-08), page 29
- ↑ Consoles +, "Juin 1993" (FR; 1993-0x-xx), page 141
- ↑ Game Power, "Maggio 1993" (IT; 1993-0x-xx), page 97
- ↑ Gamers, "Oktober/November 1993" (DE; 1993-09-24), page 54
- ↑ Hippon Super, "December 1992" (JP; 1992-11-04), page 82
- ↑ Joypad, "Juin 1993" (FR; 1993-0x-xx), page 153
- ↑ Mega Force, "Juin 1993" (FR; 1993-0x-xx), page 106
- ↑ Mega Fun, "08/93" (DE; 1993-07-21), page 91
- ↑ Player One, "Juin/Juillet 1993" (FR; 1993-06-10), page 106
- ↑ Power Unlimited, "Nummer 2, September 1993" (NL; 1993-08-19), page 57
- ↑ Sega Power, "August 1993" (UK; 1993-07-01), page 64
- ↑ Sega Pro, "July 1993" (UK; 1993-06-10), page 64
- ↑ Sega Zone, "April 1993" (UK; 1993-03-11), page 54
- ↑ Sega Force, "4/93" (SE; 1993-07-08), page 22
- ↑ Sega Saturn Magazine, "September 1995" (JP; 1995-08-08), page 88
- ↑ Sonic the Comic, "24th July 1993" (UK; 1993-07-24), page 10
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