Difference between revisions of "Bram Stoker's Dracula (Mega-CD)"

Revision as of 06:29, 29 September 2024

For other games with the same name, see Bram Stoker's Dracula.

n/a

Bram Stoker's Dracula

System(s): Sega Mega-CD

Publisher: Sony Imagesoft

Developer: Psygnosis

Distributor: Tec Toy (BR)

Licensor: Columbia Pictures

Genre: Action

Number of players: 1

Release	Date	RRP	Code
US	1993-11^[1]	$59.9559.95^[2]	T-93065
BR	1994		063050

Bram Stoker's Dracula is a Sega Mega-CD full-motion video action platform game developed by Psygnosis and published by Sony Imagesoft. Based on the 1992 horror film Bram Stoker's Dracula, it was released exclusively in the United States in November 1993^[1] and is most notable for representing its stage backgrounds with a stream of pre-rendered, scrolling full-motion video and for its Mortal Kombat-like digitized character sprites.

Story

Dracula has cast a curse on Mina Murray. Jonathan Harker must journey to Castle Dracula and drive a stake through the heart of its vampire lord to save her from an eternal fate as a vampiress.

Gameplay

The game is a side-scrolling beat-'em-up played as Jonathan Harker. Harker can move around with and and duck with . The screen follows him as he moves right but cannot scroll back left. He can jump straight into the air with alone or forward a set distance when coupled with or . His motion cannot be controlled while in midair.

Harker can punch and kick enemies. Punches are performed with ; he can punch while crouching with + and do a two-hit combo punch by pressing twice in quick succession. He does a low kick with and a high kick with + (or + if facing toward the left). He can also do a jumping kick with +, which can be used to attack enemies coming from above, and a roundhouse kick with +.

Harker has a health bar that goes down whenever he takes damage from an enemy. His health is carried over to the next stage. If he loses all of his health, he loses a life, though the player can revive him immediately and in place by pressing START if there are extra lives remaining. If the player runs out of lives, the game ends, though it can be continued from the beginning of the stage if there are continues remaining. The game has no password or save system.

Stages are largely linear and involve progressing to the end and beating up enemies along the way. There are occasionally small platforming challenges, such as chasms that must be jumped across or flying objects that must be avoided. Some stages feature branching paths. For example, the player can avoid the library section in the second stage by pressing while walking under a silver orb, which causes the view to pivot to another path. Most of the stages end in a fight with Dracula, who takes various forms.

Items

Items sometimes drop from the sky as a reward for defeating a string of enemies. Walk over to collect.

	Harker
	Gives the player an extra life.
	Book
	Gives the player an extra continue.
	Chalice
	Fully replenishes Harker's health.
	Garlic
	Grants Harker temporarily invulnerability.

Stages

	Journey to Castle Dracula

	The Search for Dracula

	Into the Dungeons

	The Grounds of Hillingham House

	Arrival at Carfax Abbey

	The Chase to the Castle
	This stage is played on horseback and departs from the others in both gameplay and art style. In the first segment, use and to dodge stalactites, stalagmites, and bats in the cave. In the second segment, Harker is pursuing Dracula. speeds up, jumps, and fires a gun.
	The Final Confrontation

Versions

There are two versions of this game. The first version was released as a stand alone title, while the second version came as part of the Mary Shelley's Frankenstein / Bram Stoker's Dracula bundle. Content-wise, these versions are identical; however, the bundled version seems to be much less prone to in-game freezing, a serious problem in an over hour-long game lacking a save feature. A planned European version^[3] failed to see release.

Production credits

Sony Imagesoft

Producer: Rich Robinson
Assistant Producer: Nathan Rose

Sony Electronic Publishing Company

Olaf Olafsson
Lester Greenman
Peter Dille
Jeff Benjamin

Columbia Pictures Merchandising

Lester Borden
Susan Christison
Cathy Vivaro

American Zoetrope

Francis Ford Coppola
Fred Fuchs
Roman Coppola

Psygnosis

Producer: Nik Wild
Third Party Liason: Ian Grieve
Programming Team: Paul Frewin, Gavin Dodd, David Berrisford, Dominic Mallinson, Stuart Sargaison, Chris Wylie
Art Team Leader: Neil Thompson
3D Modelling: Neil Thompson, Lee Carus-Westcott
Bitmap Graphics: Lee Carus-Westcott, Mike Waterworth, Chris Moore, Neal Sutton, Neil Thompson, Louise Smith
Music and Effects Coordination: Phil Morris
CD Music: Steve Hilliker
Sampling and SFX: Mike Clarke, Tim Wright
Original Visual Concept: Jim Bowers, Neil Thompson
Original Document: Nik Wild
Original Game Design: Tony Parkes
Costumes: Nicky Carus-Wescott
Characters:
- Van Hesling: Jeff Bramfitt
- Harker: Lee Carus-Westcott
- Dracula: Lee Carus-Westcott
- Brides: Nicky Carus-Westcott
- Renfield: Neil Thompson

Additional Development

Programming: David Berrisford, Michael Anthony, Mark Andrew Kelly
Artwork: Lee Carus-Westcott, Lousie Smith, Graham Potts
In Game Music: Mike Clarke
Design and Gameplay Direction: Hammer and Tongs

Source:

In-game credits^[4]

Magazine articles

Main article: Bram Stoker's Dracula (Mega-CD)/Magazine articles.

Promotional material

Print advert in Electronic Gaming Monthly (US) #45: "April 1993" (1993-xx-xx)

Print advert in Sega Visions (US) #14: "August/September 1993" (1993-xx-xx)

Print advert in Sega Visions (US) #15: "October/November 1993" (1993-xx-xx)

Print advert in Computer & Video Games (UK) #145: "December 1993" (1993-11-15)

Print advert in Consoles + (FR) #25: "Novembre 1993" (1993-1x-xx)

Physical scans

Sega Retro Average

Publication

Version

Score

Electronic Gaming Monthly (US)

NTSC-U

53

^[5]

GamePro (US)

NTSC-U

60

^[2]

Mega (UK)

PAL

49

^[6]

Mega (UK)

PAL

25

^[7]

Mega Action (UK)

NTSC-U

70

^[8]

Mega Force (FR)

74

^[9]

Mean Machines Sega (UK)

PAL

51

^[10]

Sega Power (UK)

PAL

45

^[11]

Sega Power (UK)

PAL

41

^[12]

Sega Pro (UK)

NTSC-U

76

^[13]

Sega Zone (UK)

PAL

28

^[14]

Todo Sega (ES)

84

^[15]

Video Games (DE)

PAL

18

^[16]

VideoGames (US)

NTSC-U

70

^[17]

	53
Based on 14 reviews

Bram Stoker's Dracula (Mega-CD)

Mega-CD, US
Cover
Disc Manual Reg Card

Mega-CD, BR
Cover
Disc

Technical information

Main article: Bram Stoker's Dracula (Mega-CD)/Technical information.

References

Bram Stoker's Dracula (Mega-CD)
	Main page \| Maps \| Hidden content \| Magazine articles \| Video coverage \| Reception \| Technical information No results

[:File:GamePro_US_052.pdf_p213-1] 1.0 ^1.1 GamePro, "November 1993" (US; 1993-xx-xx), page 213

[:File:GamePro_US_055.pdf_p78-2] 2.0 ^2.1 GamePro, "February 1994" (US; 199x-xx-xx), page 78

[:File:SegaPro_UK_27.pdf_p100-3] Sega Pro, "Xmas Special 1993" (UK; 1993-12-02), page 100

[:File:Bram_Stoker.27s_Dracula_MCD_credits.pdf_p-4] File:Bram Stoker's Dracula MCD credits.pdf

[:File:EGM_US_054.pdf_p46-5] Electronic Gaming Monthly, "January 1994" (US; 199x-xx-xx), page 46

[:File:Mega_UK_15.pdf_p59-6] Mega, "December 1993" (UK; 1993-11-18), page 59

[:File:Mega_UK_10.pdf_p40-7] Mega, "July 1993" (UK; 1993-06-17), page 40

[:File:MegaAction_UK_09.pdf_p44-8] Mega Action, "January 1994" (UK; 1993-12-30), page 44

[:File:MegaForce_FR_24.pdf_p100-9] Mega Force, "Janvier 1994" (FR; 1994-01-08), page 100

[:File:MeanMachinesSega10UK.pdf_p80-10] Mean Machines Sega, "August 1993" (UK; 1993-06-30), page 80

[:File:SegaPower_UK_49.pdf_p84-11] Sega Power, "December 1993" (UK; 1993-11-xx), page 84

[:File:SegaPower_UK_44.pdf_p48-12] Sega Power, "July 1993" (UK; 1993-06-03), page 48

[:File:SegaPro_UK_29.pdf_p42-13] Sega Pro, "March 1994" (UK; 1994-01-27), page 42

[:File:SegaZone_UK_14.pdf_p62-14] Sega Zone, "December 1993" (UK; 1993-11-25), page 62

[:File:TodoSega_ES_10.pdf_p72-15] Todo Sega, "Enero 1994" (ES; 199x-xx-xx), page 72

[:File:VideoGames_DE_1994-03.pdf_p73-16] Video Games, "3/94" (DE; 1994-02-23), page 73

[:File:VideoGames_US_63.pdf_p82-17] VideoGames, "April 1994" (US; 1994-0x-xx), page 82

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[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

[7]

[8]

[9]

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[11]

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Difference between revisions of "Bram Stoker's Dracula (Mega-CD)"

From Sega Retro

Revision as of 06:29, 29 September 2024

Contents

Story

Gameplay

Items

Stages

Versions

Production credits

Magazine articles

Promotional material

Physical scans

Technical information

References

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-{{sub-stub}}
+{{OtherPage|desc=other games with the same name|page=Bram Stoker's Dracula}}
 {{Bob
 | bobscreen=Dracula MCD title.png
@@ Line 5: / Line 5: @@
 | publisher=[[Sony Imagesoft]]
 | developer=[[Psygnosis]]
+| distributor={{company|[[Tec Toy]]|region=BR}}
+| licensor=[[Columbia Pictures]]
 | system=[[Sega Mega-CD]]
-| romsize=422MB
 | sounddriver=
 | peripherals=
@@ Line 12: / Line 13: @@
 | genre=Action
 | releases={{releasesMCD
-| mcd_date_us=1993-11{{fileref|GamePro US 052.pdf|page=213}}
+| mcd_date_us=1993-11{{magref|gamepro|52|213}}
-| mcd_rrp_us=59.95{{fileref|GamePro US 055.pdf|page=78}}
+| mcd_rrp_us=59.95{{magref|gamepro|55|78}}
 | mcd_code_us=T-93065
+| mcd_rating_us=ma13
 | mcd_date_br=1994
+| mcd_code_br=063050
 }}
-| vrc=ma13
 }}
-'''''Bram Stoker's Dracula''''' for the [[Sega Mega-CD]] is a video game based on [[wikipedia:Bram Stoker's Dracula|the movie of the same name]]. Though it shares the same title, it is not related to the [[Bram Stoker's Dracula (Mega Drive)|Sega Mega Drive game]] by [[Traveller's Tales]] or the [[Bram Stoker's Dracula (8-bit)|Sega Master System and Sega Game Gear game]] by [[Probe]]. The Mega-CD version was only released in the Americas.
+'''''Bram Stoker's Dracula''''' is a [[Sega Mega-CD]] [[full-motion video]] action platform game developed by [[Psygnosis]] and published by [[Sony Imagesoft]]. Based on the 1992 horror film ''[[wikipedia:Bram Stoker's Dracula (1992 film)|Bram Stoker's Dracula]]'', it was released exclusively in the United States in November 1993{{magref|gamepro|52|213}} and is most notable for representing its stage backgrounds with a stream of pre-rendered, scrolling full-motion video and for its ''[[Mortal Kombat]]''-like digitized character sprites.
-Considering the time it was released, the game was a bit of a curiosity as it streams video sequences to create the background. The backgrounds were likely pre-rendered in a 3D software studio, while most of the characters were digitized, as also seen in [[Mortal Kombat]].
+==Story==
+Dracula has cast a curse on Mina Murray. Jonathan Harker must journey to Castle Dracula and drive a stake through the heart of its vampire lord to save her from an eternal fate as a vampiress.
-There are two versions of this game. The first version was released as a stand alone title, while the second version came as part of the ''[[Mary Shelley's Frankenstein / Bram Stoker's Dracula]]'' bundle. Content wise these versions are identical, however, the bundled version seems to be much less prone to in-game freezing, a serious problem in this over one hour long game lacking a save feature.
+==Gameplay==
+The game is a side-scrolling beat-'em-up played as Jonathan Harker. Harker can move around with {{left}} and {{right}} and duck with {{down}}. The screen follows him as he moves right but cannot scroll back left. He can jump straight into the air with {{C}} alone or forward a set distance when coupled with {{left}} or {{right}}. His motion cannot be controlled while in midair.
-==Gameplay==
+Harker can punch and kick enemies. Punches are performed with {{B}}; he can punch while crouching with {{down}}+{{B}} and do a two-hit combo punch by pressing {{B}} twice in quick succession. He does a low kick with {{C}} and a high kick with {{right}}+{{C}} (or {{left}}+{{C}} if facing toward the left). He can also do a jumping kick with {{up}}+{{C}}, which can be used to attack enemies coming from above, and a roundhouse kick with {{B}}+{{C}}.
-Side scrolling action similar to the [[Irem]] classic "Kung Fu master". {{A}} is for punches, {{B}} is for kicks and {{C}} jumps. {{up}} + {{C}} is a jump kick focusing on enemies coming from straight above.
-Some stages feature branching paths, e.g. hold up + forward while walking under the silver orb in stage 2 to avoid the library section in favour of an hallway.
+Harker has a health bar that goes down whenever he takes damage from an enemy. His health is carried over to the next stage. If he loses all of his health, he loses a life, though the player can revive him immediately and in place by pressing {{Start}} if there are extra lives remaining. If the player runs out of lives, the game ends, though it can be continued from the beginning of the stage if there are continues remaining. The game has no password or save system.
+Stages are largely linear and involve progressing to the end and beating up enemies along the way. There are occasionally small platforming challenges, such as chasms that must be jumped across or flying objects that must be avoided. Some stages feature branching paths. For example, the player can avoid the library section in the second stage by pressing {{upright}} while walking under a silver orb, which causes the view to pivot to another path. Most of the stages end in a fight with Dracula, who takes various forms.
+===Items===
+Items sometimes drop from the sky as a reward for defeating a string of enemies. Walk over to collect.
+{{InfoTable|imagewidths=50|
+{{InfoRow
+| title=Harker
+| sprite={{sprite | Bram Stoker's Dracula CD, Items.png | 2 | crop_width=16 | crop_height=16 | crop_x=0 | crop_y=0}}
+| desc=Gives the player an extra life.
+}}
+{{InfoRow
+| title=Book
+| sprite={{sprite | Bram Stoker's Dracula CD, Items.png | 2 | crop_width=16 | crop_height=16 | crop_x=16 | crop_y=0}}
+| desc=Gives the player an extra continue.
+}}
+{{InfoRow
+| title=Chalice
+| sprite={{sprite | Bram Stoker's Dracula CD, Items.png | 2 | crop_width=16 | crop_height=16 | crop_x=32 | crop_y=0}}
+| desc=Fully replenishes Harker's health.
+}}
+{{InfoRow
+| title=Garlic
+| sprite=
+| desc=Grants Harker temporarily invulnerability.
+}}
+}}
+===Stages===
+{{InfoTable|imagewidths=320|
+{{InfoRow
+| title=Journey to Castle Dracula
+| screenshot=Bram Stoker's Dracula CD, Stage 1-1.png
+| screenshot2=Bram Stoker's Dracula CD, Stage 1-2.png
+| screenshot3=Bram Stoker's Dracula CD, Stage 1-3.png
+| screenshot4=Bram Stoker's Dracula CD, Stage 1-4.png
+| tabs=yes
+| desc=
+}}
+{{InfoRow
+| title=The Search for Dracula
+| screenshot=Bram Stoker's Dracula CD, Stage 2-1.png
+| screenshot2=Bram Stoker's Dracula CD, Stage 2-2.png
+| screenshot3=Bram Stoker's Dracula CD, Stage 2-3.png
+| screenshot4=Bram Stoker's Dracula CD, Stage 2-4.png
+| tabs=yes
+| desc=
+}}
+{{InfoRow
+| title=Into the Dungeons
+| screenshot=Bram Stoker's Dracula CD, Stage 3-1.png
+| screenshot2=Bram Stoker's Dracula CD, Stage 3-2.png
+| screenshot3=Bram Stoker's Dracula CD, Stage 3-3.png
+| screenshot4=Bram Stoker's Dracula CD, Stage 3-4.png
+| tabs=yes
+| desc=
+}}
+{{InfoRow
+| title=The Grounds of Hillingham House
+| screenshot=Bram Stoker's Dracula CD, Stage 4-1.png
+| screenshot2=Bram Stoker's Dracula CD, Stage 4-2.png
+| screenshot3=Bram Stoker's Dracula CD, Stage 4-3.png
+| screenshot4=Bram Stoker's Dracula CD, Stage 4-4.png
+| tabs=yes
+| desc=
+}}
+{{InfoRow
+| title=Arrival at Carfax Abbey
+| screenshot=Bram Stoker's Dracula CD, Stage 5-1.png
+| screenshot2=Bram Stoker's Dracula CD, Stage 5-2.png
+| screenshot3=Bram Stoker's Dracula CD, Stage 5-3.png
+| screenshot4=Bram Stoker's Dracula CD, Stage 5-4.png
+| tabs=yes
+| desc=
+}}
+{{InfoRow
+| title=The Chase to the Castle
+| screenshot=Bram Stoker's Dracula CD, Stage 6-1.png
+| screenshot2=Bram Stoker's Dracula CD, Stage 6-2.png
+| tabs=yes
+| desc=This stage is played on horseback and departs from the others in both gameplay and art style. In the first segment, use {{left}} and {{right}} to dodge stalactites, stalagmites, and bats in the cave. In the second segment, Harker is pursuing Dracula. {{repeat|{{A}}}} speeds up, {{B}} jumps, and {{C}} fires a gun.
+}}
+{{InfoRow
+| title=The Final Confrontation
+| screenshot=Bram Stoker's Dracula CD, Stage 7-1.png
+| screenshot2=Bram Stoker's Dracula CD, Stage 7-2.png
+| screenshot3=Bram Stoker's Dracula CD, Stage 7-3.png
+| screenshot4=Bram Stoker's Dracula CD, Stage 7-4.png
+| tabs=yes
+| desc=
+}}
+}}
+==Versions==
+There are two versions of this game. The first version was released as a stand alone title, while the second version came as part of the ''[[Mary Shelley's Frankenstein / Bram Stoker's Dracula]]'' bundle. Content-wise, these versions are identical; however, the bundled version seems to be much less prone to in-game freezing, a serious problem in an over hour-long game lacking a save feature. A planned European version{{magref|segapro|27|100}} failed to see release.
+==Production credits==
+{{multicol|
+{{creditstable|
+{{creditsheader|[[Sony Imagesoft]]}}
+*'''Producer:''' Rich Robinson
+*'''Assistant Producer:''' Nathan Rose
+{{creditsheader|Sony Electronic Publishing Company}}
+*Olaf Olafsson
+*Lester Greenman
+*Peter Dille
+*Jeff Benjamin
+{{creditsheader|Columbia Pictures Merchandising}}
+*Lester Borden
+*Susan Christison
+*Cathy Vivaro
+{{creditsheader|American Zoetrope}}
+*Francis Ford Coppola
+*Fred Fuchs
+*Roman Coppola
+{{creditsheader|[[Psygnosis]]}}
+*'''Producer:''' Nik Wild
+*'''Third Party Liason:''' Ian Grieve
+*'''Programming Team:''' Paul Frewin, Gavin Dodd, David Berrisford, Dominic Mallinson, Stuart Sargaison, Chris Wylie
+*'''Art Team Leader:''' Neil Thompson
+*'''3D Modelling:''' Neil Thompson, Lee Carus-Westcott
+*'''Bitmap Graphics:''' Lee Carus-Westcott, Mike Waterworth, Chris Moore, Neal Sutton, Neil Thompson, Louise Smith
+*'''Music and Effects Coordination:''' Phil Morris
+*'''CD Music:''' Steve Hilliker
+*'''Sampling and SFX:''' Mike Clarke, Tim Wright
+*'''Original Visual Concept:''' Jim Bowers, Neil Thompson
+*'''Original Document:''' Nik Wild
+*'''Original Game Design:''' Tony Parkes
+*'''Costumes:''' Nicky Carus-Wescott
+*'''Characters:'''
+**Van Hesling: Jeff Bramfitt
+**Harker: Lee Carus-Westcott
+**Dracula: Lee Carus-Westcott
+**Brides: Nicky Carus-Westcott
+**Renfield: Neil Thompson
+{{creditsheader|Additional Development}}
+*'''Programming:''' David Berrisford, Michael Anthony, Mark Andrew Kelly
+*'''Artwork:''' Lee Carus-Westcott, Lousie Smith, Graham Potts
+*'''In Game Music:''' Mike Clarke
+*'''Design and Gameplay Direction:''' Hammer and Tongs
+|source=In-game credits
+|pdf=Bram Stoker's Dracula MCD credits.pdf
+|console=MCD
+}}
+}}
 ==Magazine articles==
@@ Line 33: / Line 183: @@
 ==Promotional material==
-<gallery>
-File:Dracula MCD US PrintAdvert.jpg|US print advert
-</gallery>
 {{gallery
+|{{galleryPrintAd
+|egm|45|17
+}}
+|{{galleryPrintAd
+|sv|14|22-23
+}}
 |{{GalleryPrintAd
-|SegaVisions US 15.pdf|sv|15|85
+|sv|15|85
+}}
+|{{galleryPrintAd
+|cvg|145|45
 }}
 |{{galleryPrintAd
-|CVG UK 145.pdf|cvg|145|45
+|consolesplus|25|57
 }}
 }}
@@ Line 48: / Line 204: @@
 {{ratings
 | icon=MCD
-| gamepro=60
-| gamepro_source={{num|55|page=76|pdf=GamePro US 055.pdf|pdfpage=78}}
 | gamesmaster=13
 | gamesmaster_source={{num|7|page=60/61}}
-| mega=25
-| mega_source={{num|10|page=40/41}}
-| mega_1=49
-| mega_source_1={{num|15|page=59}}
-| megaaction=70
-| megaaction_source={{num|9|page=44/45}}
-| mms=51
-| mms_source={{num|10|page=80/81|pdf=MeanMachinesSega10UK.pdf|pdfpage=80}}
-| segapower=41
-| segapower_source={{num|44|page=48/49}}
-| segapower_1=45
-| segapower_source_1={{num|49|page=84}}
-| segapro=76
-| segapro_source={{num|29|page=42}}
 }}
 {{Scanbox
@@ Line 79: / Line 219: @@
 | console=Mega-CD
 | region=BR
-| front=
+| front=BramStokersDracula_MCD_BR_Box_Front.jpg
-| back=
+| back=BramStokersDracula_MCD_BR_Box_Back.jpg
-| spinemissing=
+| spine=BramStokersDracula_MCD_BR_Box_Spine.jpg
-| disc=
+| disc=BramStokersDracula MCD US Disc.jpg
 }}
+==Technical information==
+{{mainArticle|{{PAGENAME}}/Technical information}}
 ==References==
 <references/>
+{{DraculaMCDOmni}}