Master of Darkness

n/a

Master System
JP
US
EU

Master of Darkness

System(s): Sega Master System, Sega Game Gear

Publisher:

Sega (Europe)

Sega (US, Europe)

SIMS (Japan)

Developer:

SIMS, Sega CS

M2^[1]

Genre: Action^[2]^[3]^[4]^[5]

Number of players: 1

Release	Date	RRP	Code
JP	1992-10-23^[4]	¥4,5004,500	T-44047
US	1993-06^[6]		2437
EU	1993		2437
UK	1993	£29.9929.99^[7]	2437
BR	199x		075140
EU	1993-05^[8]		7107
EU (Classic)	199x		7107-50
PT	199x
UK	1993	£44.9944.99^[9]	7107
AU	199x
BR	199x		025110
JP ▼	2012-06-27^[10]	¥286 (300)286 (300)^[10]
US ▼	2013-07-04^[11]	$4.994.99^[11]
EU ▼	2013-07-04^[12]	€4.994.99^[13]
DE ▼	2013-07-04^[15]	€4.994.99^[13]
UK ▼	2013-07-04^[14]	£4.494.49^[13]

OFLC

Master of Darkness, known in Japan as In the Wake of Vampire (インザウエイクオブヴァンパイア) 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.

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

Cutscene

The game is an action platformer derivative of Konami's popular Castlevania series. The game requires the player to battle their way through five rounds, which are divided into three stages. At the end of each round is a boss, a person with connection to the murders and 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 battle 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 mid-air. 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
	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
	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
	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
	The boss is Jack the Ripper.
	The House of Wax Dolls
	The boss is a Psychic Girl possessed by a Skull Spirit.
	Epitaph
	The stage is a cemetery that leads to the Castle of Count Massen, and the boss is Count Massen, the performer of the rituals.
	Laboratory
	The stage is a laboratory within Count Massen's Castle, and the boss is Count Massen again.
	In the Wake of Dracula
	The stage is a dungeon-like labyrinth within Castle Dracula, inside a forest of Transylvania, and the boss is Count Dracula.

Versions

Localised names

Also known as
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ヴァンパイア	In the Wake of Vampire

Production credits

Concept Manager: Sats King
Programmer: Yen
Main Graphic: Super Punch
Graphic Support: Matsutokujo, Ryuichi, Nagyawo, Mori
Graphic Adviser: Yama, Enjyoh, Manma
Sound: Fumi, Nasu Bi
Program Adviser: Kou, T Asano, Danna, S Kawa
Special Thanks to: All the People There
Presented by: S E G A

Source:

In-game credits^[16]

Magazine articles

Main article: Master of Darkness/Magazine articles.

Promotional material

Print advert in Mega Force (ES) #11: "Marzo 1993" (1993-xx-xx)
also published in:

Hobby Consolas (ES) #18: "Marzo 1993" (1993-xx-xx)^[17]

Physical scans

Master System version

Sega Retro Average

Publication

Version

Score

Consoles + (FR)

PAL

74

^[18]

Mean Machines: The Essential Sega Guide (UK)

92

^[19]

Game Mania (UK)

PAL

92

^[20]

HiScore (DK)

PAL

41

^[21]

Hobby Consolas (ES)

72

^[22]

Joypad (FR)

84

^[23]

Joypad (FR)

PAL

82

^[24]

Joystick (FR)

PAL

86

^[25]

Mega Force (FR)

PAL

70

^[26]

Micromanía (segunda época) (ES)

PAL

50

^[27]

Mean Machines Sega (UK)

PAL

92

^[9]

Player One (FR)

PAL

45

^[28]

ProGames (BR)

75

^[29]

Sega News (CZ)

PAL

51

^[30]

Sega Power (UK)

PAL

76

^[31]

Sega Pro (UK)

PAL

80

^[32]

Sega Zone (UK)

PAL

70

^[33]

Sega Force (UK)

PAL

79

^[34]

Supersonic (FR)

86

^[35]

Video Games (DE)

49

^[36]

	72
Based on 20 reviews

Master of Darkness

Master System, EU
Cover
Cart Manual

Master System, EU (Classic Master System)
Cover
Cart

Master System, PT
Cover

Master System, AU
Cover
Cart Manual Reg Card

Master System, BR
Cover
Cart

Master System, BR (Alt)
Cover
Cart Manual

Game Gear version

Sega Retro Average

Publication

Version

Score

Alaab Alcomputtar (SA)

85

^[37]

Beep! MegaDrive (JP)

NTSC-J

58

^[38]

Consoles + (FR)

76

^[39]

Game Power (IT)

90

^[40]

Gamers (DE)

73

^[41]

Hippon Super (JP)

NTSC-J

40

^[42]

Joypad (FR)

81

^[43]

Mega Force (FR)

81

^[44]

Mega Fun (DE)

PAL

75

^[45]

Player One (FR)

PAL

65

^[46]

Power Unlimited (NL)

NTSC

80

^[47]

Sega Power (UK)

PAL

80

^[48]

Sega Pro (UK)

PAL

85

^[49]

Sega Zone (UK)

PAL

55

^[50]

Sega Force (SE)

83

^[51]

Sega Force (UK)

PAL

81

^[7]

Sega Saturn Magazine (JP)

NTSC-J

66

^[52]

Sonic the Comic (UK)

PAL

75

^[53]

	74
Based on 18 reviews

Master of Darkness

Game Gear, JP
Cover
Cart

Game Gear, US
Cover
Cart Manual

Game Gear, EU
Cover
Cart Manual

Game Gear, FR (Blister pack)
Cover

Game Gear, BR
Cover
Cart

Game Gear, GR
Cover

Game Gear, TR
Cover

Technical information

ROM dump status

System

Hash

Size

Build Date

Source

Comments

?

CRC32	96fb4d4b
MD5	8354932a7f20e84a808471b3724a56f8
SHA-1	ed3569be5d5a49ff5a09b2b04ec0101d4edfa81e

256kB

Cartridge (EU)

?

CRC32	07d0eb42
MD5	78655dabd43e475c3b4d849c3f0c7046
SHA-1	f9eabdb7e925360f69b41f5357abcb36f893d72e

256kB

Cartridge (EU)

?

CRC32	dab0f265
MD5	a999c2f72c71c22be50e343e54ff4d73
SHA-1	da5116b7ed890f35506c5b33c5c9716f528169b1

256kB

Cartridge (JP)

?

CRC32	7ec64025
MD5	1e068538747f6d4d99888221a50b7e06
SHA-1	14e6b1e886355d902b34acdf503eced8df88afe4

256kB

Cartridge (US)

External links

Sega of Japan 3DS VC catalogue pages: Game Gear
Nintendo catalogue pages: JP, US, UK

References

Master of Darkness
	Main page \| Comparisons \| Maps \| Hidden content \| Magazine articles \| Reception No results

[https:.2F.2Fwww.mtwo.co.jp.2Fdevelopment.2Fretrogame-2.2F.23tab-4-1] ttps://www.mtwo.co.jp/development/retrogame-2/#tab-4

[:File:MasterofDarkness_GG_EU_Box_Back.jpg_p-2] File:MasterofDarkness GG EU Box Back.jpg

[:File:MasterofDarkness_GG_JP_Box_Front.jpg_p-3] File:MasterofDarkness GG JP Box Front.jpg

[https:.2F.2Fweb.archive.org.2Fweb.2F20130101202427.2Fhttp:.2F.2Fsega.jp.2Ffb.2Fsegahard.2Fgg.2Fsoft_licensee.html-4] 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_p-5] File:MasterofDarkness SMS EU Box.jpg

[:File:SegaVisions_US_13.pdf_p97-6] Sega Visions, "June/July 1993" (US; 1993-xx-xx), page 97

[:File:SegaForce_UK_16.pdf_p96-7] 7.0 ^7.1 Sega Force, "April 1993" (UK; 1993-03-04), page 96

[:File:SegaPro_DE_08.pdf_p57-8] Sega Pro, "Juni 1993" (DE; 1993-05-28), page 57

[:File:MeanMachinesSega03UK.pdf_p114-9] 9.0 ^9.1 Mean Machines Sega, "December 1992" (UK; 1992-11-xx), page 114

[http:.2F.2Fweb.archive.org.2Fweb.2F20130313093312.2Fhttp:.2F.2Fvc.sega.jp:80.2F3ds.2Fvampire.2Findex.html-10] 10.0 ^10.1 http://vc.sega.jp:80/3ds/vampire/index.html (Wayback Machine: 2013-03-13 09:33)

[http:.2F.2Fweb.archive.org.2Fweb.2F20130707010358.2Fhttp:.2F.2Fwww.nintendo.com:80.2Fgames.2Fdetail.2Ff6jkUHw0HacOmfJPyAsEansDiGVt-pFB-11] 11.0 ^11.1 http://www.nintendo.com:80/games/detail/f6jkUHw0HacOmfJPyAsEansDiGVt-pFB (Wayback Machine: 2013-07-07 01:03)

[https:.2F.2Farchive.is.2Fye8d7-12] ttps://www.nintendo.fr/Jeux/SEGA-Game-Gear/Vampire-Master-of-Darkness-774559.html (archive.today)

[http:.2F.2Fweb.archive.org.2Fweb.2F20170704114039.2Fhttp:.2F.2Fwww.nintendolife.com.2Fgames.2Fgamegear.2Fvampire_master_of_darkness-13] 13.0 ^13.1 ^13.2 http://www.nintendolife.com/games/gamegear/vampire_master_of_darkness (Wayback Machine: 2017-07-04 11:40)

[https:.2F.2Farchive.is.2F7RRSq-14] ttps://www.nintendo.co.uk/Games/SEGA-Game-Gear/Vampire-Master-of-Darkness-774559.html (archive.today)

[https:.2F.2Farchive.is.2FPertz-15] ttps://www.nintendo.de/Spiele/SEGA-Game-Gear/Vampire-Master-of-Darkness-774559.html (archive.today)

[:File:Master_of_Darkness_SMS_credits.pdf_p-16] File:Master of Darkness SMS credits.pdf

[:File:HobbyConsolas_ES_018.pdf_p15-17] Hobby Consolas, "Marzo 1993" (ES; 1993-xx-xx), page 15

[:File:ConsolesPlus_FR_017.pdf_p134-18] Consoles +, "Février 1993" (FR; 1993-0x-xx), page 134

[:File:MeanMachinesEssentialSegaGuide_Book_UK.pdf_p144-19] Mean Machines: The Essential Sega Guide, "" (UK; 1993-11-18), page 144

[:File:GameMania_UK_05.pdf_p81-20] Game Mania, "May 1993" (UK; 1993-xx-xx), page 81

[:File:HiScore_DK_01.pdf_p18-21] HiScore, "15 Juli - 15 September" (DK; 1993-07-15), page 18

[:File:HobbyConsolas_ES_015.pdf_p158-22] Hobby Consolas, "Diciembre 1992" (ES; 1992-xx-xx), page 158

[:File:Joypad_FR_013.pdf_p80-23] Joypad, "Octobre 1992" (FR; 1992-10-xx), page 80

[:File:Joypad_FR_016.pdf_p159-24] Joypad, "Janvier 1993" (FR; 199x-xx-xx), page 159

[:File:Joystick_FR_031.pdf_p149-25] Joystick, "Octobre 1992" (FR; 1992-xx-xx), page 149

[:File:MegaForce_FR_10.pdf_p70-26] Mega Force, "Octobre 1992" (FR; 1992-xx-xx), page 70

[:File:Micromania2_ES_057.pdf_p50-27] Micromanía (segunda época), "Febrero 1993" (ES; 1993-0x-xx), page 50

[:File:PlayerOne_FR_027.pdf_p130-28] Player One, "Janvier/Février 1993" (FR; 1993-01-10), page 130

[:File:ProGames_BR_01.pdf_p32-29] ProGames, "Julho 1993" (BR; 1993-0x-xx), page 32

[:File:Sega_News_3_CZ.pdf_p33-30] Sega News, "Prosinec 1996" (CZ; 1996-1x-xx), page 33

[:File:SegaPower_UK_37.pdf_p34-31] Sega Power, "December 1992" (UK; 1992-11-05), page 34

[:File:SegaPro_UK_19.pdf_p63-32] Sega Pro, "May 1993" (UK; 1993-04-08), page 63

[:File:SegaZone_UK_02.pdf_p64-33] Sega Zone, "December 1992" (UK; 1992-11-xx), page 64

[:File:SegaForce_UK_12.pdf_p74-34] Sega Force, "December 1992" (UK; 1992-11-05), page 74

[:File:Supersonic_FR_04.pdf_p24-35] Supersonic, "Novembre 1992" (FR; 1992-xx-xx), page 24

[:File:VideoGames_DE_1993-01.pdf_p104-36] Video Games, "1/93" (DE; 1992-12-16), page 104

[:File:AlaabAlcomputtar_SA_2.pdf_p74-37] Alaab Alcomputtar, "" (SA; 1995-08-xx), page 74

[:File:BeepMD_JP_1992-11.pdf_p29-38] Beep! MegaDrive, "November 1992" (JP; 1992-10-08), page 29

[:File:ConsolesPlus_FR_021.pdf_p141-39] Consoles +, "Juin 1993" (FR; 1993-0x-xx), page 141

[:File:GamePower_IT_17.pdf_p97-40] Game Power, "Maggio 1993" (IT; 1993-0x-xx), page 97

[:File:Gamers_DE_1993-06.pdf_p54-41] Gamers, "Oktober/November 1993" (DE; 1993-09-24), page 54

[42] Hippon Super, "December 1992" (JP; 1992-11-04), page 82

[:File:Joypad_FR_021.pdf_p153-43] Joypad, "Juin 1993" (FR; 1993-0x-xx), page 153

[:File:MegaForce_FR_18.pdf_p106-44] Mega Force, "Juin 1993" (FR; 1993-0x-xx), page 106

[:File:MegaFun_DE_1993-08.pdf_p91-45] Mega Fun, "08/93" (DE; 1993-07-21), page 91

[:File:PlayerOne_FR_032.pdf_p106-46] Player One, "Juin/Juillet 1993" (FR; 1993-06-10), page 106

[:File:PowerUnlimited_NL_002_199309.pdf_p57-47] Power Unlimited, "Nummer 2, September 1993" (NL; 1993-08-19), page 57

[:File:SegaPower_UK_45.pdf_p64-48] Sega Power, "August 1993" (UK; 1993-07-01), page 64

[:File:SegaPro_UK_21.pdf_p64-49] Sega Pro, "July 1993" (UK; 1993-06-10), page 64

[:File:SegaZone_UK_06.pdf_p54-50] Sega Zone, "April 1993" (UK; 1993-03-11), page 54

[:File:SegaForce_SE_1993_04.pdf_p22-51] Sega Force, "4/93" (SE; 1993-07-08), page 22

[:File:SSM_JP_19950901_1995-09.pdf_p88-52] Sega Saturn Magazine, "September 1995" (JP; 1995-08-08), page 88

[53] Sonic the Comic, "24th July 1993" (UK; 1993-07-24), page 10

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

[7]

[8]

[9]

[10]

[11]

[12]

[13]

[15]

[14]

[16]

[17]

[18]

[19]

[20]

[21]

[22]

[23]

[24]

[25]

[26]

[27]

[28]

[29]

[30]

[31]

[32]

[33]

[34]

[35]

[36]

[37]

[38]

[39]

[40]

[41]

[42]

[43]

[44]

[45]

[46]

[47]

[48]

[49]

[50]

[51]

[52]

[53]

Master of Darkness

From Sega Retro

Contents

Story

Gameplay

Weapons

Primary

Secondary

Items

Rounds

Versions

Localised names

Production credits

Magazine articles

Promotional material

Physical scans

Master System version

Game Gear version

Technical information

ROM dump status

External links

References