During Konami's early 90s golden age, creating a beginner friendly NES spinoff to the alluring, but punishing Castlevania franchise should have been a guaranteed worldwide hit. For a variety of reasons, Kid Dracula was a Famicom exclusive until finally receiving a western release in 2019. Konami, drunken with whimsical self-indulgence, quickly lets their game veer off course, for both better and worse. After opening with a cute parody of his father's famous castle, Kid Dracula immediately flies off to explore the world: firing at the Shinto Gods up in the heavens, delivering a hilarious flogging to an Egyptian Pharoh, and even battling wits with Lady Liberty in the United States.
More challenging than it's playful appearance suggests, Kid Dracula also handles quite differently from the memorization and methodical action demanded by traditional Castlevania titles. The core gameplay is practically a Mega Man ripoff, from attacks being projectile based, to assimilating new moves at the end of each stage, including the ability to reverse gravity or transform into a bat. Not a complete thief, Kid Dracula's charging blast long pre-dated Mega Man 4, plus he has the ability to shoot upwards and crouch. Borrowing from Mario USA, collecting hidden coins allows you to play random mini-games after each stage. Dracula's son certainly hung out with Goemon and Ebisumaru as well, as this shares practically identical ideas with Legend of the Mystical Ninja, which released less than a year later.
Like inviting a vampire into your home, the longer Kid Dracula is on your screen, the more trouble you'll encounter. Vampires are said to be weakened by water, and here his ocean stage, often appearing almost identical to Mario 3, presents frustratingly poor controls. Far above the earth, attempting the space shuttle level without save states may turn your hair as white as Kid Dracula's. On top of all this, controlling the bat transformation is finnicky, and the ability to run would be preferable. The overall design is mediocre for 1990s standards, with linear progression, no world map and only a couple hours of play.
The graphics offer a similar aesthetic to Mario USA with garish colors and excessive empty spaces. While the sprites are excellent, they flicker more than a film projector playing Frankenstein or Nosferatu. The excellent soundtrack is the only component above criticism. Stage 1 is a clever upbeat remix of the iconic Vampire Killer. Roller Coaster Ride feels like it would fit perfectly in one of Konami's beloved TMNT games. Several tracks even geniusly reference the memorable opening drum fill featured in Castlevania's III's rendition of Vampire Killer.
If you're an old-school Konami fan, Kid Dracula is worth playing for a goof, but its inherent promise as a wackier Castlevania...doesn't come close to fulfilling its potential. You may enjoy the strange humor, excellent music and Konami's charming touches, but underneath all the flashiness lies an awkward mish-mash borrowing from superior tites. While not bad, there's far more hair raising action to be found elsewhere on the NES.
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