Mean Machines Sega
1st March 1994
Dracula Unleashed
Alexander Morris has crossed the Atlantic from Texas to probe the death of his broter, who was living in London. The unfortunate young man had been part of an occult society called the Hades Club. Could it be that the eccentric members have some sinister connection with Morris' death?
If that wasn't enough, troubles have befalled Alexander's fiance, Anisette Bowen with the sudden death of her father. Although he appears to have passed away peacefully in his sleep, Morris is disturbed by premonitions he had of the event, and the advocations of his European friend, Van Helsing, who urges him to look to his own personal safety. Shadows and fog shround a long-slumbering evil which now threatens to rise...
Origin
Dracula Unleashed is a novel adventure, using the mechanics of the previous Sherlock Holmes games.
How To Play
The Big Smoke
There are lots of locations to visit around London, all of which are listed in your journal, and new ones are added when important places are mentioned by characters. You are conveyed around the city by carriage, an easy enough journey but not instant. Travelling swallows up useful time.
Plan your journeys by clicking between points on the map screen.
Dead Again
Icons Of Light
For the first time, objects feature in a FMV game, adding an adventure element. As you traverse London, lots of things fall into your possession: cloths, clubs, calling cards and parcels, for example. Using them, by keeping them in the 'to hand' box, is often vital to saving your life!
Gus
Adventure fans should delight over Dracula Unleashed, since it's the best FMV adventure so far. The programmers have taken the novelty of Sherlock Holmes, seriously improved the presentation and added a whole new angle by placing items and puzzles into the game. There is a real sense of atmosphere as the hours race by and night approaches, with some good dream sequences.
It is expensive for the amount of time it takes to complete, but Dracula Unleashed is strikingly original and works well.Steve
"We don't loike strayngers 'round 'ere, zur..." In fact, quotes from country bumpkins are all that's missing from this Hammer film-style epic.
Searching Victorian London for clues whilst laughing at the assorted cliched characters is a pleasant enough way to pass a few hours, and there's plenty of object-related puzzles to keep you going.
I found myself initially pleasantly surprised by Dracula Unleashed and its Cockney cabbies and upper class twits, but even after the novelty of these started to wear thin, the adventure started to unfold and I wanted to find out the causes for the mysterious deaths.It's not quite up to the standard of Double Switch but, even so, Dracula Unleashed is one of the best Mega-CD titles to date.
Verdict
Presentation 93%
P. The icon system is cleverly produced, the Cinepak works well and the disc access is speedy.
P. Good FMV, and the sets don't look so cheap and corny as those of Sherlock. Lots of nice 'period' drawings.
Sound 94%
P. Crystal clear speech, with nice touches like Morris reading the journal entries and the cabbies' banter. Excellent music.
Playability 88%
P. A truly interactive movie, with the tension of a film and the challenge of a game.
N. Not one for action fans.
Lastability 80%
P. Much harder than Sherlock, because you can become a victim!
N. There's only one 'case' on the discs.
Overall 87%
A very clever piece of Mega-CD software, and an absorbing Victorian venture.
