Alessandro Grussu


Vampire Vengeance

Author: Alessandro Grussu
Publisher: Ariel Endaraues
Machine: Spectrum 48K/128K

 
Published in Al's Spectrum Annual 2021

Vampire Vengeance

A long time ago, a strong army of knights attacked the residence of the evil vampire Count Orlack, aiming to put and end to his reign of terror. The battle was bloody, but in the end the attackers prevailed and stormed the castle. Surrounded, Orlack turned into a bat and fled. Now he returns, with only one purpose: vengeance.

In Vampire Vengeance, you guide Orlack through 30 screens full of enemies of various kinds and hazards such as spikes, icy and slippery platforms, acid pools and more. Orlack can walk, or fly when turning into a bat. If he is in human form, he can attack enemies by sucking their blood until they die. In some screens you must also collect "relics", which appear as chalices. After eliminating the enemies and collecting the relics, a coffin opens, giving access to the next screen.

Vampire Vengeance reinvents the traditional single-screen platformer scheme with a challenging gameplay, where attention and timing skills are required, especially when Orlack attacks an enemy, as he remains stationary and vulnerable for a few seconds, and due to the necessity of alternating between the human and bat forms according to the circumstances. Graphics are functional: cute cartoonisth sprites - Orlack in particular looks like a "super deformed" version of the famous Nosferatu played by Max Schreck in the 1922 movie by F.W. Murnau of the same name - move on stylized but colourful and uncluttered backdrops. In addition to the sound effects, pleasant tunes for the AY chip play along on the 128K.

This game is the confirmation that was to be expected from Ariel Endaraues. Made with care, with a variety of elements and a challenging but not frustrating action, Vampire Vengeance is one of the best titles programmed with AGD ever.

Alessandro Grussu

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