Dracula Unleashed Mac OS
Dracula Unleashed is a 1993 video game created by ICOM Simulations and published by Viacom for the Sega CD and DOS platforms. It was one of the earliest titles to make heavy use of full-motion video as an integral part of the gameplay. In Dracula Unleashed it is the year 1899, ten years after the destruction of count Dracula chronicled in Bram Stoker's novel. You take the role of Alexander Morris, the younger brother of Texan Quincey Morris who died defeating Dracula.
| Dracula Unleashed | |
|---|---|
| Developer(s) | ICOM Simulations |
| Publisher(s) | Viacom New Media |
| Director(s) | Mike Plant |
| Producer(s) | David Marsh |
| Designer(s) | Anthony Sherman David Marsh Karl Roelofs Katherine Tootelian |
| Programmer(s) | Fred Allen |
| Artist(s) | Katherine Tootelian |
| Writer(s) | Anthony Sherman Andrew Greenberg William Bridges |
| Composer(s) | Byte-Size Sound |
| Platform(s) | DOS, Macintosh, Sega CD, DVD |
| Release | 1993 |
| Genre(s) | Adventure |
| Mode(s) | Single-player |
Dracula Unleashed is a 1993 video game created by ICOM Simulations and published by Viacom New Media for the DOS, Apple Macintosh and Sega CD platforms.
It was one of the earliest titles to make heavy use of full-motion video as an integral part of the gameplay. Other contemporary titles utilizing full-motion video include Night Trap, Sewer Shark and Sherlock Holmes: Consulting Detective.
Story[edit]
The player assumes the identity of a young Texas businessman named Alexander Morris, who has come to London during the winter of 1899 to research the strange surroundings involving his brother Quincey's death 10 years earlier. In the process, he meets an English woman named Annisette Bowen and becomes engaged to marry her.
Due largely to their 'extremely close relationship', Quincey's good friend, LordArthur Holmwood, has proposed Alexander's induction into the mysterious and exclusive Hades Club. However, Alexander Morris soon discovers a part of his brother's life he had no knowledge of: Quincey Morris was part of a group which destroyed the legendary vampire, Count Dracula.
As Alexander Morris, the player must travel to specific locations in London at certain times with certain items gathered throughout Morris' travels in order to gather clues about the events which occur during the game and achieve victory over Dracula.
DVD[edit]
In 2002, Infinite Ventures, Inc. released the game on DVD. The game is identical in play, but uses full-screen, DVD-quality video. It also has a 'behind the scenes' featurette, as well as some audio bloopers.
There are some minor differences between the DVD version and the Sega CD and PC versions:
- The woodblock carving-style still graphics displayed as backgrounds in many locations and during several exposition scenes in the Sega CD version are not present in the DVD version.
- The Sega CD version had several different carriage driver phrases, spoken whenever the carriage was used to change locations. These are not present in the DVD version. However, some of the lines can still be heard being performed in the bloopers.
- In the PC and Sega CD versions it is possible to be arrested at night when spying on a character at the bookstore. The DVD does not include this, possibly because the event happens at random in the other versions and because of the lengthy save-game procedure in the DVD version. The scene is included as an extra on the DVD.
- During the intro and ending credits as well as some climactic points in the story, the PC and Sega CD versions included Carl Orff's 'O Fortuna' as a music cue. The DVD version has replaced these cues with a synthesized variation on the tune.
- During some scenes in the game, the PC and Sega CD versions would cut away to still illustrations, particularly when someone is describing a past event. The DVD version does not cut away in the same scenes.
Parental advisory[edit]
When it was released for the Sega CD, it was given an MA-13 label by the Videogame Rating Council. The game has a spooky atmosphere and musical score, along with some images of blood and a very effeminate bookstore owner. It was also reviewed by BBFC and attributed a 15 rating.
Reception[edit]
Dracula Unleashed Pc
Computer Gaming World in January 1994 called the PC version of Dracula Unleashed ICOM Simulations's 'most compelling interactive adventure yet' and 'the most effective 'interactive movie' to date'. The reviewer compared it to Dark Shadows and MacVenture games such as Uninvited, and approved of the improvements on the Sherlock Holmes: Consulting Detective series' graphics and user interface. He concluded that 'computer and theater have been brought one step closer together'.[1] In April 1994 the magazine said that players 'can count on many hours of haunting play ... Live actors and sets add a strong cinematic realism', with 'memorably creepy performances throughout', recommending the game to 'anyone with more than a passing interest in the horror genre'.[2]GamePro gave the Sega CD version a positive review. They criticized that the slow-moving cursor and long load times can make the game painfully slow, but highly praised the audio, gameplay, and 'well-acted and nicely staged video', especially the 'eerie' dream sequences.[3]Electronic Gaming Monthly commented that despite the full motion video being excessively grainy, the riveting storyline and 'excellent' soundtrack keep the player invested in the game. They scored it a 7.25 out of 10.[4]
References[edit]
- ^Miller, Chuck (January 1994). 'Unleashing The Undead'. Computer Gaming World. pp. 98, 100.
- ^'Invasion Of The Data Stashers'. Computer Gaming World. April 1994. pp. 20–42.
- ^'ProReview: Dracula Unleashed'. GamePro (57). IDG. April 1994. p. 38.
- ^'Review Crew: Dracula Unleashed'. Electronic Gaming Monthly (57). EGM Media, LLC. April 1994. p. 40.
External links[edit]
- Dracula Unleashed at MobyGames
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'DRACULA UNLEASHED'
The First Interactive Gothic Horror Movie
Dracula Unleashed combines the quality of a Hollywood movie, a challenging mystery to solve, and a new twist on the Dracula legend.
Unmask Dracula before time runs out for Alexander and his fiancee, Anisette. If you're clever, you could prevent many grisly deaths. Or not.
(description from the back of the Sega CD Version)
Release: 1993
Developer: Viacom New Media
Publisher: Sega of America Inc.
Type: Mystery
Platforms:DVD, Mac, PC, Sega CD
Dracula Unleashed Mac Os Download
• Dracula Unleashed is based on characters created by Bram Stoker. The game is written by Andrew Greenberg (Star Trek: Starfleet Academy) and William Bridges as a psuedo-sequel to Stoker's 'Dracula' novel.
GAMEPLAY
MOVIE
SUMMARY:
Mystery + Vampires = Top Notch.
Alexander Morris..... Bill Williamson
Dr. Van Helsing..... John Arthur Olson
Arthur Holmwood..... Jay Nickerson
Directed by..... Mike Plant
• ELECTRONIC GAMING MONTHLY• April 1994
The music and story are enough to sink your fangs into, but the digitized video is too pixelated for my taste. The story and plot more than make up for the actors. [8 out of 10]
Dracula Unleashed has a great storyline that will keep you glued to your television. Definitely a good horror flick. [8 out of 10]
...is more of a movie that you direct rather than a video game. The full-motion video, although done very well, suffered a little from being too grainy. [6 out of 10]
This one requires a lot of thinking and shouldn't be thought of as a fast-action game like Night Trap or Sewer Shark. Let's see more like this one. [7 out of 10]
TOTAL REVIEW SCORE: 7.25 out of 10
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Dracula Unleashed Mac OS