Dracula X on SNES: What Did Critics Say Back in 1995?

DIE HARD GAME FAN (October 1995)

"Once I got over my initial disappointment with the lack of the multi-directional whip and swinging from CV IV, and the deletion of multiple characters from the PC Engine, I took a look at Drac X for what it is... still purely INCREDIBLE. With an award-deserving music score rich and full background, and the game play I love, this stands as the second best SNES game of the year." -S. Quan (93% out of 100%)

SUPER PLAY #35

"It's not a particularly fast-moving game, it doesn't delight within mere minutes of play, and in many ways it's a regressive step, considering Castlevania IV appeared in 1991, yet it holds more surprises than the 1995 installment. But it has plenty of stuff I look for in a good game. Not what Castlevania fans will necessarily expect -- or even feel they deserve -- but a solid addition to a very fine series of games nonetheless." -Tony Mott (80% out of 100%)

ELECTRONIC GAMING MONTHLY #75

"I'm a big fan of this series, and I was really looking forward to Drac X. This cart really disappointed me. While the backgrounds were nice and the levels were changed, it pales in comparison to levels were changed, it pales in comparison to the PC CD-ROM game. You cannot play as the little girl and the enemies are cheap rather than challenging. The audio was okay, but gone is the roaring of the enemies. It's not better than the others." -Andrew (6.5 out of 10)

GAME PLAYERS (October 1995)

"Dracula X is the sort of game where bumping into any enemy sends you hurling into the bottomless pit that always happens to be nearby. On the plus side it's a relatively big game, it looks nice and there are a couple of different you can wind up taking through, so you're not always playing the same stage every time. However, this game is more frustrating than it is challenging." -Jeff Lundrigan (64% out of 100%)

NINTENDO POWER #76

"Don't expect great surprises in Dracula X. Konami kept the classic look and feel of the early games while making small innovations here and there. Some of the graphic effects, especially in the backgrounds, add a glitzy veneer to the basic action. The artists also managed to add a sense of depth through skillful shading and use of perspective. The action leads you through seven stages of danger with lots of vertical as well as horizontal areas and great variety of enemies." (3.2 out of 5)

GAMEPRO (October 1995)

"It's a shame the 16-bit Castlevania games had to end this way. Where the 8-bit editions gracefully exited with the excellent Castlevania III: Dracula's Curse, this last hurrah is a muted one. For an awesome alternative version of this title, you may want to check out the import-only PC Engine game. Other than that, it's back to the grave for Castlevania." -Major Mike (2.5 out of 5)

NEXT GENERATION #10

"Konami, a company generally reliable for at least interesting fare, must simply be hoping to make a quick buck in an otherwise dry Super NES season. There's eight levels of no-frills side-scrolling action here, without an original or interesting thought in its wolfsbane-stuffed head. Whip fetishists might get a kick out of it, but everybody else should simply steer clear." (1 out of 5)