Vampires Empire Commodore 64 game

Doctor Van Helsing, Dracula's eternal adversary, has returned to dispatch the evil Count for all time with his arsenal of mirrors and wits. Taking on the role of the vampire exterminator, players find themselves in a labyrinthine dungeon with over 160 eight-way push-scrolling screens.

An information panel below the playing area displays the player's score, energy, time remaining, and the currently activated object. The score increases by destroying any of the Count's evil aides such as large rats, venom-spitting heads, snakes, and seemingly scantily clad female demons, who draw Van Helsing closer to them. Collecting and correctly using rays of light also contributes to the score.

Energy, represented as a phial of blood, is significantly reduced by prolonged contact with dungeon creatures. If it depletes entirely or if time runs out before the task is complete, the game comes to an end.

Beneath the uninspired graphics lies a decent puzzle game, though it's never given a chance to shine. The backgrounds are poorly drawn and gaudily colored, leading to confusion as all locations appear indistinguishable. The sprites are blocky and poorly animated. The scrolling activates too close to the screen's edge, making some monsters impossible to avoid as Van Helsing inevitably slides to a halt. It's also incredibly frustrating to set up the mirrors only to realize one is misplaced. Vampire's Empire falls far from being amusing.

So, what did Magic Bytes get wrong with Vampire's Empire? Firstly, each level is a massive maze of platforms to navigate with an extremely wayward ray of light. Using the mirrors hardly seems worth it, as by the time you select the right one, the ray has already bounced off the screen's top, never to be seen again. Even directing the light with the crystal ball doesn't fare any better. After briefly moving in the right direction, the ray decides to change its mind and go somewhere else. Consequently, the chances of getting the ray and Dracula onto the exit block would require the patience of a saint and more perseverance than any sane person possesses. The frustrating control issues with Van Helsing only compound the problem, causing players to give up long before they can sink their teeth into the game.

In summary, Vampire's Empire, though presenting an interesting concept, is marred by its lackluster visuals, awkward controls, and frustrating gameplay."