The MSX and Famicom Disk System versions of Konami‘s original Akumajō Dracula (aka “Vampire Killer“), were being worked-on simultaneously by developers inside Konami, in 1985 and ‘86.

The Famicom Disk System version was released one month before the MSX version. Although they are essentially the same game, there are some significant differences between them.

Akumajō Dracula, Famicom Disk System = 26th Sept, 1986
Akumajō Dracula, MSX = 30th Oct, 1986

If you actually sit down and play this game intently, you might notice a few things. Number one: is that the levels are somewhat different to the opening levels of the FDS version; there are some similarities here and there, but there are some wrap-around areas in this that were dropped in the other version. Number two: it has monks who you can whip to extract potions from (removed from the FDS version). Number three: the MSX version has a weird obsession with keys and locked chests (many of which you don’t need to open, and again: these were dropped from the FDS version). Number four: you collect orbs, and these sometimes make you invincible for a short period of time (missing from the FDS version), and number five: the levels are not timed (which they certainly are in the FDS version).

Akumajō Dracula on the MSX and Famicom Disk System do look different to each other, too. The MSX version has a different colour palette to the FDS version; there are no castle intermissions in the MSX version, and – most importantly – the screen does not scroll when you move in the MSX version (it’s a flick-screen game). And I think that – because of that last little detail – it has also resulted in the layout of a number of screens changing.

One other final thing to note: the cartridge will auto-detect what region hardware you have, and will display either the Japanese or the English title screen as a result (saving Konami having to manufacture different cartridges for different regions).

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More: Akumajō Dracula on Wikipedia
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