Master of Darkness - Sega's Castlevania Clone

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Lots of you wanted a Castlevania game for your Sega Master System. One never showed up, but we did get something quite a bit similar.
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Opening 3D Logo By:
Jan Neves
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Opening 2D Animation By:
Kevin Bhall
Facebook - / kevin.bhall.14
Episode Notes:
1. Games captured via the Mega SG.
2. The Japanese version of this is known as "In the Wake of Vampire".
3. SIMS was also responsible for some of the Sega Ages 2500 games on the PS2. The worst one in fact. They did the remake of Golden Axe.
4. The likely reason we never saw more Master of Darkness games is because Konami became a 3rd party developer for the Sega. They would go on to release many of their games for the Genesis/Mega Drive.
5. I have a much easier time playing the SMS version. The GG game offers more challenge because the enemies sneak in more hits. The extra play area really makes a difference.
6. Every physical version of this title is expensive. The Japanese version is even worse. I've seen it go for $200+ complete.
7. One of the biggest issues that Master of Darkness had was that by being released in late 1992 and 1993, the Castlevania titles had matured across multiple releases. It wasn't just going against the original NES game, but was compared to the series as a whole. I really do feel a part 2 to Master of Darkness could have fixed many of my nitpicks here.
8. A subscriber pointed out that I used the wrong footage for Ninja Gaiden for the SMS and he's right. I used the Game Gear version which was made by a different company.

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Опубликовано:

18 окт 2020

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Комментарии : 348

@bonesjackson81 3 года назад

I love this games atmosphere. How on Earth it didn't have a Genesis sequel is beyond my brains ability to fathom. 🤯

@supersexysega 3 года назад

@Boris Karloff Not unitl March 1994. Master of Darkness could have been a 1992 Genesis release.

@Hektols 3 года назад

@@supersexysega I guess that Sega didn't make a sequel because they thought that Konami wouldn't have wanted to make a Castlevania game if the Genesis already had a similar game.

@hammerheadms 3 года назад

This was something they could have definitely built off of. Had they done an actual 16-bit sequel, and had success with it, we could be looking at a completely different outcome of opinions about the first game. But this seems to be typical of Sega. It's par for the course to look back and think of the "what if's" and "if only's".

@SomeOrangeCat 3 года назад

Why did Sega make half the bad decisions they made back then?

@Gameboy-Unboxings 2 года назад

Then we probably wouldn't have Bloodlines.

@ManillaHeep 3 года назад

One of my favorite SMS games. Smooth, good difficulty and it still holds up today. Plus the dark themes add to the atmosphere.

@nimaiiikun 3 года назад

a lot of the 'clones' on SMS and GEN were pretty great. wish there were sequels for Master of Darkness, Golden Axe Warrior, and Ragnacenty

@Video-Games-Are-Fun 3 года назад

double dragon on the master system was amazing for its time and capability. the NES was garbage and i was a HUGE nes fanboy

@rainehappy7097 3 года назад

Scooby Doo on Genesis is pretty close to LucasArts point n click adventures from the era.

@Boogie_the_cat Год назад

Golden Axe Warrior was great fun

@billcook4768 3 года назад

SLX: Any gamer with decent skills will easily beat this game the first time they play it. Me: Uh, I’ll just be hanging out in the losers corner

@ravinnox2640 3 года назад

No you won't, even I beat this one

@lonesquiff6551 3 года назад

@Bill Cook I thought the same thing! Maybe if I had played it back then lol

@lonesquiff6551 3 года назад

@Frank Garrett J/c which version were you playing?

@tarasybnios5356 3 года назад

haha its funny that he says that but his gameplay shows otherwise. 🙏 With all the respect to SLX but I will have to disagree with some of his statements. Its not that easy and its not that the enemies have cheap attacks.. well sometimes they do but so does Castlevania enemies! Looks at medusa heads! There is a decent difficulty level which I prefer over some brutal Arcade level difficulty which drops the fun factor. Also the weapons drops ending up with something that will downgrade you reminds me of Ghosts 'n Goblins on the NES. It adds up to the difficulty and makes more aware on how to proceed. My verdict: of course its not a Castlevania level of experience but its a must for any Sega console owner and lover and not only! If you love 8 bit Castlevania games you need to play this.

@neojeets 3 года назад

First time trying I got about 2/3 through, then got my ass kicked. A lot of cheap damage from enemies as SLX talks about in his video (Bats!). I think I’ll be able to get through it if I play with some more patience.

@michaelsierra9 3 года назад

Looks like an early genesis game, outstanding as a master system game.

@RetroMoments 3 года назад

This game was the reason I bought a Master System, a few years ago!

@odius94 3 года назад

I'm so happy the RU-vid algorithm blessed me with your channel. I was raised in a SEGA house so I dig all this. Even had the 3D master system. lol [Subscribed!]

@Supahdave1000 3 года назад

"...Where Castlevania had perfectly placed enemies" *Glares at Medusa Heads*

@rodneyabrett 3 года назад

Damn, I played a ton of SMS games back in the day, how could I have missed this one? Going to have to give it a go.

@LocoRodeoBozo 3 года назад

I gotta say that I love how they reformatted the stages to fit the Game Gear's resolution. If only Mega Man on Game Gear took the same approach...

@lonesquiff6551 3 года назад

I'm replaying Mega Man right now! I couldn't believe how zoomed in it is. So many leaps of faith lol

@lonesquiff6551 3 года назад

This does have me curious how the gg version looks/plays vs using the ms version via the adapter

@balaam_7087 3 года назад

Never saw this game before. This looks awesome, thanks for bringing it to my attention!

@vicior55 3 года назад

I'm playing it by emulation, and it's very hard

@RobG1981 3 года назад

@@vicior55 Sounds like Castlevania ;-)

@25hztolife86 3 года назад

I would like to have seen a boosted up version on the Genesis or at least part 2.

@Choralone422 3 года назад

By the time that would have been able to happen Konami was signed on as a 3rd party for the Genesis making a 16 bit sequel of this game moot.

@DigiPen92 3 года назад

25Hz to Life Or a sequel to a Sega Genesis consoles similar to Phantasy Star series.

@connorkiss2614 3 года назад

Why I love this channel: Coverage of SEGA games i've never heard of, but should as a SEGA fan ! Fantastic as always

@HybridAngelZero 3 года назад

The Game Gear version of this is on the 3DS eShop for a paltry $5, I think I'll actually give it a try

@atranfanatic 3 года назад

I got it on my Game Gear for about $30 a couple or so years back. it is fun, but really tough. lol

@FlyingDuckMan360 3 года назад

+Micaiah the Otaku Gamer [HybridAngelZero] That's how I was able to play the game. I do have an official copy of the game, but right now I'm unable to play it (or any other Game Gear cartridges, for that matter), due to both my Game Gears and my Retron 5 breaking down. If my petition to get Sega to improve the Game Gear Micro, which would have included giving it a cartridge slot succeeded, then I might have been able to play that again. Fortunately, I do still have the game downloaded on my 3DS, and I look forward to playing that (along with games such as Zombies Ate My Neighbors, Aaaah! Real Monsters, and The Simpsons: Night of the Living Treehouse of Horror) every October.

@andrewt6338 3 года назад

Do it.

@Monacomaverick 3 года назад

Just bought the GG version for $40. The biggest challenge is seeing the enemies on the tiny, washed out screen.

@KTJohnsonkidThunder 3 года назад

Looks fun. It should've got a Genesis sequel/port.

@triplehsheartattack8515 3 года назад

The creator of this video JUST SAID THAT. jesus christ man.

@rainehappy7097 3 года назад

Yeah but they probably didn't because of Castlevania Bloodlines.

@jameswalt1 3 года назад

I love the UK hammer horror atmosphere and vibe of this one. One of my favorites.

@evilash570 3 года назад

I love the game gear version of this game! It’s really great..not Castlevania 3 great, but great! The jack the ripper 1800’s vibe is cool!

@lonesquiff6551 3 года назад

Thanks for going in depth on this one. I always hear this game is a must have GG title but never see anyone talking about its pros and cons. It's a shame about the zoom; that seems to be a common GG failing. This is one game I'm definitely hoping to add to my collection. Great vid!

@TheTomsol 3 года назад

Go Sega Lord, keep the good stuff coming!

@LucianTheWorldGamer 3 года назад

I agree that this is better played on the SMS, however that was never re-released. If you own a 3DS you can download the GG version for 4 bucks I believe. Much easier, and at least you get to try it. This is definitely worth a try for any Castlevania fan. Thanks for the review!

@Ghostyx1989 3 года назад

man i always look forward to your videos thank you for the great content

@mr7clay 3 года назад

Finally a review that shows there's some variety to the stages. I knew the graphics in the usual screenshots were great--great use of color, a little like NES Batman--I was just seeing the same ones over and over.

@richarde2001 3 года назад

Been watching most(gonna try to watch them all!LOL!) Just wanted to say THANKS! for putting out such great Sega related videos!!..I share your love for everything SEGA!!...An awesome video game company that lives on in our memories!..Keep up the great videos!!..Hope your sister is doing better!...Prayers and positive vibes being sent your way!!..

@SeveredLegs 3 года назад

Graphically this is excellent.

@fatherfintanstack8810 3 года назад

It really is. I didn't get your comment until I realized this is on the Master System!

@stuartbagley2586 3 года назад

Totally looks like a Genesis game.

@Prizrak-hv6qk 3 года назад

Yes. Excellent detail, animation, colors and lack of sprite flicker for a 2 Mb 8-bit game. Other than the audio, the only think that separates it from an early 16-bit game is some parallax scrolling to make things less flat.

@pferreira1983 3 года назад

Typical stuff they were doing at the time of the Master System.

@BenjiMordino 3 года назад

SLX, you are now 1 of only 4 channels where I "hit that bell". Keep up the good stuff mate!

@miketate3445 3 года назад

Man, I would have loved to have seen what the big NES devs could have done on the SMS.

@HollowRick Год назад

@Dean Satan 100% this ^

@chaddersh3736 3 года назад

One of the few channels I always like before I even watch.

@ravinnox2640 3 года назад

I look at this as more of Castlevania the lost chapter, its story fits perfectly into the castlevania timeline...but I already discussed that in my own video on this game so no point in repeating myself. Gods I love this game BUT I had no idea it had gotten so expensive till recently. Its absolutely not worth the current price as it's far to easy for most gamers. I like a good easy game, but for the current price, you just expect a bit more game.

@rainehappy7097 3 года назад

Well you know whenever an obscure game gets reviewed, the price skyrockets. Especially the case when Nintendo fans find out about games that only released on Sega. Now if only the games could have gotten that kind of hype and coverage back then? More Nintendo players would have flocked over to Sega easily and these games would have sold more copies.

@jeffroberts9693 3 года назад

I was just playing this the other day. It's a good Castlevania clone with better controls than the original CV. I really like the soundtrack too. Nice to see you cover this.

@lazarushernandez5827 3 года назад

Sega had a habit of doing this on the Master System, you could usually find a Sega title that had similar play mechanics and style to something on the NES; NES had Ikari Warriors, SMS had Rambo, NES had Legend of Zelda, SMS had Golvellius Valley of Doom (and later Golden Axe Warrior) NES had Kung Fu Master, SMS had Vigilante...

@Video-Games-Are-Fun 3 года назад

rambo reminds me more of guerilla war on NES which i LOVED

@rainehappy7097 3 года назад

Black Belt/Hokuto No Ken is a good gameplay clone of Kung Fu. I know Fist of The North Star is an anime/manga, but the game is very similar.

@leeg12000 3 года назад

Love our SEGA-Lord's passion for these games, it shines through in every video. One of my favourite RU-vid channels.

@brianhurt116 3 года назад

Excellent video! I'm a lifelong Castlevania fan and had never heard of this game. Thank you for what you do! Subscribed.

@standard74521 3 года назад

I really think you do an outstanding job with full disclosure about your preferences while being steadfastly objective about the games.

@akeminakajima449 3 года назад

You're becoming like the Jeremy Parish of Sega, keep it up man

@rangoononline 3 года назад

I usually hate the music from master system games, but there's a bunch of bangers in this one. Thanks for including the snippets of the songs. The game looks pretty good too. Great review!

@PunishedRangto 3 года назад

Let's see here... >Takes place in or around Britain >Main protag could be seen as a gentlemen-type >There are stone masks that must be shattered >Vampires are involved So... is this a JoJo reference?

@SomeOrangeCat 3 года назад

Nah, the music would be worlds better if it was.

@whosaidthat84 3 года назад

Needs more WRRYYYYYY

@rainehappy7097 3 года назад

Yep. JoJo was out in Japan by 1986, same year as Castlevania, actually.

@triiistone 3 года назад

Like this review format. Great video, Sir.

@mateuspokemon01 3 года назад

I thought for sure that this was a Sega Genesis game for most of the review. It wasn't until you mentioned that it wasn't released in north america on the Sega Master System that I noticed it.

@enzowarren9832 3 года назад

I love this game! Really nice surprise seeing this pop up in my recommendations.

@stevesteve0521 3 года назад

One of my favorite game gear games. Thanks for the review

@uniqutilities2831 3 года назад

Never heard of this title before. I definitely would have been into it back in the day. Great video!

@kfishwick3 3 года назад

3:04 "Where did you learn to fly?" "Where did you learn to fly?" "Where did you learn to fly?"

@brunomoraes9967 3 года назад

Watching in Brazil right now. I remember this game from when I was 5 or 6 years old and enjoyed watching my big brother beat it. Great to see it covered here!

@jonathandogey5131 Год назад

I love hearing him call a game “easy” that I can’t beat after 20 years

@unvaxxeddoomerlife6788 Год назад

30 years for me.

@catvideojogos 3 года назад

That is One of the best "clones" ever made ! Wyld cover !!!

@Shenglongification 3 года назад

That's awesome man! Never heard of this game b4, definitely going to give it a try.

@vomination 3 года назад

Pure love for this video. More SMS-videos please. :)

@BabusGameRoom 3 года назад

For the first bit of the video, I thought this was an early Genesis game. I keep forgetting how great 8-bit games looked on the SMS! It's a really underrated console.

@frapapcgaming 3 года назад

1 of the best games on sega master system! I have it in mint condition and still playing it from time to time!!thnx for the video!

@AdversaryOne 3 года назад

I just played the first couple of levels. I had trouble getting up stairs until I realized you have to press diagonal, not up. I also was thrown off by the masks that hold items a few times even after watching this video. I guess it's hard for me to shake off decades of being trained that floating faces in games is bad. Nice alternative to Castlevania.

@akalyx 3 года назад

new to me, thanks for this!

@johnjay6370 3 года назад

Thanks for doing this episode.. it looks like a very good game..

@megarobd9761 3 года назад

Wow it looks great, can’t believe this is master system

@filipmartinez1162 3 года назад

Right? It looks early genesis/snes era.

@aaronwebb2467 3 года назад

This game looks really good for an 8 bit console. Even if it is the master system.

@bittersweetjesus 3 года назад

Master System was more powerful than NES but they had no market or promotion

@kaitain7595 3 года назад

Some of the better looking Master System games rivaled some early 16-bit stuff.

@freddyvidz 3 года назад

Master System was a great system

@freddyvidz 3 года назад

I would like to see the MS with the same 3rd party support as the NES had. Nintendo was smart to block development outside of the grey box.

@biphronte 3 года назад

@@kaitain7595 what games? Im interested

@Spartan77 3 года назад

Silky smooth review, thank you for expanding my gaming knowledge.

@notthesameman 3 года назад

This is a classic game, great for this month

@devmiles 3 года назад

It looks like a very interesting game. Still as you state Castlevania slaughters it completely. One thing that i find is that the movement of the main character looks more free. Good review bro! Much love

@SomeOrangeCat 3 года назад

Definitely has a Hammer Horror vibe. Can't fault Sega for trying to copy games they couldn't acquire.

@rainehappy7097 3 года назад

Needed Van Helsing as the protagonist.

@whosaidthat84 3 года назад

This is exactly the type of game where some one would say "I swear I played Castlevania on Game Gear when i was 7!" And discover years later that their life was a lie.

@sayian1_998 3 года назад

I have been trying to find this game for some time now. It looks amazing on the master system

@Daniel-it1dp 3 года назад

Thanks, learn about another retro game every day lately seems like.

@WorldWithOEnd 3 года назад

Now I remember this game. Played it probably 15 years ago

@shawnlogangibson35 3 года назад

Golden Memories! 👍

@Stephen_Eee 3 года назад

Omg I'm about to take that epitaph, and use it as bgm and jam over, that was a good soundtrack

@ReigningSemtex 3 года назад

I had this on master system as a kid and really loved it, also as far as master system box art goes it was actually a looker.

@theultimatepololo 3 года назад

Again I have to say that I love all the love Sega Lord X gives to the underrrated 8 bit Sega Platforms. This was my Castlevania game back in my chillhood days, and it was awesome. In fact, im still thinking that this game is as good as the first two NES´s Castlevanias ( of course Dracula´s Curse is a better game than Master of Darkness, no doubt about it), the only aspect that is less impresive against the Castlevania´s 8 bit lineage is the music, but in other aspects like difficulty curve, lore, fun factor and graphics this Sega classic is on par with the first Castlevania and Simon´s Quest, what the hell, is a much more enjoyable experience than the second Castlevania on the NES.

@atomicbrain9401 3 года назад

I’m also getting some sega genesis Moonwalker vibes in the character animation movement (walking/jumps) and their design (dudes in suits).

@retrofan4life 3 года назад

I imported this game from England 2 years ago to the US and love it. Definitely glad to own it! Im a huge sega fan thanks to you. Love your videos!

@lonesquiff6551 3 года назад

Is the SMS region free? I know the GG is and I have wondered about getting that SMS adapter.

@retrofan4life 3 года назад

@@lonesquiff6551 yeah, I imported the game and it plays fine. I think with the mega drive and genesis is where the issues begin to appear

@segare-trop-vieux3932 3 года назад

A great game for sure. As usual, nice video 👍

@EKlicKKlacK3 3 года назад

Good review man. I've never played this but want to give it a shot. Looks really cool. On a side note I know you a huge Castlevania fan, you should check out Rusty on MS Dos or the PC-98. Its a very good Castlevania clone.

3 года назад

I played the GG version on the 3DS virtual Console, it was really good for what it was.

@BenJabituya 3 года назад

I got this game downloaded to my Nintendo 3DS. I need this game for my SEGA Master System and Game Gear!

@MisterSouji 3 года назад

I feel like this and some of the other "clones" are superior on a technical level, like graphics or controls, they often lack the refinement of the originals. I'd love to have seen a Master of Darkness 2 on genesis as well, and expand on things it does right. Maybe be about Frankenstein or a different monster this time.

@araknair9605 3 года назад

I found this game on accident, so glad I did

@JoshAmes1980 3 года назад

Loved this game on the Game Gear.

@JohnSTF72 3 года назад

This is a nice (and underrated) game for the Master System. Too bad there was never a 16-bit sequel for the Megadrive/Genesis, it would be interesting to see what they could do.

@PurpleJinzo 3 года назад

Love this game !! One of my fav for the game gear

@samgrahaminc 2 года назад

The music in this game was phenomenal. The boss music had a shredding guitar solo... On a Master System, or all things

@sheltonm6073 3 года назад

I've played this game a ton! It is worth playing for sure. Some of the issues you pointed out are really issues of it being repetitive and and you are absolutely right.

@mercster 3 года назад

Thanks!

@kanekaosaard7449 3 года назад

Neat review of an often unheard of horror game SLX. It looks nice and though it ain't a Castlevania, it's still horror. BTW, would you ever do a standalone Splatterhouse review for Halloween one day? I'd bet you'd do a bang-up job with it given your love of the series.

@lancelindqvist8848 3 года назад

Loved it

@WarMachine_Studios 3 года назад

Did it live up to being considered a Castlevania clone? Yes. Yes it did. And this coming from a die-hard Castlevania fan.

@hjames78 3 года назад

I was a Nintendo kid in America and even though the Genesis was my first Sega console I had...this game looks good to me!

@MVA74 2 года назад

Never played this game during my childhood, but it seems a great title for sega MS!

@briansaunders7274 3 года назад

Looks like a great game. Would like to try it.

@FalloutZombie5555 3 года назад

They should have kept making Kenseiden games... i always thought that was like the SMS castlevania

@rainehappy7097 3 года назад

Ninja Gaiden is like it too.

@NYYanks2003040506 3 года назад

Interesting. I wasn't a Master System guy so there are a lot of games I never heard of. This is one of them.

@joeyjojojunior4886 3 года назад

Looks like fun.

@AnthonyFlack 3 года назад

Seems to be a pretty common game in New Zealand at any rate, comes up at auction pretty regularly for $20-$30 boxed. I had three or four loose carts of this game at one point as well.

@fed0t38 3 года назад

I think it would be cool to see modern 3D reboot of this game similar in vibe and gameplay to Vampyr, Sinking City, Call of Cthulhu, Order 1886 and maybe even Resident Evil in some elements.

@justrok79 3 года назад

Damn, they should have made sequels. This looks pretty good.

@nidoqueenadvance6798 3 года назад

I've only played the game gear version via the 3ds virtual console and I quite liked it! I should get around to playing the master system version. Also seeing as how all sorts of old sega ips are getting sequels and remakes from indie devs, I kinda would like to see one make a sequel to this. Maybe someday that will happen.

@blackmanjrpg17 3 года назад

A PAL region game that I had the privilege to play.....and it was fun AF👍

@MasterOfDarkness42069 Год назад

I like it

@vicior55 3 года назад

It's crazy imagined why don't had a sequel, to Mega Drive/Genesis for example. I know than Castlevania come to Genesis, but have a own exclusive title was incredible. Congratulations from Brazil

@jasonshiers5771 3 года назад

Good and honest review.

@ohtheforlanity3205 2 года назад

One of the top 10 SMS games I think, maybe even top 5

@WeirdWonderful 6 месяцев назад

I just finished it. Thankfuly you can die however many times you want to the boss as long as you keep picking up that one 1 up in the final stage. I do recommend the cane for everything but the final boss, where you will probably want the axe for the extra dammage. And though I saw you can cheese the final boss' second form with the stake as a secondary weapon, I just stuck to the gun. And you are right, a lot of the time you may find yourself avoiding the masks, for fear you may accidentaly pick up the weaker weapons and ruin your day. Much more so with the subweapons since picking up multiples of the same gives you extra ammo till around 99 or so, if you get something else the ammount gets instantly lowered to the base, around 16 for most. Which if you just accidentally lost some 70 ammo right before a boss.....you will not be happy.

@BaneMcDeath 3 года назад

Back in Kentucky on the base I purchased a game gear that came with sonic 2. When i made it to the mall I bought a wall adapter, magnifier, Shining Force 2 sword of haija, and Vampire Master of Darkness. ALL STELLAR BUYS IMHO. It scratched the itch well and, I agree, the zoomed in screen made for tricky battles. The mysic fits perfect but i wish there were more songs. I wish enemies had a few other patterns. I liked pistol, bomb, and sabre. Just awesome. It is sad no further games and I wish a rom hacker would make some maps like what happened with the first few Castlevanias. I will look for a SMS rom as I have no hardware. Hell, i don't have a CRT other than an old monitor and dinky tv. Cheers