Brides of Dracula

• Title — Brides of Dracula • Developer — Gonzo Games • Genre — Action • Modes — Single-player, Multiplayer • Platforms — Amiga, Atari ST

• Illustration — The Amiga version of Brides of Dracula, depicting the split screen gameplay between Dracula and Van Helsing. Players choose one of two characters with a separate objective: Dracula, who aims to find thirteen women as brides, bite them, and lead them back to his castle, and Van Helsing, who must find thirteen items, such as a silver bullet or prayer book, that can destroy Dracula. The chosen character must find each woman or item, and return it to their starting point; once all thirteen have been collected, that character wins. The game is a side-scrolling split screen title where the player controls their character on one end of the screen, and the opposing character pursues their objectives on the other. Both characters explore the same game world, split across five areas, which can be traversed jumping across platforms, going up stairs, or using teleporters, secret passages and dungeons. As they explore the world for their chosen items, players must avoid hazards, including villagers, other monsters or vampire hunters, environmental hazards, and the opposing character. Players can defend using basic combat moves including a kick or punch, and if they are successful in attacking the other player, they can cause the other to lose a weapon or bride. The game supports local multiplayer for two, with each player assuming the role of Dracula and Van Helsing.

In the town of Bistritz, Transylvania, Van Helsing is summoned by carriage after receiving a telegram for assistance. Directed at the local inn to the graveyard by the villagers, who deny knowledge of vampires, Van Helsing meets a woman. The woman states that Dracula has kidnapped her sister to his castle in the night, and pleads that you save her from the vampire. Meanwhile, Dracula prepares to kidnap thirteen women from the town to become his brides, draining their life force so he can once and for all destroy Van Helsing. Without his stake and garlic, Van Helsing must find objects to complete the ritual to destroy Dracula. The game begins as both characters start a race to destroy the other.

The game was published by Gonzo Games, a British company, and the third title after Wipe Out and Street Hockey. The development team within Gonzo Games, titled The Toast Factory, included executive producer Paul Smith and programmers Jason Green, Alan Botwright, Greg Modern and Eddie Haynes, who had previously worked on games for other companies including Turrican, Judge Dredd and The Hunt for Red October (1990 video game). Smith stated that development originally explored licensed horror concepts, including Bride of Frankenstein and Werewolf in London, before settling on the vampire theme. The company showcased the game at the 1990 European Computer Entertainment Show trade show.