Drac's Night Out
Drac's Night Out is the title of an unreleased video game developed by Mark Lesser and Rex Bradford of Microsmiths that was produced for the Nintendo Entertainment System. The game featured the sponsorship of the Reebok Pump shoe.
| Drac's Night Out | |
|---|---|
 Box art for Drac's Night Out | |
| Developer(s) | Microsmiths |
| Publisher(s) | Parker Brothers |
| Platform(s) | Nintendo Entertainment System |
| Release | Unreleased (Set to be released for 1991) |
| Genre(s) | Action |
| Mode(s) | Single-player |
Summary
In the game the player controls the infamous Count Dracula who, while wearing Reebok Pumps, has to first work his way down his castle while avoiding the hostile villagers. This could be accomplished by hypnotizing the villagers with his vampiric gaze, or by pulling a lever to spring one of many Rube Goldberg-esque hidden traps.
Once villagers are subdued, Dracula can then suck their blood and briefly turn into a bat to navigate through the tower. Scattered throughout these towers are also Reebok Pump power-ups. Once activated, Dracula is given a temporary speed-boost, as well as the ability to jump over villagers and holes.
When Dracula escapes the castle, he is given a large open town to explore and search for his bride, Mina. This will require hints such as finding maps and compasses from villagers. Patrolling the streets are hostile mobs and non-hostile villagers. After sucking enough blood, Dracula temporarily transforms into an invulnerable wolf to cover distance more quickly.
Dracula is also given the ability to suck the blood of sleeping villagers that will transform into Vampiresses and lead Dracula nearer to Mina's location.
Some villagers drop items like keys and flowers, used to open gates and homes. Dracula can also travel through secret underground shortcuts. Once the player discovers the building housing Mina, a congratulatory picture of the pair walking together appears and leads to the next 'round'.
Development
Although completed, the game was never officially released. However, a prototype has since been discovered and its ROM data released to the internet. Elaborate NES cart reproductions now exist for collectors as well.[1]
Mark Lesser on the Reebok Pump addition: "We developed this game as consultants to Parker Brothers. As we neared completion of the game, PB insisted that we include Reebok as a sponsor of the game by having Dracula wear Reebok Pump shoes! Reluctantly we complied, but the sponsorship was not enough to save the game and, although completed, it was never marketed."
References
- "NES Reproduction Sale". Nesreproductions.com. Retrieved 2012-10-26.
