Master of Darkness
Fog, the cobblestones of Victorian London, and somewhere in the darkness Dracula himself lies in wait — Master of Darkness is a horror action platformer that isn't afraid to flirt with the atmosphere that made the Castlevania series famous. On the Game Gear it brings gothic dread into your pocket and leans on a mood you'll only rarely find on a handheld of that era.
The player heads down dark streets and graveyards, fighting through hordes of monsters — skeletons, wraiths and other creatures of the night. The design is classic platforming: you advance through levels, slashing and attacking with melee and ranged weapons, collecting items, and facing bosses at the end of each section. The emphasis is on reading enemies, timing your attacks and gradually pushing into ever more menacing surroundings.
What sets Master of Darkness apart is precisely its horror styling. The Victorian backdrops, gothic architecture and dark palette give the game a distinctive character — instead of colorful cheer, a gloomy mood reigns, one that the Game Gear's color screen renders surprisingly evocatively. It's a title that prides itself on atmosphere just as much as on action.
In the context of the platform it's a notable piece precisely because horror themes weren't all that common on pocket consoles. The game thus offers something distinctive for players seeking a darker experience and an aesthetic reminiscent of classic vampire-hunter tales.
For connoisseurs of 8-bit platformers, Master of Darkness is a likable discovery — a craft-solid game whose gothic spirit stands a little apart from the cheerful majority of the Game Gear catalog.
Why play it: A gothic horror platformer with a Victorian atmosphere and a showdown with Dracula — a dark, distinctive addition to any fan's collection of classic vampire action.
Game 19 of 39 for SEGA Game Gear
The same title elsewhere (1)
On the Game Gear the game is held back by a smaller screen with lower resolution than the Master System offers, so the player sees a shorter stretch of the level ahead and has less time to react to enemies leaping in from off-screen. The Master System, running on a television, gives a wider view of the surroundings, making jumps between platforms and monster fights feel clearer and smoother. Both versions run on similar 8-bit hardware with the same sound chip, so the music and effects don't differ dramatically — the main difference is how much space around the character the player can actually see. Anyone after a clearer, more "home console" take should reach for the Master System, though the Game Gear's portability is an appeal all its own.
