Ghost House
System: SMS
Release Date: September 1986
Developer: Sega
Publisher: Sega
Genre: Action
Ghost House is an action platformer and another launch title for the Sega Master System. You play the role of Mick, who is hunting for treasure in Dracula’s mansion. He must destroy five Draculas in order to collect the five treasures before moving on to the next mansion.
Mick can jump with the 1 button and punch with the 2 button. Right away, you’ll have to be on the look out for bats that fly in a wave pattern and need to be knocked out of the sky. You also have to watch out for Death, a flying ghost type guy, and a Fire Blower. Death can be taken out easily, but the Fire Blower takes multiple punches to take out.
The mansion is also home to traps. Flying arrows occasionally shoot from off screen and must be avoided or jumped on. Some portions of the floor are false, causing you to fall to the area below. Touching a candelabra on the wall causes a knife to shoot out like an arrow. If you jump on the knife, you can pick it up and use it for five hits. Question mark boxes will give points and replenish some life power.
Mick must collect a key hidden on one of the enemies in order to open one of the five coffins spread around the stage. Once open, Dracula (or one of his dopplegangers) will fly out in bat form. They take multiple punches to put down. I’ve found the easiest way to take them out is to jump into a light, which causes everything on the screen to freeze for a moment. As long as Dracula is somewhere you can get to him, he’s an easy kill. However, if you try to slug it out, he’s going to put the hurt on you.
After collecting all five pieces of treasure, you have to find the exit to the next level. The mansion is slightly different, the colors of the level are much more grating, and now you have to contend with the mummy. The true Dracula in level 2 and above must be killed twice in a row, so good luck.
Graphics: 1.5
The graphics aren’t very good. They’re serviceable, but not very pleasant to look at.
Sound: 1.5
The music is pretty grating, and the sounds aren’t very good, either.
Gameplay: 2.0
There’s not much to do. Jump and punch, figure out some tricks and go.
Difficulty: 2.0
The Draculas are all annoying to fight. Ducking under bats is not as simple as it should be.
Fun Factor: 1.5
I was all to ready to get out of this one after beating the first level.
Overall Grade: 1.7
Ghost House earns a C-. It’s a start, but not good enough to hold my attention for long.