Vampire Chronicle for Matching Service
REVIEW: A rare Sega Dreamcast exclusive "quietly" released in the year 2000, Capcom offered Vampire Chronicle For Matching Service as a mail-order game via Dreamcast Direct in Japan. Following the release of Vampire Savior /
Darkstalkers 3 on Sega Saturn and
PlayStation, Vampire Chronicle is the pinnacle of the 2D series on
console as a superb port of the arcade version's visuals and sound —
not missing any character animations or sacrificing quality (unlike the inferior PS1 port of Darkstalkers 3). In 2004, an updated version of Vampire / Darkstalkers Chronicle released on PSP featuring a
new mode and title:
Darkstalkers
Chronicle: The Chaos Tower.
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Vampire
Savior character selection screen.
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Vampire Chronicle For Matching Service features four variations of each selectable character. These include the original Darkstalkers, Night Warriors, Vampire Savior, Vampire Savior 2, and Vampire Hunter. For non-hardcore players of the series, the fine details behind each installment
and the idiosyncrasies of each character variant can definitely get confusing! That said,
the screenshot below provides a look at the general mechanics and playstyle differences
for each version. (Source: StrategyWiki).
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Similarly to Hyper
SF2, players can use any variation of any character.
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Since numerous characters only appeared in sequels such as Darkstalkers 2 and Vampire Savior, characters such as Hsien-Ko, Jedah, and B.B. Hood were given all new "simplified" versions based on mechanics of the earlier games in Vampire Chronicle For Matching Service. This system is similar to Hyper Street Fighter II from Street
Fighter: Anniversary Collection, making for new match-ups never before possible in any previous iteration.
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Fighting on the side of a
skyscraper FTW.
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 FUN FACT:
Vampire Chronicle For Matching Service was one of the first
online-enabled fighting games to
appear on a video game
console, releasing August 10th, 2000 on the Sega Dreamcast.
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| Page Updated: |
January
1st, 2024 |
| Developer(s): |
Capcom |
| Publisher(s): |
Capcom |
| Designer(s): |
Yoshihiro Sudou
Producer
Hideaki Itsuno
Director
Buruma (Kojimax), Oni-Suzuki
Planners
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| Artwork
by: |
Bengus,
Edayan, Daigo Ikeno, Dai-Chan, Shoei
Naoto Satou, Takuji Mishima
Opening Movie
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| Platform(s): |
Dreamcast
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| Release Date(s): |
August 10th, 2000 
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| Characters: |
Demitri Maximoff,
Morrigan Aensland, Jon Talbain,
Felicia, Victor,
Zabel, Anakaris,
Bishamon, Rikuo,
Sasquatch, Lei
Lei,
B.B. Hood, Q-Bee,
Lilith Aensland,
Jedah, Huitzil,
Pyron,
Donovan |
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Featured Video:
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| Related Games: |
Darkstalkers Chronicle: The
Chaos Tower, Darkstalkers,
Darkstalkers
2,
Darkstalkers 3, Darkstalkers:
Resurrection, Warzard, Pocket
Fighter, Street Fighter III: New Generation, SFIII:
2nd Impact, SFIII: 3rd Strike, Capcom
Vs. SNK, Capcom Vs. SNK 2, Capcom
Fighting Evolution, SNK Vs. Capcom: Match
of the Millennium, SNK Vs. Capcom Chaos,
Marvel Vs. Capcom, Marvel Vs. Capcom
2, Marvel Vs. Capcom 3 |
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Gameplay
Engine
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8.5 / 10
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Story
/ Theme
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8.0 / 10
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Overall
Graphics
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8.5 / 10
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Animation
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8.5 / 10
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Music
/ Sound Effects
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8.5 / 10
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Innovation
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8.5 / 10
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Art Direction
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10 / 10
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Customization
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8.5 / 10
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Options / Extras
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8.0 / 10
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Intro / Presentation
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9.5 / 10
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Replayability / Fun
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8.0 / 10
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"Ouch" Factor
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7.5 / 10
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Characters
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9.0 / 10
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BOTTOM LINE
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8.8
/
10
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Review based on Sega Saturn version
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| Final
Words: |
Vampire Chronicle For Matching Service was one of rarest and lesser known Dreamcast fighting games due to the fact it was a mail-order game via Dreamcast Direct. Those who did play it were treated to the most polished and most playable console port of Darkstalkers to date! Thanks to the power of the Sega
Dreamcast, the port didn't lose any animations, crispness, sound quality, or style from the original arcade versions of Darkstalkers 3 / Vampire Savior.
Decades after the original release of this game... I finally got to try it out Vampire Savior For Matching Service on Dreamcast. I kinda wish I got to experience it back in the Dreamcast days, because it was certainly a stunning 2D fighting game on the system in every way imaginable. Worth mentioning, I did enjoy the later PSP release and
sequel, Darkstalkers Chronicle: The Chaos Tower all
the more, since I didn't get to play the original. So, anyone wanna play online? This game is sick.
~TFG
Webmaster | @Fighters_Gen
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