《惡魔城外傳 少年德古拉君》（悪魔城すぺしゃる ぼくドラキュラくん/Castlevania Special: I'm Kid Dracula/Kid Dracula）是KONAMI於1990年在紅白機（FC/NES）平台上推出的橫向卷軸動作遊戲，之後推出Game Boy版本，並移植到手機、PS4、Xbox One、PC、Switch。雖然掛著《惡魔城》系列的名號，卻以完全不同的風格呈現，走出與主系列黑暗、哥德式風格截然相反的路線。這是輕鬆幽默的冒險，講述年幼的德古拉王子如何踏上旅程，奪回屬於自己的城堡，並與各種搞笑的敵人交手。

故事背景設定在充滿奇幻色彩的世界，德古拉君作為吸血鬼王子的身份，平時生活在自己的城堡中。然而，有一天，名為加拉莫斯(Galamonth)的邪惡怪物突然出現，霸佔惡魔城。面對這樣的挑釁，在長眠中醒來的德古拉君決定挺身而出，穿上父親的斗篷後展開奪回城堡的冒險旅程。雖然這聽起來像是正義與邪惡的典型對抗，但敘事方式充滿幽默感，德古拉君的形象也完全不同於人們印象中陰森恐怖的吸血鬼。他是表情多變、頑皮可愛的小吸血鬼，帶著些許傲氣與童真，在冒險的過程中展現出俏皮的英勇風格。

在玩法方面，採用橫向卷軸的形式，在多個關卡中前進，擊敗敵人，解開機關，最終挑戰BOSS，逐步推進劇情。共有9個舞台，操作方式簡單易懂，移動、跳躍，並使用火球進行遠距離攻擊。火球可以上下連續發射，這讓戰鬥變得更像射擊遊戲。此外，隨著冒險的深入，德古拉君還會學到新的魔法技能，例如變身蝙蝠飛行、發射強力火焰彈、切換地心引力在天花板上行走或施放冰凍敵人的魔法。這些技能不僅能用來對付敵人，還能解決部分場景中的謎題，讓整體的玩法更加多樣化。

關卡設計方面，遊戲包含多個風格各異的場景，每個關卡都有獨特的主題和挑戰元素。從幽暗的城堡內部到奇幻的森林，甚至還有飄浮在雲端之上的神秘地區，這些關卡的設計充滿創意，讓人感受到視覺與玩法的雙重新鮮感。每個關卡的最終都有一場BOSS戰，這些BOSS不僅外觀搞怪，攻擊方式也經常令人啼笑皆非。例如，有的BOSS會使用奇異的武器，有的則以滑稽的方式移動或攻擊。這些BOSS戰不僅考驗玩家的操作技巧，也需要靈活運用德古拉君學到的各種魔法技能來對應。

值得一提的是，遊戲中還穿插著大量的幽默橋段與動畫過場，德古拉君的表情與反應非常生動，與敵人的互動經常帶來意想不到的搞笑效果。整體而言，雖然屬於《惡魔城》系列，但氛圍完全偏向於輕鬆愉快，更像是奇幻冒險喜劇，這也讓它在眾多動作遊戲中顯得與眾不同。

發售後受到玩家的喜愛，尤其是其幽默風格和流暢的操作系統獲得不少正面評價。許多人對於德古拉君可愛又搞怪的形象感到新鮮，而難度適中，對於年輕玩家或動作遊戲新手來說非常容易上手。然而，也有部分玩家認為流程過於短暫，內容相對簡單，缺乏主系列那種深入的探索和挑戰性。對於期待正統續作的《惡魔城》粉絲而言，這種風格的轉變或許有些令人失望，但對於喜歡輕鬆氛圍的玩家來說，無疑提供愉快且富有創意的冒險旅程。

總體而言，作為外傳作品，以輕鬆幽默的方式重新詮釋《惡魔城》世界，帶來充滿趣味的體驗。雖然它或許無法與正統的《惡魔城》作品相提並論，但在動作遊戲的歷史中，以獨特的魅力佔有一席之地，成為不少玩家心中難以忘懷的童年回憶。

" Kid Dracula " (悪魔城すぺしゃる ぼくドラキュラくん / Castlevania Special: I'm Kid Dracula) is a side-scrolling action game developed by KONAMI, originally released for the Famicom (FC/NES) in 1990. A Game Boy version was later released, and the game has since been ported to mobile devices, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC, and Nintendo Switch. Although it carries the "Castlevania" name, it adopts a completely different style, diverging from the dark, gothic atmosphere of the main series. This lighthearted and humorous adventure tells the story of the young vampire prince Kid Dracula as he embarks on a journey to reclaim his castle and face a variety of comical enemies.

The story takes place in a fantastical world where Kid Dracula, the prince of vampires, lives peacefully in his castle. One day, an evil monster named Galamonth suddenly appears and seizes control of the castle. Awakened from his slumber by this provocation, Kid Dracula dons his father's cape and sets out to reclaim his home. While this may sound like a classic battle between good and evil, the narrative is filled with humor. Kid Dracula's character is far from the eerie and menacing image typically associated with vampires. Instead, he is a mischievous and adorable little vampire with expressive emotions, a touch of arrogance, and childlike innocence, embodying a playful sense of heroism throughout his adventure.

In terms of gameplay, the game follows a side-scrolling format, with players advancing through multiple stages, defeating enemies, solving puzzles, and ultimately facing off against bosses to progress the story. The game features a total of nine stages. The controls are simple and intuitive, allowing Kid Dracula to move, jump, and shoot fireballs for long-range attacks. The fireballs can be fired continuously in multiple directions, making combat resemble a shooting game. As the adventure progresses, Kid Dracula learns new magical abilities, such as transforming into a bat to fly, launching powerful flame projectiles, walking on ceilings by reversing gravity, and freezing enemies with ice magic. These abilities are not only useful for combat but also help solve puzzles within certain stages, adding variety to the gameplay.

Regarding level design, the game features a diverse range of environments, each with its own unique theme and challenges. From the dark interior of the castle to mystical forests and even mysterious areas floating in the clouds, the levels are creatively crafted, offering a refreshing visual and gameplay experience. At the end of each stage, players encounter a boss battle. These bosses are not only quirky in appearance but often attack in humorous and unpredictable ways. For example, some bosses wield strange weapons, while others attack or move in ridiculous manners. These encounters test the player’s reflexes and skills while requiring strategic use of Kid Dracula’s growing arsenal of magic.

A noteworthy aspect of the game is its numerous humorous moments and animated cutscenes. Kid Dracula’s exaggerated facial expressions and interactions with enemies frequently result in unexpected comedic effects. Although the game belongs to the "Castlevania" series, the atmosphere is entirely lighthearted and cheerful, resembling more of a whimsical adventure comedy. This distinct tone helps the game stand out among other action titles of the time.

Upon release, the game was well-received by players. Its humorous style and smooth gameplay were praised, and many found Kid Dracula’s cute and quirky character refreshing. The moderate difficulty level made it accessible to younger players and those new to action games. However, some players felt the overall experience was too short, with relatively simple content lacking the depth and challenging exploration found in the main "Castlevania" series. For fans anticipating a traditional sequel, this shift in tone may have been disappointing. Nonetheless, for players seeking a lighthearted and creative adventure, the game delivered an enjoyable and entertaining experience.

Overall, as a spin-off, "Kid Dracula" reinterprets the "Castlevania" universe in a fun and humorous way, providing a delightful experience full of charm. While it may not hold the same status as the mainline "Castlevania" titles, it occupies a special place in the history of action games, leaving behind fond memories for many players as an unforgettable part of their childhood.