# OPERATION DRACULA — user reviews > 48 indexed App Store user reviews of OPERATION DRACULA by Crescent Moon Games LLC, rated 3.85/5 from 26 ratings. - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/operation-dracula/id980540474/reviews - App overview in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/operation-dracula/id980540474.md - Rating breakdown: 5★ 13 · 4★ 4 · 3★ 4 · 2★ 2 · 1★ 3 ## Newest reviews (13 of 48) ### 3/5 — Ripped Off *2025-02-03, version 1.0.3* I would give it 5 stars the game is amazing but when i purchased 3 extra credits it says i purchased them but nope still got 3 instead of 5 my bank account is still the same so at least it didn’t take my money but now for some reason it won’t let me buy the credits please fix this then i will gladly rate this 5 stars until then 3 stars it is ### 4/5 — Come for the bullet hell, stay for the music *2018-01-10, version 1.0.3* I learned very quickly that I am probably the worst at this game, but the masterfully crafted tracks have me coming back. ### 4/5 — Fun - BUT HARD!!! *2016-01-17, version 1.0.2* If you don't take this game seriously it is pretty enjoyable.. but if you let it get under your skin you might end up needing a new iphone after you threw the one you're on at a wall!! ### 2/5 — Unfair gameplay bad controls and ui *2015-12-10, version 1.0.2* Easy mode plays like expert mode. You have to look at the top to see when special move is charged. Your ship should change color. Instead of 2 finger tap for bomb you need to tap in lower right. First boss shoots super speed laser without warning which insta kills you. Boss 4 shoots very dense bullets at super speed. Poorly implemented shooter. ### 3/5 — Too hard *2015-12-03* The game is great. A must have for fans of Galaga and similar games. There is a problem with the game though. There is supposed to be an "easy" mode, but the amount of Ai Fire makes it hard to focus on avoiding the bullets and getting your bullets to hit them. On level 1, there are so many enemies at one time that it's very hard to avoid and hit them at the same time. I don't like the credit system either. You can "save" your game, but it saves it for you to start the level over if you have the needed credits, and it deletes the 'save' if you don't have any credits. ### 3/5 — Could be fun *2015-11-29, version 1.0.2* Too hardcore for casual gaming. Too bad since I was looking forward to a good arcade style scrolling shooter. ### 4/5 — Great but too hardcore *2015-11-24, version 1.0.2* This is an incredible bullet shooter, but "Easy" mode seems anything but to me and "Normal" modes means near insta-death. This plays wonderfully on my iPad; if only I could see past the first two bosses. Please developers, make a wimp mode for the rest of us. My recommendation is only buy if you want extreme challenge. ### 3/5 — No analog stick functionality with MFI controller support for a SHMUP? *2015-09-12, version 1.0.2* It's cool they implemented MFI controller support but it's practically unplayable being limited to a D-Pad without analog stick support for this bullet he'll shoot me up. Maybe it's my controller; Mad cats ctrli game pad but I don't think so. Besides that it reminds of some of my favorite arcade shmups like Armed Police Batrider and Batsugun. There are so many good shmups on this platform it would be awesome if somebody would make an iPad compatible Bluetooth 4 way seimitsu joystick gamepad for this purpose. ### 3/5 — Close *2015-08-31, version 1.0.2* Ok, second review here. Just fix the game please. I'd hate to delete it from my device... On easy it's fine I guess but on normal it's just too tough. There's too much going on in the screen that are not bullets. That's an awkward sentence... ### 2/5 — Great game but very difficult *2015-08-29, version 1.0.2* I love the graphics but the game is just so tough to get through. Even at the easiest level I can barely get past the first two levels of the game. Not very happy with my purchase. ### 2/5 — feels messy *2015-08-29, version 1.0.2* it's pretty tough, messy to play really, I don't really enjoy it to be honest. menus are a bit weird and messy too. ### 3/5 — :( *2015-08-23, version 1.0.2* Beautiful looking game...terrible gameplay. Frustrating to play. Way out of balance. Don't waste your money. :< ### 2/5 — Beautiful, but fun? *2015-08-23, version 1.0.2* The graphics and soundtrack are awesome, obviously. But the gameplay? Not so much... Losing power ups upon being hit is a horrible idea. Basically punishes people by leaving them underpowered most of the time as this game gets pretty hard. Bosses wouldn't be so bad if it weren't for the lasers and homing missiles. Hate those things! There is too much going on sometimes that can make bullets hard to distinguish. Finally, why are there not alternate control options? Double tap and bomb bar tapping interrupts me dodging bullets and moving the ship. Add a two tap option or buttons at least... Overall, great presentation but lacking in polish compared to CAVE, Danmaku Unlimited, and Decluster. It's just not that fun to play. More frustrating. ## Most critical reviews (10 lowest-rated) ### 1/5 — Way too difficult *2018-11-08, version 1.0.3* This game looks great. Unfortunately it’s so insanely difficult to play that it’s just no fun at all. ### 1/5 — Normal is nearly impossible and easy is enough to drive you mad *2017-05-29, version 1.0.3* Why label it as normal and easy when it's clearly legendary mode and veteran mode. ### 1/5 — Terribly designed, too much clutter *2016-11-15, version 1.0.3* This is a terribly designed shmup. Unlike other, better made bullet hell games, this game FPGAs way too much going on at once. Thimgs constantly pop onto the screen and shoot an insane amount of bullets at once. The first boss has a laser attack that gives no warning, and will almost always hit you because you need to be right in front of it to actually hit it with your weapon. Avoid this one. Go buy dodonpachi or something instead. ### 1/5 — Never says credits are one use *2016-03-22, version 1.0.3* So I paid to max out credits. Because u need more credits in all modes. But nowhere does it say that the iap for credits is one use only. They should regenerate for the extra two dollars we paid. Shameful money grab. Like I'm going yo pay two dollars each time I want to play. Thx for the greed. ### 1/5 — Really not fun at all *2016-01-14, version 1.0.2* I love bullet hell games but this is just bad. Far too fast, you have no time at all to pick anything up. Takes ages to power up but one hit to power down, good luck getting past your first pow up. Waste of money, just don't bother:( ### 1/5 — could be..... *2015-09-29, version 1.0.2* one of the best SCHMUP's on the AppStore if it wasn't absurdly difficult. surprises me that the majority of reviews here and elsewhere share the same sentiment but the dev seems to not care or they would have tweaked the difficulty. if you think you are a god at these games or you like playing for 30 seconds and quitting out of frustration this game is for you. ### 1/5 — Rediculous *2015-08-18, version 1.0.2* Impossible to see what's on the screen with the touch controls. Game balance is way off. Waste of money. ### 2/5 — Poorly implemented *2023-07-25, version 1.0.3* First off - don’t buy extra credits as they are a ONE GAME purchase, which it doesn’t warn you about. Second, to use the bomb I need to stop moving and hit the bottom right of the screen? Awful. There is not even a method to change it to a second finger tap. Third, when you get hit you lose ship power, so you will constantly be at low power. Each ship spams our tiny power ups that you need to catch. 4th, the first boss shoots out a huge laser with Zero warning or windup down the middle of the screen. Easy mode is too hard. If you didn’t lose power each time you get hit maybe it would do do-able. Overall the game was poorly designed and not fun. ### 2/5 — Near Impossible, Bad Scaling *2022-03-02, version 1.0.3* This game is near impossible. Think of any of the classic Cave or Psikyo games difficulties, even their black label versions, and times that by about 100. Bullets are popping in from every corner, right on top of you, before you even have the chance to avoid or kill enemies. In traditional shmups and bullet hells the enemies hang back and spam bullets OR rush you, or both on occasion. In this game they’re rushing and spamming bullets at the same time constantly. It’s horribly unbalanced and the easy vs normal difficulties don’t scale well at all. Save your money and buy any other shmup on the store. Aka to blue, the Cave games, Danmaku, anything but this. The art style is great, but the gameplay is where this falls short. ### 2/5 — In app purchases will vanish *2017-01-04* In app purchases mysteriously vanished from game. Purchased extra credits which now no longer appear in game. Happy to connect to online store to purchase more items, but not willing to connect to restore previous purchases. ## Most praised reviews (10 highest-rated) ### 5/5 — Operation Dracula *2020-03-15, version 1.0.3* I've had the free version of this on my phone for so long, and it took me so long to actually get into playing it seriously, that I forgot it was the free version - and really just figured it was a free game with ads. Then, while scrolling through the store looking for a new SHMUP to snag, I saw that Operation Dracula didn't say 'OPEN', and instead - showed that $2.99 price tag. Well.... I fired up the free version again, and about 2 days later, I picked up this paid build. I have no clue what took me so long to get into it, or why I kept just glancing over this version while scrolling through the AppStore, but I'm kicking myself for it now. This is a GREAT shoot-em-up, with FANTASTIC visuals, sounds, scoring and a hardcore difficulty that should keep even the most seasoned bullet-hell gamers wildly entertained - and this is coming from someone that is VERY picky about their SHMUPS. This fits right in with the 10 or so other top notch titles that are not offloaded in my SHMUP folder right now (4 of which are Cave offerings). So, if that tells you anything.... .... I'd be surprised to hear of any serious fan of the genre bad mouth this one. Oh, and THANK YOU for keeping this title active all these years (especially after the 'OS update that shall never be mentioned'). You guys rock! ### 5/5 — Great Shmup! *2016-05-18, version 1.0.3* Great shmup with high octane action right from the start. Seems impossible at first, but as you learn to do small, precise dodges and use your specials and bombs often and wisely it gets really fun. I have a few specific gripes about individual moments (boss 4's "fake" bullets come to mind) but overall this game is a blast. The soundtrack is awesome too, and the game includes a music player with unlockable tracks. ### 5/5 — Finally beat all bosses on normal tips *2016-04-28, version 1.0.3* Watch out for bullets and throw your electronic at the window. ### 5/5 — Finally beat it on normal (tips) *2016-03-23, version 1.0.3* Took an in-app purchase of 3 extra credits and a lot of practice, but that was a satisfying win. Be patient and have fun. Then when you think you can win with extra credits, buy em. It was worth the .99 cents. Great experience. Boss one is easy once you know his routine. I keep to the left when things get crazy. Easier to dodge. If you don't care about points, boss 2 can easily be beat by running the clock and looming behind him until he shoots missles. Boss 3 all I can say is baby steps all around. Resist jumping all over the place. Boss 4 his first move is aimed at you so time it so you move far away just as he launches those missles. That will ease the pain. I go to the upper left corner when he launches bombs. Last guy is pretty easy. Stay left when he uses bats. You can dodge easy from there. The rest is just gently dodging bullets. ### 5/5 — 1 of the better Shmups *2016-01-28, version 1.0.3* It's definitely a tough game. But w such fast load times, frustration has no time to sink in... Would've been a quarter muncher back in the day for sure! ### 5/5 — Game should probably come with a disclaimer *2015-12-26, version 1.0.2* I don't normally leave reviews, but after looking at some of the piss poor reviews people left about garbage controls to wah wah its to hard and , don't waste your money I want a refund. I decided that this game probably should have a disclaimer that looks something like this If you can't beat contra without having to enter the up up Down down code. Don't buy this game. If the first thing you do after you beat a level is run to the closest save crystal. Don't play this game. If you have to reach for your wallet or moms wallet cause you need the best equipment or the first level is to hard. Don't bother downloading this game. If most of your achievements,unlocks, and hidden crap you got were the result of selecting yes after being asked if you really wanted to purchase this from Apple. Skip this title and Go on to the next game. This game doesn't mess around. There's no holding your hand helping you through the first few levels. It tells you to pick a pilot and goes good luck now go save the world. The devs should be commended for making a tough game like this. Where you have to sit down and play knowing that you don't have unlimited lives and countless of continues to fall back on. The game doesn't care that one more shot would of killed the last boss. Remember what you learned from that encounter now go back to stage one. ### 5/5 — Finally made it to stage 5 on normal ~40 on Game Center lol *2015-09-19, version 1.0.2* It's a good game. You kinda gotta memorize tricks for each boss and for parts of levels. There's no reason to die on level one or really even get his by the first boss for example if you memorize his 4 or so attacks. You don't really have to leave like an inch big section on the bottom of the screen even. I have no idea how to beat the stage 4 boss without dying a bunch but the cylinders (not diamonds) he shoots at you don't hurt so don't bother trying to dodge them. I'm sure it's beatable but itseriously crazy hard. 99% of the players probably don't make it through half the game. I've been looking for a game like this for awhile and this is great. Seems like something that woulda sucked quarters outta kids pockets 20 years ago. ### 5/5 — Epic *2015-08-01, version 1.0.1* Have a feeling this will become a classic. It's that good. ### 5/5 — Awesome retro shooter *2015-08-01, version 1.0.1* This is a very high quality fun shooter. It's got beautiful retro graphics and style, intense and fun shooting and bullet dodging action, great soundtrack, lightning fast load times, perfect touch controls. This feels like it could be a console or arcade game as far as its level of polish. Well worth the price. ### 5/5 — Love it *2015-07-31, version 1.0.1* Great old school styled shooter. Love the retro music and cheesy storyline. Extra star for no IAP. Would like an option for unlimited credits, doubt my old thumbs have what it takes to get me past the 3rd stage anymore. --- *Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-06-10.*