The PlayStation version separates Dark Force into 2 modes from which the player chooses before each match: "Dark Force Change" is the same as the traditional Dark Force mode, whereas "Dark Force Power" is an enhanced mode that takes 2 bars of super meter and the player can inflict damage that is not recoverable (but will also take non-recoverable damage). The game also introduces the "Dark Force System" which uses a bar of super meter to allow players to perform special abilities unique to each character for a limited period. When the player is attacked, some of the health lost is displayed in white, which can be recovered if the player doesn't take damage. Similar to Rare's Killer Instinct, when one fighter loses a life marker after the life bar is emptied, the fighters reset their positions as if starting a new round but in contrast to a traditional fighting game where the life bar resets after each round, the victorious fighter retains their remaining life bar. Vampire Savior eschews the traditional round-based system in favor of what is dubbed the "Damage Gauge System": battles take place during a single round, with each fighter having two life bars (by default) and corresponding life markers. if Morrigan is defeated, the next fight the player will play as Morrigan). It also features a secret character/mode, Shadow, where the player assumes the identity of the defeated character for the next fight (e.g.
Taking their place were four new characters: Jedah, Lilith, Q-Bee and B. The game retains the character roster of Darkstalkers: The Night Warriors, omitting Donovan, Huitzil and Pyron from the lineup.