VAMPIRE KILLER ( 1986, MSX2 HOME COMPUTER ) HERO(ES) : SIMON BELMONT SETTING : TRANSYLVANIAN ROMANIA, 1691 A.D. COMMENTS. . . The first CastleVania (or "Demon Castle Dracula") game ever (perhaps... "CastleVania 0"?), released on the MSX2 Home Computer. It was only released overseas in Japan and parts of Europe, but it is considered to be the granddaddy of all CastleVania games. Rather than owing to the more linear gameplay of CastleVania, Vampire Killer introduced a different system of playing. You must locate keys hidden throughout the castle to advance, and can purchase weapons from merchants you run into.

CASTLEVANIA ( 1987, NES ) AKA : DEMON CASTLE DRACULA ( JAPAN ) HERO(ES) : SIMON BELMONT SETTING : TRANSYLVANIAN ROMANIA, 1691 A.D. COMMENTS. . . The first game in the CastleVania series, released on the 8-bit Nintendo Entertainment System. The item-based system of Vampire Killer was ditched in favor of a straight forward but difficult action game.

HAUNTED CASTLE ( 1988, ARCADE ) AKA : AKUMAJO DRACULA ( JAPAN ) HERO(ES) : SIMON BELMONT SETTING : TRANSYLVANIAN ROMANIA, 1691 A.D. COMMENTS. . . CastleVania : The Arcade Game, it could be called. Six stages of radically increasing difficulty, Haunted Castle seems an odd arcade game in the sense that you are only allowed 3 continues... quarters or not.

CASTLEVANIA II : SIMON’S QUEST ( 1988; 2000, NES & NINTENDO GAMEBOY COLOR ) AKA : DRACULA II - THE ACCURSED SEAL ( JAPAN ) HERO(ES) : SIMON BELMONT SETTING : TRANSYLVANIAN ROMANIA, 1692 A.D. COMMENTS. . . Picking up shortly after the original game left off, Simon’s Quest featured an entirely different, Role Playing Game-like interface. Simon gains "levels" in the traditional RPG way by gaining experience points, collects gold from defeated monsters, buys weapons, tools, and items from shops, and explores the sprawling Transylvanian countryside of many towns, dungeons, mansions, and more. A faithful port of Simon’s Quest is tentatively scheduled for release in spring of 2000 for the Nintendo Color Gameboy. It remains to be seen whether or not anything new will be added to the NES classic. SPECIALTIES : The ability to buy an assortment of whips; collect an array of weaponry; the RPG ability to raise your life bar by gaining levels, etc.; the password feature; a day/night system.

CASTLEVANIA III : DRACULA’S CURSE ( 1990, NES ) AKA : LEGEND OF THE DEMON CASTLE ( JAPAN ) HERO(ES) : TREVOR C. BELMONT ; GRANT DANASTY ; ALUCARD ; SYPHA BELNADES SETTING : TRANSYLVANIAN ROMANIA, 1499 A.D. COMMENTS. . . Going back to the gameplay & feel of the original CastleVania, Dracula’s Curse returned to CastleVania’s roots. It offered multiple paths to get to your final destination, over which you can team up with one of three partners, each with unique abilities. SPECIALTIES : The ability to trade places with one of the three "spirits" you befriend along the way; the multiple-path quest layout.

THE CASTLEVANIA ADVENTURE ( 1990, NINTENDO GAMEBOY ) AKA : LEGEND OF DRACULA ( JAPAN ) HERO(ES) : CHRISTOPHER BELMONT SETTING : TRANSYLVANIAN ROMANIA, 1576 A.D. COMMENTS. . . The first game in a trilogy of Gameboy CastleVania games, The CastleVania Adventure is a game done very much like the original CastleVania, though with added terrain features including ropes you can climb. Simple, straightforward, a lot of agility required, and frustrating to many. Konami would correct most of The CastleVania Adventure’s flaws in its sequel. SPECIALTIES : A whip upgradable to be flame-throwing.

CASTLEVANIA II : BELMONT’S REVENGE ( 1991, NINTENDO GAMEBOY ) AKA : LEGEND OF DRACULA II ( JAPAN ) HERO(ES) : CHRISTOPHER BELMONT ( w/SOLEIYU BELMONT ) SETTING : TRANSYLVANIAN ROMANIA, 1591 A.D. COMMENTS. . . The sequel to The Castlevania Adventure, Belmont’s Revenge offered an even more involving quest. The game is divided up into four separate quests accessible on a map (of which you could complete in any order) that, after completion, take you to the fifth and final. SPECIALTIES : Map layout that gives you the option of completing the game’s levels in any order ala Capcom’s Megaman series.

SUPER CASTLEVANIA IV ( 1991, SNES ) AKA : DEMON CASTLE DRACULA [ remix ] ( JAPAN ) HERO(ES) : SIMON BELMONT SETTING : TRANSYLVANIAN ROMANIA, 1692 A.D. COMMENTS. . . The first 16-bit SNES CastleVania, Super CastleVania IV could be largely considered a remake of the original CastleVania in everything but the storyline (though the Japanese version remakes even that), taking full advantage of Mode-7 graphics and superior sound quality. The main character is more versatile than ever. SPECIALTIES : The ability to whip in all eight directions, swing the whip in a freestyle manner, use the whip to swing across certain areas, and walk while crouching. It was also the first game that enabled you to redirect your jumping and jump onto/off of stairs.

DRACULA X : THE CIRCLE OF BLOOD( 1993, PC ENGINE ) AKA : DRACULA X - THE RONDO OF BLOOD ( JAPAN ) HERO(ES) : RICHTER BELMONT ; MARIA RENARD SETTING : TRANSYLVANIAN ROMANIA, 1788 A.D. COMMENTS. . . Never released in America, the original Dracula X is arguably the best game the 16-bit PC Engine Super CD (Turbo Graphx-16 Duo in the US) had to offer and perhaps the best CastleVania game in existence, second only to Symphony of the Night. A stylized CastleVania adventure, it introduced many new abilities and powers, as well as a new sidekick. SPECIALTIES : The ability to use magical bursts or "item crashes" for each of the weapons you collect including the whip; an agile female character, Maria, that can take your place more or less as in Dracula’s Curse.

CASTLEVANIA : BLOODLINES ( 1994, SEGA GENESIS ) AKA : VAMPIRE KILLER ( JAPAN ) ; CASTLEVANIA - NEW GENERATION ( EUROPE ) HERO(ES) : JOHN MORRIS ; ERIC LECARDE SETTING : ROMANIAN TRANSYLVANIA; ITALY; VERSAILLES, FRANCE; GERMANY, ENGLAND, 1917 A.D. COMMENTS. . . The only CastleVania game to be released for Sega (outside of the Japan-only Sega Saturn version of Symphony of the Night and the aborted Sega Dreamcast Resurrection), Bloodlines offered a fast-paced epic quest that could very well be considered the best in the series so far. SPECIALTIES : The ability to choose between one of two characters in the beginning, John and Eric, each with their own strengths and unique abilities; the Dracula X ability to use bursts or "items crashes" of the weapons you collect; multiple paths depending on which character you choose.

CASTLEVANIA : DRACULA X ( 1995, SNES ) AKA : DEMON CASTLE DRACULA XX ( JAPAN ) ; CASTLEVANIA - VAMPIRE’S KISS ( EUROPE ) HERO(ES) : RICHTER BELMONT SETTING : TRANSYLVANIAN ROMANIA, 1788 A.D. COMMENTS. . . Released more accurately as Dracula XX ("Double X," not "Ex-Ex") in Japan, Dracula X continued the storyline of the original. There is some confusion over whether this game was an attempt at a port of the PCE’s Rondo of Blood or an actual sequel. The answer is both. Though the female companion you could call on in the first one is gone, new features are added in. SPECIALTIES : A new backflip ability for Richter; the ability to choose or reject special weapons you pick up.

CASTLEVANIA : SYMPHONY OF THE NIGHT ( 1997; 1998, PSX & SEGA SATURN ) AKA : DRACULA X - NOCTURNE IN THE MOONLIGHT ( JAPAN ) HERO(ES) : ALUCARD ; RICHTER BELMONT ; MARIA RENARD SETTING : TRANSYLVANIAN ROMANIA, 1792 A.D. COMMENTS. . . The third game in the Dracula X series, Symphony of the Night takes advantage of the Playstation’s power while staying true to the CastleVania spirit. Though largely keeping to a fast-paced Super CastleVania IV look, it goes a long ways toward the popular RPG-feel of Simon’s Quest, the ability to enter towns and converse with townspeople, raise experience, etc. The Sega Saturn version of Symphony of the Night offered new levels and made both Richter and Maria fully playable characters from the start, plus expanded the game itself with the addition of two new levels. SPECIALTIES : A multitude of weapons & armor; special moves, magic, and things to morph into the main character can execute; secrets abound; the RPG layout of Simon’s Quest & Super Metroid; various traditional RPG features; a place to purchase various items, weapons, and armor; a "second quest" once the game is halfway completed, the castle itself turning upside down; beating the game opens up Richter as a playable character all the way through (this is available from the start in the Saturn version, for Maria as well).

CASTLEVANIA LEGENDS ( 1998, NINTENDO GAMEBOY ) AKA : LEGEND OF DRACULA - DARK NIGHT PRELUDE ( JAPAN ) HERO(ES) : SONIA BELMONT ( w/ALUCARD ) SETTING : TRANSYLVANIAN ROMANIA, 1482 A.D. COMMENTS. . . A third Gameboy installment of the Gameboy CastleVania series. Gameplay can be likened to CastleVania II : Belmont’s Revenge, but control is much more refined, enabling you to crawl as in Super CastleVania IV and redirect jumps. While the multiple path feature of Belmont’s Revenge is lost, the gameplay itself is refined and otherwise "tweaked." SPECIALTIES : Magic-esque "Soul powers," which are gained after each level and used for attacking and healing purposes.

CASTLEVANIA [ 64 ] ( 1999, N64 ) AKA : AKUMAJO DRACULA APOCALYPSE ( JAPAN ) HERO(ES) : REINHARDT SCHNEIDER ; CARRIE FERNANDEZ SETTING : TRANSYLVANIAN ROMANIA, 1852 A.D. COMMENTS. . . Comprised in a fluid, 3D-rendered world, this release is done in much the same way as The Legend of Zelda : The Ocarina of Time was, players able to "lock on" to enemies in a 100% 3D engine. Retaining and improving upon the RPG elements seen in Symphony of the Night and Simon’s Quest, CastleVania for N64 also brings back the day/night system from Simon’s Quest, as well as two characters available to play with, changing the storyline and conclusion down either path. SPECIALTIES : Return of the day/night system; ability to store multiple items in inventory for use anytime; a demon merchant sells you wares at various points in the levels; short, "cinematic" scenes stuck throughout advance the story.

CASTLEVANIA : LEGACY OF DARKNESS ( 1999, N64 ) AKA : AKUMAJO DRACULA APOCALYPSE GAIDEN - THE LEGEND OF CORNELL ( JAPAN ) HERO(ES) : CORNELL ; HENRY DERAIS ; REINHARDT SCHNEIDER ; CARRIE FERNANDEZ SETTING : TRANSYLVANIAN ROMANIA, 1844 A.D. COMMENTS. . . Perhaps better considered a "special edition" to the original CastleVania for N64, Legacy of Darkness expands and enhances the world of the original game (the plug-in N64 Expansion Pack peripheral is optional as well, enabling a high-res graphical mode at the sacrifice of a few frames per second). To many, this game is considered "The CastleVania 64 that should have been in the first place, but wasn’t." Many of the levels remain the same, though with minute differences and additional levels altogether. In the beginning the players can choose only one character, "Cornell," whose quest is set in a prequel-tense to the original game’s storyline. This character is much more agile than either from the original game, this one able to jump, slide, run about, and claw enemies with swiftness and ease. When the game is beaten, however, Henry DeRais, a new knight-like character, becomes available for play. When Henry’s quest is completed, both Reinhardt and Carrie (from the original game) become avaiable. Along the way there are extra tidbits if the player can find them - new outfits/armor for the various characters. SPECIALTIES : The ability to morph into a werewolf if playing as Cornell; beating the game opens up new characters/storylines.

 

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