Castlevania
Step into the shadows of the deadliest dwelling on earth. You've arrived at Castlevania, and you're here on business: To destroy forever the Curse of the Evil Count. Unfortunately, everybody's home this evening. Bats, ghosts, every kind of creature you can imagine. You'll find 'em all over the place, if they don't find you first. Because you've got to get through six monstrous floors before you even meet up with the Master of the House. Your Magic Whip will help, and you'll probably find a weapons or two along…
Stylish and demanding, with stiff jumps that are a feature, not a bug, once you learn them.Kit · Sadkitty Games
Loved
- Iconic gothic atmosphere and music
- Tightly designed six-stage castle
- Great sub-weapons
Not so much
- Knockback into pits is infuriating
- Death and Dracula are big difficulty spikes
Play it if players who enjoy learning a tough game stage by stage.
Skip it if anyone who expects to change direction in mid-air.
No cheat codes
Castlevania doesn't have cheat codes. The tips and secrets below are the next best thing.
Play it better
- Your jumps are fixed once you leave the ground, so commit to every jump and never jump near enemies above pits.
- The Holy Water with a double or triple upgrade can lock most bosses in place, including Death.
- Whip candles to find hearts, which are ammo for sub-weapons, not health.
- Knock Medusa Heads out of the air rather than jumping; they move in a set wave pattern.
- Don't pick up a different sub-weapon by accident when you're carrying the one you want for the boss.
- Crouch-whip the fleaman jumpers before they reach you.
Hidden in plain sight
Tap a secret to reveal it.
Trivia
- It was called Akumajō Dracula in Japan and first came out on the Famicom Disk System.
- Its music by Kinuyo Yamashita includes 'Vampire Killer', a series anthem.
- Its levels take inspiration from Universal monster movies, with Frankenstein's monster and the Mummy as bosses.
- It spawned a long series, including the Netflix animated show.
