Castlevania is the North American and European title of Demon Castle Dracula (悪魔城ドラキュラ Akumajō Dracula), a Japanese console video game developed and published by Konami for the Famicom Disk System in 1986. The following year it was ported to cartridge format and released in North America for the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES). It is the first game in the Castlevania franchise.

Castlevania has been ported to a variety of different video game consoles, handheld game consoles, home computer systems, and mobile phones. The NES release of the game was adapted for video arcades both as a part of Nintendo's Play Choice 10 series and (with the addition of s two-player competitive play mode) the Nintendo Vs. Series. In 1990, versions of the title were released for the IBM PC Compatible, the Commodore 64 (both developed by Unlimited Software ), and the Commodore Amiga (developed by Novotrade ). In 2002, Konami released the first three Castlevania games for Microsoft Windows via console emulation as the . Also in 2002, Konami Mobile released a mobile phone version of the game for Motorola phones (developed by Upstart Games ). That version was upgraded in 2004 with improved graphics, and was subsequently released in Europe for the Samsung A600 and the Sanyo 8100, and for AT&T Wireless's mMode network in North America. A third mobile phone version was produced in late 2004, with even better graphics, but has only been released in Japan as of early 2005. Finally, also in 2004, Castlevania was released for the Nintendo Game Boy Advance as part of the Classic NES Series.

The game has been adapted or remade for a number of different platforms, including the Super Nintendo Entertainment System (as Super Castlevania IV), the MSX (as Vampire Killer), and the Sharp X68000 (which was later ported to the Sony PlayStation and released as Castlevania Chronicles), as well an arcade game remake called Haunted Castle. While all of these adaptations share a variety of elements with the original game, including title (in the original Japanese, all were simply called Demon Castle Dracula), basic storyline, main character, and monsters, several major elements have been added or altered, and because of this they should be considered as distinct entries in the series.

Release dates

• September 22, 1986 — Famicom Disk System (Japan)
• May 1, 1987 — Nintendo Entertainment System (North America)
• December 19, 1988 — Nintendo Entertainment System (Europe)
• 1990 — Commodore 64, Commodore Amiga, and IBM PC Compatible / DOS (North America)
• February 5, 1993 — Nintendo Family Computer (rerelease in cartridge format) (Japan)
• November 16, 2002 — IBM PC Compatible / Microsoft Windows (as part of Konami Collector's Series ) (North America)
• July 7, 2004 — AT&T Wireless mMode Network (North America)
• August 10, 2004 — Nintendo Game Boy Advance (Japan)
• October 25, 2004 — Nintendo Game Boy Advance (North America)
• January 7, 2005 — Nintendo Game Boy Advance (Europe)

Story

Every century, the vampire lord Dracula awakens from his long slumber, and his abode, the haunted fortress known as Castlevania, materializes in the Transylvanian countryside. Once returned to our world, Dracula and his minions would be free to feast upon the blood of humanity save for one clan of warriors who have a been charged with a holy mission to keep watch over Castlevania, and, when it returns to our world, to defeat its inhuman master. In 1691, Castlevania once more shimmers into being, and Simon Belmont, the latest in a long line of vampire hunters, takes up his enchanted whip, the Vampire Killer, and sets out to do battle with Dracula himself.

Gameplay

Castlevania is a typical platform game of the Nintendo era: the game is comprised of sixteen levels, which are played through in a strictly linear progression. The player controls Simon Belmont, whose primary mode of attack is via his whip, which can be upgraded by obtaining special items throughout the course of the game which extend its length. In addition, various "sub-weapons" can be obtained which provide different means of attack. By breaking candelabras and certain other items located throughout the castle, Simon collects hearts, which can then be used to activate whatever sub-weapon he possesses at that point. Simon can only carry one sub-weapon at a time. Many modern gamers have criticized Castlevania for certain control-related problems: Simon cannot change direction in mid-jump, and neither can he jump on or off of staircases.

Each of Castlevania's six levels conclude with a boss fight: these bosses are generally taken from horror literature or legend, and include Frankenstein's Monster, Medusa, and the Grim Reaper.

Screenshots

Famicom Disk System / NES version

DOS version

Commodore 64 version

Amiga version

Mobile phone first version

Mobile phone second version

Mobile phone third version

External links

• MobyGames's entry for Castlevania
• The CastleVania Dungeon (CastleVania entry)
• MrP's CastleVania Realm (CastleVania entry)