Castlevania (1986 video game)

Castlevania
File:Castlevania NES box art.jpg North American box art
Developer(s)	Konami
Publisher(s)	Konami Nintendo
Designer(s)	Akihiko Nagata
Composer(s)	Kinuyo Yamashita Satoe Terashima
Series	Castlevania
Platform(s)	Family Computer Disk System, Nintendo Entertainment System, Commodore 64, Amiga, DOS, Microsoft Windows, Game Boy Advance, AT&T Wireless mMode Network, Virtual Console
Release	September 26, 1986 FDS NES Game Boy Advance Virtual Console
Genre(s)	Platforming
Mode(s)	Single-player

Castlevania, known as Akumajō Dracula (悪魔城ドラキュラ, Akumajō Dorakyura, officially translated Devil's Castle Dracula) in Japan, is a console video game developed and published by Konami for the Family Computer Disk System in Japan in September 1986. A year later, in May 1987 it was ported to cartridge format and released in North America for the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) followed by a European release in 1988. It was re-released for the Family Computer (FC) in cartridge format in Japan in 1993. It is the first game in Konami's Castlevania video game series.

The player takes control of Simon Belmont in the year 1691, who must defeat the vampire Dracula. A sequel, Simon's Quest, was released for the NES a few years later.

Gameplay

Screenshot of Castlevania on the NES.

Castlevania is a typical platform game of the 8-bit era: the game is composed of six levels, which are played in a strictly linear progression. The player controls Simon Belmont throughout the game. The A button allows Simon Belmont to jump just like other platformer games, such as Super Mario Bros., but he can only jump straight up, left, or right; there is no midair control. There are many stairs located throughout the levels, but rather than simply pressing left or right to step up them, the player must hold up on the directional pad. His primary mode of attack is via his whip by pressing the B button, which can be upgraded three times by obtaining special items throughout the course of the game which change it into a chain whip and extend its length. In addition, various "sub-weapons" can be obtained which provide different means of attack. By breaking candelabra and certain other items located throughout the castle, Simon collects hearts, which are then used as ammunition for the sub-weapon that he possesses. Simon can only carry one sub-weapon at a time. The player can use a sub-weapon by simultaneously pressing "up" and B on the controller. Whenever Simon receives damage, he is knocked back a distance, increasing the challenge as this may lead to him falling down into a pit below. He is not knocked back when on stairs.

Each of Castlevania's six levels conclude with a boss fight: these bosses are generally taken from horror literature or legend, and include a giant bat, Medusa, a pair of mummies, Frankenstein's Monster and Igor, the Grim Reaper (this boss in particular is also infamous for being very difficult, though there is a way to defeat him very easily,) and finally Dracula (who transforms into a second and more powerful monster form after his first form is defeated). The Angry Video Game Nerd has named it "The Evil Cookie Monster."

Versions and re-releases

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 a two-player competitive play mode) the Nintendo Vs. System.

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).

A ROM version of the game was released for the Japanese Family Computer in 1993. The port omitted the name registration screen from the original Family Computer Disk System version (as well as saving) and included an "Easy" mode. In this mode, Simon begins with ten lives, enemies do less damage, the player is given more time, and, most notably, he is not knocked back by enemy's attacks: the player simply momentarily freezes.

In 2002, Konami released the first three NES Castlevania games for PC Microsoft Windows as the Castlevania and Contra: Konami Collector's Series. This was later added to GameTap in 2006.

In 2004, Castlevania was released for the Game Boy Advance as part of the Classic NES Series published by Nintendo. The mock ending credits of the game, which are mostly puns on the names of veteran horror movie stars, were removed in this version. However, it does have the stage select feature.

In 2007, it was released through the Wii Virtual Console.

In 2002, Upstart Games ported a mobile phone version of the game from the original Japanese mobile game. That version was upgraded in 2004 with improved graphics, and was subsequently released in North America and Europe for multiple handsets. 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.

Castlevania is slated for release on the Nintendo 3DS, and may feature camera support, 3D support, or analog support. This release was featured amongst other games from the Nintendo Entertainment System and Super NES to be released for the 3DS on a tech demo called Classic Games at E3 2010.

The same plotline and setting are in other different games in the series on different platforms. This includes Vampire Killer, Super Castlevania IV, Castlevania X68000, Castlevania Chronicles, as well as the arcade game game Haunted Castle. While all of these games have similarities with Castlevania for the NES, including the original Japanese title, Akumajo Dracula. However, they are all completely different video games.

Audio

Untitled

Track listing

Disc 1

# Japanese title (Romanization) English title Length 01. Beginning -The Legend of Devil's Castle Dracula Music- 3:22 02. Bloody Tears -Dracula II Music- 1:18 03. Renewed Resolution 6:01 04. Desperate, Decisive Battle 6:21 05. Ralf, Crisis! 3:36 06. Darkness & Tension 4:17 07. Escape From Underground 2:30 08. Last Battle 7:52 09. Ending 2:30 10. Message of Darkness 0:42 11. Within These Castle Walls 0:44 12. Bloody Tears 1:05 13. The Silence of the Daylight 0:58 14. Dwelling of Doom 0:59 15. Monster Dance 0:58 16. Last Boss 0:37 17. Game Over 0:05 18. A Requiem 1:59 19. Underground 0:30 20. Prologue 0:08 21. Vampire Killer 1:15 22. Stalker 1:14 23. Wicked Child 2:06 24. Walking on the Edge 1:43 25. Heart of Fire 2:12 26. Out of Time 1:21 27. Nothing to Lose 1:33 28. Poison Mind 0:32 29. Black Night 0:57 30. Voyager 0:56 31. The Silence of the Daylight (Town Stage BGM) 1:14 32. Bloody Tears (Street -day time- Stage BGM) 0:49 33. A Requiem (Ending BGM) 1:36

Reception

Castlevania was rated the 22nd best game made on a Nintendo System in Nintendo Power's Top 200 Games list. In August 2008, Nintendo Power listed it as the 14th best Nintendo Entertainment System video game. The re-release of the game on the Virtual Console for the Nintendo Wii was rated a 7.5 by IGN, saying that the graphics show their age after 20 years, but the soundtrack is famously creepy and the game is still atmospheric and challenging.

External links

• Template:GameFAQs
• Template:GameFAQs
• Castlevania at MobyGames
• Template:StrategyWiki
• The Castlevania Dungeon (Castlevania entry)
• MrP's CastleVania Realm (Castlevania entry)