Now to explain a little bit about the game play of Castlevania. Most Castlevania games are action-based; they have little to do with forethought and puzzle solving. Castlevania games by nature are side-scrollers that will lead you the way you must go, and show you what you must do. Now one Castlevania stands alone as an RPG, and that would be Castlevania 2: Simon's Quest. The Castlevania series spans many platforms including the NES, Super Nintendo, Game Boy, and Sega Genesis. All of the Castlevania games would prove to be games that are enjoyed to this day. So take time to experience the entire Castlevania series.

But once you make it to the tower, you can count on a Duel to the Death. The Count has waited 100 years for a rematch. He's ready. Are you?
--From the NES Castlevania instruction manual.

Castlevania is a cornerstone game for Konami and Nintendo. The story and gameplay of this game were uncomparable to most games of the time. Who wouldn't want to save the world from evil by defeating the infamous Dracula? Although this game was very tough, it was a whole lot of fun. The graphics were well-rendered, and the controls were a little hard to get used to, but responsive none the less. The game consists of eighteen stages filled with ghouls, ghosts and famous monsters such as Frankenstein, the Hunchback, Medusa, Hell Hounds, the Grim Reaper, and of course, Dracula. Castlevania is an action packed ride through some of the most famous monster stories of all time, so pop your fingers and get ready to get blisters on your thumbs, 'cause this game is not for amateurs.

"Fear not, brave Simon, for if you have the courage to risk your life, you will find the strength to win again."
--From the NES Castlevania 2 instruction manual.

Castlevania 2: Simon's Quest was initially panned upon its release, many reviewers didn't like how Konami toyed with the classic linear style that the original "Castlevania" had, but it turns out that hindsight truly is 20/20.
I'll give the initial reviews the fact that the game is a heck of a lot more challenging, that's undeniable, but I really don't believe in panning a game that is bigger (in both size and concept) and generally has a lot more to offer the player than its predecessor.
The game world is huge and brimming with (un)life, it even has a functioning day and night cycle (during night, the enemies become even MORE challenging than they are during the day).

The graphics and sound are passable, if unspectacular, which is the only major complaint I had with this game, but I found those complaints moot whenever I saw the size of the world. I figured the developers had to tone back on some things in order to get the game to fit on the SNES cartridge.

If you want to witness the birth of the first true "non-linear action game," then look no further than "Castlevania 2: Simon's Quest." It's fun, challenging and rewarding, which are the qualities that all video games should strive to have.

Horrified to learn that his son had been altered by the forces of evil, Christopher Belmont determined to save Soleiyu and break the ambitions of the Count. He journeyed to the new castles, each ruled by a different power of darkness placed there by the Soleiyu-demon to stop anyone who would tamper with the mystic spell Dracula had cast upon him. Nevertheless, in order to save the village of Transylvania and free his son, Christopher had no choice but to go and fight once again.
--From the Gameboy Castlevania 2: Belmont's Revenge instruction manual.

Castlevania is one of the most popular games to date. The series is still alive and well on today's platforms. Castlevania II on the NES was one of the best RPG's on a video game console. I have never played a Castlevania game that I didn't enjoy.

Castlevania II: Belmont's Revenge was a great addition to this long and illustrious series. The graphics looked a lot like their NES counterparts except for the fact they were black and white. The music and sounds were quite enjoyable as always with Castlevania. Castlevania II: Belmont's Revenge is a must play for any Castlevania fan.

So go forth young Trevor into the cold black night, where death lurks around every corner and evil lingers on every stone. And remember, if your courage and cunning are any less than magnificent or if you fail to choose the correct Paths of Fate, you'll be banished to the world of the undead, and zombies will rule until the end of time.
--From the NES Castlevania 3 instruction manual.

Castlevania 3 was probably my favorite Castlevania game growing up. It returned to the gameplay in the first one. It was more like an adventure game than the RPG-like gameplay of the second one. The biggest difference was the ability to change into other characters. I think the best character is Grant because he can climb on the walls and his jumping ability is far superior to the others. The only weakness he has is the fact that his attack is shorter and does less damage, but if you need a longer more powerful attack you can just switch back to Belmont.

The graphics looked good, with detailed backgrounds. The background music is catchy and pleasant. Castlevania 3 is a lot of fun, and I suggest you give it a try.

It is time once again for Simon Belmont to call forth the powers of good to aid him in his battle. Armed with his mystical whip, his courage and the centuries-old knowledge of Belmont family training, he sets forth on his mission...
--From the Super Nintendo Castlevania 4: Super Castlevania instruction manual.

Castlevania has always been one of Konami's biggest series. Castlevania 4 was an excellent addition, one of the best, in my humble opinion. The graphics were well rendered and brightly colored. The sounds were upgraded with just enough of the original score to remind you of the good old days. The controls were a lot better, with the ability to throw your whip in any direction and the secondary weapon getting its own button. The gameplay stuck to the original side-scrolling asdventure formula, which was a treat to Castlevania fans everywhere. Be sure to give this monumental addition to the series a try.

After getting his wings clipped in Castlevania and Simon's Quest, the death defying Count has risen again.
Desiring revenge even more than blood, he'll descend upon your Game Boy, with fangs glistening by the light of the silvery full moon.
To survive his maze of torture chambers and vampire crypts, you must unlock the castle's secrets by locating hearts, crystals and crosses. You must also possess the strength to master the Mystic Whip, which wards off unearthly evils like the She Worm.
So risk your neck and accept Drac's challenge. Because if you fail to destroy him now, he will rule the night forever.
- Castlevania: The Adventure (Box Art - Back)

The idea of bringing Castlevania, the action of slaying evil creatures and vampires, on the go, seemed to be a great idea and one that could have been executed greatly such as with Mario. However, Castlevania: The Adventure turned out to be a bit of a flop. The gameplay is on the slow side, and I believe it covers up for the fact that there are only four levels of play in the entire game. The graphical presentation is nothing special either: nothing too bad but nothing to write home about. The soundtrack, to me, just doesn't live up to the other Castlevania titles and sort of fails in that department. On the whole, I'd say that if you want a good portable gaming experience, pick up Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow for the Nintendo DS, because this Game Boy title is a miss and, in this gamer's honest opinion, the weakest of all the Castlevania titles.

Is your heart strong enough for this challenge?
--From the Sega Genesis Castlevania Bloodlines instruction manual.

Castlevania Bloodlines had some major differences from its predecessors. This time, you get to pick from two different Belmont descendants. One, is a guy from Texas with an abnormally large torso. He wields the whip that was passed down from his grandfather. The second Belmont is from Spain. He uses a trident that I think is far superior to the traditional Castlevania whip. There are a couple of reasons for this. First, the trident can be aimed in any direction while the whip is limited to the forward stroke. The trident is also superior due to its twirl technique. This move is a little tricky at first, but once you get it it's not too bad. It comes in handy for a lot of the bosses that like to throw a bunch of little stuff at you. Castlevania Bloodlines was a pretty hard nut to crack, still a lot of fun. If you liked any of the other Castlevanias then try this one!

Once aware of this, Richter takes his ancestor's sacred whip, passed down through the years from father to son, and sets out for Dracula's castle to rescue Annet and Maria, and to seal away the evil Count for good.
--From the Super Nintendo Castlevania Dracula X instruction manual.

Castlevania Dracula X was a great addition to the Castlevania series. The graphics were a great deal better than that of Castlevania 4. Most of the bosses are new and harder to beat. You get to go up against a werewolf, a huge knight with an equally large lance, and a two headed panther, forgoing the typical Medusa, Frankenstein, and Grim Reaper. I don't think this game is quite as difficult as the original Castlevania, but it is still quite hard to beat. I don't think I could have done it without cheating.

Unfortunately, for Dracula X they got rid of the special weapon having its own button, and the ability to throw your whip in any direction. For the special weapon, Konami went with the old "push up and attack at the same time" routine from the earlier games. The jump ability was improved, though. You can change directions in mid air this time, and you can jump onto and off of stairs. If you are in the mood for some good old Castlevania action, load up Castlevania Dracula X and have at it!

Can't stop here.....it's bat country. Yes bats, children of the night, what a mess they make. Sonia Belmont is a young girl trying to make it in the world of Transylvania. However, since it is a world of evil and darkness, she must venture forth to vanquish Dracula (how typical). So run through this side-scrolling world of darkness to fight the ultimate evil. But don't feel like you're alone in this, well... no, go ahead and feel that way, cuz you don't get no help from nobody. Don't let that get you down though, because this is still a fun game that makes a great installment in the Castlevania universe.