Dracula/Castlevania-JGC Series Overview-Part 1-1986-1989

Konami released Akumajou Dracula(Castlevania) in 1986 for the Famicom Disk System. The series would later go on to spawn countless sequels, many of them regarded as some of the finest examples of video games ever created. In this three-part feature, JGC takes a look at the games that helped propel Konami to the once mighty heights of gaming that it occupied during the 1980s and 1990s.

In Akumajou Dracula(AD), players take control of Simon Belmondo (Belmont in the US version) during the year 1691. Armed with a whip, Simon faces an endless array of horror-themed beasts and creepers. Most of us have at least played the first game in the series.

AD is tough as nails. Like many a Famicom/NES classic, the game will have players throwing down their control-pads in anger. Especially infamous in the boss battles with the Grim Reaper and Dracula himself. Making effective use of special weapons is key for survival. The Famicom Disk System version has a notable save feature compared to the NES version and later Famicom cartridge release. There is simply little else to say about the first game in the series. While it lacks some of polish of later games, AD is a must-play for anyone looking to get into the series.

In development at the same time as the FDS original, an entirely different version of Akamajou Dracula was released for the MSX2 computer in 1986. Known as Vampire Killer in Europe and South America, the game took a very different approach to the original. See the JGC review (January 2016) for more about this odd-duck of a game.

In 1987, Konami followed up the immensely successful AD/Castlevania with its sequel. Dracula II: Noroi no Fuin took a very different approach from the first game. Incorporating much more of an RPG feel, the drastic shift in gameplay turned off some people who had enjoyed the first game. With its cryptic puzzles and item collection, the game presented different challenges than the first game. Rather than being outright difficult, the game was more challenging in terms of navigating the cryptic and confusing puzzles. Still a polarizing game, most gamers either love it or hate it.

Dracula/Castlevania II did warrant enough success for the series to continue on. Perhaps the most important element of the game was the introduction of "Bloody Tears" as one of the main songs to repeat throughout the series. Composed by Kenichi Matsubara, the piece is gorgeous and haunting, even coming from the 8-bit chip of the Famicom/NES.

Konami tried their hand at releasing an arcade version of Akamajou Dracula in 1988. Known as Haunted Castle outside of Japan, the game is largely forgotten today. Featuring six stages and bosses, the game is a quarter-munching monster. A very challenging game, it has some great visuals and compositions. However, the game is very short and shallow compared to main entries in the series. A PS2 port of the game was released in Japan, however, the main way to play the game is via emulation for most people.

Released to Nintendo's new Game Boy in 1989, Dracula Densetsu (Castlevana: The Adventure) sought to bring the whip-crashing action of its larger console brothers to the pint-sized machine. A mixed bag, the game is more famous for its memorable music rather than gameplay. With limited graphics and no sub-weapons, many found DD quite dull compared to the main games in the series. A remake would later make its way to Nintendo's WiiWare platform.

The 8-bit era of Dracula/Castlevania would come to a close with a bang. Akumajo Densetsu (Castlevania III: Dracula's Curse) was a perfect close to the original trilogy of 8-bit games. Featuring some of the best graphics and sound on Nintendo's 8-bit console, the game has been met with nearly universal acclaim since its original release. For the Japanese release, the game even contained a special Konami sound-chip that added two extra channels of sounds into the mix. For most people, the Famicom version of the game sounds much more gritty and dark. In addition to better sounds, the Famicom version also contained some special sprite animations, partial nudity, and some different backgrounds. For most, the Famicom version is seen as superior to the NES release. Today, it is one of most sought-after Famicom carts and is rather pricey.

Akumajo Densetsu made use of branching paths to add more depth to this entry. In addition to hero Ralph Belmondo, players could take control of several other characters such as Alucard, Grant and Sypha. Each character brought different abilities. For example, Alucard has the power of flight. With some very challenging boss battles, planning which character to use can be an important part of strategy in this game. While difficult, Akumajo Densetsu is a very rewarding game with great music, graphics, and mechanics. As an interesting note, the game has been causing problems for NES/Famicom clone consoles for years, refusing to work due to its complex use various hardware components.