Castlevania (video game)

Infobox VG
title = Castlevania


caption = Box art for the NES version
developer = Konami
publisher = Konami
Nintendo ("GBA")
series = Castlevania
designer =
engine =
released = flagicon|Japan September 26, vgy|1986
flagicon|USA May 1, vgy|1987
flagicon|EU December 19, vgy|1988
genre = Platformer
modes = Single-player
ratings= ESRB: E (Everyone) (GBA, Wii)
PEGI: 3+
CERO: A (All ages)
platforms = Famicom Disk System, Nintendo Entertainment System, Commodore 64, Commodore Amiga, PC MS-DOS, PC Microsoft Windows, Game Boy Advance, AT&T Wireless mMode Network, Virtual Console
media = 1-megabit cartridge (NES)
requirements = PC MS-DOS
Intel 8088 or higher, DOS 3.0 to 3.3, 384KB RAM
PC Microsoft Windows
Intel Pentium, Windows 95, 16MB RAM, 10MB free hard drive space, 2X CD-ROM drive, DirectX 8.0
input =

"Castlevania", known in Japan as nihongo|"Akumajō Dracula"|悪魔城ドラキュラ|Akumajō Dorakyura|lit. "Demon Castle Dracula", is a console video game developed and published by Konami for the Famicom Disk System in Japan in September of 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 is the first game in the "Castlevania" franchise, but the seventh chronological installment of the franchise in the current canon.

Gameplay

"Castlevania" is a typical platform game of the 8-bit era: the game is composed of six 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 candelabra 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.

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

Plot

In the year 1691, Transylvania has been at peace for one-hundred years, thanks to the efforts of Christopher Belmont destroying the vampire Dracula. Dracula has resurrected again, and Simon Belmont goes to defeat him with the Vampire Killer.

In the ending, Simon successfully defeats Dracula, leading to the events of the video game "".

Development

Versions and rereleases

"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. 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 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. The mock ending credits of the game, which are mostly puns on the names of veteren horror movie stars, were removed in this version.

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 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.

The same storyline and setting has been reused for different games in the series on different platforms, including the MSX (known as "Vampire Killer" in Europe), the Super Nintendo (as "Super Castlevania IV"), and the Sharp X68000 (which was later ported to the PlayStation and released as "Castlevania Chronicles"), as well as an arcade game remake called "Haunted Castle". While all of these games share a variety of elements with "Castlevania", including title (in the original Japanese, all were simply called "Demon Castle Dracula"), they are totally different games.

Audio

Infobox Album
Name = Akumajō Dracula Best Vol. 1
Type = Soundtrack
Artist = Kinuyo Yamashita, Kenichi Matsubara, Yoshinori Sasaki, Jun Funahashi & Yukie Morimoto


Released = September 23, 1998 (Japan)
Recorded =
Genre = Video game soundtrack
Length = 1:04:00

Track listing

Reception

Castlevania was rated the 23rd best game made on a Nintendo System in Nintendo Powers Top 200 Games list.Citation|year=February 2006| title=NP Top 200|periodical=Nintendo Power|volume=200|pages=58-66.] 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. [cite web | author=Mark Birnbaum| year=April 30th, 2007| title=Castlevania Review | format= | work=IGN | url=http://wii.ign.com/articles/784/784689p1.html | accessdate=2008-02-11]

References

External links

*StrategyWiki|Castlevania
*moby game|id=/castlevania|name="Castlevania"
* [http://www.classicgaming.com/castlevania/ The Castlevania Dungeon] ( [http://www.classicgaming.com/castlevania/cv1.htm "Castlevania" entry] )
* [http://www.vgmuseum.com/mrp/ MrP's CastleVania Realm] ( [http://www.vgmuseum.com/mrp/screen-cv1.htm "Castlevania" entry] )