Released on 26th September 1986 in Japan, Akumajō Dracula (translating as: “Demon Castle Dracula“) was the very first release in the Castlevania series, predating the MSX version of the game by about a month. Konami released it on the Famicom Disk System where it quickly became a hit with Japanese gamers.

It began a long-running series of platform/horror-themed video games and set the template for the Castlevania series as a whole.

You play the infamous Simon Belmont, a whip-wielding monster-killer on a mission to defeat Count Dracula in his castle. Simon must avoid the many monsters that attack him by either hitting them with his increasingly powerful whip, or by using secondary weapons that can be picked up as he progresses.

Castlevania was such a hit on the Famicom Disk System that it was re-released on cartridge for the Nintendo Famicom in 1993. It has also been re-released and re-made numerous times for a variety of different platforms.

The game is notorious for its difficulty. Especially later levels which are mind-bendingly tough. It is definitely a classic video game, though.

More: Castlevania on Wikipedia
More: Castlevania on romhacking.net
Steam: Castlevania on Steam
Steam: Castlevania Anniversary Collection on Steam
GOG: Castlevania 1, 2 & 3 on GOG.com