Tag Archives: Castlevania series

Konami, X68000

Akumajō Dracula, X68000

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The 1993 Sharp X68000 version of “Akumajō Dracula” is arguably the best version of the first Castlevania game available, with improved graphics and sound, and redesigned gameplay to accomodate new and more dramatic situations.

Also known as “Vampire Killer” in Europe; also known as “Castlevania” in North America; but known in its native Japan as “Akumajō Dracula“, this is an updated remake of the first game in the Castlevania series. And it is known for being two things: 1. REALLY GOOD, and 2. REALLY HARD!

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Konami, MSX

Vampire Killer, MSX

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Konami‘s “Akumajō Dracula” was first released in 1986 for the MSX2. It helped set the template for a series that is still going (relatively) strong to this day – the Castlevania series.

This MSX game was also the first game in the Castlevania series to be given an English language release, and it was released in 1987 in Europe under the title of “Vampire Killer“, which then changed to “Castlevania” when the North American NES version of this game was released on cartridge.

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Konami, XBox

Castlevania: Curse of Darkness, XBox

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Released for the XBox and PlayStation 2, Castlevania: Curse of Darkness is a 3D action/adventure developed by Konami Computer Entertainment Tokyo and first published in 2005.

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Konami, Super Nintendo

Castlevania: Dracula X, Super Nintendo

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Castlevania: Dracula X on the Super Nintendo is a remake of the classic Castlevania: Rondo of Blood that was initially released for the PC Engine CD. It was first published by Konami in 1995.

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Arcade, Konami

Haunted Castle, Arcade

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Haunted Castle is an obscure Castlevania arcade game, developed by Konami and first released in 1988. Until recently, I’d never seen it before, and playing it now I have to say that it is pretty unsophisticated for a late Eighties arcade game, and it pales into insignificance compared to other Castlevania games, like Super Castlevania IV or Castlevania: Symphony of the Night. It’s also insanely difficult. Maybe unfairly so.

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Konami, PC Engine

Castlevania: Rondo of Blood, PC Engine

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Also known as Akumajo Dracula X: Chi no Rondo, Rondo of Blood is a famous entry in Konami‘s Castlevania series that was initially made exclusively for the PC Engine CD and first published in 1993.

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Konami, Megadrive/Genesis

Castlevania: Bloodlines, Megadrive/Genesis

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Castlevania: Bloodlines was released for the Sega Megadrive by Konami in 1993. It was the only Castlevania game ever released for the Megadrive.

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Game Boy Advance, Konami, Steam

Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow, Game Boy Advance

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The third and final Castlevania game on the Game Boy Advance, Aria of Sorrow was first published by Konami in 2003.

Development was again led by Producer Koji Igarashi (who had previously worked on Symphony of the Night), and the end result is another brilliant and varied mix of platforming and RPG, with challenging enemies and boss battles.

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Game Boy Advance, Konami, Steam

Castlevania: Harmony Of Dissonance, Game Boy Advance

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The second Castlevania game released for the Game Boy Advance, Harmony of Dissonance was published by Konami in 2002.

In this game you play as Juste Belmont, a direct descendant of Simon Belmont – the protagonist from the first Castlevania. And – for some reason – he has a blue glow around him, and a blue trail, that he leaves in his wake as he moves…

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Game Boy Advance, Konami, Steam

Castlevania: Circle of the Moon, Game Boy Advance

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Castlevania: Circle of the Moon was the first Castlevania game released for the Game Boy Advance. It was developed by Konami‘s Kobe division and released in 2001.

Circle of the Moon was also a launch title for the GBA and went on to sell over one million physical units worldwide.

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