Difference between revisions of "Castlevania"

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[[Image:Castlevania - NES - USA.jpg|thumb|256x256px|North American box art.]]
 
[[Image:Castlevania - NES - USA.jpg|thumb|256x256px|North American box art.]]
  
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'''''Castlevania''''', known in Japan as '''''悪魔城ドラキュラ [Akumajo Dorakyura], "Devil's Castle Dracula"''''', is an action platformer by [[Konami]] released on the [[Famicom Disk System]] in 1986 and later ported to many other platforms. It is the first game in the [[Castlevania (Universe)|Castlevania series]].
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'''''Castlevania''''' is an action platformer by [[Konami]] released on the [[Famicom Disk System]] in 1986 and later ported to many other platforms. It is the first game in the [[Castlevania (Universe)|Castlevania series]].
  
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I don't remember when I first played this game, but I'm pretty sure I played [[Castlevania III: Dracula's Curse]] first, and then this game after, and found it a bit lacking in comparison.
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I don't remember when I first played this game, but I'm pretty sure I played [[Castlevania III: Dracula's Curse]] first, and then this game after, and found it a bit lacking in comparison. As a classic Castlevania game, I want to be good at it, but the game has some serious flaws that make it unlikely I'll ever try to beat it.
  
 
==Status==
 
==Status==
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* The game has a decent soundtrack.
 
* The game has a decent soundtrack.
 
* I like that Simon's weapon is a whip; kind of a unique choice.
 
* I like that Simon's weapon is a whip; kind of a unique choice.
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* The game has great box art.
 
 
* For such an early game, it has a pretty good amount of variation between enemies, stages, and bosses.
 
* For such an early game, it has a pretty good amount of variation between enemies, stages, and bosses.
 
* The artists did a great job with the look approaching the final boss.
 
* The artists did a great job with the look approaching the final boss.
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* The game has great box art.
  
 
===Bad===
 
===Bad===
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* My worst complaint is the bad control scheme. Attacking is sluggish, jumping is difficult to control, and getting hit knocks you back and often kills you.
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* My worst complaint is the bad control scheme. Attacking is sluggish, jumping is difficult to control, and getting hit knocks you back, often killing you.
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* Simon is extremely vulnerable on stairs, and there are a lot to have to walk up.
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* Simon is extremely vulnerable on stairs because he moves so slowly on them and can't jump off. Unfortunately, you spend a lot of the game on them.
 
* The background graphics lack definition and are a bit off. They look as though they were drawn for a different resolution and then resized without being fixed.
 
* The background graphics lack definition and are a bit off. They look as though they were drawn for a different resolution and then resized without being fixed.
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* The medusa heads are a bit obnoxious to deal with.
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* The medusa heads are obnoxious to deal with.
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* The game uses points, which have no bearing on the game.
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* The game has unnecessary arcade mechanics like points, even though they have no bearing on the game, and time, even though nobody is waiting in line.
  
 
===Ugly===
 
===Ugly===
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===Documentation===
 
===Documentation===
 
<gallery>
 
<gallery>
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Castlevania - NES - Manual.pdf|Game manual.
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Castlevania - NES - Manual.pdf|Game manual (Uses [[Eras]] typeface).
 
Castlevania - NES - Poster.jpg|A mostly-complete poster of the box art.
 
Castlevania - NES - Poster.jpg|A mostly-complete poster of the box art.
 
Official Nintendo Player's Guide - 079.jpg|[[The Official Nintendo Player's Guide]], part 1.
 
Official Nintendo Player's Guide - 079.jpg|[[The Official Nintendo Player's Guide]], part 1.
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Castlevania - NES - Map - Spoilers.png|Map with spoilers.
 
Castlevania - NES - Map - Spoilers.png|Map with spoilers.
 
</gallery>
 
</gallery>
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===Videos===
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* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mOTUVXrAOE8 youtube.com/watch?v=mOTUVXrAOE8] - Longplay, all secrets.
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==Titles==
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{| class="wikitable"
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! Language !! Native !! Transliteration !! Translation
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|-
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| English || Castlevania || ||
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|-
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| Japanese || 悪魔城ドラキュラ || Akumajo Dorakyura || Devil's Castle Dracula
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|}
  
 
==Links==
 
==Links==

Revision as of 11:08, 6 September 2018

North American box art.

Castlevania is an action platformer by Konami released on the Famicom Disk System in 1986 and later ported to many other platforms. It is the first game in the Castlevania series.

I don't remember when I first played this game, but I'm pretty sure I played Castlevania III: Dracula's Curse first, and then this game after, and found it a bit lacking in comparison. As a classic Castlevania game, I want to be good at it, but the game has some serious flaws that make it unlikely I'll ever try to beat it.

Status

I own this game on the NES, but I have never even come close to beating it.

Review

  • Overall: 3/10
  • Best Version: NES

Good

  • The designers made good use of all the common horror tropes.
  • The game has a decent soundtrack.
  • I like that Simon's weapon is a whip; kind of a unique choice.
  • For such an early game, it has a pretty good amount of variation between enemies, stages, and bosses.
  • The artists did a great job with the look approaching the final boss.
  • The game has great box art.

Bad

  • My worst complaint is the bad control scheme. Attacking is sluggish, jumping is difficult to control, and getting hit knocks you back, often killing you.
  • Simon is extremely vulnerable on stairs because he moves so slowly on them and can't jump off. Unfortunately, you spend a lot of the game on them.
  • The background graphics lack definition and are a bit off. They look as though they were drawn for a different resolution and then resized without being fixed.
  • The medusa heads are obnoxious to deal with.
  • The game has unnecessary arcade mechanics like points, even though they have no bearing on the game, and time, even though nobody is waiting in line.

Ugly

  • The game is annoyingly difficult to the point where I don't feel like ever trying to get good at it.

Media

Box Art

  • The original Japanese FDS box art. The painting is fantastic and sets the mood for the game. I also like the sharp edges on the text.

  • The North American and European art uses the same painting, but is partially obscured with the Konami gray frame. I love the Gothic Castlevania logo.

  • The Japanese re-release in cartridge form uses the full painting, which looks the best.

Documentation

  • Castlevania - NES - Manual.pdf

    Game manual (Uses Eras typeface).

  • A mostly-complete poster of the box art.

  • The Official Nintendo Player's Guide, part 2.

  • The Official Nintendo Player's Guide, part 3.

  • The Official Nintendo Player's Guide, part 4.

  • The Official Nintendo Player's Guide, part 5.

  • Nintendo Power, boss help.

  • The Official Nintendo Player's Guide, blurb.

  • Vs. System advertisement.

Maps

  • Map without spoilers.

  • Map with spoilers.

Videos

Titles

Language Native Transliteration Translation
English Castlevania
Japanese 悪魔城ドラキュラ Akumajo Dorakyura Devil's Castle Dracula

Links

Retrieved from "http://www.thealmightyguru.com/Wiki/index.php?title=Castlevania&oldid=14568"