Castlevania (video game)

Castlevania (悪魔城ドラキュラ, Akumajō Dracula), known in Japan as Devil Castle's Dracula is a 1986 platforming video game released by Konami for the Family Computer Disk System. Its popularity led to a localization release in 1987 and 1988 and subsequent ports to third-party systems and later Nintendo consoles. Castlevania was the first game in the Castlevania series of video games. In this game, the player controls legendary vampire hunter Simon Belmont who must traverse through a castle to defeat paranormal creatures and ultimately, Dracula.
== Gameplay ==
Simon Belmont must explore six stages, each a section of he castle, that are packed with ghoulish enemies, such as possessed knights and undead skeletons, and helpful items. Simon can jump but no movement can be conducted while he is moving, except for attacking. Simon's primary weapon is his whip, which can be upgraded by attacking candelabras. Candelabras also can be attacked for hearts, which act as ammunition for any firing sub-weapons that Simon obtains. Simon's health is signified by a life meter; every hit he takes decreases bits off the meter. Meat found in decaying brick walls can be eaten to restore health. Every stages ends in a boss battle, the boss being a key figure in horror sub-culture, such as Igor and Frankenstein's Monster.
== Remakes ==
A year after the original release in Japan, Akumajō Dracula was localized for international audiences as Castlevania for the Nintendo Entertainment System in 1987 for North America and late 1988 for other marketable regions. A Commodore 64 release was slated for 1990 with another port to the Amiga console. The preceding cartridge version for the Family Computer (the Japanese equivalent of the NES) was released in 1993, four years after the conclusion of the Disk System. 
In 2002, Microsoft included the first three Castlevania games, all the NES versions, in the Konami Collector Series compilation game. 
Nintendo ported it to the Game Boy Advance in 2004 as a game in the Famicom Mini series and added it to the Virtual Console library in 2007.
Category:Games released in 1987
Category:Games released on the Nintendo Entertainment System