Castlevania (1986 video game): Difference between revisions

One month after the game was first released in Japan on the Famicom Disk System, a version of the game was released for the [[MSX|MSX2]]. This version was released in Europe under the title ''Vampire Killer'' prior to the NES version. This version featured similar graphics and the same general sequence of levels and bosses, but had numerous major (and minor) gameplay differences, including required exploration of stages to find the key necessary to open the door at the end of every non-boss stage.

 

 

This game has also seen several rereleases, including on the [[Game Boy Advance]] as part of the Classic NES Series, a PC bundle alongside [[Contra]], and a [[Virtual Console]] release.

* [[Above the Ruins]]: The ending.

* [[Animated Armor]]: The [[Elite Mook|Axe Knights.]]

* [[Barbarian Hero]]: Simon Belmont

* [[Bat Out of Hell]]: The first boss is a giant bat with a wingspan as long as your whip.

* [[Continuing Is Painful]]: Should Simon die at any time, he'll lose his subweapon and double/triple shot, go back to the leather whip and his heart counter is reduced to 5.

* [[Clock Tower]]: Stage 17. The gears aren't moving, though.

* [[Credits Gag]]: The credits to the NES version play on the names of famous Universal and Hammer actors.

* [[Degraded Boss]]: The first boss, a giant bat, pops up as a trio of three enemies very late in the game.

* [[Dem Bones]]: Including [[Instant Awesome, Just Add Dragons|Skeledragons]].

* [[Dracula]]: Well, obviously.

* [[Dual Boss]]: Two mummies.

* [[Monster Mash]]: Vampires, of course, plus mummies, Frankenstein's monster, some gillmen, hunchback dwarves, assorted zombies, skeletons, ghosts, and that's just the tip of the iceberg.

* [[Nintendo Hard]]: One of the prime examples. First, Simon, besides being unable to jump to save his life, can't control which direction he jumps, and his whip has a delayed reaction for when its used, not to mention it can only be shot left or right. Second, the enemies are more often than not too fast to easily hit or put in a place where they can easily get the advantage over you--not to mention, Simon is knocked back when he takes damage, which makes it ''very'' easy for him to fall into a pit. Late in the game, enemies also become strong enough to where taking so much as four hits is enough to bring you down. Also, when you die, Simon will lose his subweapon and double/triple shot, go back to the leather whip and his heart counter is reduced to 5. Oh, and no password or save feature--the game must be beaten in one sitting--fortunately, the game is gracious enough to give you infinite continues. Finally, the bosses, when fought without subweapons, can be downright grueling to beat--standout examples including Frankenstein and Igor, Death, and Dracula himself.

* [[One-Winged Angel]]: Dracula becomes a beefy devil-like creature (or, in ''Vampire Killer'', an enormous living portrait of one) after you "kill" his humanoid form. May be the [[Ur Example]] of this trope for video games.

** [[Monstrosity Equals Weakness]]: Many players, particularly veterans, find this phase of the battle to be easier than the first phase.

* [[Rewarding Vandalism]]: You get most of your power ups by whipping candles.

* [[Shout-Out]]: One of the bonus items you can get in the NES version is an [[Gradius|Easter Island Head]].

* [[Teleport Spam]]: This combined with [[Collision Damage]] makes Dracula an evil final boss.

* [[Timed Mission]]: Levels have timers. Averted in ''Vampire Killer''.