# Castlevania - The Legendary NES Action Platformer *Castlevania*, known as *Akumajō Dracula* in Japan, is a 1986 action-platformer developed and published by Konami for the Famicom Disk System (1986) and NES (1987/1988). The first entry in the *Castlevania* series, it follows vampire hunter Simon Belmont in 1691 as he enters Dracula’s castle to slay the Count, armed with the Vampire Killer whip. Featuring six stages across 18 blocks, players battle gothic enemies (skeletons, bats, medusa heads) and bosses like Frankenstein’s Monster using sub-weapons (dagger, holy water, cross). With haunting 8-bit visuals and a legendary soundtrack by Kinuyo Yamashita and Satoe Terashima, it sold over 500,000 copies and defined the series’ gothic aesthetic. Ports include Game Boy Advance (*Classic NES Series*, 2004) and Wii/Wii U/3DS Virtual Console. ## Why Play Castlevania? *Castlevania* delivers precise platforming and combat, with Simon’s whip and sub-weapons (powered by hearts) offering strategic depth against enemies and bosses like Dracula’s two forms. Its six stages, from castle gates to Dracula’s keep, feature challenging platforming, traps, and iconic foes. The game’s unforgiving difficulty, limited lives, and no-save system demand skill (2-3 hours main story, 5-8 for completion). Its atmospheric visuals, tight controls, and memorable music (e.g., “Vampire Killer”) make it a must-play for retro ROM and platformer fans, though its steep difficulty and stiff movement may challenge newcomers. ## Game Features - Play as Simon Belmont across 6 stages (18 blocks) in Dracula’s castle - Wield the Vampire Killer whip and sub-weapons (dagger, axe, holy water, cross, stopwatch) - Collect hearts to power sub-weapons; use Double/Triple Shot upgrades - Battle gothic enemies and bosses like Medusa, Frankenstein, and Dracula - Experience authentic NES gameplay on our retro ROM platform or in *Classic NES Series* (GBA) and Virtual Console (Wii/Wii U/3DS) ## Play Castlevania Online Slay vampires today! Our website, Classic Joy Games, lets you play *Castlevania* instantly with no downloads, optimized for modern browsers using NES emulators. Alternatively, enjoy it on GBA (*Classic NES Series*), Virtual Console, or sites like RetroGames.cz or EmulatorGames.net. Physical copies are available on eBay/Amazon ($20-$60). Ideal for fans of retro ROMs and gothic platformers! Note: For emulation, use Nestopia or Mesen for optimal performance; expect minor slowdown in crowded scenes. Join players worldwide and enjoy *Castlevania* on Classic Joy Games. Start your hunt now and defeat Dracula to begin the Belmont legacy!