Castlevania Famicom review
8/10
Simon Belmont whips his way through Dracula's castle in a tough, rhythmic action game.
Castlevania is a stage-by-stage action game with a whip, a few sub-weapons and a lot of stairs. Simon moves slowly and jumps with limited control, so every room asks you to commit to a plan before you enter.
The game is famously hard. Enemies arrive in predictable waves, and the castle sets traps that punish carelessness. Learning the timing of each enemy is the core skill, and the reward is a satisfying sense of mastery.
The gothic presentation helped define a whole series, and the music still stands out. It is a game for players who enjoy learning the rules by losing a few times.
Pros
- Strong gothic atmosphere
- Clear pattern-based combat
- Memorable music
Cons
- Stiff controls
- Very punishing for beginners