"Castlevania: Curse of Dracula" is a popular video game series that has gained a significant following since its initial release. The game is set in a dark and gothic castle and follows the story of the Belmont family, a clan of vampire hunters who are tasked with defeating the evil Count Dracula. One of the standout features of the Curse of Dracula series is its unique blend of platforming and action gameplay. Players control a member of the Belmont family as they navigate through the treacherous castle, battling various creatures of the night and solving puzzles along the way. The gameplay is challenging but rewarding, with each victory bringing the player closer to their ultimate goal of vanquishing Dracula. In addition to its engaging gameplay, the Curse of Dracula series also boasts stunning visuals and a hauntingly beautiful soundtrack.
In terms of graphics, this game – by NES standards – looks great! They game employs lots of colours and has more diverse areas than the previous iterations in the series ranging from outdoor environments, to dungeons and towers! The sprites also look great, and some of the bosses are very large! While the game still suffers from flickering, I never found that it got in the way of enjoying the game. The music and sound effects are also exceptional. They were so good in-fact that my brother bought my the vinyl for Christmas last year! For importers, the Famicon version has even better music (because they added an extra chip into the game cartridge).
Unlike Castlevania, however, Castlevania III is non-linear Trevor, the main character, can be assisted by one of three possible assistant characters, and after completing the first level, and at several other points throughout the game, the player is given a choice of two branching paths to follow. The upper route takes the player across the lake to the main bridge, entering Dracula s castle through the front gate, and is generally regarded as the easier of the two routes.
In addition to its engaging gameplay, the Curse of Dracula series also boasts stunning visuals and a hauntingly beautiful soundtrack. The game's art style perfectly captures the gothic atmosphere of the castle, with its towering spires, shadowy corridors, and eerie statues. The music sets the tone for the game, with haunting melodies and ominous sound effects that intensify the player's sense of dread and anticipation.
Honest Thoughts: Castlevania III: Dracula's Curse
Man, was this a brutally difficult game. This is quite easily the toughest NES game I've ever beaten. Harder than Contra, Mega Man 2, and even Friday the 13th. As hard as it may be to figure out what to do in Simon's Quest, as much the dithering and lagging hampers any ability to enjoy Castlevania Adventure, understand that of the four titles I've covered so far, this one easily tops them all in terms of difficulty. And it's all in the design.
Having said all that, this game is pretty freakin' amazing, all things considered. Definitely the best game I've covered so far. But note for all you newcomers looking to playing the ClassicVania titles, understand that this game will kick your ass. Especially if you're playing on original hardware rather than on an emulator like I did. So, food for thought.
Okay, first off, when trying out my Perfect Playthrough, I came to the realization that you simply cannot run into both Sylvia and Alucard. Castlevania III has all sorts of branching paths, and even though there are roughly ten stages that you can run through (level 2 is completely optional, unless you want to recruit Grant), you simply canot find everybody. Because of this, I wound up using a Save state to recruit Sylvia, and then load up said state to go back and recruit Alucard--the fan favorite and future star of what many consider the crown jewel of the Castlevania franchise--Symphony of the Night. This assured me right from the start that I would be playing through the hardest and longest route in the entire game right after Sylvia. But at least I can bs my way through some elaborate platforming sections thanks to Alucard's ability to fly.
Oh, yeah! You now have multiple playable characters to choose from, all with their own unique abilities and attributes. The main character, Trevor Belmont, pretty much controls exactly the same as Simon Belmont in the earlier entries. And for those of you wonder, this game is a prequel to the original game set hundreds of years in the past. But the other playable characters include the acrobatic Grant atop the optional level 2, Sylvia at the end of level 3, and Alucard can be found at the level 5 underground.
Because I ultimately went with the Alucard route, I can't comment on how Sylvia plays; however, I do prefer her ending over everyone else's, and she does rely almost exclusively on her own subset of magic powers rather than weapons.
Grant, however, is a fast and nimble character who, unlike the rest of the cast, isn't committed to his jumps, and be steered in midair. The downside is that he's frail, his main attack has absolutely no range (played the North American version), and because level 2 is completely optional, you basically have to go out of your way to get him in one of the more difficult stages in the game, only to run into either Sylvia or Alucard and have to choose to either keep him or one of the others. Least he can equip the Throwing Dagger and the Axe so Trevor can stick with the Holy Water and Boomerang.
On the other hand, Alucard can't equip any weapons at all, save for the costly Stop Watch. Instead, he relies on his projectiles and the ability to turn into a bat--which is also rather costly. If you have enough Hearts saved up, you can completely circumvent some of the trickier platforming sections in the game. Considering that things like spinning platforms and breakable blocks are a thing, and there are so many fast-moving enemies moving in erratic patterns to watch out for (it isn't just the medusa heads this time around), and there's even fixed vertical scrolling and autoscrolling in this game, needless to say, you absolutely want to be frugal with your Hearts if you wish to make it out of the later stages alive and in one piece.
As per usual, the Holy Water is pretty much the single-most busted weapon in the game, able to stunlock enemies and rack up a ton of damage along the way. It isn't terribly useful against airborne bosses, so be sure to swap it out for the Axe in the final level which will be far more effective against the later phases against Dracula (especially the final phase, since your attention will likely be focused on staying alive moreso than whipping him in the face).
As for Perfect Playthrough Conditions, unless you like to go for the much more difficult second run through the game afterwards, it's really just to beat the game. Remember that Sylvia and Alucard are both located in different branching paths and cannot be recruited in the same run; and Grant's stage is completely optional. Even if you were to play through the game both times, you still wouldn't be able to play through all 15 levels in the game, because Alucard's path has two level 6's depending on how early you complete his level 5. There are All-Path runs that exist on the Internet, that even provide you with four different endings--each one depending on who you brought along, if anybody. But since those runs are very clearly spliced (likely for brevity's sake), I don't really count these as Perfect Playthrough's. I don't know. Maybe I'm not one to talk. I mean I did go for Sylvia first before using a Save State to backpedal to Alucard's route.
All this without getting into the overall presentation. This game looks sharp and crisp, and slaying evil never sounded crisper. Konami was absolutely at their A-game when making this game. They put everything they had left in the tank for the NES as it would be the last game released on the system. Honestly, considering that you have to duck and jump as Alucard in order to turn him into a bat, I think it's safe to say that the limitations of the NES controller are what ultimately led to the decision to move production for the fourth console entry to the SNES.
Having said all that, it's definitely one of my favorite NES games played so far, and easily the best of the original trilogy. I'm giving it a 9 out of 10, again with the caveat that you absolutely need to come into this game prepared for a swift kick in the butt at the cost of a dollar.
I just finished watching season 2 of the Netflix Castlevania series, which got me interested in playing more of the games in the series! Similar to other games in the series, Castlevania III takes a Belmont through Dracula’s castle, but adds a ton more to the series – making it the best iteration on the NES!
The story of Curse of Dracula is also a major draw for fans of the series. Each game delves deeper into the lore of the Belmont family and their ongoing battle against Dracula. The games often incorporate elements from classic vampire literature and mythology, adding depth and intrigue to the narrative. Overall, "Castlevania: Curse of Dracula" is a captivating and immersive video game series that has stood the test of time. Its engaging gameplay, stunning visuals, and captivating story have made it a fan favorite in the gaming community. Whether you're a long-time fan or new to the series, Curse of Dracula is sure to provide hours of thrilling and atmospheric gameplay. So grab your whip and get ready for an epic battle against the Prince of Darkness himself..
Reviews for "The Evolution of Dracula's Castle in Castlevania: Curse of Draculz"
1. Jennifer - 2 stars
I was really excited to play Castlevania: Curse of Draculz, as I am a huge fan of the franchise. However, I was extremely disappointed with this game. The graphics were outdated and the controls felt clunky. The gameplay itself was repetitive and lacked any sort of challenge. The storyline was weak and unengaging, leaving me bored and uninterested. Overall, I found this installment of Castlevania to be a major letdown.
2. Michael - 1 star
Castlevania: Curse of Draculz was a complete disappointment. The game failed to deliver on any level. The character designs were lackluster, with poorly animated movements that felt robotic. The soundtrack was forgettable and did nothing to enhance the gaming experience. The levels were uninspired and felt like a chore to traverse through. I expected so much more from a Castlevania title, but unfortunately, this game did not live up to its predecessors.
3. Sarah - 2 stars
I have been a fan of the Castlevania series for years, but Curse of Draculz left me feeling underwhelmed. The game lacked originality and innovation, sticking to the same formula we have seen time and time again. The enemies were repetitive, and the gameplay offered no real challenge. The graphics were outdated and did not showcase the capabilities of modern consoles. Overall, I found this installment of Castlevania to be unremarkable and forgettable.
4. John - 2 stars
As a longtime fan of the Castlevania series, I had high hopes for Curse of Draculz. Unfortunately, it fell short in every aspect. The controls were clunky and unresponsive, making it frustrating to navigate through the levels. The story was predictable and lacked depth, failing to engage me in any meaningful way. The graphics were subpar and did not do justice to the potential of the game. This installment felt like a cheap cash grab rather than a true continuation of the beloved series.