Castlevania

	Old Man Says: Castlevania is an entrance to death.
	Bela Lugosi Says: For one who has not lived even a single lifetime, you're a wise man.
	The Bent Kangaroo Says: Oh, come now!  His ego is big enough already.

What Kind Of Game Is This?

A platformer that has Simon Belmont, whipper extraordinaire, do battle against every undead villian in cinematic history. Inside a castle.

So which villians are those?

Among bats, zombies, and skeletons, you will face Medusa, mummies, Frankenstein's monster & Igor, Death, and finally, Count Dracula himself. 

Sounds creepy!

The graphics certainly set the tone for a scary adventure; unfortunately, the music while catchy and well-done, is way too upbeat to suggest a haunting atmosphere. Besides, you'll probably be too focused on not getting killed to notice.

Oh, please don't tell me the game is insanely hard.

Not insanely. There is a nice learning curve, with each level a little more difficult than the last.  In fact, the bosses also get marginally more difficult as you go on, though if you determine what special weapons they are vulnerable to, it can be easy. The play control is fluid, and though Simon can't move like Ryu Hayabusa, his movements are realistic (no switching direction in mid-air!). Part of the game's strategy is memorizing enemy patterns, though it can be difficult as a few enemies (like the hunchbacks) have very erratic movements. Even worse, Simon will get thrown back violently with each damage he takes, very inconvenient around pitfalls. Considering you only get a few lives to work with, this aspect can cause some controller-throwing tantrums.

Could you win it on your own?

No. I owned the game as a child and could never pass the fifth level (out of six). And frankly, I didn't have the patience to persist. But my skills are not an appropriate measuring stick. Many, many people have won this game, no problem.

So, who would you recommend this to?

Anyone who likes a little challenge with their platformers. Even if you aren't great at them, it would be difficult not to find some enjoyment with this one.

Links

GameFAQs
MobyGames
Game Genie
Official Site