Castlevania (USA) (Castlevania Anniversary Collection)

In **Castlevania**, players control Simon Belmont, a valiant vampire hunter, on his quest to eradicate Count Dracula. The game is a 2D side-scrolling action-platformer. The primary objective is to traverse six monster-filled and trap-laden stages to reach Dracula's chamber and confront him.

Gameplay focuses on navigating intricately designed levels, jumping over obstacles, and battling a myriad of foes. Simon's primary weapon is the legendary "Vampire Killer" whip. Players can upgrade the whip's power by collecting items dropped from candles or enemies.

In addition to the whip, Simon can utilize powerful sub-weapons. Each sub-weapon requires "hearts" to use, which are collected from enemies or candles. Sub-weapons include: Holy Water, which can stun and damage enemies; the Axe, which flies in a parabolic arc; the Cross, which acts like a boomerang; the Dagger, which flies straight; and the Stopwatch, which freezes all on-screen enemies for a short duration.

Enemies in the game are diverse, ranging from slow-moving zombies and flying bats to werewolves, Medusa heads, and Frankenstein's monster. Each stage culminates in a challenging boss battle, requiring players to master combat mechanics and exploit each boss's weaknesses.

The level design of **Castlevania** is renowned for its difficulty and strategic enemy placement. Players must be cautious with every move, as a misplaced jump or ill-timed attack can lead to death. The game lacks a save feature, and players will have to restart from the beginning if they run out of lives.

The 8-bit graphics and music of **Castlevania** have become iconic, establishing a distinctive Gothic horror atmosphere that contributes to its reputation as one of the most classic games on the NES.