What are your favorite Classic-style Castlevania games?

[RanmyakuIchi's icon RanmyakuIchi RanmyakuIchi]

I have a super soft spot for the original NES Castlevania, but I really dig Super, Rondo, and Bloodlines alot too.

 

[Ikagura Ikagura]

Definitely Bloodlines, 3, and 4. I think they have the coolest gameplay and graphics. The music is exceptional as well. Especially Bloodlines, man does that game go crazy.

Some games are specifically made to shut up people about the whole "Genesis music is trash" thing that plagued many gaming communities.

 

[Ikagura Ikagura]

Mega Drive music rocks, the gritty bass is unbeatable

The Yamaha is legit a good soundchip.

I blame the fact most western composers used the infamous GEMS instead of coming with their own music program.

 

[SnickterP]

Almost no one knows about it, but Master of Darkness on Sega Master System is just like an original Castlevania game and is fantastic!

 

[Evaccaneer Doom]

Chronicles is PEAK

 

[Ikagura Ikagura]

Chronicles is PEAKView attachment 20242

While I'm not fan of Simon's design there (he looks like a gogo dancer) I love the remixes.

 

[King Koopa's iconKing Koopa]

Super Castlevania 4

 

[MistHunter]

Castlevania 2 - Simon's Quest (for Nintendo)
Super Castlevania 4 (for Super Nintendo)
Castlevania - Bloodlines (Sega Genesis)

(...And Contra - Hards Corps, for the fishy Belmont Cameo)

 

[Nidoking's icon Nidoking Nidoking]

Bloodlines has such a charm and style to it, plus it just has so much nostalgia for me. I love that you can play as two different characters with entirely different playstyles, and I find it to be a blast all the way through.

Super IV, though... pretty peak.

 

[Toppis Toppis]

My favorite classic Castlevania games are Rondo of Blood and Bloodlines

 

[Turbo Kid]

Of the ones I've played I would say:

1. Vampire Killer on the Mega Drive
2. Super Castlevania IV
3. Bloodlines: Curse of the Moon

Super Castlevania IV is a masterpiece but there are things I just like more in Vampire Killer.

I still view the Bloodlines games as Castlevania as long as Koji Igarashi is involved with them. I like the first Curse of the Moon better than the second one. It's a perfect modernization of the classic 8-bit formula.

Rondo of Blood is very good but overrated, and I actually prefer the PSP remake version over the original. I also think the PSP version of SOTN is the best one.

There's some I haven't played yet like the arcade game remake or the X68000 one.

Honorable mention for Kid Dracula

For non Castlevania games, I have to mention Infernax

 

[evercaptor]

If Castlevania 2 doesn't count as "classic" becasue I'll be honest, it feels like a search-action game, the Super Castlevania 4. Fantastic remake and I had a BLAST (or more accurtately a MODE-7) playing it when i got a snes at a second hand shop a decade ago

 

[NeonKnights]

1. Castlevania I/Akumajou Dracula (I always try to speedrun this one.)
2. Castlevania IV/Akumajou Dracula (However only the Japanese SFC version.)
3. Castlevania 3/Akumajou Densetsu (Only the version with improved audio.)
Also Vampire Killer for the MSX2

 

[Poppet]

I'd say Castlevania III, Bloodlines and Super Castlevania IV, most likely. Honestly, I love the whole NES trilogy.

 

[Lena CE]

I've only played the original trilogy and then whichever one Dracula X Chronicles was a remake for. I loved em! Definitely wanna go through and play IV and Bloodlines someday.

OG is the one I return to most frequently since its the shortest and most accessible one. Its the perfect level of difficulty overall so if I just wanna kill a half hour to an hour I can plow through it while talking with friends on discord or something. 3 is probably my favorite overall though!

 

[Pearly]

Chronicles, rondo and it's psp remake for me, I love those games.

 

[Jeff]

These

 

[Tetronomicon]

Super Castlevania IV is probably my favorite one. Though the Famicom version of Castlevania (the cartridge version) is my favorite of the original. Mostly because it's much easier than the one we got in the west.

https://tcrf.net/Castlevania_(NES,_Famicom_Disk_System)#Regional_and_Version_Differences

 

[breremarer]

I love Castlevania 1-3 dearly, but I gotta give it to Rondo on this one. I think it's so polished and fun, and the vibe is immaculate.

 

[DreamCPS]

Castlevania SOTN (the "secret" PSP version).
Castlevania 4
Rondo of Blood

Honorable mention: X68000's Castlevania/Akumaju.

 

[kuroninneko]

castlevania adventure rebirth. sadly not available for purchase anymore because it was wii eshop only.

 

[Badseed Badseed]

8 Eyes NES

I mean it's close enough right?

 

[Ikagura Ikagura]

castlevania adventure rebirth. sadly not available for purchase anymore because it was wii eshop only.

Konami should've done something.

 

[MajesticSiN]

Super Castlevania IV

 

[Nickakyoin]

1. Super Castlevania IV (one of the best SNES games of all times)
2. Castlevania 1 on NES (a replayable classic I loved a lot)
3. Castlevania Adventure Rebirth (no idea why Konami hasn't republished this yet)
4. Kid Dracula (it counts, right? ...no pun intended)
5. Adventure 2: Belmont's Revenge
6. Rondo of Blood (...with Maria unlocked, at least)
7. Bloodlines/New Generation (very cool Genesis game)
8. Castlevania X: Vampire Kiss (not that bad)
9. Chronicles (leaving aside the graphics, it's fine)
10. Legends (it's decent, but that's about it)
11. og Adventure (the ultimate slogfest of a game)
12. Vampire Hunter arcade (...just no, especially for Simon's walking)