He came back not to finish old business — but to save his son.
Christopher Belmont had already beaten Dracula once. He earned his rest. But the story didn't end there — fifteen years later, Dracula returned by possessing Soleil, Christopher's own son, and turning that love into a weapon. The first Game Boy Castlevania asked you to be a warrior. Belmont's Revenge asked something harder: to fight someone you cannot destroy, toward a reunion you cannot be certain of. Akira Kurosawa, who understood family and duty in cinema as few ever have, wrote that 'in a mad world, only the mad are sane.' Christopher's pursuit — whip in hand, through castles no one asked him to enter — has that same quality. Not madness, but a love so clear it looks like it from the outside.
— inspired by Akira Kurosawa
About this game
Released in 1991, Castlevania II: Belmont's Revenge is the second Castlevania game on Game Boy — and a transformation rather than a sequel. Where the first Game Boy entry drew criticism for sluggish controls and a thin sub-weapon system, Belmont's Revenge corrected every major fault: faster movement, responsive hitboxes, a full set of classic sub-weapons, and four distinct opening castles playable in any order before the final convergence. Set fifteen years after the first game, the story follows Christopher Belmont confronting Dracula once more — this time to rescue his own son Soleil, who has been possessed and turned against him. The game's soundtrack, composed by Hidehiro Funauchi, is considered among the finest on the original Game Boy.
Key Features
Four selectable castle stages at the start — Plant Castle, Cloud Castle, Rock Castle, and Crystal Castle — each with unique enemies and environments, converging in a final sequence. Full whip and sub-weapon system (axe, cross, holy water, stopwatch) matching the home console experience. Multiple boss encounters with distinct attack patterns. Dramatically improved controls and hitbox precision compared to Castlevania: The Adventure. A password system records progress across sessions.
Gallery
The Story Behind
Castlevania: The Adventure (1989) was criticised for sluggish controls and limited sub-weapon variety, making it one of the weakest entries in the series. Belmont's Revenge directly addressed every major complaint: faster, more responsive movement; a full sub-weapon system; multiple stage paths; and a stronger soundtrack. Released in 1991 when the Game Boy was firmly established as a platform, it demonstrated that the hardware was fully capable of delivering the Castlevania experience. The four-castle-then-fortress structure echoed the non-linear stage selection of Mega Man, giving the game an unusual rhythm for its era. The game's quality made it a benchmark for portable action games of the early 1990s.
Tricks & Tales
Castlevania II: Belmont's Revenge features a soundtrack composed by Hidehiro Funauchi that is widely considered one of the strongest Game Boy soundtracks of its era — particularly the themes for each of the four castle stages. The game is often cited in 'best Castlevania' lists alongside major console entries, despite being a handheld title. A notable regional difference: the North American version replaces the Japanese cross sub-weapon with an axe that arcs upward and passes through walls — a practical concession that actually suits the Game Boy's tight screen geometry. The game uses a password system rather than a battery save, so no internal battery means no save data to lose to time.
Collector's Guide
Region & Compatibility
The Game Boy is region-free: a Japanese copy of Belmont's Revenge plays on any Game Boy or Game Boy Advance bought anywhere in the world, and vice versa. One gameplay difference exists between regions — the North American and European versions replace the Japanese cross sub-weapon with an axe — but the overall experience is equivalent. The cartridge also runs on a Game Boy Advance; if the picture appears stretched, hold Select and press Start to restore the original proportions. The only thing a different region changes on the packaging is the title and language of the manual.
Maintenance Tips
Belmont's Revenge uses a password system, not a battery save, so there is no coin battery inside to replace — the cartridge ages gracefully. The part that needs care is the connector: the gold pins at the bottom of the cartridge oxidise over the years, and a dirty contact is the cause of almost every 'won't start' problem. Wipe the pins gently and lengthwise with a cotton swab dampened in 90%-or-higher isopropyl alcohol, then let them dry completely before inserting the cartridge. Never blow into it — the moisture in breath does the opposite of what you intend, slowly corroding the pins you are trying to restore. For storage, keep the cartridge away from direct sunlight; the grey plastic discolours from UV and heat over time, and once that change begins it cannot truly be reversed.
Going deeper
Explore the machine this game ran on, and what to check before you buy or care for one:
What to Watch Out For
Before buying, these are the points worth knowing — from someone who handles original Japanese Castlevania II: Belmont's Revenge copies regularly.
Does Castlevania II: Belmont's Revenge have a battery save — will my progress be lost?
Belmont's Revenge uses a password system rather than a battery-backed save. There is no internal coin battery in this cartridge, which means there is nothing to wear out, and your copy will work exactly the same thirty years from now as it does today. When you lose all your lives, the game shows you a password — write it down, and you can return to that stage and difficulty setting whenever you like. It is a small ritual that players of that era knew well.
Is there a difference between the Japanese and Western versions of the game?
The content is equivalent, and the Game Boy is region-free, so any copy plays on any Game Boy or Game Boy Advance regardless of where either was bought. One notable difference: the North American version replaced the cross sub-weapon with an axe that arcs upward and passes through walls, while the Japanese version's cross travels horizontally. The axe change was a regional adjustment — and many players find it actually suits the Game Boy's narrower screen particularly well.
My cartridge won't start — is it broken?
Almost certainly not. The gold contacts on Game Boy cartridges oxidise over the decades, and a dirty contact is responsible for the vast majority of 'won't start' problems. Wipe the gold pins gently with a cotton swab dampened in 90%-or-higher isopropyl alcohol, let them dry fully, and try again. Please do not blow into the cartridge — the moisture in breath corrodes the very contacts you are trying to clean, and the old habit only ever seemed to work because reinserting the cartridge was what actually fixed it.
Before You Buy
Things worth knowing before you buy Castlevania II: Belmont's Revenge
A short checklist for buying a used Game Boy cartridge wisely — useful with any seller, anywhere.
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Choose a seller who tests it before shipping
A copy that has actually been powered on and checked is a known quantity. An untested one is a gamble you only settle after it arrives.
Look for a seller who states it was function-tested and says what they confirmed. A serious seller can tell you exactly what was checked.
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Good news — Game Boy is region-free
Game Boy and Game Boy Color cartridges are not region-locked, so a Japanese copy plays on any Game Boy worldwide.
Just confirm the hardware family — original GB, Color, or Advance — matches the cartridge.
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If this title saves your progress, check the battery
Cartridges that save use a small coin-cell battery that fades over decades — a dead one wipes your save without warning.
Ask the seller whether the save function was tested. Replacing the battery is possible, but doing so erases any existing save.
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Check that the contacts are clean
Dirty edge contacts are the most common cause of startup and sound trouble in cartridges of this age.
Choose a seller who cleans the contacts before shipping. A note that it was tested and cleaned means the basics were handled.
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Read the seller's reviews and return policy
A 100% positive record across thousands of sales is close to a guarantee — packing, communication and problem-solving all work for everyone. A return policy protects you if something is off.
Read the feedback and confirm a clear return window before you buy.
The last step before buying anywhere is knowing what it's worth.
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