Game Boy · Action / Platformer

Castlevania II: Belmont's Revenge

悪魔城ドラキュラ 漆黒たる前奏曲

Japan title: Akumajou Dracula: Shikkoku Taru Zensoukyoku. Second Castlevania Game Boy entry, significant improvement over the first.

Japan: July 12, 1991 · Dev: Konami

About this game

Castlevania II: Belmont's Revenge is a 1991 Game Boy action platformer developed and published by Konami, and a major improvement over its predecessor Castlevania: The Adventure. Christopher Belmont returns to face Dracula, who has possessed Christopher's son Soleil. Players begin with four selectable castle stages before converging on Dracula's stronghold — a structure that gives the game far more variety than the original Game Boy Castlevania entry. The game's tight controls, strong soundtrack, and expanded stage design established it as one of the best portable Castlevania entries of the early era.

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.

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 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 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. The four selectable opening stages give the game a non-linear opening structure unusual for the era — players could choose any order, with the final fortress only unlocking after all four are cleared.

Collector's Guide

Rarity common
Japan Release July 12, 1991

Region & Compatibility

Released in Japan as Akumajou Dracula: Shikkoku Taru Zensoukyoku and in North America and Europe as Castlevania II: Belmont's Revenge. Content is equivalent across all versions. Both the Japanese and Western titles reference the story's prequel framing — Belmont confronting Dracula before the events of the main Castlevania timeline.

Available in our shop

Hand-cleaned and tested units shipped worldwide from Toyohashi, Japan. HP direct purchase exclusive: we include a printed shop owner's note card with every order.

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