About this game
Castlevania (Akumajo Dracula, 1986) is the first entry in Konami's gothic action-platformer series. Simon Belmont enters Dracula's castle wielding the Vampire Killer whip, battling Frankenstein's Monster, the Grim Reaper, Medusa, and ultimately Dracula himself across six stages. Its demanding difficulty, atmospheric music, and precise whip mechanics established a standard of Gothic action design that endures. Kinuyo Yamashita's soundtrack — including "Vampire Killer" — is widely considered one of the finest in Famicom history.
Key Features
Linear six-stage progression with a boss at each stage end. The Vampire Killer whip as the primary weapon — heavy, with momentum-based attacks. Sub-weapons (axe, holy water, boomerang cross, stopwatch) powered by hearts collected from candles. Precise jumping: jumps cannot be cancelled mid-air — landing on stairs is a key skill. Each stage features a unique boss: Frankenstein's Monster, Mummy, Medusa, Grim Reaper, and Dracula. Cinematic opening scroll establishes atmosphere before gameplay begins.
The Story Behind
Castlevania (Akumajo Dracula) was released on the Famicom Disk System on September 26, 1986. The game was designed to look cinematic — the opening scroll and the dramatic boss battles were aimed at creating a movie-like experience within the technical limits of the FDS. Konami was at its creative peak in the mid-1980s, also producing Gradius and Contra in the same period. The NES cartridge release in North America (1987) introduced the game to a much wider audience. The soundtrack, composed largely by Kinuyo Yamashita, remains one of the most studied and celebrated game scores of the era — "Vampire Killer" in particular has been arranged and performed hundreds of times.
Tricks & Tales
"Vampire Killer" is one of the most covered songs in game music history — arranged for orchestras, metal bands, jazz ensembles, and solo piano. The game's password is not a traditional save system — each playthrough starts fresh. The "staircase glitch" — using the whip at certain angles on stairs — was a discovered exploit for specific boss fights. The cross sub-weapon (returning boomerang) is widely considered the most powerful for the Grim Reaper boss. The FDS version has slightly different music arrangements compared to the later Famicom cartridge due to the FDS audio expansion chip.
Collector's Guide
Region & Compatibility
The original Japanese version is a Famicom Disk System release (September 1986). A Famicom cartridge version was later released in Japan. The NES version (Castlevania) launched in North America in May 1987. FDS versions require a working Famicom Disk System. The FDS and Famicom cartridge versions have slightly different music due to the FDS expansion sound chip. NES CIB (complete in box) is collectible and commands a premium.
Maintenance Tips
FDS Castlevania requires the Famicom Disk System — belt maintenance applies. The Famicom cartridge version uses standard edge connector cleaning. The NES cartridge version: the original packaging and manual are significant collectibles. Note that Castlevania has no save or password system — it is a single-session game. A complete playthrough takes approximately 45 minutes for experienced players, making live testing practical. The whip mechanics require responsive A and B buttons — test all controller inputs.
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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