The Castlevania series is a mainstay of classic Nintendo games. Strangely, despite there being four, as a kid I never saw or played any of them! So I came into the first Castlevania game fresh, and I attest that it lives up to its reputation. Watch a video version of this review Castlevania draws you in as soon as you turn it on. The title screen looks like a film reel, and when you start, it plays a little cinematic of the hero, Simon Belmondo, entering Dracula's castle. The music and visuals are dark and realistic, in contrast to the light, cartoony look of Super Mario. Simon has a magic whip (à la Indiana Jones), which he uses to defeat all manner of spooky monsters. Vampire Bats, Zombies, Fish Men, Skeletons, Hunchbacks, Ghosts: this game has every horror stereotype you can imagine. Every three stages Simon faces a classic horror-movie boss: Frankenstein's Monster and Igor, the Mummy, the Grim Reaper, and finally Count Dracula himself. I feel sorry for myself having missed ...