(You want me to go around and gather Dracula’s body parts and bring him back to life… just so I can kill him again? Seriously?) As a result, Konami decided to go back to basics with Castlevania III, getting rid of most of the RPG and action-adventure elements from Simon’s Quest in favor of a return to the original game’s platforming. Despite the censorship, the game was an instant hit around the world.Ĭastlevania 2: Simon’s Quest received what you might call a less than warm reception from fans. Blood effects on the title screen were changed to water and zombies were changed in color from pink to green to make them appear less gruesome. Bloodlines was even renamed The New Generation in Europe. The European connection looks ironic in hindsight, however, as the game was heavily censored for its PAL release. In fact, Bloodlines sends players on a journey throughout Europe. This installment is notable as the first game in the series that did not take place in Dracula’s castle. Heroes John Morris and his best friend Eric Lecarde stand up to Bartley and prevent Dracula’s resurrection. Bartley suddenly appears in the 20th century, intent on continuing her uncle’s dark legacy with the ultimate goal of bringing him back to life. It tells the story of a legendary vampire named Elizabeth Bartley, who is Dracula’s niece. Castlevania: Bloodlinesīloodlineswas the only Castlevania title to see release on Sega’s 16-bit console. Read More: The Real History of Dracula 9. His main weapon, a whip called “Vampire Killer,” was perhaps a little too spot-on in its name but would soon become an iconic part of gaming history. Players guided vampire slayer Simon Belmont through six levels that got ridiculously difficult at times. The original title was a classic side-scroller, but its Gothic-themed romp through Dracula’s castle set it apart from other similar platformers of the era. Castlevania as a franchise would pick up a lot of new tricks in later years, but at heart, it’s always been about the horror.

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