Halloween night is a time that people love to indulge in a monstrous and dark atmosphere, as much as they love eating candy. Horror-themed video games are fun ways that people love to use to get into the spirit of the holiday, even if they aren’t always truly scary. One of the best horror-themed franchises in gaming is a staple of the season, and can set the vibes before roaming out on a Halloween night, hopefully without a curse!
The Castlevania franchise is iconic to many who grew up playing video games on the Nintendo Entertainment System. But it’s legacy has expanded far beyond the 8-bit era of game releases, with many legendary titles that ooze style that is fitting for Halloween. Although there are many Castlevania games that fans love to revisit, three specific games are great options to play or revisit before Halloween night decends on everyone.
Dracula’s Legendary Curse
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There were three mainline Castlevania titles for the NES. While the first two established the series’ iconic roots, the third game took their foundation and expanded further. Castlevania III: Dracula’s Curse is one of the best 2D entries of the franchise, and is the basis for multiple adaptations in anime and other media, including the Netflix Castlevania original series.
The game follows four heroes on a quest to defeat Dracula. Trevor Belmont, Sypha Belnades, Grant Danasty, and Alucard are all playable throughout the game’s multiple stages, and can be switched between mid-level. It’s a challenging game, but one with a fantastic dark visual style and amazing 8-bit soundtrack, which is still remixed heavily today.
A Symphony Unlike Any Other
Arguably the most important Castlevania game released in the 3D era is Castlevania: Symphony of the Night. For many gamers, this was the beginning of the “metroidvania” subgenre of games, which blends action-platforming and open exploration. It is also one of the first Castlevania games to not focus on the heroic Belmont clan, and instead puts the dhampir Alucard as the central focus.
Castlevania: Symphony of the Night reinvigorated the series with a gothic-inspired presentation, and soundtrack that features a wide range of genres. Everything from classical style music to techno beats build out the atmosphere felt throughout Dracula’s colossal castle. Although filled with tons of horrible monsters, the gameplay put many weapons and items at Alucard’s disposal, enabling him to battle legions of dark foes during an endless night.
Lamenting Origins
The true beginnings of the Castlevania timeline don’t start at the first game’s release. Instead, the history of the Belmont’s and Dracula stretch back further in Castlevania: Lament of Innocence. Originally released on the PlayStation 2 in October 2003, this Castlevania title tells the origins of the Belmont’s blood feud with Dracula. Leon Belmont wields the whip this time around, and is the first to strike at the vampire in what becomes a conflict that lasts generations.
Unlike its legendary 2D predecessors, Lament of Innocence is a fully 3D experience that borrows elements of exploration from previous games. Combat is done in the third-dimension, but the story is presented a lot more cinematically than ever before in cutscenes. The game’s soundtrack has the same techno and classically inspired sound that has become a defining trait of the franchise.
