Haunted Castle (arcade game)

Infobox VG
title = Haunted Castle


developer = Konami
publisher = Konami
series = Castlevania
designer =
release = flagicon|JPN February 1988 [ [http://www.vgmuseum.com/mrp/cv-rob/tdxc-guidebook.htm "Konami Official Guide: Akumajō Dracula X Chronicle, pg. 121"] ]
flagicon|USA September 22, 1988
genre = Platform game
modes = Single player
platforms = Arcade, PlayStation 2
cabinet = Upright
arcade system =
cpu =
sound =
display = Raster, 256 x 224, horizontal orientation
input =

"Haunted Castle" is an arcade game released in 1988, by Konami. In Japan, the game is known as nihongo|"Akumajō Dracula"|悪魔城ドラキュラ|Akumajō Dorakyura, so besides the different name it gained in the west, "Haunted Castle" is a game from the "Castlevania" saga, and also a remake of the first "Castlevania" (which also include "Vampire Killer", "Super Castlevania IV" and "Castlevania Chronicles"). It is the first exclusive arcade game in the "Castlevania" series.

Gameplay

"Haunted Castle" is a typical platform game comprised of six levels, which are played through in a linear progression. The player controls the main character, whose primary mode of attack is via his whip. He must fight various enemies which consist partially of skeletons, zombies, fishmen, and hunchbacks. By destroying certain enemies, he can switch his weapon to a more powerful spiked mace or sword. In addition, various "sub-weapons" can be obtained which provide different means of attack which consist of bombs, boomerangs, stopwatches, crosses, and torches. "Hearts" are collected to use each of these "sub-weapons." The player can only carry one sub-weapon at a time.

Each of "Haunted Castle"'s six levels conclude with a boss fight. Like in other games of the series, these bosses are generally taken from horror literature or legend, and include Medusa, Frankenstein's Monster, and of course, Dracula.

Plot

Count Dracula slept for a hundred years. As he did, the village was at peace, and Dracula was nothing more but a mere legend.

However, one day a young couple named Simon and Serena were celebrating their wedding at the village's church. The couple were very happy as the wedding bells rang. Their future seemed blessed, but suddenly, the empty sky filled with dark clouds. With a rolling thunder that shook the earth, Dracula once again awakened from his slumber. Asking for the Serena's blood, he flew down during the the wedding, and took her with him. To save Serena, Simon headed for Dracula's demonic castle.

Development

A small Japanese game publisher called Hamster ported the Japanese version of "Haunted Castle" to the PlayStation 2 in May 2006 as part of the "Oretachi Game Center Zoku" series. This game port is not slated to be released outside of Japan. [http://castlevania.classicgaming.gamespy.com/new.html]

Audio

There are a several notable music tracks in "Haunted Castle" that have been reused in other "Castlevania" games. The well-recognized "Bloody Tears" is used in this game as the theme for Stage 3. Another arcade piece, the Stage 1 theme "Cross Your Heart", was recently reused in ', under the title "Crucifix Held Close". It is also part of the "Akumajo Dracula Medley" that appears most-recently in Konami's "Dance Dance Revolution Ultramix 3" (originally appearing in the Japanese arcade and Playstation 2 music game series "Keyboardmania"), along with "Bloody Tears". "Underground Melody" which plays during Stage 5, was remixed in '. Finally, "Don't Wait Until Night", played during Stage 6, which fittingly borrows hints of "The Silence of Daylight" (town music from Castlevania II)Fact|date=November 2007, was remixed in "" for Julius' theme known as "Heart of Fire", though this particular song is actually a medley of the "Haunted Castle" tune and "Heart of Fire" from the original "Castlevania".

Reception

"Haunted Castle" has a high level of difficulty; one credit would grant one life, and the player could only continue three times for a total of four lives. Once all continues have been exhausted, the player would be returned to the beginning of the game. The player could also sacrifice up to three continue chances in favor of adding more hit points to the life meter. The controls were a bit stiff compared to its contemporary games (characteristic of the older "Castlevania" games) and often made it difficult to dodge oncoming attacks. The game constantly sends enemies running towards the player (in infinite numbers on some levels) and, in some cases, made it seem impossible to avoid damage.

There has been some confusion surrounding the game due to emulation. Four different versions of the game have been released: The American versions (referred to as Version M and Version K) and the Japanese versions (referred to as Version N and Version T). The American Version M is the most common among emulation sites, and it is also the most difficult. While other versions of the game subtract two bars of health for every hit endured, Version M takes away nearly half of the players hit points for a single blow. Also, while the American versions force the player to use a continue after falling into a bottomless pit, the Japanese versions allowed the player to continue playing from an earlier point in the level at the cost of some hit points.

Many assume these factors are what contributed to "Haunted Castle"'s poor sales when it was released to arcades.

References