Whip It Good: The Best Castlevania Games

We’re just hours away from the premiere of the new animated Castlevania series on Netflix, and it promises to be a faithful rendition of the hit video game franchise, bringing back a number of favorites like Trevor Belmont, Alucard and, of course, everyone’s favorite vampire, Dracula!

But you don’t just have to sit around and twiddle your thumbs while you wait for the show’s premiere tomorrow night. There are a number of outstanding Castlevania games that are available for play, whether you prefer the tried-and-true NES classics, or you want something a little more contemporary, like Lords of Shadow.

There was a tough list of classics to choose from, but I’ve whittled down a list of my top five Castlevania games. No matter what your style of play might be, you’ll find that each of these games offer some spectacular adventure – and even a little bit of a challenge. Hey, nobody ever said that Dracula would be a pushover.

7. Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow (Game Boy Advance)

I truly admire how the Game Boy Advance Castlevania games tried to repeat the same success as the 1997 hit Symphony of the Night, going for a deeper style of play while still keeping the tried-and-true elements of the series intact. Out of all of these, Aria of Sorrow is my favorite, probably because of its awesome storytelling, its memorable boss battles, and its entirely original character, Soma Cruz, who pops out of the woodwork in a headlong battle with the mighty Dracula. We could use a sequel to this, but, well, Konami’s not really messing with games anymore. Sigh.

6. Castlevania: Lords of Shadow (Xbox 360, PlayStation 3)

The previously released 3D Castlevania games didn’t really work as well as the 2D ones, mainly because the mechanics were under-realized (like in Castlevania on Nintendo 64) and the games just didn’t pan out as well. However, Lords of Shadow turned that around, with an epic God of War-style adventure that delivered on many counts. Although not perfect, the game did very well in establishing a 3D style for the series, and looked and sounded great. After all, it’s not every day that you can get someone like Sir Patrick Stewart to do voiceovers.

5. Castlevania Bloodlines (Sega Genesis)

Making a Castlevania game for the Sega Genesis was no easy feat, as it was obviously built on lesser hardware that couldn’t really handle a tale as huge as Super Castlevania IV. That said, the team at Konami did remarkable work at giving Bloodlines its own original polish, with outstanding boss battles (like a tower-top dragon fight that’s nothing short of spectacular), superb music, and stage design straight out of the old-school Castlevania book. Plus, you could choose between two distinct characters, each with their own awesome style. Love it.

4. Castlevania III: Dracula’s Curse (NES)

Some may argue that Castlevania II: Simon’s Quest was the definitive sequel in the series, mainly because of its role-playing approach. But I’m taking a different route, naming Dracula’s Curse as the true successor. Why, you ask? Number one, it retains the classic style of play that Castlevania fans truly love; 2. It introduces new characters into the fold that offer a tremendous new dynamic; and 3. There are multiple paths to take, adding a significant amount of replay value. Plus, it’s still a lot more fun to play than Simon’s Quest. (And here come the fanboys arguing otherwise…)

3. Super Castlevania IV (Super Nintendo)

Now here is how you revolutionize a game franchise from 8-bit to 16-bit. Super Castlevania IV was a huge quantum leap in the series, even more so than Castlevania: Rondo of Blood on the TurboDuo. The graphics and music are nothing short of significant; the gameplay sees various signs of improvements, particularly when it comes to the use of your whip; and the quest itself is a long, worthwhile one, filled with great boss fights and plenty of sweet levels to work your way through. Castlevania: Dracula X for the SNES wasn’t bad, but this is the definitive 16-bit Castlevania experience.

2. Castlevania (NES)

Every great series has to start somewhere, and I’m still a big fan of Castlevania‘s humble beginnings. Although the game is much more simply designed than some of the series’ later entries, Castlevania still earns points based on nostalgia alone. The gameplay is perfectly balanced, so the game’s not too impossible, but not a cakewalk either; the graphics and sound are still as iconic as you can find on an NES console; and the variety of weapons really make for an overall well-rounded experience. Plus, who doesn’t like hunting down well-hidden money bags? It actually pays to be a vampire hunter!

1. Castlevania: Symphony of the Night (Sony PlayStation)

Just when I thought that the Castlevania series couldn’t mature to new heights (this was after playing Bloodlines, by the way), Konami and Kogi Igarashi (the game’s producer) pull out all the stops and create an entry that redefines what the series is all about. Built on an open-world presence that would later become deemed “Metroidvania” (and for good reason), Symphony of the Night scores major points across the board. The symphonic soundtrack is breathtaking; Alucard proves to be just as wonderful a character as any given Belmont; and the journey itself takes an incredible turn midway through, so you play in an entirely new way. Even with its cornball dialogue (“Perhaps the same could be said of all religions!”), you shouldn’t dare miss this Symphony.

The Castlevania series debuts on Netflix July 7th.