Re-release Information

2001: Re-released as Castlevania Chronicles for the Sony Playstation; even though it's slightly updated, the original game is kept completely intact as the "normal mode"

Manual Story Description

N/A (click "manual scan" at page's bottom)

Objective/Overview

After supplying to the PC-Engine its own exclusive series title, Konami attempted to expand its reach by issuing another for Sharp's considerable X68000, a Japan-only computer system known for its perfect arcade ports. Thus, X68000 users were blessed with their own Japanese exclusive: Akumajou Dracula X68000 (translation: Demon Castle Dracula X68000). As it did with Super Castlevania IV, Konami designated Akumajou Dracula X68000 as another iteration of the NES classic Castlevania, a rendition of Simon Belmont's original adventure.

Once again, you'll take control of the now-overworked Simon Belmont and in linear fashion guide him through eight stages, each with its own assortment of dangers and a boss creature. Using the more typical Belmont arsenal, you must reach the final stage, the castle keep, to battle and defeat Count Dracula. While some of the stages are eerily similar to the original's, they're only so superficially--for the purpose of continuity and to play upon your affinity for the original; in reality, the adventure is all new, featuring unique minor enemies, new bosses, more traps, and new terrain for the familiar-looking stages. And, as usual, you can partake in a second, tougher quest after clearing that initial. Really, though, there's nothing overtly new here in terms of conventions.

Soundtrack and Credits

Soundtrack
Opening and Ending Themes: 1 - Black Mass | 2 - Something Loopy | 3 - Load BGM | 4 - The Bathead | 5 - Mother Earth
Stage Themes: 1 - Vampire Killer | 2 - Thrashard in the Cave | 3 - Wicked Child | 4 - Bloody Tears | 5 - Tower of Gears | 6 - Moon Fight | 7 - Tower of Dolls | 8 - Etude for the Killer | 9 - Theme of Simon
Battle Themes: 1 - Creatures of the Depth | 2 - You Goddamned Bathead
Miscellaneous Themes: 1 - Stage Clear | 2 - Last Stage Clear | 3 - Player Miss | 4 - Game Over

Links
Music Files: MP3 and MIDI
Soundtrack Release: Dracula X Collection, Dracula Battle Perfect Selection Vol. 2 and Castlevania Best Music Collections Box
Game Credits: Available

Other Characters

Lesser Enemies: Skeleton, Zombie, Vampire Bat, Fishman, Knight, Medusa Head, Hunchback, Skeledragon, Red Skeleton, Ghost, Eagle, Raven, Leopard, Pillar of Bones, Axe Knight, Mad Frog, Floating Eye, Bone Scimitar, Wall Widow, Water Blob, Gargoyle, Mud Woman, Stain-glass Ghost, Small Toys, Crossbow Knight, Frankenstein, Anaconda, Centipod, Exploding Skeleton, Zombie Maid, Ice Skeleton, Two-Headed Beast, Spider Skeleton, Mace Knight, Wyrm, Sword Knight and Flame Knight
Bosses: Phantom Bat, Skeleton Dragon, Ice Lord, Medusa, She Wolf, Doppelganger and the Grim Reaper
Dracula Forms: Dracula and Dracula's Ghost
Supporting Cast: Horn-Playing Druid

Character Lists

Lesser Enemies | Bosses | Dracula Forms | Supporting Cast

Limitations: This version of Simon is able to move very swiftly and slyly, and he can swing the whip quickly, repeatedly, too. This iteration has more control over his leaps than any other--each jump can be controlled till its very end, allowing him to duck and dodge while hanging in the air. Favorable hit-detection only helps to amplify the effectiveness of both his speed and his slithery jumping ability. As for offense: While grounded, Simon's confined to swinging it left and right; while airborne, he can thrust the whip diagonally and straight downward. If there's a major problem, it's Simon's trouble handling stairs: He can't jump onto and off of them, and he climbs at a very slow pace; on top of this, his whip and sub-weapons conflict and thus react slowly. The sub-weapons are of the typical sort, but now added to this category is the laurel; using it, Simon can replenish energy over and over again provided he has the hearts to do it. Laurels are rare and difficult to keep for long periods.