Classic NES Series: Castlevania

 Game Boy Advance
User Score
8.6

Generally favorable reviews- based on 29 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 23 out of 29
  2. Mixed: 6 out of 29
  3. Negative: 0 out of 29
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  1. PolisKanin
    Feb 16, 2014
    9
    I haven't played the GBA port, but assuming it's the same as the NES game, this game is great. Super Castlevania 4 was better, but this was the best Castlevania on the NES. The visuals are good, the controls are good and most importantly the gameplay is great.
  2. AB
    Nov 1, 2004
    9
    This is the second best game in the Classic NES series. I've been playing it since it came out! The only problem is the ugly graphics.
  3. WilliamT.
    Nov 9, 2007
    5
    A good game but let down by some constantly frustrating (in my opinion) controls and bland graphics.
  4. MattC.
    Nov 23, 2005
    10
    The game and music are awesome, this classic has deffinetly stood the test of time. game play is great, once you star you will find it very hard to put it down, awesome playability and great for a challenge.
  5. BenVanD.
    May 29, 2005
    10
    Castlevania is one of the best games i have ever played. Your character levels, you get new weapons and capabilities, it is real time not turn based, overall game play is unbelievably enjoyable.
  6. BlogDog123
    May 26, 2011
    9
    Classic jump-and-whip action flies to the GBA with this NES port. Smooth control and great enemy-AI make this very fun to play on-the-go. If you missed the NES release, be sure to check this one out.
  7. CharlesAtlas
    Jan 20, 2015
    7
    Don't be thrown off by how easy the first level is. This game is one of the hardest NES games of all time! Cheap difficulty baby! If you want to play this game then you'd best bring your A-game!
  8. BeboFett
    Jan 19, 2019
    7
    The first title of the saga is short, by its nature "arcade", but with quite a challenge. I feel that for its time it fulfills enough; The mechanics is quite simple and the level design meets. Despite its duration it took me a while to finish it in case of difficulty.
  9. KrakenOfPepsi
    Dec 1, 2019
    9
    It's rare for a game as old as Castlevania to hold up as well as it does, it's probably one of only five NES games I think I would ever come back to. Everything is so deliberate with its design; the way your character moves, the way he attacks, the items you have at your disposal, the ways enemies behave and the ways levels are laid out are all so vital to the games design, it's trulyIt's rare for a game as old as Castlevania to hold up as well as it does, it's probably one of only five NES games I think I would ever come back to. Everything is so deliberate with its design; the way your character moves, the way he attacks, the items you have at your disposal, the ways enemies behave and the ways levels are laid out are all so vital to the games design, it's truly impressive.

    Your whip attack might have great reach and strength, but the flying Medusa heads are still really tricky to hit due to the wave pattern they fly in, and those small plant enemies are impossible to hit at times too due to how small they are. Your limited resources are spent on using items, items which vary greatly to one another and all have unique uses throughout the game. I always found myself using these items in different scenarios and enemy encounters over and over, because they're vital to how you play the game. Enemies are designed to have weaknesses, but not all weaknesses can be exploited with the whip alone - the whip itself however can be used to be the whole game either way, the game doesn't force you to use the items, but genuinely makes you want to use them. The bosses are a great example of this; all bosses can be defeated with the whip alone, but if you know how to exploit certain items you can easily beat some of them without even taking damage.

    The ways enemies are laid out and can exploit your knock back on damage is also a great mechanic, it greatly affects the way you approach platforming and enemy encounters. One wrong move and you could get sent flying off a ledge and die. The game is always engaging and enjoyable to play, the game is fairly short, but I imagine could be stretched out for a long while depending on your skill level. I honestly found the game to be fairly easy until the second last level, but at that point I had to begin using save states - not because the game is unfair but just because I'm lazy. The game unlike many NES games is actually quiet forgiving, and has check points throughout levels as well as the option to continue the level you were on upon a game over. Great NES qualities are present though, such as goofy translations, bright and flashing colours, and great pixel art which despite its simplicity convey the setting of each level extremely well. The game is also home to some of the most iconic music in video games, period.

    Castlevania is a tight and simple platformer which encourages careful and thoughtful strategy in everything you do. It plays as well now as it did when it came out, and I would recommend it to anyone who can get their hands on it. You might have to abuse save states once you get up to the Death fight though.    … Expand
  10. lesiuML
    Jun 3, 2023
    5
    Solid foundation of future castlevania games. Still very playable and quite challenging game. There is an easy mode for casual players. Visuals are nice but lack of any story is kinda daunting.

Awards & Rankings

27
#27 Best Game Boy Advance Game of 2004
23
#23 Most Discussed Game Boy Advance Game of 2004

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
74

Mixed or average reviews - based on 10 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 5 out of 10
  2. Mixed: 5 out of 10
  3. Negative: 0 out of 10
  1. Nintendo Power
    84
    The play control is perfect, the enemy AI is well-tuned and the graphics are top-notch for the era. [Dec 2004, p.148]
  2. IGN
    80
    Even with the limited save feature, Castlevania on the GBA is still a great retro throwback. It would have better fit as an unlockable in an original Castlevania, but as it stands it's the only official way you can have the original game in portable form. It's the best game of the second batch, by far.
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  3. Nintendojo
    80
    The character design in Castlevania brought way to a whole new viewpoint in video games. The level design is easily one of the best, bringing a deep sense of platforming to the action. After over 15 years, the game still has a unique look.
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