Haunted Castle (arcade game)
Encyclopedia
Haunted Castle, known as in Japan, is the first arcade game
in the Castlevania series, released by Konami
in 1988. It was later re-released on the PlayStation 2
exclusively in Japan
, as part of the Oretachi Game Center Zoku collection.
with 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 Castles 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.
in May 2006 as part of the Oretachi Game Center Zoku series. This game port is not slated to be released outside of Japan.
(first heard in the previously released Simon's Quest
) 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 Castlevania: Portrait of Ruin
, 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 Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow
. Finally, Don't Wait Until Night, played during Stage 6, which fittingly borrows hints of "The Silence of Daylight" (town music from Castlevania II), was remixed in Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow
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.
Arcade game
An arcade game is a coin-operated entertainment machine, usually installed in public businesses such as restaurants, bars, and amusement arcades. Most arcade games are video games, pinball machines, electro-mechanical games, redemption games, and merchandisers...
in the Castlevania series, released by Konami
Konami
is a Japanese leading developer and publisher of numerous popular and strong-selling toys, trading cards, anime, tokusatsu, slot machines, arcade cabinets and video games...
in 1988. It was later re-released on the PlayStation 2
PlayStation 2
The PlayStation 2 is a sixth-generation video game console manufactured by Sony as part of the PlayStation series. Its development was announced in March 1999 and it was first released on March 4, 2000, in Japan...
exclusively in Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
, as part of the Oretachi Game Center Zoku collection.
Gameplay
Haunted Castle is a typical platform gamePlatform game
A platform game is a video game characterized by requiring the player to jump to and from suspended platforms or over obstacles . It must be possible to control these jumps and to fall from platforms or miss jumps...
with 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 Castles six levels conclude with a boss fight
Boss (video games)
A boss is an enemy-based challenge which is found in video games. A fight with a boss character is commonly referred to as a boss battle or boss fight...
. Like in other games of the series, these bosses are generally taken from horror
Horror fiction
Horror fiction also Horror fantasy is a philosophy of literature, which is intended to, or has the capacity to frighten its readers, inducing feelings of horror and terror. It creates an eerie atmosphere. Horror can be either supernatural or non-supernatural...
literature or legend, and include Medusa, Frankenstein's monster
Frankenstein's monster
Frankenstein's monster is a fictional character that first appeared in Mary Shelley's novel, Frankenstein, or The Modern Prometheus. The creature is often erroneously referred to as "Frankenstein", but in the novel the creature has no name...
, and of course, Dracula.
Plot
The back sleeve of an official Konami VHS guide details the games plot. It mentions Count Dracula slept for a hundred years while the village was at peace, with Dracula being thought as a mere legend. The protagonist Simon and his wife Serena were celebrating their wedding at the village's church. Dracula then awakens from his slumber, and asking for Serena's blood, he abducts her. To save Serena, Simon decides to head for Dracula's castle.Development
A small Japanese game publisher called Hamster ported the Japanese version of Haunted Castle to the PlayStation 2PlayStation 2
The PlayStation 2 is a sixth-generation video game console manufactured by Sony as part of the PlayStation series. Its development was announced in March 1999 and it was first released on March 4, 2000, in Japan...
in May 2006 as part of the Oretachi Game Center Zoku series. This game port is not slated to be released outside of Japan.
Versions
Multiple versions of this game exist, M and K in America and N and P in Japan. M is noticeably harder than the others.Audio
There are a several notable music tracks in Haunted Castle that have been reused in other Castlevania games. The well-recognized Bloody TearsBloody Tears
Bloody tears may refer to:*Haemolacria, the medical condition where tears contain blood.*Bloody Tears, a Castlevania song.*Bloody Tears, a song by rap group Army of the Pharaohs....
(first heard in the previously released Simon's Quest
Castlevania II: Simon's Quest
Castlevania II: Simon's Quest, known in Japan as , is an action-adventure role-playing platform game produced by Konami. It was originally released for the Family Computer Disk System in Japan 1987 and for the Nintendo Entertainment System in North America in 1988. It is the second Castlevania...
) 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 Castlevania: Portrait of Ruin
Castlevania: Portrait of Ruin
Castlevania: Portrait of Ruin, known in Japan as , is an action video game developed and published by Konami. The game was released on November 16, 2006 in Japan, and in the US on December 5, 2006 for the Nintendo DS handheld game console...
, 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
Dance Dance Revolution ULTRAMIX 3
Dance Dance Revolution ULTRAMIX 3 is the tenth home version of Dance Dance Revolution released in the United States. It was released by Konami on November 15, 2005, for the Microsoft Xbox video game console. About 70 songs are available in total in this version...
(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 Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow
Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow
Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow, known in Japan as , is an action-adventure game developed and published by Konami. It is part of Konami's Castlevania video game series and the first Castlevania game to be released on the Nintendo DS. The game is the sequel to Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow and...
. Finally, Don't Wait Until Night, played during Stage 6, which fittingly borrows hints of "The Silence of Daylight" (town music from Castlevania II), was remixed in Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow
Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow
Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow, known in Japan as , is an action-adventure game developed and published by Konami for the Game Boy Advance. It is part of Konami's Castlevania video game series, and the third installment of the series on the Game Boy Advance. The game was released in North America on...
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.