Where Do I Start in the Castlevania Video-Game Series?

[HomebrewJay]

Since I'm starting to try out different games, I have yet to play the Castlevania series; (I know, disappointing). I thought about it for a quite a while now, but I don't know where to start. I was thinking of working my way through the series by release date, but I'd prefer remakes if there are any available in this series. What would be a good one to start with? Price isn't really an issue here since I use emulators and I would like to start out with the main installments first; whether that'd be remakes or originals. Any advice would be appreciated!

 

[Sonic Angel Knight]

Since I'm starting to try out different game series, I have yet to play the Castlevania series; (I know, disappointing). I though about it for a quite a while now, but I don't know where to start. I was thinking of working my way through the series by release date, but I'd prefer remakes if there are any available in this series. What would be a good one to start with? Price isn't really an issue here since I use emulators and I would like to start out with the main installments first; whether that'd be remakes or originals. Any advice would be appreciated!

How bout the one labeled "CASTLEVANIA" Is a nes game and the first one, actually the MSX is the first one, the NES was a port from MSX, or you can try CASTLEVANIA CHRONICLES for ps1 is a remake of the MSX version.

 

[cearp]

the first games are really different to the middle ones, and really different to the newest ones.
i like the middle ones, ds, ps1, gba ones.
not the old old ones, or new 3d ones.

so, i recommend those middle ones i said

 

[ReigningSemtex]

Personally I would play rondo of blood on pc engine I think that's the best looking and sounding 2d Castlevania that sticks with the gameplay of the original games

 

[VincentBeasley]

I would probably say Castlevania 4 on SNES or Bloodlines on Genesis. Still oldschool enough to get you started but not hard enough to rip your teeth out. Then work your way to the NES games. OR you can move on to Castlevania: Symphony of the night on PS1!!!

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Personally I would play rondo of blood on pc engine I think that's the best looking and sounding 2d Castlevania that sticks with the gameplay of the original games

I also second that! Rondo of blood is the game set before Castlevania SOTN so you might play that one first

 

[ReigningSemtex]

I was surprised how good bloodlines was, seemed to be a underrated game in the series until recently. Thoroughly enjoyed it.
Castlevania 4 on the snes was great but that slowdown can sometimes become annoying.

 

[Sonic Angel Knight]

If you are trying to go in order of RELEASE DATE, start with the one with the simplest name, basic as it is, CASTLEVANIA.

 

[HomebrewJay]

All right, so from what you guys have told me, (and further research) I should follow the series as follows, (correct me if I'm wrong):

1. Castlevania (NES), Super Castlevania IV (SNES), or Castlevania Chronicles (PS1)
2. Castlevania: Rondo of Blood (PC Engine), Castlevania: Dracula X (SNES), or Castlevania: The Dracula X Chronicles (PSP)
3. Castlevania: Symphony of the Night (PS1)

Also, what about the GBA and NDS titles? Are they spin-offs, or are they part of the, "official" timeline?

 

[Sonic Angel Knight]

All right, so from what you guys have told me, (and further research) I should follow the series as follows, (correct me if I'm wrong):

1. Castlevania (NES), Super Castlevania IV (SNES), or Castlevania Chronicles (PS1)
2. Castlevania: Rondo of Blood (PC Engine), Castlevania: Dracula X (SNES), or Castlevania: The Dracula X Chronicles (PSP)
3. Castlevania: Symphony of the Night (PS1)

Also, what about the GBA and NDS titles? Are they spin-offs, or are they part of the, "official" timeline?

Every castlevania is part of offical timeline.


There is also 3 castlevania games for gameboy
GBA circle of the moon. Harmony of disonacence Aria of sorrow
DS Dawn of sorrow, Portrait of ruin Order or Ecclesia


DO NOT PLAY CASTLEVANIA II SIMON'S QUEST - AVGN 2004

 

[emigre]

1. Play SOTN.
2. Thank me.

 

[Boogieboo6]

Aria of Sorrow is my favorite. Dawn of Sorrow was no bueno tho.

 

[Sonic Angel Knight]

1. Castlevania (NES), Super Castlevania IV (SNES), or Castlevania Chronicles (PS1)
2. Castlevania: Rondo of Blood (PC Engine), Castlevania: Dracula X (SNES), or Castlevania: The Dracula X Chronicles (PSP)
3. Castlevania: Symphony of the Night (PS1)

To make this clear, for the first set on the list, NES castlevania is a port of the MSX version, Super castle vania, I i think is a Remake of the NES or MSX version, and Castlevania Chronicles is a Remake of the MSX version.

The second one, If you buy the Castlevania dracula x chronicles, Symphony of the night and Rondo of blood is included in the game as well, That game core is basially a remake of the Rondo of blood. and the saturn port of Symphony of the night.

I would recommend skipping the snes Dracula x game, if you plan on playing rondo of blood, is a inferior port of that game from Turbo Duo, to SNES But you can try if you want, for curious reaons, that game is hard and unfair.

If you want my experience you would play the 3 nes castle vania games, then gameboy ones the snes games then the one genesis game playstation ones, then GBA then ps2 (most people would skip this system) then NDS (There is 2 on the wii, castle vania rebitrh is a remake of the Gameboy games, and Castlevania judgement is a 3D fighting game) And then the ps3/Xbox60 of Castlevania judgement. Made by Hideo Kojima (Metal gear series creator)

I recommend skipping the N64 games, Castlevania 2 simons quest. "It is bad" Snes Dracula x, ps2 games, and the wii game is debatable. Is not a traditional castlevania game nor does it have any actual plot in the time line, is basically a allstar fighting game. Also the Ps3 and xbox 360 has one called harmony of dispair which looks like a mmo version of the NDS games

 

[EmulateLife]

As far as the story it doesn't really matter they just went from Castlevania to Castlevania where you're usually a Belmont fighting Dracula. Theres little to no cohesiveness. But as far as gameplay there's 3 different eras of Castlevania: old school 2d side scroller, Metroidvania where there's backtracking and things like that and then 3D.

3D is the worst in mine and most people's opinions. I wouldnt bother with any Castlevania on consoles after Symphony of the Night but the handheld Metroidvanias remainded pretty good until Mirror of Fate which sucked. All the recent ones suck, well except for the first Lords of Shadow it was decent.

 

[Sonic Angel Knight]

Yeah the story become less part of the reason why people play the game, is mostly how fun it is. 2D rpg style game. But as far as story goes the games story is not in order of release date so expect confusion with characters, plot and stuff.

In aria of sorrow, You play as soma who is a exchange student visiting japan and dracula castle emerges from a solar eclipse, and you meet the only belemont alive Julius who defeated dracula once and for all in 1999, Soma is the one who will be dracula successor as he was born the day he was defeated and will inherit his powers, even though he doesn't want it and will reject it whenever possible.

games get more complex with too epic of a story and nonsense plot to be interesting too long. Is funny how they try to keep interest with making it seem too confusing, but that is Japan for you. So anime!

 

[EmulateLife]

Castlevania Judgment was on Wii only it was a fighting game and Hideo Kojima did not help with it. Kojima helped with the first Lords of Shadow which was on PS3/Xbox 360 but he wasn't the main director he was just a producer and designer. He had some influence on it though which is why it was decent because Hideo Kojima is the GOAT.

Speaking of all that he's no longer with Konami and they may not have much of a future in the console business except for PES. I think the Castlevania series is probably dead as well as Silent Hill (they cancelled Silent Hills being made by Kojima which looked amazing) but they might do another Metal Gear but without Kojima I don't expect it to be very good. The CEO of Konami doesn't even care about video games he is moving them mostly to the gambling business such as slot machines. The old Konami we grew up with is dead.

 

[hksrb25s14]

you start with Lord of Shadows and work your way up.
you will get a better understanding why Dracula is the way he is.

I don't know that's where I would start. muahahaha

 

[cvskid]

Castlevania 3 nes. If you play any others after the nes castlevania games you will get spoiled by all the advancements the series has made since then and might not appreciate where the series started.

 

[Mikemk]

You could always look at https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Castlevania_media#Video_games and get a list of all the games by original release date, with remakes grouped together.

 

[spotanjo3]

Since I'm starting to try out different games, I have yet to play the Castlevania series; (I know, disappointing). I thought about it for a quite a while now, but I don't know where to start. I was thinking of working my way through the series by release date, but I'd prefer remakes if there are any available in this series. What would be a good one to start with? Price isn't really an issue here since I use emulators and I would like to start out with the main installments first; whether that'd be remakes or originals. Any advice would be appreciated!

Google is your friend and I found it. Here:

http://www.ign.com/boards/threads/what-are-the-castlevania-games-in-order.108317766/

 

[Sonic Angel Knight]

Castlevania 3 nes. If you play any others after the nes castlevania games you will get spoiled by all the advancements the series has made since then and might not appreciate where the series started.

Castlevania 3 is a enhancement to castlevania one.
Character switching? different routes, Enhancement. I would just say start with the FIRST ONE.