CASTLEVANIA: THE NEXT GENERATION

DEVELOPER: RELEASE:

KONAMI 1994

Let’s get the bad news out of the way first: the recent inclusion of Castlevania: The Next Generation on the Mega Drive Mini has done absolutely nothing to lower prices of the original cartridge release. This is worth playing, though as Konami’s only Mega Drive Castlevania is a real gem due to its imaginative boss fights, spectacular visual effects that really push the Mega Drive’s hardware and a surprisingly decent soundtrack. The ability to play as two different characters, Eric Lecarde and John Morris, gives the game plenty of longevity and we’d argue the final battle with Dracula outstrips the one found in Super Castlevania IV. Unfortunately, every version of this desirable Mega Drive game isn’t cheap. The PAL version sells for around £30 for a cartridge and costs £70 to £150 complete, the US version, titled Castlevania: Bloodlines, is available for around £90 complete, while the Japanese edition (search for Vampire Killer) ranges from an eye-watering £460 to £680!

» [Mega Drive] We’re a big fan of Eric as his pole vault is super useful at times.

» [Mega Drive] It wouldn’t be a Castlevania game without a foreboding tower to climb.