data/claims/castlevania-iii-draculas-curse-history.yamlCastlevania III: Dracula's Curse (history and reception)
Akumajō Densetsu, the Japanese release, came out for the Famicom on 22 December 1989. castlevania-iii-draculas-curse-history/release-japan
release heading1989年12月22日Cited by: Castlevania III: Dracula's Curse
Castlevania III: Dracula's Curse came out for the NES in North America in September 1990; Konami gives the day as 19 September. castlevania-iii-draculas-curse-history/release-na
release headingSep 19, 1990NES Games (Nintendo of America release list) · PDF p. 3 — the row reads Konami, September 1990Castlevania III: Dracula's CurseCited by: Castlevania III: Dracula's Curse
In Europe the NES game came out after Super Castlevania IV. castlevania-iii-draculas-curse-history/europe-after-iv
paragraph beginning "Given the time of the game's release"it actually launched after Super Castlevania IV in EuropeAkumajō Densetsu is the series' third Famicom game, sold on a ROM cartridge. castlevania-iii-draculas-curse-history/cartridge
Gameファミコン版3作目となる、ＲＯＭカセットで発売された作品Konami's page says "the third Famicom entry, released on a ROM cassette".
The player is Trevor Belmont, Simon Belmont's forefather and, in the North American manual, the last line of defense against Count Dracula's army; the manual sets the game 100 years before Simon's birth. Konami's Japanese story names the hero Ralph C. Belmont, who goes alone to Lord Vlad's manor in 15th-century Europe, several hundred years before Simon. castlevania-iii-draculas-curse-history/hero
printed p. 4 (PDF p. 3), It's a Cursed World We Live InThe last line of defense is you, Trevor Belmont — the forefather of SimonCastlevania III: Dracula's Curse (NES) instruction manual · printed p. 4 (PDF p. 3), It's a Cursed World We Live InThe time is 100 years before Simon Belmont's birth.Castlevania III: Dracula's Curse (NES) instruction manual · printed p. 4 (PDF p. 3), It's a Cursed World We Live InDracula has assembled a mighty army of evil悪魔城伝説 (Castlevania Portal Site, history) · Storyラルフ・C・ベルモンドは、たったひとりでヴラド公の屋敷へと向かう。シモン・ベルモンドの時代をさかのぼること数百年悪魔城伝説 (Castlevania Portal Site, history) · Story15世紀ヨーロッパThe two settings disagree, and neither source reconciles them.
Cited by: Castlevania III: Dracula's Curse
Like the first Castlevania, the game is played stage by stage, and at several points the road forks and the player chooses the route; the route decides which partners and enemies Trevor meets. A stage reached by another route can start from its far end. The North American manual counts 17 possible levels. castlevania-iii-draculas-curse-history/stages
Game初代『ドラキュラ』と同じく、オーソドックスなステージクリアタイプだが、ステージの最後に分岐があり、ルートを自分で指定できる。同じステージでも、入りかたによってはゴール地点から始まるCastlevania III: Dracula's Curse (NES) instruction manual · printed p. 5 (PDF p. 4), How to Play in the Graveyardthroughout your journey where the road forksCastlevania III: Dracula's Curse (NES) instruction manual · printed p. 5 (PDF p. 4), How to Play in the Graveyardwill be determined by the pathCastlevania III: Dracula's Curse (NES) instruction manual · printed p. 4 (PDF p. 3), It's a Cursed World We Live In17 possible levels of never-endingKonami's Japanese page puts the fork at the end of a stage; the manual's "several locations" is the count this statement keeps.
Cited by: Castlevania, Castlevania III: Dracula's Curse
Trevor starts alone and can meet three partners, Grant DaNasty, Sypha, and Alucard, which ones depending on the route. He keeps one partner at a time and turns into that partner, and back, with Select. castlevania-iii-draculas-curse-history/partners
printed p. 13, Adding to Your TeamAt the start of the adventure your only player is Trevor C. Belmont.Castlevania III: Dracula's Curse (NES) instruction manual · printed p. 13, Adding to Your Teamwill vary, depending on the Paths of Fate you choose.Castlevania III: Dracula's Curse (NES) instruction manual · printed p. 13, Adding to Your Teampress the Select ButtonCastlevania III: Dracula's Curse (NES) instruction manual · printed p. 4 (PDF p. 3), It's a Cursed World We Live Inpartner spirits: Grant DaNasty, the ferocious Ghost Pirate. Sypha, theCastlevania III: Dracula's Curse Review (3DS eShop / NES) · paragraph beginning "However, aware that a straight sequel"which Trevor can switch places with at any time — the catch being that you can only have one companion with you at any one timeThe manual calls them partner spirits, and a new one can replace the one Trevor has.
Cited by: Castlevania, Castlevania III: Dracula's Curse
Each character plays differently. Trevor fights with the whip and items, Sypha uses magic, Grant is a thief who can move along walls, and Alucard, Dracula's son, can fly as a bat, as far as the hearts collected allow; which character the player uses changes how a stage is best played. castlevania-iii-draculas-curse-history/characters
Gameムチと各種アイテムを使いこなす主人公・ラルフ以外に、魔法の使い手サイファ、壁を伝って移動できる盗賊グラント、そして父親に反感を持つヴラド公の息子アルカード悪魔城伝説 (Castlevania Portal Site, history) · Game使用キャラによって攻略法が変わるCastlevania III: Dracula's Curse (NES) instruction manual · printed p. 4 (PDF p. 3), It's a Cursed World We Live InAnd Alucard Dracula’s forgotten son.Castlevania III: Dracula's Curse (NES) instruction manual · Gifts from the Poltergeist Masters, The Heart of Stone — the hearts collected decide how many times the items can be used, and how Alucard flies as a batcan soar like a bat. The more hearts youKonami's Japanese page calls Alucard Lord Vlad's son, who resents his father.
Cited by: Castlevania III: Dracula's Curse
The Japanese cartridge carries Konami's VRC6 chip, which Jeremy Parish credits to Hidenori Maezawa; it nearly doubles the sound channels and smooths effects such as the clock tower's moving gears. Parish writes that by some accounts the NES couldn't carry the extra channels, and North America got the music without them. castlevania-iii-draculas-curse-history/vrc6
opening paragraphsthe Japanese version of the game (Akumajou Densetsu) used a special chip to augment its graphics and music: the VRC6, designed by Retronauts' person of the week Hidenori MaezawaMaezawa's Greatest Hits: Castlevania III · opening paragraphsnearly doubling the possible sound channels. By some accounts, this is why we didn't receive the Japanese versionMaezawa's Greatest Hits: Castlevania III · paragraph beginning "Additionally"best seen in the clock tower stage of Akumajou Densetsu -- the gears and pendulums move with impossible smoothnessCited by: Castlevania III: Dracula's Curse
After Simon's Quest mixed platforming with role-playing, Dracula's Curse went back to the first game's linear stages, which Damien McFerran of Nintendo Life reads as Konami listening to players. castlevania-iii-draculas-curse-history/return-to-stages
opening paragraphan interesting fusion of platforming action and RPG adventuring, it wasn't what players of the period really wantedCastlevania III: Dracula's Curse Review (3DS eShop / NES) · opening paragraphThankfully, Konami was listening and for its third and final NES CastlevaniaCastlevania III: Dracula's Curse Review (3DS eShop / NES) · second paragraphreverts back to the linear level-based formula seen in the original game悪魔城伝説 (Castlevania Portal Site, history) · Game初代『ドラキュラ』と同じく、オーソドックスなステージクリアタイプCited by: Castlevania III: Dracula's Curse
Nintendo Life scored the 3DS Virtual Console release 9 out of 10. castlevania-iii-draculas-curse-history/nintendo-life-score
Value
{
"review": "Nintendo Life",
"of": 10,
"score": 9
}score box after the reviewExcellent 9/10Reviewing the 2014 3DS release, Damien McFerran called it one of the finest NES games, praised its control, and found it brutal but never unfair. He wrote that the branching routes add to its replay value, and that the partners added tactical depth. castlevania-iii-draculas-curse-history/nintendo-life-verdict
closing paragraphThis is rightly regarded as one of the finest NES titles ever madeCastlevania III: Dracula's Curse Review (3DS eShop / NES) · paragraph beginning "Konami clearly spent"the control feels utterly perfectCastlevania III: Dracula's Curse Review (3DS eShop / NES) · paragraph beginning "Konami clearly spent"Dracula's Curse is at times brutal and unforgiving, but never to the point where it's completely unfairCastlevania III: Dracula's Curse Review (3DS eShop / NES) · paragraph beginning "However, aware that a straight sequel"add immeasurably to the replay valueCastlevania III: Dracula's Curse Review (3DS eShop / NES) · paragraph beginning "However, aware that a straight sequel"they added tactical depth to what was already a fantastic titleCited by: Castlevania III: Dracula's Curse
Jeremy Parish writes that for many players it is the series' quintessential chapter, possibly bettered only by Rondo of Blood, and Koji Igarashi, producer of Symphony of the Night, named it his favorite Castlevania in 2002. castlevania-iii-draculas-curse-history/standing
opening paragraphfor many it's the quintessential chapter of the series, possibly bested only by Rondo of BloodTGS 2002: Castlevania Q&A · What's your favorite game in the Castlevania series?I like Castlevania III: Dracula's Curse the best.TGS 2002: Castlevania Q&A · introductionthe producer of Symphony of the NightCited by: Castlevania III: Dracula's Curse
Alucard, one of the partners, later starred as the lead of Symphony of the Night. castlevania-iii-draculas-curse-history/alucard-later
paragraph beginning "However, aware that a straight sequel"Alucard would of course go on to star inCastlevania III: Dracula's Curse Review (3DS eShop / NES) · paragraph beginning "However, aware that a straight sequel" — the game's name between the two quotes is a link, Symphony of the Nightas the lead protagonist, and seeing him make his series debutCited by: Castlevania III: Dracula's Curse
Using a subweapon spends hearts, and whipping torches and light fittings turns up more. castlevania-iii-draculas-curse-history/hearts-play
second paragraphsub-weapons which, when used, deplete your stock of hearts. As ever, hearts can be replenished by whipping the various torches and light-fittingsCastlevania III: Dracula's Curse (NES) instruction manual · Gifts from the Poltergeist Masters — context only: the manual says this of its items in general, and doesn't name hearts here; they also appear from certain enemies and wallsmay appear when you knockout/blowout a candle or lanternCited by: Castlevania III: Dracula's Curse
Trevor's whip strikes only straight ahead, so the player has to time moves and attacks; Super Castlevania IV later let Simon whip in several directions. castlevania-iii-draculas-curse-history/whip
paragraph beginning "Konami clearly spent"In this third game, you can only whip horizontally, which means you have to time your movements and attacks preciselyCastlevania III: Dracula's Curse Review (3DS eShop / NES) · paragraph beginning "Konami clearly spent" — the game named just before, as a link, is Super Castlevania IVwhich added multi-directional attacks to Simon Belmont's repertoireCited by: Castlevania III: Dracula's Curse