5. Castlevania III: Dracula's Curse

By Konami | Released: 1990

The unique Castlevania II was a popular game, but when it came time for Konami to begin working on Castlevania III: Dracula's Curse, the developers felt it was best for the series to return to its action-platforming roots; a decision that proved to be the right one the day the game was released in the fall of 1990. Extending the gameplay to many times the length and difficulty of the original, Castlevania III allowed gamers to take the role of Trevor Belmont, Simon Belmont's ancestor, as well as the roles of three other playable characters that Trevor may meet during his quest. May meet, because Castlevania III allowed gamers multiple paths as they progressed through the game. Grant, Sypha and Alucard all made their first appearances in Dracula's Curse, but you might not ever necessarily meet them all. The paths you choose to take during the game will bring you to stages and events you might otherwise miss entirely. In this way, Castlevania III was like the original game on a considerable amount of steroids, with plenty of replay value to boot.

Our Fondest Memories

I remember getting this game like it was yesterday. My mom and one of my sisters were out all day, and when they came home, my mom had an NES box in her hand. Viewing it from afar, I was disappointed, thinking she bought Track and Field. When I got the box in my hand, however, it was Castlevania III. Thank god.

- Colin Moriarty, IGN Guides Associate Editor