Castlevania NES
Recent eBay Listings
- Castlevania NES Nintendo Entertainment System Cartridge + Dust Sleeve £43.99
- Castlevania 2: Simons Quest- Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) -Cartridge Only £30.01
- Castlevania 2: Simons Quest- Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) -Cartridge Only £31.90
- Castlevania II Simon's Quest NES Nintendo Entertainment Cartridge + Dust Sleeve £36.99
- Castlevania III Dracula's Curse Nintendo NES Cartridge SCN £113.58
- Castlevania 2 Simon's Quest Nintendo NES UK Pal, Cartridge Only, Tested, Working £34.52
Price History
| Date | Avg Price | Low | High | Sales |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-04-05 | £46.46 | £14.11 | £113.58 | 10 |
| 2026-04-04 | £46.46 | £14.11 | £113.58 | 10 |
| 2026-04-03 | £41.05 | £30.01 | £87.74 | 10 |
| 2026-04-02 | £39.00 | £14.07 | £87.74 | 10 |
| 2026-04-01 | £49.68 | £30.01 | £113.40 | 10 |
| 2026-03-31 | £48.52 | £30.01 | £113.75 | 10 |
| 2026-03-30 | £43.34 | £30.01 | £113.12 | 10 |
| 2026-03-29 | £41.70 | £18.16 | £113.12 | 10 |
| 2026-03-28 | £41.70 | £18.16 | £113.12 | 10 |
| 2026-03-27 | £47.33 | £30.01 | £112.52 | 10 |
| 2026-03-26 | £47.28 | £30.01 | £112.23 | 10 |
| 2026-03-25 | £47.21 | £30.01 | £111.84 | 10 |
Screenshots
Game History
Castlevania was developed by Konami Computer Entertainment Tokyo (KCET) and published by Konami in May 1987 for the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES). The game was directed by Hitoshi Tsuchiyama and produced by Masahiro Ueno, drawing inspiration from classic horror films and literature.
The original Japanese release occurred on May 26, 1987, followed by a North American release in September 1987. The game became available in Europe in 1988 under the title "Vampire's Kiss." This staggered international rollout was typical of NES releases during this period.
Castlevania received strong critical acclaim upon launch, praised for its challenging gameplay, responsive controls, and atmospheric presentation. The whip-based combat mechanics were innovative for the time, and the gothic castle setting resonated with players. The game was a commercial success, establishing itself as a flagship title for Konami and helping to define the action-platformer genre on the NES.
Today, Castlevania holds significant historical importance in video game collecting and preservation. It is considered one of the greatest NES games ever made and marked the beginning of a long-running franchise that continues to the present day. The original NES cartridge remains highly sought after by collectors, though it is relatively common and affordable compared to other NES titles.
An interesting aspect of Castlevania's development was its thematic inspiration from Bela Lugosi's Dracula and Universal's classic monster films. The game's demanding difficulty—particularly the infamous Grim Reaper boss fight—became legendary among players and contributed to its cult status. The NES version's music, composed by Kinuyo Yamashita, also earned recognition for its memorable and atmospheric quality despite the sound hardware limitations.
The success of the original NES Castlevania spawned numerous sequels and spin-offs across multiple platforms, establishing Konami's dominance in the action-horror genre. The original game's influence on game design, particularly in level structure and boss design, extended far beyond the franchise itself.