Castlevania

Konami's landmark 1986 action game and the founding entry of the NES series. Players control vampire hunter Simon Belmont, whip in hand, as he fights through six stages deep inside Count Dracula's castle. The game pairs the primary whip weapon with a sub-weapon system — Holy Water, Cross, Dagger, Axe, and Boomerang — while candles conceal items and heart pickups. Boss encounters include Medusa, the Mummy, Death, and Dracula himself. Tense pacing, demanding difficulty, and a gothic-flavored soundtrack have all become defining hallmarks of the franchise.