Castlevania: Circle of the Moon

Castlevania: Circle of the Moon is a GBA launch title released by Konami in 2001. Young vampire hunter Nathan Graves enters Dracula's castle with his senior Hugh Baldwin and their mentor Morris Baldwin, only to be cast into its depths when the Count's resurrection ritual goes awry. Armed with the sacred whip, players explore a vast interconnected castle, collecting items and unlocking abilities in the Metroidvania tradition. The game's standout innovation is the Dual Set-up System (DSS), which lets players combine two cards to gain elemental properties, magic enhancements, and summons with considerable flexibility. Gothic atmosphere and meticulous pixel art set the standard for the GBA at launch and the series remains a benchmark of the handheld Metroidvania style.