<s>
Castlevania	B-Application
(	O
)	O
,	O
known	O
in	O
Japan	O
as	O
is	O
a	O
gothic	O
horror	O
action-adventure	O
video	O
game	O
series	O
and	O
media	O
franchise	O
about	O
Dracula	B-Application
,	O
created	O
and	O
developed	O
by	O
Konami	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Castlevania	B-Application
is	I-Application
largely	O
set	O
in	O
the	O
eponymous	O
castle	O
of	O
Count	O
Dracula	B-Application
,	O
the	O
main	O
antagonist	O
of	O
the	O
Belmont	O
clan	O
of	O
vampire	O
hunters	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
It	O
debuted	O
with	O
1986	O
's	O
Castlevania	B-Application
for	O
the	O
Nintendo	O
Family	B-Device
Computer	I-Device
Disk	I-Device
System	I-Device
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
first	O
entry	O
and	O
the	O
majority	O
of	O
its	O
sequels	O
are	O
side-scrolling	O
action	O
platformers	O
,	O
and	O
were	O
succeeded	O
by	O
the	O
1997	O
game	O
,	O
Castlevania	B-Application
:	I-Application
Symphony	I-Application
of	I-Application
the	I-Application
Night	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Originally	O
released	O
for	O
the	O
PlayStation	B-Device
,	O
it	O
returned	O
to	O
the	O
nonlinear	O
gameplay	O
seen	O
in	O
Castlevania	B-Application
II	I-Application
:	I-Application
Simon	I-Application
's	I-Application
Quest	I-Application
,	O
which	O
introduced	O
role-playing	O
elements	O
and	O
exploration	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Several	O
installments	O
later	O
adopted	O
Symphony	O
of	O
the	O
Nights	O
gameplay	O
,	O
and	O
along	O
with	O
Super	B-Application
Metroid	I-Application
,	O
it	O
has	O
popularized	O
the	O
Metroidvania	O
genre	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
2010	O
saw	O
the	O
release	O
of	O
Castlevania	B-Application
:	I-Application
Lords	I-Application
of	I-Application
Shadow	I-Application
,	O
a	O
3D	O
action-adventure	O
reboot	O
of	O
the	O
series	O
developed	O
by	O
MercurySteam	O
and	O
Kojima	O
Productions	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Castlevania	B-Application
is	I-Application
one	O
of	O
Konami	O
's	O
most	B-Application
successful	I-Application
and	I-Application
prominent	I-Application
franchises	I-Application
;	O
several	O
of	O
its	O
entries	O
are	O
ranked	O
among	O
the	O
best	O
video	O
games	O
ever	O
made	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Most	O
Castlevania	B-Application
titles	O
have	O
been	O
released	O
in	O
Japan	O
,	O
North	O
America	O
,	O
Europe	O
and	O
Australia	O
on	O
various	O
video	B-Device
game	I-Device
consoles	I-Device
,	O
personal	B-Device
computers	I-Device
(	O
PC	O
)	O
and	O
mobile	O
phones	O
,	O
with	O
additional	O
remakes	O
and	O
re-releases	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
first	O
console	O
title	O
,	O
Castlevania	B-Application
,	O
was	O
released	O
on	O
the	O
Famicom	B-Device
Disk	I-Device
System	I-Device
in	O
1986	O
and	O
in	O
North	O
America	O
in	O
1987	O
on	O
the	O
Nintendo	O
Entertainment	O
System	O
(	O
NES	O
)	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
A	O
2D	O
sidescrolling	O
action	O
game	O
where	O
the	O
player	O
progresses	O
through	O
six	O
stages	O
,	O
many	O
principal	O
features	O
of	O
the	O
Castlevania	B-Operating_System
series	I-Operating_System
originated	O
with	O
it	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
It	O
has	O
been	O
ported	O
to	O
many	O
platforms	O
,	O
such	O
as	O
the	O
NES	B-Application
Classic	I-Application
Edition	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Also	O
released	O
in	O
1986	O
was	O
Vampire	B-Application
Killer	I-Application
for	O
the	O
MSX	B-Operating_System
home	O
computer	O
,	O
which	O
played	O
significantly	O
different	O
from	O
the	O
original	O
Castlevania	B-Application
,	O
where	O
players	O
had	O
to	O
search	O
for	O
the	O
exit	O
before	O
they	O
could	O
proceed	O
to	O
the	O
next	O
stage	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Following	O
that	O
year	O
,	O
in	O
1987	O
,	O
Castlevania	B-Application
II	I-Application
:	I-Application
Simon	I-Application
's	I-Application
Quest	I-Application
further	O
departed	O
from	O
the	O
standard	O
platforming	O
genre	O
of	O
the	O
first	O
Castlevania	B-Application
for	O
a	O
game	O
more	O
similar	O
to	O
the	O
nonlinear	O
gameplay	O
of	O
Metroid	B-Device
,	O
with	O
several	O
role-playing	O
elements	O
such	O
as	O
a	O
world	O
map	O
which	O
the	O
player	O
is	O
free	O
to	O
explore	O
and	O
revisit	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Castlevanias	B-Application
first	O
arcade	O
game	O
,	O
Haunted	B-Application
Castle	I-Application
(	O
1988	O
)	O
,	O
returned	O
to	O
the	O
linear	O
platforming	O
gameplay	O
of	O
the	O
original	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
This	O
continued	O
with	O
the	O
first	O
handheld	O
Game	B-Device
Boy	I-Device
entry	O
,	O
Castlevania	B-Application
:	I-Application
The	I-Application
Adventure	I-Application
and	O
the	O
NES	O
sequel	O
,	O
Castlevania	B-Application
III	I-Application
:	I-Application
Dracula	I-Application
's	I-Application
Curse	I-Application
,	O
both	O
released	O
in	O
1989	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Dracula	B-Application
's	I-Application
Curse	I-Application
added	O
features	O
to	O
the	O
original	O
gameplay	O
,	O
including	O
alternate	O
stages	O
and	O
multiple	O
playable	O
characters	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	B-Application
Adventure	I-Application
saw	O
a	O
Game	B-Device
Boy	I-Device
sequel	O
,	O
Castlevania	B-Application
II	I-Application
:	I-Application
Belmont	I-Application
's	I-Application
Revenge	I-Application
,	O
in	O
1992	O
and	O
a	O
remake	O
,	O
Castlevania	B-Application
:	I-Application
The	I-Application
Adventure	I-Application
ReBirth	I-Application
,	O
developed	O
by	O
M2	O
for	O
the	O
WiiWare	O
service	O
in	O
2009	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
franchise	O
's	O
first	O
16-bit	O
home	O
console	O
game	O
,	O
Super	B-Application
Castlevania	I-Application
IV	I-Application
,	O
was	O
released	O
for	O
the	O
Super	B-Application
Nintendo	I-Application
Entertainment	I-Application
System	I-Application
(	O
SNES	B-Application
)	O
in	O
1991	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
A	O
Castlevania	B-Application
title	O
for	O
the	O
Sharp	B-Device
X68000	I-Device
home	O
computer	O
was	O
released	O
in	O
Japan	O
in	O
1993	O
and	O
would	O
not	O
be	O
available	O
in	O
English	O
until	O
Castlevania	B-Application
Chronicles	I-Application
(	O
2001	O
)	O
for	O
the	O
PlayStation	B-Device
.	O
</s>
<s>
During	O
the	O
same	O
year	O
,	O
Castlevania	B-Application
:	I-Application
Rondo	I-Application
of	I-Application
Blood	I-Application
was	O
released	O
for	O
the	O
PC	B-General_Concept
Engine	I-General_Concept
and	O
was	O
not	O
localized	O
in	O
English	O
until	O
it	O
was	O
included	O
with	O
Castlevania	B-Application
:	I-Application
The	I-Application
Dracula	I-Application
X	I-Application
Chronicles	I-Application
(	O
2007	O
)	O
for	O
the	O
PlayStation	B-Operating_System
Portable	I-Operating_System
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
first	O
Castlevania	B-Application
produced	O
for	O
a	O
CD-ROM	B-Device
,	O
Rondo	B-Application
of	I-Application
Blood	I-Application
featured	O
Red	O
Book	O
audio	O
and	O
fully	O
voiced	O
dialogue	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
game	O
's	O
content	O
would	O
be	O
reused	O
in	O
Castlevania	B-Application
:	I-Application
Dracula	I-Application
X	I-Application
,	O
a	O
game	O
for	O
the	O
SNES	B-Application
in	O
1995	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Castlevania	B-Application
:	I-Application
Bloodlines	I-Application
(	O
1994	O
)	O
was	O
the	O
first	O
Castlevania	B-Application
entry	O
produced	O
for	O
a	O
Sega	O
console	O
,	O
the	O
Genesis	B-Operating_System
,	O
and	O
was	O
not	O
re-released	O
until	O
2019	O
on	O
the	O
multi-platform	B-Operating_System
Castlevania	B-Operating_System
Anniversary	I-Operating_System
Collection	I-Operating_System
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
1997	O
,	O
Castlevania	B-Application
:	I-Application
Symphony	I-Application
of	I-Application
the	I-Application
Night	I-Application
and	O
Castlevania	B-Application
Legends	I-Application
were	O
launched	O
for	O
the	O
PlayStation	B-Device
and	O
Game	B-Device
Boy	I-Device
,	O
respectively	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Symphony	B-Application
of	I-Application
the	I-Application
Night	I-Application
introduced	O
a	O
major	O
change	O
to	O
the	O
gameplay	O
,	O
incorporating	O
role-playing	O
elements	O
and	O
a	O
nonlinear	O
map	O
that	O
the	O
player	O
could	O
freely	O
explore	O
,	O
which	O
was	O
previously	O
seen	O
in	O
Simon	B-Application
's	I-Application
Quest	I-Application
and	O
Nintendo	O
's	O
Metroid	B-Device
series	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
This	O
would	O
be	O
the	O
gameplay	O
for	O
several	O
future	O
titles	O
,	O
beginning	O
with	O
the	O
Game	B-Device
Boy	I-Device
Advance	I-Device
entries	O
Circle	B-Application
of	I-Application
the	I-Application
Moon	I-Application
,	O
Harmony	B-Application
of	I-Application
Dissonance	I-Application
,	O
and	O
Aria	B-Application
of	I-Application
Sorrow	I-Application
,	O
which	O
were	O
released	O
from	O
2001	O
to	O
2003	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Aria	B-Application
of	I-Application
Sorrow	I-Application
received	O
a	O
2005	O
sequel	O
,	O
Dawn	B-Application
of	I-Application
Sorrow	I-Application
for	O
the	O
Nintendo	B-Device
DS	I-Device
,	O
which	O
was	O
followed	O
by	O
Portrait	B-Application
of	I-Application
Ruin	I-Application
(	O
2006	O
)	O
and	O
Order	B-Application
of	I-Application
Ecclesia	I-Application
(	O
2008	O
)	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Under	O
the	O
development	O
of	O
Konami	O
's	O
Kobe	O
branch	O
,	O
the	O
first	O
game	O
in	O
the	O
series	O
to	O
employ	O
3D	O
graphics	O
was	O
Castlevania	B-Application
for	O
Nintendo	B-Operating_System
64	I-Operating_System
in	O
1999	O
,	O
and	O
it	O
received	O
an	O
expansion	O
called	O
Castlevania	B-Application
:	I-Application
Legacy	I-Application
of	I-Application
Darkness	I-Application
later	O
that	O
year	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
2003	O
,	O
the	O
next	O
3D	O
Castlevania	B-Application
title	O
,	O
Lament	B-Application
of	I-Application
Innocence	I-Application
debuted	O
for	O
the	O
PlayStation	B-Device
2	I-Device
with	O
combat-oriented	O
hack	B-Application
and	I-Application
slash	I-Application
gameplay	O
that	O
drew	O
comparisons	O
to	O
Devil	B-Application
May	I-Application
Cry	I-Application
and	O
God	B-Application
of	I-Application
War	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
It	O
was	O
followed	O
two	O
years	O
later	O
by	O
Castlevania	B-Application
:	I-Application
Curse	I-Application
of	I-Application
Darkness	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
A	O
reboot	O
of	O
the	O
franchise	O
launched	O
with	O
Castlevania	B-Application
:	I-Application
Lords	I-Application
of	I-Application
Shadow	I-Application
in	O
2010	O
,	O
a	O
multi-platform	B-Operating_System
3D	O
action	O
title	O
developed	O
by	O
MercurySteam	O
and	O
co-produced	O
by	O
Hideo	O
Kojima	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Two	O
sequels	O
,	O
Lords	B-Application
of	I-Application
Shadow	I-Application
–	I-Application
Mirror	I-Application
of	I-Application
Fate	I-Application
(	O
2013	O
)	O
and	O
Lords	B-Application
of	I-Application
Shadow	I-Application
2	I-Application
(	O
2014	O
)	O
have	O
both	O
received	O
multi-platform	B-Operating_System
releases	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Castlevania	B-Application
has	O
spawned	O
numerous	O
spin-offs	O
,	O
the	O
first	O
being	O
the	O
1990	O
platformer	O
,	O
Kid	B-Application
Dracula	I-Application
for	O
the	O
Famicom	O
,	O
a	O
parody	O
which	O
stars	O
the	O
eponymous	O
character	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
It	O
was	O
released	O
for	O
the	O
first	O
time	O
in	O
English	O
for	O
the	O
Castlevania	B-Operating_System
Anniversary	I-Operating_System
Collection	I-Operating_System
(	O
2019	O
)	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
game	O
received	O
a	O
sequel	O
for	O
the	O
Game	B-Device
Boy	I-Device
,	O
also	O
titled	O
Kid	B-Application
Dracula	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Castlevanias	B-Application
first	O
multiplayer	O
online	O
fighting	O
game	O
,	O
Castlevania	B-Application
Judgment	I-Application
debuted	O
for	O
the	B-Operating_System
Wii	I-Operating_System
in	O
2008	O
and	O
was	O
developed	O
by	O
Eighting	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Another	O
multiplayer	O
online	O
title	O
,	O
Castlevania	B-Application
:	I-Application
Harmony	I-Application
of	I-Application
Despair	I-Application
,	O
was	O
available	O
cross-platform	B-Operating_System
in	O
2010	O
,	O
where	O
players	O
could	O
play	O
as	O
past	O
Castlevania	B-Application
characters	O
and	O
explore	O
stages	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
A	O
game	O
for	O
iOS	B-Application
called	O
Castlevania	B-Application
:	O
Grimoire	O
of	O
Souls	O
,	O
a	O
multiplayer	O
title	O
starring	O
Castlevania	B-Application
cast	O
members	O
,	O
was	O
released	O
by	O
Konami	O
on	O
September	O
16	O
,	O
2019	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Castlevania	B-Application
:	I-Application
The	I-Application
Arcade	I-Application
(	O
2009	O
)	O
,	O
a	O
light	O
gun	O
shooter	O
utilizing	O
an	O
LED	O
remote	O
,	O
has	O
been	O
released	O
in	O
Japan	O
and	O
Europe	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
Japanese	O
spin-off	O
series	O
,	O
Pachislot	B-Operating_System
Akumajō	I-Operating_System
Dracula	I-Operating_System
,	O
is	O
a	O
pachislot	O
line	O
of	O
Castlevania	B-Application
titles	O
released	O
between	O
2009	O
and	O
2017	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
first	O
three	O
are	O
based	O
on	O
the	O
video	O
game	O
Dracula	B-Application
's	I-Application
Curse	I-Application
,	O
while	O
a	O
fourth	O
game	O
based	O
on	O
the	O
Lords	B-Application
of	I-Application
Shadow	I-Application
reboot	O
,	O
Pachislot	B-Operating_System
Akumajō	I-Operating_System
Dracula	I-Operating_System
:	O
Lords	B-Application
of	I-Application
Shadow	I-Application
,	O
was	O
made	O
available	O
in	O
2017	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Castlevania	B-Application
characters	O
and	O
elements	O
have	O
appeared	O
in	O
crossovers	O
and	O
other	O
titles	O
such	O
as	O
the	O
Konami	B-Application
Wai	I-Application
Wai	I-Application
World	I-Application
series	O
,	O
Contra	B-Application
:	I-Application
Hard	I-Application
Corps	I-Application
,	O
DreamMix	B-Application
TV	I-Application
World	I-Application
Fighters	I-Application
,	O
Bomberman	B-Application
R	I-Application
,	O
Super	B-Application
Smash	I-Application
Bros	I-Application
.	I-Application
</s>
<s>
Ultimate	O
,	O
and	O
Dead	B-Application
Cells	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Castlevania	B-Application
,	O
released	O
for	O
the	O
NES	O
in	O
1986	O
is	O
a	O
platform	O
game	O
in	O
which	O
the	O
player	O
takes	O
the	O
role	O
of	O
Simon	O
Belmont	O
,	O
a	O
descendant	O
of	O
the	O
Belmont	O
clan	O
,	O
a	O
family	O
of	O
vampire	O
hunters	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
He	O
travels	O
to	O
Dracula	B-Application
's	O
castle	O
,	O
Castlevania	B-Application
,	O
and	O
fights	O
his	O
way	O
through	O
the	O
castle	O
annihilating	O
Dracula	B-Application
himself	O
and	O
the	O
castle	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Belmont	O
's	O
main	O
weapon	O
is	O
a	O
whip	O
called	O
the	O
Vampire	B-Application
Killer	I-Application
,	O
while	O
the	O
secondary	O
weapons	O
include	O
throwing	O
daggers	O
,	O
bottles	O
of	O
holy	O
water	O
that	O
act	O
as	O
small	O
fire	O
bombs	O
,	O
throwing	O
axes	O
that	O
arc	O
overhead	O
,	O
a	O
watch	O
that	O
stops	O
time	O
,	O
and	O
a	O
cross	O
that	O
acts	O
like	O
a	O
boomerang	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Hidden	O
items	O
such	O
as	O
power-ups	O
and	O
food	O
(	O
health	O
replenishment	O
)	O
items	O
are	O
found	O
by	O
attacking	O
walls	O
within	O
the	O
levels	O
,	O
a	O
feature	O
inspired	O
by	O
Nintendo	O
's	O
Super	B-Application
Mario	I-Application
Bros	I-Application
.	I-Application
with	O
hidden	O
items	O
across	O
the	O
game	O
's	O
levels	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Vampire	B-Application
Killer	I-Application
,	O
released	O
in	O
1986	O
for	O
the	O
MSX	B-Operating_System
2	I-Operating_System
computer	O
and	O
developed	O
alongside	O
the	O
original	O
Castlevania	B-Application
(	O
the	O
two	O
share	O
the	O
same	O
title	O
in	O
Japanese	O
)	O
,	O
departs	O
from	O
the	O
more	O
straightforward	O
platforming	O
gameplay	O
of	O
Castlevania	B-Application
,	O
instead	O
introducing	O
an	O
open-ended	O
,	O
exploration-heavy	O
form	O
of	O
gameplay	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Castlevania	B-Application
II	I-Application
:	I-Application
Simon	I-Application
's	I-Application
Quest	I-Application
featured	O
nonlinear	O
gameplay	O
even	O
more	O
open-ended	O
than	O
that	O
of	O
Vampire	B-Application
Killer	I-Application
,	O
with	O
several	O
exclusive	O
elements	O
such	O
as	O
a	O
world	O
map	O
the	O
player	O
was	O
free	O
to	O
explore	O
and	O
revisit	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Castlevania	B-Application
III	I-Application
:	I-Application
Dracula	I-Application
's	I-Application
Curse	I-Application
for	O
the	O
NES	O
has	O
more	O
in	O
common	O
with	O
the	O
original	O
NES	O
Castlevania	B-Application
and	O
added	O
features	O
,	O
including	O
nonlinear	O
elements	O
such	O
as	O
alternate	O
branching	O
paths	O
with	O
different	O
stages	O
and	O
alternate	O
endings	O
depending	O
on	O
the	O
player	O
's	O
choices	O
,	O
as	O
well	O
as	O
multiple	O
player	O
characters	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
A	O
turning	O
point	O
in	O
the	O
gameplay	O
mechanics	O
of	O
the	O
series	O
was	O
Castlevania	B-Application
:	I-Application
Symphony	I-Application
of	I-Application
the	I-Application
Night	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Expanding	O
on	O
the	O
open-ended	O
style	O
of	O
gameplay	O
previously	O
used	O
in	O
Castlevania	B-Application
II	I-Application
:	I-Application
Simon	I-Application
's	I-Application
Quest	I-Application
,	O
Symphony	O
of	O
the	O
Nights	O
style	O
of	O
gameplay	O
has	O
been	O
termed	O
"	O
Metroidvania	O
"	O
due	O
to	O
its	O
similarities	O
with	O
the	O
nonlinear	O
and	O
exploration-focused	O
side-scrolling	O
games	O
of	O
the	O
Metroid	B-Device
series	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Many	O
subsequent	O
Castlevania	B-Operating_System
games	I-Operating_System
have	O
since	O
followed	O
this	O
template	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
+	O
Castlevania	B-Operating_System
series	I-Operating_System
fictional	O
chronology	O
Original	O
series	O
Lords	B-Application
of	I-Application
Shadow	I-Application
series	O
Sources	O
:	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
Castlevania	B-Application
franchise	O
heavily	O
references	O
the	O
horror	O
films	O
produced	O
by	O
Universal	O
Pictures	O
and	O
Hammer	O
Film	O
Productions	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Werewolves	O
,	O
zombies	B-Application
,	O
Frankenstein	B-Application
's	I-Application
monster	I-Application
,	O
and	O
Count	O
Dracula	B-Application
make	O
recurring	O
appearances	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Alucard	O
,	O
introduced	O
in	O
Castlevania	B-Application
III	I-Application
:	I-Application
Dracula	I-Application
's	I-Application
Curse	I-Application
,	O
is	O
a	O
reference	O
to	O
the	O
character	O
of	O
the	O
same	O
name	O
from	O
the	O
1943	O
film	O
,	O
Son	O
of	O
Dracula	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
games	O
include	O
folklore	B-Application
and	O
mythological	O
monsters	O
such	O
as	O
Medusa	B-Application
,	O
as	O
well	O
as	O
direct	O
references	O
to	O
literary	O
horror	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Castlevania	B-Application
:	I-Application
Bloodlines	I-Application
explicitly	O
incorporates	O
the	O
events	O
of	O
Bram	O
Stoker	O
's	O
Dracula	B-Application
into	O
the	O
series	O
,	O
and	O
the	O
recurring	O
character	O
Carmilla	O
is	O
based	O
on	O
the	O
1872	O
novel	O
Carmilla	O
by	O
Joseph	O
Sheridan	O
Le	O
Fanu	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Castlevania	B-Application
mainly	O
takes	O
place	O
in	O
the	O
castle	O
of	O
Count	O
Dracula	B-Application
,	O
who	O
resurrects	O
every	O
hundred	O
years	O
to	O
take	O
over	O
the	O
world	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
With	O
the	O
exception	O
of	O
some	O
games	O
,	O
the	O
players	O
assume	O
the	O
role	O
of	O
the	O
Belmonts	O
,	O
a	O
clan	O
of	O
vampire	O
hunters	O
who	O
have	O
defeated	O
Dracula	B-Application
for	O
centuries	O
with	O
the	O
Vampire	B-Application
Killer	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
Vampire	B-Application
Killer	I-Application
is	O
a	O
legendary	O
whip	O
that	O
is	O
passed	O
down	O
to	O
their	O
successors	O
and	O
can	O
only	O
be	O
used	O
by	O
them	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
Castlevania	B-Application
:	I-Application
Bloodlines	I-Application
,	O
the	O
whip	O
has	O
been	O
inherited	O
by	O
John	O
Morris	O
,	O
the	O
son	O
of	O
Quincey	O
Morris	O
,	O
who	O
is	O
a	O
distant	O
descendant	O
of	O
the	O
Belmonts	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Other	O
recurring	O
characters	O
throughout	O
the	O
series	O
include	O
the	O
dhampir	O
Alucard	O
,	O
who	O
sides	O
with	O
Trevor	O
Belmont	O
against	O
his	O
father	O
Dracula	B-Application
in	O
Dracula	B-Application
's	I-Application
Curse	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Descendants	O
of	O
the	O
Belnades	O
clan	O
,	O
such	O
as	O
Carrie	B-Application
Fernandez	I-Application
and	O
Yoko	O
Belnades	O
,	O
would	O
make	O
appearances	O
as	O
playable	O
characters	O
in	O
later	O
titles	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Castlevania	B-Application
:	I-Application
Lords	I-Application
of	I-Application
Shadow	I-Application
is	O
a	O
reboot	O
of	O
the	O
franchise	O
,	O
with	O
its	O
first	O
game	O
set	O
in	O
Southern	O
Europe	O
during	O
the	O
Middle	O
Ages	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
With	O
a	O
retractable	O
chain	O
whip	O
called	O
the	O
Combat	O
Cross	O
,	O
Gabriel	O
fights	O
a	O
malevolent	O
force	O
known	O
as	O
the	O
Lords	B-Application
of	I-Application
Shadow	I-Application
in	O
order	O
to	O
obtain	O
the	O
God	O
Mask	O
,	O
which	O
he	O
believes	O
can	O
bring	O
back	O
his	O
deceased	O
wife	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
Castlevania	B-Application
:	I-Application
Lords	I-Application
of	I-Application
Shadow	I-Application
-	I-Application
Mirror	I-Application
of	I-Application
Fate	I-Application
,	O
Gabriel	O
stars	O
as	O
Dracula	B-Application
,	O
the	O
main	O
antagonist	O
of	O
Simon	O
and	O
Trevor	O
Belmont	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
sequel	O
,	O
Castlevania	B-Application
:	I-Application
Lords	I-Application
of	I-Application
Shadow	I-Application
2	I-Application
is	O
set	O
during	O
modern	O
times	O
,	O
where	O
Dracula	B-Application
is	O
looking	O
for	O
a	O
way	O
to	O
put	O
an	O
end	O
to	O
his	O
immortality	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
2002	O
,	O
the	O
games	O
Legends	B-Application
,	O
Circle	B-Application
of	I-Application
the	I-Application
Moon	I-Application
,	O
Castlevania	B-Application
(	O
1999	O
)	O
,	O
and	O
Legacy	B-Application
of	I-Application
Darkness	I-Application
were	O
retconned	O
from	O
the	O
official	O
chronology	O
by	O
Koji	O
Igarashi	O
,	O
a	O
move	O
which	O
had	O
been	O
met	O
with	O
some	O
criticism	O
by	O
fans	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Igarashi	O
noted	O
that	O
Legends	B-Application
conflicted	O
with	O
the	O
plotline	O
of	O
the	O
series	O
,	O
and	O
that	O
the	O
reason	O
for	O
Circle	O
of	O
the	O
Moons	O
removal	O
was	O
not	O
due	O
to	O
his	O
non-involvement	O
with	O
the	O
game	O
,	O
but	O
instead	O
the	O
intention	O
of	O
the	O
game	O
's	O
development	O
team	O
for	O
Circle	B-Application
of	I-Application
the	I-Application
Moon	I-Application
to	O
be	O
a	O
stand-alone	O
title	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
American	O
20th	O
Anniversary	O
Pre-order	O
Bundle	O
for	O
Portrait	B-Application
of	I-Application
Ruin	I-Application
in	O
2006	O
featured	O
a	O
poster	O
with	O
a	O
timeline	O
that	O
re-included	O
the	O
games	O
other	O
than	O
Legends	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Castlevania	B-Application
was	O
directed	O
and	O
programmed	O
by	O
Hitoshi	O
Akamatsu	O
for	O
the	O
Family	B-Device
Computer	I-Device
Disk	I-Device
System	I-Device
in	O
1986	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
An	O
admirer	O
of	O
cinema	O
,	O
Akamatsu	O
approached	O
projects	O
with	O
a	O
"	O
film	O
director	O
's	O
eye	O
"	O
,	O
and	O
said	O
the	O
visuals	O
and	O
music	O
for	O
Castlevania	B-Application
were	O
"	O
made	O
by	O
people	O
who	O
consciously	O
wanted	O
to	O
do	O
something	O
cinematic.	O
"	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
protagonist	O
Simon	O
Belmont	O
uses	O
a	O
whip	O
because	O
Akamatsu	O
liked	O
the	O
mechanics	O
of	O
a	O
weapon	O
able	O
to	O
repel	O
enemies	O
,	O
and	O
also	O
because	O
Akamatsu	O
was	O
a	O
fan	O
of	O
Raiders	B-Application
of	I-Application
the	I-Application
Lost	I-Application
Ark	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
After	O
the	O
success	O
of	O
Castlevania	B-Application
,	O
it	O
was	O
released	O
in	O
cartridge	O
format	O
for	O
the	O
Nintendo	O
Entertainment	O
System	O
(	O
NES	O
)	O
as	O
one	O
of	O
its	O
first	O
major	O
platform	O
games	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
international	O
title	O
Castlevania	B-Application
was	O
the	O
result	O
of	O
Konami	O
of	O
America	O
senior	O
vice	O
president	O
Emil	O
Heidkamp	O
's	O
discomfort	O
with	O
Akumajō	B-Application
Dracula	I-Application
,	O
which	O
he	O
believed	O
translated	O
as	O
"	O
Dracula	B-Application
Satanic	O
Castle.	O
"	O
</s>
<s>
Because	O
of	O
Nintendo	O
of	O
America	O
's	O
censorship	O
policies	O
at	O
the	O
time	O
,	O
most	O
instances	O
of	O
blood	O
,	O
nudity	O
and	O
religious	O
imagery	O
were	O
removed	O
or	O
edited	O
in	O
early	O
Castlevania	B-Operating_System
games	I-Operating_System
.	O
</s>
<s>
Akamatsu	O
directed	O
Castlevania	B-Application
II	I-Application
:	I-Application
Simon	I-Application
's	I-Application
Quest	I-Application
in	O
1987	O
,	O
which	O
adopted	O
gameplay	O
similar	O
to	O
Nintendo	O
's	O
Metroid	B-Device
.	O
</s>
<s>
When	O
asked	O
if	O
Metroid	B-Device
had	O
any	O
inspiration	O
,	O
Akamatsu	O
instead	O
cited	O
Maze	B-Application
of	I-Application
Galious	I-Application
,	O
another	O
Konami	O
title	O
which	O
featured	O
exploration	O
and	O
puzzle	O
solving	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
His	O
last	O
game	O
in	O
the	O
series	O
,	O
Castlevania	B-Application
III	I-Application
:	I-Application
Dracula	I-Application
's	I-Application
Curse	I-Application
(	O
1989	O
)	O
,	O
returned	O
to	O
the	O
standard	O
platforming	O
genre	O
of	O
Castlevania	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Since	O
Konami	O
's	O
Teenage	B-Application
Mutant	I-Application
Ninja	I-Application
Turtles	I-Application
games	O
sold	O
many	O
copies	O
,	O
their	O
development	O
was	O
prioritized	O
above	O
other	O
titles	O
,	O
leading	O
the	O
developers	O
for	O
Dracula	B-Application
's	I-Application
Curse	I-Application
to	O
make	O
a	O
game	O
that	O
would	O
outdo	O
them	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Simon	B-Application
's	I-Application
Quest	I-Application
and	O
Dracula	B-Application
's	I-Application
Curse	I-Application
were	O
not	O
a	O
commercial	O
success	O
,	O
and	O
Akamatsu	O
was	O
demoted	O
to	O
working	O
in	O
one	O
of	O
Konami	O
's	O
game	O
centers	O
before	O
he	O
chose	O
to	O
resign	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
1993	O
,	O
three	O
Castlevania	B-Operating_System
games	I-Operating_System
were	O
in	O
parallel	O
development	O
,	O
which	O
included	O
Akumajō	B-Application
Dracula	I-Application
,	O
Rondo	B-Application
of	I-Application
Blood	I-Application
,	O
and	O
Bloodlines	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Directed	O
and	O
produced	O
by	O
Toru	O
Hagihara	O
,	O
Rondo	O
of	O
the	O
Blood	O
was	O
the	O
first	O
installment	O
made	O
for	O
a	O
CD-ROM	B-Device
and	O
the	O
first	O
to	O
be	O
fully	O
voiced	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Hagihara	O
would	O
go	O
on	O
to	O
direct	O
a	O
sequel	O
,	O
Symphony	B-Application
of	I-Application
the	I-Application
Night	I-Application
(	O
1997	O
)	O
for	O
the	O
PlayStation	B-Device
,	O
with	O
Koji	O
Igarashi	O
joining	O
him	O
as	O
the	O
assistant	O
director	O
and	O
story	O
writer	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Joining	O
the	O
staff	O
was	O
artist	O
Ayami	O
Kojima	O
,	O
who	O
was	O
hired	O
to	O
introduce	O
a	O
new	O
look	O
for	O
Castlevania	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
She	O
would	O
be	O
the	O
character	O
designer	O
for	O
several	O
future	O
Castlevania	B-Application
titles	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
gameplay	O
took	O
a	O
departure	O
from	O
the	O
original	O
platforming	O
entries	O
,	O
instead	O
adopting	O
nonlinear	O
exploration	O
and	O
role-playing	O
game	O
elements	O
,	O
which	O
were	O
last	O
seen	O
in	O
Simon	B-Application
's	I-Application
Quest	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
critical	O
reaction	O
to	O
Simon	B-Application
's	I-Application
Quest	I-Application
and	O
its	O
gameplay	O
allowed	O
them	O
to	O
pitch	O
Symphony	B-Application
of	I-Application
the	I-Application
Night	I-Application
to	O
Konami	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
On	O
release	O
,	O
Symphony	B-Application
of	I-Application
the	I-Application
Night	I-Application
was	O
well-received	O
and	O
became	O
a	O
sleeper	O
hit	O
,	O
but	O
its	O
commercial	O
performance	O
was	O
mediocre	O
,	O
particularly	O
in	O
the	O
United	O
States	O
where	O
it	O
was	O
meagerly	O
publicized	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
first	O
Castlevania	B-Application
game	O
to	O
feature	O
3D	O
computer	O
graphics	O
began	O
development	O
in	O
1997	O
on	O
the	O
Nintendo	B-Operating_System
64	I-Operating_System
by	O
Konami	O
Computer	O
Entertainment	O
Kobe	O
(	O
KCEK	O
)	O
as	O
Dracula	B-Application
3D	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
It	O
was	O
eventually	O
released	O
as	O
Castlevania	B-Application
in	O
1999	O
and	O
received	O
an	O
expanded	O
version	O
titled	O
Castlevania	B-Application
:	I-Application
Legacy	I-Application
of	I-Application
Darkness	I-Application
during	O
the	O
same	O
year	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
KCEK	O
's	O
last	O
Castlevania	B-Application
game	O
was	O
the	O
acclaimed	O
Circle	B-Application
of	I-Application
the	I-Application
Moon	I-Application
,	O
released	O
as	O
a	O
launch	O
title	O
for	O
the	O
Game	B-Device
Boy	I-Device
Advance	I-Device
in	O
2001	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Circle	B-Application
of	I-Application
the	I-Application
Moon	I-Application
was	O
the	O
first	O
entry	O
to	O
feature	O
Metroidvania	O
gameplay	O
since	O
Symphony	B-Application
of	I-Application
the	I-Application
Night	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Igarashi	O
,	O
who	O
was	O
not	O
involved	O
with	O
the	O
game	O
,	O
was	O
critical	O
of	O
Circle	B-Application
of	I-Application
the	I-Application
Moon	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
2002	O
,	O
he	O
retconned	O
Castlevania	B-Application
Legends	I-Application
(	O
1997	O
)	O
and	O
the	O
games	O
developed	O
by	O
KCEK	O
from	O
the	O
series	O
 '	O
chronology	O
due	O
to	O
story	O
conflicts	O
,	O
which	O
was	O
met	O
with	O
some	O
resistance	O
from	O
fans	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
After	O
KCEK	O
was	O
dissolved	O
during	O
2002	O
,	O
the	O
Game	B-Device
Boy	I-Device
Advance	I-Device
received	O
a	O
second	O
installment	O
,	O
Castlevania	B-Application
:	I-Application
Harmony	I-Application
of	I-Application
Dissonance	I-Application
,	O
now	O
produced	O
by	O
Igarashi	O
and	O
developed	O
by	O
Konami	O
Computer	O
Entertainment	O
Tokyo	O
(	O
KCET	O
)	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Starting	O
with	O
Harmony	B-Application
of	I-Application
Dissonance	I-Application
,	O
the	O
Japanese	O
games	O
adopted	O
Castlevania	B-Application
as	O
the	O
title	O
for	O
a	O
brief	O
period	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
According	O
to	O
Igarashi	O
,	O
the	O
developers	O
did	O
this	O
since	O
Count	O
Dracula	B-Application
is	O
not	O
always	O
the	O
main	O
antagonist	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
This	O
continued	O
with	O
Castlevania	B-Application
:	I-Application
Lament	I-Application
of	I-Application
Innocence	I-Application
(	O
2003	O
)	O
,	O
a	O
3D	O
title	O
developed	O
as	O
a	O
new	O
starting	O
point	O
for	O
the	O
series	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Konami	O
eventually	O
returned	O
to	O
the	O
title	O
Akumajō	B-Application
Dracula	I-Application
with	O
the	O
Japanese	O
release	O
of	O
2005	O
's	O
Castlevania	B-Application
:	I-Application
Dawn	I-Application
of	I-Application
Sorrow	I-Application
for	O
the	O
Nintendo	B-Device
DS	I-Device
.	O
</s>
<s>
Dawn	B-Application
of	I-Application
Sorrow	I-Application
and	O
Portrait	B-Application
of	I-Application
Ruin	I-Application
(	O
2006	O
)	O
introduced	O
a	O
new	O
art	O
style	O
in	O
hopes	O
of	O
broadening	O
the	O
player	O
demographic	O
and	O
preventing	O
younger	O
Nintendo	B-Device
DS	I-Device
owners	O
from	O
being	O
put	O
off	O
by	O
Ayami	O
Kojima	O
's	O
art	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
This	O
discontinued	O
with	O
Castlevania	B-Application
:	I-Application
Order	I-Application
of	I-Application
Ecclesia	I-Application
in	O
2008	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Due	O
to	O
concern	O
over	O
the	O
poor	O
sales	O
of	O
the	O
recent	O
Castlevania	B-Operating_System
games	I-Operating_System
,	O
a	O
number	O
of	O
prototypes	O
in	O
development	O
competed	O
to	O
become	O
the	O
next	O
Castlevania	B-Application
installment	O
,	O
which	O
included	O
a	O
game	O
by	O
Igarashi	O
announced	O
at	O
Tokyo	O
Game	O
Show	O
2008	O
and	O
Castlevania	B-Application
:	I-Application
Lords	I-Application
of	I-Application
Shadow	I-Application
by	O
Spanish	O
studio	O
MercurySteam	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Konami	O
told	O
MercurySteam	O
the	O
game	O
would	O
be	O
an	O
original	O
intellectual	O
property	O
(	O
IP	O
)	O
when	O
it	O
was	O
first	O
greenlit	O
as	O
a	O
Castlevania	B-Application
title	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Konami	O
eventually	O
asked	O
them	O
to	O
cease	O
work	O
on	O
Lords	B-Application
of	I-Application
Shadow	I-Application
while	O
it	O
was	O
still	O
in	O
its	O
early	O
stages	O
,	O
until	O
producer	O
David	O
Cox	O
showed	O
the	O
Japanese	O
senior	O
management	O
the	O
game	O
and	O
was	O
offered	O
help	O
by	O
video	O
game	O
designer	O
Hideo	O
Kojima	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
According	O
to	O
Igarashi	O
,	O
development	O
on	O
his	O
project	O
had	O
not	O
been	O
going	O
smoothly	O
,	O
and	O
Konami	O
had	O
canceled	O
it	O
and	O
chose	O
Lords	B-Application
of	I-Application
Shadow	I-Application
as	O
the	O
pitch	O
for	O
the	O
next	O
Castlevania	B-Application
entry	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Produced	O
by	O
Dave	O
Cox	O
and	O
Hideo	O
Kojima	O
,	O
Lords	B-Application
of	I-Application
Shadow	I-Application
was	O
a	O
multi-platform	B-Operating_System
3D	O
action-adventure	O
reboot	O
of	O
the	O
series	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
It	O
was	O
the	O
first	O
Castlevania	B-Application
to	O
feature	O
celebrity	O
voice	O
talent	O
,	O
starring	O
Robert	O
Carlyle	O
in	O
the	O
lead	O
role	O
and	O
Patrick	O
Stewart	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Lords	B-Application
of	I-Application
Shadow	I-Application
was	O
met	O
with	O
positive	O
reception	O
in	O
2010	O
and	O
a	O
commercial	O
success	O
,	O
becoming	O
the	O
best	O
selling	O
Castlevania	B-Application
game	O
to	O
date	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
It	O
was	O
followed	O
by	O
two	O
sequels	O
,	O
Mirror	B-Application
of	I-Application
Fate	I-Application
(	O
2013	O
)	O
and	O
Castlevania	B-Application
:	I-Application
Lords	I-Application
of	I-Application
Shadow	I-Application
2	I-Application
(	O
2014	O
)	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Lords	B-Application
of	I-Application
Shadow	I-Application
2	I-Application
was	O
not	O
as	O
well	O
received	O
as	O
its	O
predecessor	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
He	O
left	O
in	O
March	O
2014	O
to	O
independently	O
create	O
Bloodstained	B-Application
:	I-Application
Ritual	I-Application
of	I-Application
the	I-Application
Night	I-Application
,	O
a	O
spiritual	O
successor	O
to	O
Castlevania	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Recent	O
Castlevania	B-Application
titles	O
released	O
under	O
Konami	O
's	O
recent	O
business	O
model	O
include	O
pachinko	O
and	O
slot	O
machines	O
based	O
on	O
the	O
IP	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Castlevanias	B-Application
music	O
has	O
been	O
critically	O
acclaimed	O
and	O
released	O
on	O
many	O
albums	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
music	O
for	O
the	O
first	O
Castlevania	B-Application
game	O
was	O
composed	O
by	O
Satoe	O
Terashima	O
and	O
Kinuyo	O
Yamashita	O
,	O
of	O
Konami	O
Kukeiha	O
Club	O
of	O
composers	O
,	O
shortly	O
after	O
graduating	O
from	O
college	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Yamashita	O
was	O
credited	O
under	O
the	O
pseudonym	O
James	O
Banana	O
for	O
her	O
work	O
on	O
the	O
Disk	B-Device
System	I-Device
version	O
of	O
the	O
game	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Kenichi	O
Matsubara	O
composed	O
for	O
the	O
sequel	O
,	O
Simon	B-Application
's	I-Application
Quest	I-Application
,	O
and	O
the	O
arcade	O
installment	O
Haunted	B-Application
Castle	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
1993	O
,	O
Michiru	O
Yamane	O
created	O
the	O
soundtrack	O
to	O
Castlevania	B-Application
Bloodlines	I-Application
,	O
and	O
would	O
compose	O
the	O
music	O
for	O
several	O
installments	O
,	O
including	O
Symphony	B-Application
of	I-Application
the	I-Application
Night	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
These	O
include	O
"	O
Vampire	B-Application
Killer	I-Application
"	O
,	O
composed	O
by	O
Satoe	O
Terashima	O
,	O
,	O
first	O
composed	O
by	O
Kenichi	O
Matsubara	O
,	O
and	O
"	O
Beginning	O
"	O
by	O
Jun	O
Funahashi	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
These	O
three	O
tracks	O
first	O
appeared	O
in	O
Castlevania	B-Application
,	O
Castlevania	B-Application
II	I-Application
:	I-Application
Simon	I-Application
's	I-Application
Quest	I-Application
and	O
Castlevania	B-Application
III	I-Application
:	I-Application
Dracula	I-Application
's	I-Application
Curse	I-Application
respectively	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Several	O
songs	O
,	O
including	O
"	O
Vampire	B-Application
Killer	I-Application
"	O
and	O
"	O
Bloody	O
Tears	O
"	O
,	O
were	O
featured	O
in	O
the	O
soundtracks	O
of	O
other	O
Konami	O
games	O
,	O
including	O
Konami	B-Application
Wai	I-Application
Wai	I-Application
World	I-Application
,	O
Contra	B-Application
:	I-Application
Hard	I-Application
Corps	I-Application
,	O
and	O
Konami	B-Application
Krazy	I-Application
Racers	I-Application
,	O
and	O
inter-company	O
crossovers	O
such	O
as	O
DreamMix	B-Application
TV	I-Application
World	I-Application
Fighters	I-Application
,	O
and	O
Super	B-Application
Smash	I-Application
Bros	I-Application
.	I-Application
</s>
<s>
The	O
Castlevania	B-Application
franchise	O
had	O
sold	O
over	O
20million	O
copies	O
worldwide	O
;	O
it	O
had	O
previously	O
sold	O
over	O
units	O
by	O
1993	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
franchise	O
has	O
received	O
mostly	O
positive	O
reviews	O
,	O
with	O
the	O
most	O
acclaimed	O
game	O
being	O
Symphony	B-Application
of	I-Application
the	I-Application
Night	I-Application
for	O
the	O
PlayStation	B-Device
and	O
the	O
most	O
panned	O
being	O
Judgment	B-Application
,	O
with	O
aggregate	O
scores	O
of	O
93	O
and	O
49	O
,	O
respectively	O
,	O
on	O
Metacritic	O
and	O
93.38	O
%	O
and	O
52.71	O
%	O
,	O
respectively	O
,	O
on	O
GameRankings	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Symphony	B-Application
of	I-Application
the	I-Application
Night	I-Application
appeared	O
at	O
#16	O
on	O
IGN	O
"	O
Top	O
100	O
games	O
"	O
and	O
was	O
one	O
of	O
the	O
first	O
to	O
be	O
introduced	O
on	O
the	O
GameSpot	O
"	O
The	O
Greatest	O
Games	O
of	O
All	O
Time	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Castlevania	B-Application
III	I-Application
:	I-Application
Dracula	I-Application
's	I-Application
Curse	I-Application
was	O
named	O
the	O
9th	O
best	O
8-bit	O
game	O
by	O
GameTrailers	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Super	B-Application
Castlevania	I-Application
IV	I-Application
was	O
named	O
the	O
11th	O
best	O
game	O
of	O
the	O
SNES	B-Application
by	O
ScrewAttack	O
on	O
their	O
"	O
Top	O
20	O
SNES	B-Application
Games	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
series	O
as	O
a	O
whole	O
was	O
named	O
the	O
4th	O
best	O
franchise	O
in	O
games	O
ever	O
by	O
IGN	O
,	O
behind	O
only	O
Final	B-Application
Fantasy	I-Application
,	O
The	B-Application
Legend	I-Application
of	I-Application
Zelda	I-Application
and	O
Mario	B-Application
,	O
and	O
citing	O
Super	B-Application
Castlevania	I-Application
IV	I-Application
and	O
Symphony	B-Application
of	I-Application
the	I-Application
Night	I-Application
as	O
highlights	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Aria	B-Application
of	I-Application
Sorrow	I-Application
was	O
named	O
the	O
2nd	O
best	O
game	O
on	O
the	O
Game	B-Device
Boy	I-Device
Advance	I-Device
and	O
one	O
of	O
the	O
must	O
buys	O
for	O
the	O
system	O
,	O
according	O
to	O
the	O
same	O
website	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Castlevania	B-Application
,	O
Super	B-Application
Castlevania	I-Application
IV	I-Application
,	O
and	O
Aria	B-Application
of	I-Application
Sorrow	I-Application
appeared	O
on	O
Nintendo	O
Power	O
's	O
"	O
Top	O
200	O
Games	O
"	O
list	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
He	O
was	O
a	O
member	O
of	O
the	O
N-Team	O
,	O
a	O
group	O
of	O
mostly	O
video	O
game	O
characters	O
who	O
defended	O
Videoland	O
against	O
the	O
antagonist	O
Mother	O
Brain	O
from	O
Metroid	B-Device
.	O
</s>
<s>
Dracula	B-Application
,	O
referred	O
to	O
only	O
as	O
"	O
the	O
Count	O
"	O
,	O
appeared	O
as	O
a	O
villain	O
in	O
Captain	O
N	O
.	O
Alucard	O
appeared	O
in	O
one	O
episode	O
,	O
though	O
he	O
was	O
portrayed	O
as	O
a	O
rebellious	O
skateboarding	O
teenager	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Several	O
other	O
Castlevania	B-Application
monsters	O
had	O
minor	O
roles	O
,	O
including	O
Frankenstein	B-Application
's	I-Application
Monster	I-Application
,	O
the	O
Mummy	O
,	O
the	O
Wolf	O
Man	O
,	O
and	O
the	O
Skull	O
Knight	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
2005	O
,	O
IDW	O
Publishing	O
released	O
a	O
comic	O
book	O
adaptation	O
,	O
Castlevania	B-Application
:	O
The	O
Belmont	O
Legacy	O
,	O
written	O
by	O
Marc	O
Andreyko	O
with	O
art	O
by	O
E	O
.	O
J	O
.	O
Su	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
It	O
was	O
based	O
on	O
Castlevania	B-Application
:	I-Application
The	I-Application
Adventure	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
2008	O
,	O
a	O
graphic	O
novel	O
adaption	O
of	O
Curse	B-Application
of	I-Application
Darkness	I-Application
was	O
released	O
by	O
Tokyopop	O
in	O
English	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
streaming	O
service	O
Netflix	O
released	O
an	O
American	O
animated	O
series	O
titled	O
Castlevania	B-Application
as	O
part	O
of	O
its	O
original	O
programming	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
show	O
is	O
being	O
showrun	O
by	O
Adi	O
Shankar	O
,	O
who	O
had	O
previously	O
teased	O
plans	O
for	O
an	O
animated	O
mini-series	O
based	O
on	O
Castlevania	B-Application
III	I-Application
:	I-Application
Dracula	I-Application
's	I-Application
Curse	I-Application
in	O
2015	O
,	O
and	O
is	O
written	O
by	O
Warren	O
Ellis	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
By	O
the	O
time	O
the	O
second	O
season	O
became	O
available	O
in	O
2018	O
,	O
Castlevania	B-Application
had	O
reportedly	O
garnered	O
nearly	O
viewers	O
worldwide	O
according	O
to	O
Netflix	O
analytics	O
,	O
becoming	O
one	O
of	O
the	O
most	O
successful	O
original	O
animated	O
shows	O
on	O
Netflix	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
fourth	O
and	O
final	O
season	O
was	O
released	O
on	O
May	O
13	O
,	O
2021	O
,	O
and	O
a	O
new	O
series	O
set	O
in	O
the	O
Castlevania	B-Application
universe	O
is	O
in	O
the	O
works	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
franchise	O
has	O
its	O
own	O
toy	O
line	O
manufactured	O
by	O
NECA	O
which	O
consists	O
of	O
six	O
figures	O
of	O
Simon	O
Belmont	O
,	O
Alucard	O
,	O
Dracula	B-Application
(	O
available	O
in	O
two	O
variants	O
with	O
one	O
variant	O
with	O
its	O
mouth	O
closed	O
and	O
another	O
one	O
with	O
its	O
mouth	O
open	O
showing	O
Dracula	B-Application
's	O
vampire	O
fangs	O
)	O
,	O
Succubus	O
and	O
a	O
Pixel	O
Simon	O
mini	O
figure	O
which	O
was	O
exclusively	O
available	O
as	O
a	O
promotional	O
item	O
at	O
Comic-Con	O
2007	O
where	O
the	O
figures	O
were	O
first	O
shown	O
in	O
full	O
form	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
franchise	O
consists	O
of	O
a	O
calendar	O
of	O
Lament	B-Application
of	I-Application
Innocence	I-Application
available	O
with	O
the	O
limited	O
edition	O
of	O
the	O
game	O
and	O
containing	O
seven	O
illustrations	O
and	O
another	O
released	O
as	O
a	O
promotion	O
for	O
Castlevania	B-Application
Judgment	I-Application
from	O
April	O
2009	O
to	O
March	O
2010	O
containing	O
images	O
of	O
various	O
Castlevania	B-Application
characters	O
from	O
the	O
game	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
franchise	O
includes	O
comics	O
,	O
prize	O
collection	O
artworks	O
of	O
Symphony	B-Application
of	I-Application
the	I-Application
Night	I-Application
and	O
Judgment	B-Application
as	O
part	O
of	O
its	O
print	O
media	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
A	O
Castlevania	B-Application
television	O
series	O
was	O
considered	O
in	O
the	O
late	O
1980s	O
as	O
part	O
of	O
the	O
Super	B-Application
Mario	I-Application
Bros	I-Application
.	I-Application
Power	O
Hour	O
,	O
a	O
one	O
hour	O
animation	O
block	O
of	O
Nintendo	O
focused	O
video	O
game	O
adaptations	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Only	O
the	O
Mario	B-Application
and	O
The	B-Application
Legend	I-Application
of	I-Application
Zelda	I-Application
segments	O
for	O
the	O
block	O
were	O
ultimately	O
produced	O
,	O
airing	O
in	O
1989	O
as	O
part	O
of	O
The	O
Super	B-Application
Mario	I-Application
Bros	I-Application
.	I-Application
Super	O
Show	O
!	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
A	O
Castlevania	B-Application
film	O
was	O
planned	O
in	O
the	O
late	O
2000s	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
However	O
,	O
in	O
December	O
2007	O
,	O
Rogue	O
Pictures	O
halted	O
active	O
development	O
of	O
Castlevania	B-Application
due	O
to	O
the	O
writers	O
 '	O
strike	O
and	O
,	O
later	O
,	O
the	O
sale	O
of	O
the	O
studio	O
to	O
Relativity	O
Media	O
and	O
possibility	O
of	O
a	O
screen	O
actors	O
 '	O
guild	O
strike	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
On	O
May	O
27	O
,	O
2009	O
,	O
the	O
Castlevania	B-Application
film	O
was	O
reported	O
as	O
officially	O
canceled	O
.	O
</s>
