Re-release Information

1997: It's re-released in Japan as part of Konami Classics, for the regular Game Boy, and the compilation features Super Game Boy utilization
1999: It's re-released in Europe as part of Konami Game Boy Collection Vol. 1 for the Game Boy Color, with new four-color schemes added to the entire game

Manual Story Description

SHEER TERROR AT HAND
     To confront the death defying Count, insert the cartridge into the Game Boy, and then click on the Power Switch. When KONAMI appears on the screen, press the Start Button.
     Now you're in the misty midst of Dracula's less than welcoming lair. There's no place to hide. No place to run. The only direction you can go is "dead" ahead into the darkness that is Castlevania.
     With the taste for sweet revenge on the tips of his fangs, the blood thirsty prince of darkness hungers for a succulent delicacy--and your throat is definitely on his menu. But before you reach this host of horrors, you must risk your neck against multitudes of unearthly evils that lurk around every corner.
     All told, there are 4 levels of dark dungeons, torture chambers and vampire crypts. At the "dead" end of each, you'll find a Primary Evil who's waiting to terrorize you. Before proceeding to the next level, you must crush and demoralize (not that it has a lot of morals to speak of) this beast.
     At the end of the fourth level, you'll enter the "dead" of night, where you'll come toe to toe, eyeball to eyeball with everyone's favorite blood sucker--Count Dracula. And it's here that you'll either vanquish his midnight powers forever, or be initiated into his vampire corps.
     Your sole means of protection are your Mystic Whip and mindful wits, which will lead you through Drac's menacing maze. Along the way, be sure to light the candles with the tip of your whip. It's a sure fire way to unleash life sustaining items such as hearts, crystals and crosses of gold.
     You'll begin your quest with three lives to spare. At 10,000 points you'll receive a bonus life. For every 20,000 points thereafter, you'll be granted another reincarnation.
     Note: There's a time limit in each stage. And if you fail to destroy the Primary Evil or Count Dracula before it expires, you'll expire.

Objective/Overview

Castlevania: The Adventure was the first series' title available for the classic Game Boy. When it arrived for play on the system, it did so without a defining storyline. It was originally intended to be another adventure for the popular Simon Belmont, but when it came time to produce a direct sequel, it was the perfect opportunity for Konami to change its mind and instead designate the Game Boy titles as their own mini-series with their own hero. Thus, its hero character would much later be coined "Christopher Belmont."

Due to the Game Boy's limitations, Adventure presents more or less a watered-down version of the series' classic style of play: You'll take control of Christopher and guide him through four stages of torture (and I don't mean the variety inflicted by the enemies). With only the famed Vampire Killer whip in his possession, Christopher must encounter and defeat the four stage bosses, the final of which is the ever-present main villain, Count Dracula. In terms of mechanics, any perceived changes to the formula are superficial at best. For example: Because there are no sub-weapons, there are two types of hearts that instead act as energy restores.

Japanese/European Differences

In Japan, Castlevania: The Adventure was re-released all the same as part of the Konami Classics series, which were compilations of Konami's early Game Boy efforts stuffed into one cart (other titles include Contra, Gradius and Konami Racing). The only new element afforded to the re-releases is the picture frame available when playing the game using a Super Game Boy. Both the original and the re-released Japanese versions remain unchanged from the western version in terms of mechanics. The only notable change is something we expect: Christopher's last name is instead "Belmondo," the usual slight deviation. Most interesting is an item not related to actual gameplay: The manual, which unlike the western-localized version speaks of the true chronology, which rightfully has Christopher placed 100 years before Simon (misinformation in the localized Dracula's Curse manual has Trevor placed 100 years before Simon when it's not true--Trevor in series canon precedes even Christopher).

In Europe, the game was re-released as part of its own Konami Game Boy Collection series (it entails the additional titles mentioned above), which found its home on the newer Game Boy Color. The draw is that each stage area is supplied its own look thanks to four-color schemes. There are no resulting gameplay changes.

Soundtrack and Credits

Soundtrack
Opening and Ending Themes: 1 - Welcome to Hell | 2 - Theme of Legend of Dracula | 3 - Reprise
Stage Themes: 1 - Battle of the Holy | 2 - Darkness | 3 - Death Fair | 4 - Revenge
Battle Themes: 1 - Kill! Kill! Kill! | 2 - Evil Devil | 3 - Gate to Hell
Miscellaneous Themes: 1 - Stage Clear | 2 - Death | 3 - Game Over

Links
Music Files: MP3 and MIDI
Soundtrack Release: Dracula Battle Perfect Selection Vol. 2, Akumajou Dracula MIDI Collection and Castlevania Best Music Collections Box
Game Credits: Available

Other Characters

Lesser Enemies: Mad Man, Goblin, Punaguchi, Vampire Bat, Raven, Rolling Eye, She-Worm, Knight and Zeldo
Bosses: Gobanz, Undermole and Death Bat
Dracula Forms: Dracula and Bat Dracula
Supporting Cast: No supporting players

Character Lists

Lesser Enemies | Bosses | Dracula Forms