Hi, I would like some advice on wether or not I should invest time and money in the Castlevania series, from what I'v read its a very good series with very good games, but is it for me? What is the series high point? The worst in the series? The general feel of the games? How hard are the games? What game should I get first?

I have never played a Castlevania game but it is an interesting series here is a list of the games I am considering to get from the series.

• Castlevania (Nintendo Entertainment System)
• Castlevania II: Simon's Quest (Nintendo Entertainment System)
• Castlevania III: Dracula's Curse (Nintendo Entertainment System)
• The Castlevania Adventure (Game Boy)
• Castlevania II: Belmont's Revenge (Game Boy)
• Castlevania Legends (Game Boy)
• Super Castlevania IV (Super Nintendo Entertainment System)
• Castlevania: Dracula X (Super Nintendo Entertainment System)
• Castlevania (Nintendo 64)
• Castlevania: Legacy Of Darkness (Nintendo 64)
• Castlevania: Circle Of The Moon (Game Boy Advance)
• Castlevania: Harmony Of Dissonance (Game Boy Advance)
• Castlevania: Aria Of Sorrow (Game Boy Advance)
• Castlevania: Dawn Of Sorrow (Nintendo DS)
• Castlevania: Portrait Of Ruin (Nintendo DS)
• Castlevania: Order Of Ecclesia - Not Yet Released (Nintendo DS)
  

Thanks for your help.

Symphony of the Night is the high point of the series and the 3D ones are considered the low points. The pre-SoTN games are quite difficult while the post SoTN games aren't too easy or too hard. The series has a gothic tone throughout the series.  Try Symphony of the Night first.

i dont have a cosole where that game is available

Well then, play the GBA and DS games then

If u decide to play SoTN first, I suggest u don't go pre-SoTN. U will be spoiled with SoTN's gameplay. So I say u should start with Super Castlevania IV or Dracula X, and if u ever get bored/tired with the series, THEN go to SoTN. It's like a breath of fresh air.

If you can appreciate very old gameplay mechanics, like very rigged jumping in a platformer, start with Castlevania and Castlevania II: Simon's Quest. Skip Castlevania III. Move onto Super Castlevania IV and Dracula X as both have more evolved control mechanics.

Next find a way to play Symphony of the Night. I'm not kidding. It's the definitive Castlevania, and if you have any interest in the Pre-Prime Metroid series, you'll definitely adore it. Even if it's a matter of you playing a ROM over an emulator on your comp, just get this game somehow. I can't recommend it highly enough.

Lastly, move onto the GBA and then DS games. Skip all N64 and PS2 Castlevania's.

The series is very good.

Symphony of the Night and Super Castlevania IV are the best games. The DS ones are very good too.

The NES ones are a bit dated and Mega Man-like hard, but definitely worth a try.

I thoight the N64 one (Castlevania) was good, but I was like 8 back then.......

Thanks anyone, Ilm leaning towards Castlevania for the NES as my 1st choice, mostly because I'm running out of new games for my NES.

I see alot of you have recommended Symphony Of The Night, but I dont have any consoles that can play that game, as for emulating, if its great for its controls wouldent using a keyboard take some of that away?

Thanks again and keep the input coming.

Well if you sign up for the freebie version of GameTap you can play Castlevania I-III no charge on your computer. Should give you a general idea of how it would handle on a keyboard since the later Metroid-vania style games used the extras buttons for more passive things like transformations or different weapon hands.

I'm sure I'm in the minority, but I'm partial to Portrait of Ruin of the three Metroid-vania I've played.