Board 8's Top 20 NES Games - The Results

#9. Castlevania III: Dracula's Curse (1989)
Total Points: 35
List Appearances: 14
First-Place Votes: 0
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Write-up provided by Snake5555555555
Though I do find Castlevania 1 more nostalgic, Castlevania 3 was admittedly an ambitious improvement in every way. Multiple playable characters with unique abilities (especially the introduction of Alucard) was a fun way to shake up the formula and add depth and strategy to an already compelling gameplay loop. Dracula's Curse offered a more open-ended experience. Levels branched out even more than before, with increased enemy density and occassionally unforgiving design; it was frustrating, but accomplishing. The exploration-heavy level design also hinted at the Metroidvania style the series would adopt. Also improved were the character sprites and backgrounds, doubling down on the Gothic horror aesthetic. It's one of the best games in the franchise even to this day and yet another NES essential.