Product Description

The legacy of Castlevania: Circle of the Moon explodes on the Game Boy Advance as the evil Dracula reigns supreme... unless he's stopped. Players will use an arsenal of weapons including whips and magic items to combat the Count of Darkness and destroy his minions of evil. Additionally, in-game action cards and attribute cards can be combined to create over 80 unique spells ranging from fire whips to ice blizzards. There are also summon attacks and sub weapons to choose from as the player progresses through Dracula's vast castle. Featuring super clean graphics, addictive game play and innovative features, Castlevania will delight new and old fans of this classic franchise.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #2290 in Computer & Video Games
• Brand: Konami
• Released on: 2001-06-15
• Rating: To Be Announced
• ESRB Rating: Teen
• Platform: Game Boy Advance
• Original language: Japanese
• Subtitled in: English
• Dimensions: .33 pounds

Amazon.co.uk Review
One of the best side-scrolling game franchises makes a successful debut on the Game Boy Advance in Castlevania: Circle of the Moon; this time around you follow the adventures of Nathan Graves as he attempts to stop the recently resurrected Dracula. In the fine tradition of Castlevania vampire hunters, Graves carries a whip as his primary weapon, and will soon discover the traditional secondary weapons of holy water, dagger, boomerang, time freeze, and more. New to the series is the dual set-up system (DSS), which allows you to use 20 cards (randomly found) for up to 80 power-ups.

The game plays like a side-scrolling classic without seeming too dated. Players traipse around a non-linear dungeon, defeat monsters, and unlock new parts of the dungeon, often through the use of new abilities. It's similar to the excellent Castlevania: Symphony of the Night for the PlayStation, with the obvious aural limitations of a cartridge-based handheld system.

Unfortunately, the game's dark graphics are difficult to see on the Game Boy Advance's fickle screen. Long sessions require consistent overhead lighting, so this isn't the ideal game for travel. The animations are also lacking, making character movement appear jerky. Despite these graphical shortcomings, though, this side-scrolling wonder will make a fine addition to your GBA library. --Raymond M. Padilla

Customer Reviews

Robust and satisfying.
There's something charming about Circle of the Moon. Beneath the game's simple, but effective graphics (which are best appreciated on a GBA SP, Gameboy Player, or with a miner's lamp attached to your head), beats the heart of a game so lovingly retro, it's hard to hate.

Combat is basic- jumping, attacking, dodging, and using sub-weapons will be familiar to fans of the series, and will be picked up within five minutes by newcomers. Level design is also simple, with treks off to the bosses cleverly concealed by the Metroid-style ability gathering. A close look at the game reveals a series of corridoors ending in boss battles, short story segments, and new abilities; repetitive? Surprisingly, no.

The sheer skill in balancing the game ensures that it never becomes dull or monotonous; new areas open up just when the game threatens to become familiar, with pleasing puzzles offered up to test your new skills. The magic system offers a nice diversion from the main quest, and a reason to return after Dracula has been dealt with. Indeed, finding a new card and the various magic effects it gives is the main thing that drives you on.

A special mention has to go to the music, which is arguably the best on the GBA, and provides (some) compensation for the basic graphics.

Highly reccomended.

Very good game.
I played this game and completed it many many times on my GBA. I enjoy playing this game because it's something different than most of the similar games out today in the market. It's difficulty is the example for this. You have to master each level or room to upgrade your skills to survive the game to the end.

It look's pretty hard if you're new to Castlevania games but once you get used to it it and know how you can proceed to higher difficult levels and bosses it then becomes pretty enjoying.

To me it's a must have game for GBA owners who like these kind of games. I enjoyed it and still do. Now I'm waiting for Castlevania Down of Sorrow for my Nintendo DS.

Castlevania Review
The game is set in the heart of a castle on the outskirts of the austrian border.your job is to solve puzzles and and fight evil minions of dracula like over-grown were wolves and bears.the graphics are excellent and the levels are challenging and fun.the booses are very challenging and there are many items to collect-u can collect magic items and dss cards to make special weapon combinations to fight the bad guys.there are alot of things to do and i never lost interest.and i never got bored this is an extremely exciting and intriguing game with all the medieval monster and you can even battle cerburus the creature that guarded the gates to hell.there are many enemys and the interest never stops .the different zones and mazes of levels are fun to work out along with the puzzles.

Mushroom.