My 1st impressions after beating Castlevania. The first Castlevania is still the best and hardest Castlevania.
See Castlevania has this wonderful system of challenging you throughout the whole game. It never really stops testing you, and you always have to be on your toes and sharp as a whip. The fact the game bases everything on the direction you're going through is amazing, and really something more developers should focus on. It's just one of those games that give out tough love, it's not trying to sugarcoat anything for you, and that's what makes it so fun. I tried as hard as I could, but when I failed the game simply said try again. Sure I was mad, but it still gives you the tools to get things done in the end. The way to the reaper, and the way to Dracula are paved with everything you need to take them down, so even if you die, you still have the tools available to you. So you still have to earn everything you do, but you fill so much more enjoyment when you actually beat it. For this reason, I say the first Castlevania game is the best I have ever played. It's not just the monster lore, the catchy music or the visuals, but the game design itself. It's rewarding, challenging, and that's what makes it fun.
Conclusion:
Castlevania has everything going for it, and you can see the love the designers put into it. The visuals, music, enemies, power-ups, everything about it is just top notch. But what truly makes this game shine is the challenge it provides, it's never too difficult to get past, but just enough to always keep you on edge.