Of the NES classics, and like many of them Castlevania is a bit of a struggle for the modern gamer. Not just because it's unrelentingly tough - although it is - but because it's a showcase of some the NES era's most frustrating ways of making a game hard. That said, it remains a game with amazing atmosphere; the visuals are outstanding and help construct the Hammer horror vibes brilliantly, and the music is stunning. I enjoyed Simon Belmont's quest (no not that one) a lot, but it's one I'd hesitate to recommend unless you've got the time and patience to deal with it.