I've only played through the FDS version, however it is a very tight experience for the Castlevania series. Innovating a lot for the normal formula with the inclusion of semi-nonlinear pathways and multiple playable characters. However it suffers from localization changes to enemy damage property changes to layout changes and even certain subweapons being just outclassed by Holy Water. Oh and it has a lot more stupid traps than Castlevania (NES). Regardless of these bullshit moments, it still has a lovable soundtrack and a lot of various ways to play it. Even brought us Alucard; a very popular series veteran. If you want something even more stupidly hard of the CV games, this is your game. Especially if you play the US version where they add enemies in a late game stage that didn't exist in FDS.