Skip to main content
Join The Community
- Join our community
11
Premium Benefits
24/7
Access Available
21K+
Active Members
Commenting
Join the discussion
Exclusive Articles Coming Soon
Member-only articles
Weekly Newsletters
Weekly gaming & entertainment news
Member Badges
Earn badges as you go
Exclusive Competitions
Members-only prize draws
Curated Deals Coming Soon
Tech and gaming deals worth grabbing
GET COMMUNITY ACCESS QUICK
For the quickest way to join, simply enter your email below and get access. We will send a confirmation and sign you up to our newsletter to keep you updated on all your gaming news.
By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.
FIND OUT ABOUT OUR MAGAZINE
Want to subscribe to the magazine? Click the button below to find out more information.
Find out more
GET Community ACCESS QUICK

Join the GamesRadar community for quick access. Enter your email below and we'll send confirmation, and sign you up to our newsletter.

By submitting your information, you confirm you are aged 16 or over, have read our Privacy Policy and agree to the Terms & Conditions. Geographical rules apply.

Background
Welcome to GamesRADAR+ Community !
Hi ,

Your membership journey starts here.

Keep exploring and earning more as a member.

MY ACCOUNT

Badge picture
Earn your first badge
Read 1 article to unlock your first badge.
Keep earning badges
Explore ways to get more involved as a member.
Latest Games News

Latest Games News

Breaking gaming news and updates

Read Now
Latest Games Reviews

Latest Games Reviews

Expert verdicts on the newest releases

Read Now

See what you’ve unlocked.

Explore your membership benefits.

Explore
Member Exclusives

Stay Ahead with GamesRadar+

Get the biggest gaming news, reviews, and releases straight to your inbox.

Explore

Sign Out
GamesRadar+ GamesRadar+
US EditionUS CA EditionCanada UK EditionUK AU EditionAustralia
Sign in
  • View Profile
  • Sign out
  • Games
    • Game Insights
      • Games News
      • Games Features
      • Games Reviews
      • Games Guides
      • Big in 2026
      • Big Preview
      • Future Games Show
      • Golden Joystick Awards
    • Genres
      • Action Games
      • RPGs
      • Action RPGs
      • Adventure Games
      • Third Person Shooters
      • FPS Games
    • Platforms
      • PS5
      • Xbox Series X
      • PC
      • Nintendo Switch
      • Nintendo Switch 2
      • Tabletop Gaming
    • Franchises
      • Grand Theft Auto
      • Pokemon
      • Assassin's Creed
      • Monster Hunter
      • Fortnite
      • Cyberpunk
      • Red Dead
      • The Elder Scrolls
      • The Sims
  • Entertainment
    • TV Shows
      • TV News
      • TV Reviews
      • Anime Shows
      • Sci-Fi Shows
      • Superhero Shows
      • Animated Shows
      • Marvel TV Shows
      • Star Wars TV Shows
      • DC TV Shows
    • Movies
      • Movie News
      • Movie Reviews
      • Big Screen Spotlight
      • Superhero Movies
      • Action Movies
      • Anime Movies
      • Sci-Fi Movies
      • Horror Movies
      • Marvel Movies
      • DC Movies
    • Streaming
      • Apple TV Plus
      • Disney Plus
      • Netflix
      • HBO
      • Amazon Prime Video
      • Hulu
    • Comics
      • Marvel Comics
      • DC Comics
  • Hardware
    • Insights
      • Hardware News
      • Hardware Reviews
      • Hardware Features
      • Buying Guides
    • Computing
      • Desktop PCs
      • Laptops
      • Handhelds
    • Peripherals
      • Headsets & Headphones
      • TVs & Monitors
      • Gaming Mice
      • Gaming Keyboards
      • Gaming Chairs
      • Speakers & Audio
    • Accessories & Tech
      • Gaming Controllers
      • Tech
      • SSDs & Hard Drives
      • VR
      • Accessories
      • Retro
  • Deals
    • Toys & Collectibles
    • Lego
    • Dungeons and Dragons
    • Merch
  • Video
    • Video
    • GR+ Replay - Submit Your Clips
  • Newsletters
    • Quizzes
    • About Us
    • How to pitch to us
    • How we score
    • Newsarama
    • Retro Gamer
  • Home
  • Games
    • View Games
      • Games News
      • Games Features
      • Games Reviews
      • Games Guides
      • Big in 2026
      • Big Preview
      • Future Games Show
      • Golden Joystick Awards
      • Action Games
      • RPGs
      • Action RPGs
      • Adventure Games
      • Third Person Shooters
      • FPS Games
    • Platforms
      • View Platforms
      • PS5
      • Xbox Series X
      • PC
      • Nintendo Switch
      • Nintendo Switch 2
      • Tabletop Gaming
      • Grand Theft Auto
      • Pokemon
      • Assassin's Creed
      • Monster Hunter
      • Fortnite
      • Cyberpunk
      • Red Dead
      • The Elder Scrolls
      • The Sims
  • Entertainment
    • View Entertainment
    • TV Shows
      • View TV Shows
      • TV News
      • TV Reviews
      • Anime Shows
      • Sci-Fi Shows
      • Superhero Shows
      • Animated Shows
      • Marvel TV Shows
      • Star Wars TV Shows
      • DC TV Shows
    • Movies
      • View Movies
      • Movie News
      • Movie Reviews
      • Big Screen Spotlight
      • Superhero Movies
      • Action Movies
      • Anime Movies
      • Sci-Fi Movies
      • Horror Movies
      • Marvel Movies
      • DC Movies
    • Streaming
      • View Streaming
      • Apple TV Plus
      • Disney Plus
      • Netflix
      • HBO
      • Amazon Prime Video
      • Hulu
    • Comics
      • View Comics
      • Marvel Comics
      • DC Comics
  • Hardware
    • View Hardware
      • Hardware News
      • Hardware Reviews
      • Hardware Features
      • Buying Guides
      • Desktop PCs
      • Laptops
      • Handhelds
    • Peripherals
      • View Peripherals
      • Headsets & Headphones
      • TVs & Monitors
      • Gaming Mice
      • Gaming Keyboards
      • Gaming Chairs
      • Speakers & Audio
      • Gaming Controllers
      • Tech
      • SSDs & Hard Drives
      • VR
      • Accessories
      • Retro
  • Deals
    • Toys & Collectibles
    • Lego
    • Dungeons and Dragons
    • Merch
  • Video
    • View Video
    • Video
    • GR+ Replay - Submit Your Clips
  • Newsletters
    • Quizzes
    • About Us
    • How to pitch to us
    • How we score
    • Newsarama
    • Retro Gamer
Trending
  • Prime Day deals live
  • GTA 6 pre-orders live this week
  • GTA 6 cover art revealed
  • Summer Preview
  • Best gaming tech
  • New Games 2026
  • Submit your clips. Win prizes
Sign up to the GamesRadar+ Newsletter

Weekly digests, tales from the communities you love, and more


By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

You are now subscribed

Your newsletter sign-up was successful


Want to add more newsletters?

GamesRadar+

Every Friday

GamesRadar+

Your weekly update on everything you could ever want to know about the games you already love, games we know you're going to love in the near future, and tales from the communities that surround them.

GTA 6 O'clock

Every Thursday

GTA 6 O'clock

Our special GTA 6 newsletter, with breaking news, insider info, and rumor analysis from the award-winning GTA 6 O'clock experts.

Knowledge

Every Friday

Knowledge

From the creators of Edge: A weekly videogame industry newsletter with analysis from expert writers, guidance from professionals, and insight into what's on the horizon.

The Setup

Every Thursday

The Setup

Hardware nerds unite, sign up to our free tech newsletter for a weekly digest of the hottest new tech, the latest gadgets on the test bench, and much more.

Switch 2 Spotlight

Every Wednesday

Switch 2 Spotlight

Sign up to our new Switch 2 newsletter, where we bring you the latest talking points on Nintendo's new console each week, bring you up to date on the news, and recommend what games to play.

The Watchlist

Every Saturday

The Watchlist

Subscribe for a weekly digest of the movie and TV news that matters, direct to your inbox. From first-look trailers, interviews, reviews and explainers, we've got you covered.

SFX

Once a month

SFX

Get sneak previews, exclusive competitions and details of special events each month!


Join the club

Get full access to premium articles, exclusive features and a growing list of member rewards.


An account already exists for this email address, please log in.
  1. Games
  2. Action Games

Castlevania graphics then & now: Skeletons, Belmonts, and more

Features
By Jason Fanelli published 24 February 2014

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

A trip down a bloody memory lane

A trip down a bloody memory lane

Castlevania has been haunting our game collections for a long time. Back in 1986, the first Castlevania made us journey through a dark world of monsters and mayhem, throwing everything from Frankenstein's Monster to mummies to the Grim Reaper at us before revealing the true architect of the malevolent test: Dracula himself. Its addicting gameplay and hair-pulling difficulity kept us coming back for more.

With Lords of Shadow 2 ready to creep us out again, I thought I would take a look back at the sights of the famed franchise, from the monsters we fought to the heroes we controlled. There's a lot of common threads strewn about the many games in the series, so why not take a look at what we've been doing all this time?

Page 1 of 13
Page 1 of 13
Outside of the Castle (Super Castlevania IV / Lords of Shadow)

Outside of the Castle (Super Castlevania IV / Lords of Shadow)

Page 2 of 13
Page 2 of 13
Bat (Castlevania 1 / Lords of Shadow)

Bat (Castlevania 1 / Lords of Shadow)

Page 3 of 13
Page 3 of 13
Knight (Castlevania 1 / Lords of Shadow)

Knight (Castlevania 1 / Lords of Shadow)

Page 4 of 13
Page 4 of 13
Medusa (Super Castlevania IV / Lords of Shadow 2)

Medusa (Super Castlevania IV / Lords of Shadow 2)

Page 5 of 13
Page 5 of 13
Sea Creature (Castlevania II: Simon's Quest / Mirror of Fate)

Sea Creature (Castlevania II: Simon's Quest / Mirror of Fate)

Page 6 of 13
Page 6 of 13
Werewolf (Castlevania II: Simon's Quest / Lords of Shadow)

Werewolf (Castlevania II: Simon's Quest / Lords of Shadow)

Page 7 of 13
Page 7 of 13
Skeleton (Castlevania II: Simon's Quest / Mirror of Fate)

Skeleton (Castlevania II: Simon's Quest / Mirror of Fate)

Page 8 of 13
Page 8 of 13
Death (Castlevania I / Lords of Shadow)

Death (Castlevania I / Lords of Shadow)

Page 9 of 13
Page 9 of 13
Simon Belmont (Castlevania II: Simon's Quest / Mirror of Fate)

Simon Belmont (Castlevania II: Simon's Quest / Mirror of Fate)

Page 10 of 13
Page 10 of 13
Alucard (Symphony of the Night / Lords of Shadow 2)

Alucard (Symphony of the Night / Lords of Shadow 2)

Page 11 of 13
Page 11 of 13
Dracula (Castlevania I / Lords of Shadow 2)

Dracula (Castlevania I / Lords of Shadow 2)

Page 12 of 13
Page 12 of 13
It's been a graveyard smash

It's been a graveyard smash

Werewolves and skeletons and bats, oh my! We've dealt with a lot throughout the years, and it's time to dive right back in again with Lords of Shadow 2. What? You're confused as to why we didn't use any images from Castlevania Judgment? Let's... let's not talk about that game, alright? Who's ready for more ghoulish glee?

For more Castlevania, check out the handy guide to Castlevania: Lords of Shadow 2's plotline and 16 deliciously dark things we did in the first four hours of Lords of Shadow 2.

Page 13 of 13
Page 13 of 13
CATEGORIES
Android iPad iPhone PC Gaming Wii U Nintendo PlayStation PS4 Xbox Xbox One Platforms Mobile Gaming
PRODUCTS
Castlevania: Lords of Shadow 2 Castlevania: Lords of Shadow
Jason Fanelli
WHY HELLO THERE! Name's Jason, hailing from right outside Philadelphia. I've been playing the vidya games for well over 20 years, starting with the NES and making my way all the way up to the Wii U. My mother tells people that I taught myself to read at age 3 using Wheel of Fortune Family Edition on the NES. I'm the type of guy that will try anything once, but I do have a few favorite genres, fighting and RPG being at the top. I've been writing about video games since I finished my Broadcast Journalism degree at Temple University in December 2008, mostly for www.gamernode.com. Since then I've been to three E3s, two New York Comic Cons, the first ever PAX East, and many more to come (I hope). I hope everyone enjoys my stuff as much as I love producing it. Hit me up on Twitter @bigmanfanelli, I love talking games with anyone and everyone.
  • Facebook
  • X
  • Pinterest
  • Flipboard
  • Email
Share this article
Join the conversation
Follow us
Add us as a preferred source on Google
Subscribe to our newsletter
Read more
Castlevania: Belmont's Curse
Action Games Castlevania: Belmont's Curse gets October release date from Konami, right on time for Halloween
 
 
Castlevania: Belmont's Curse gameplay showing the protagonist running through 15th century Paris
Action Games French studio reviving Castlevania follows Clair Obscur's lead: "We were arrogant enough to set the game in France"
 
 
Castlevania: Belmont's Curse
Action Games Castlevania: Belmont's Curse exists because Konami loved Evil Empire's Dead Cells crossover pitch
 
 
Vampire Crawlers screenshots taken on Nintendo Switch, showing card-based roguelite gameplay
Roguelike Games Vampire Survivors meets first-person deckbuilding in my new handheld obsession
 
 
Hollow Knight: Silksong
Action Games The 25 best Metroidvania games you can play in 2026
 
 
Screenshots of The Witcher 2 on PC
The Witcher The Witcher 2 never made the jump to PlayStation, and I feel bad for those who've never played it
 
 
Latest in Action Games
GTA San Andreas
Grand Theft Auto Valve passed on a chill game pitched as "the opposite" of GTA San Andreas, Journey creator says
 
 
Faye looks off into the distance in God of War Laufey.
God of War God of War Laufey star Deborah Ann Woll has known about the game for "nearly 10 years"
 
 
Assassin's Creed Shadows cinematic screenshot
Assassin's Creed Assassin's Creed Shadows final update sets up a new story for its protagonists
 
 
Two GTA 6 characters gasp at a phone screen
Grand Theft Auto GTA 6 trailer 3 hopes soar as YouTube teases it's going to be "busy" on pre-order day
 
 
God of War Laufey
God of War God of War Laufey proves women are gaining ground in gaming and I'm glad Kratos is benched for now
 
 
Grand Theft Auto 6 (GTA 6) screenshot showing protagonists Jason and Lucia lying on a bed together
Grand Theft Auto Rumored GTA 6 pre-order prices are "just placeholders," reliable leaker claims
 
 
Latest in Features
ILL Summer Preview 2026
Horror Games IT: Welcome to Derry artist's new Resident Evil-like horror game is "a cinematic experience" with no zombies in sight
 
 
God of War Laufey
God of War God of War Laufey proves women are gaining ground in gaming and I'm glad Kratos is benched for now
 
 
Grounded 2 Into the Abyss screenshot
Survival Games Grounded 2 interview: Obsidian's Chris Parker talks Into the Abyss, PS5 release, and a roadmap for future updates
 
 
Fallout 76 Screenshot
Fallout Fallout 76 interview: Bethesda talks Infestations and the impact of the Fallout TV show on its shared-world RPG
 
 
Claire Redfield is grabbed from behind in Resident Evil Veronica by a figure in a gas mask, with the orange GamesRadar+ Summer Preview 2026 frame
Resident Evil I'm glad Resident Evil Veronica will have a "reimagined story" – remakes need reinvention to survive
 
 
Steven Toussaint as Lord Corlys in House of the Dragon season 3
Fantasy Shows House of the Dragon season 3 episode 1 recap and Easter eggs: Who dies during the Battle of the Gullet?
 
 
LATEST ARTICLES
  1. Task Bar Hero pet bat
    1
    How to unlock all Task Bar Hero Pets
  2. 2
    God of War Laufey star Deborah Ann Woll has known about the game for "nearly 10 years," and Jack Quaid's cube has "been there since the beginning": "It's deeply a part of the lore"
  3. 3
    The Dance of the Dragons is far from over in new House of the Dragon season 3 trailer
  4. 4
    The Boroughs star encourages fans and Emmy voters to "stick it to Netflix" after the show's cancellation
  5. 5
    The 8K version of the GameSir G7 Pro has taken its first-ever discount, and it's not even in the big summer sale you're thinking of

GamesRadar+ is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site.

Add as a preferred source on Google Add as a preferred source on Google
  • Terms and conditions
  • Contact Future's experts
  • Privacy policy
  • Cookies policy
  • Accessibility statement
  • Careers
  • About us
  • Advertise with us
  • Review guidelines
  • Write for us

© Future US, Inc. Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, New York, NY 10036.

Please login or signup to comment

Please wait...