Castlevania: Bloodlines

What if vampire hunting took place not in a dusty castle, but across a Europe convulsed by the First World War? Castlevania: Bloodlines from 1994 is the only Castlevania that ever came out on the Mega Drive, and Konami mined that exceptionality into an atmospheric, fast and stylish piece that deserves more attention than it gets.

The story takes the hunt for Dracula out of the usual settings into real European locations against the backdrop of the great war, which lends the series an unusual, gloomy tinge. There are two playable characters with different gameplay to choose from — John Morris with his whip in the style of the classic Belmonts, and Eric Lecarde with a spear that offers longer reach and its own movement tricks. Each of them changes the way you make your way through the levels.

The gameplay is brisker and more fluid than you'd expect of a Castlevania of that time, yet it still retains the need for deliberation during jumps and fights. The game varies the pace, offers inventive levels and boss fights that test your timing. The whip and the spear have a different rhythm, so replaying as the second character feels fresh.

Visually Bloodlines makes proper use of the Genesis hardware. You'll encounter eye-catching pieces such as rotation and warping of the image, collapsing and crumbling scenery and atmospheric environments that breathe gothic horror transplanted into a modern era. This is accompanied by music that can create tension as well as heroic pathos where needed.

Among fans of the series Bloodlines has a reputation as an underrated instalment — the only Castlevania on a Sega console, moreover with a distinctive wartime setting and honest craftsmanship. For anyone who likes atmospheric action platformers, it is a little treasure.

Why play it: The only Castlevania on the Mega Drive — fast, stylish and atmospheric, with two heroes and impressive graphical effects against the backdrop of the First World War.