Castlevania: Bloodlines

RETRO NEWS

Today's retro news has everything from arcade golf to a memory card that somehow runs Doom.

SNK’s 1988 Fighting Golf is back through Arcade Archives, bringing its 18-hole competition to modern consoles. Meanwhile, the SuperStation One’s new $20 memory card does a lot more than save games, with support for original PlayStation hardware, homebrew software, and even a tiny version of Doom running on its built-in screen.

And Atari’s 800XL computer is getting another chance at life, with a new hardware revival in development from the company behind the Neo Geo AES+.

PRESS START

An Introduction To Today’s Game

Most Castlevania fans can recite the greatest hits. Simon Belmont, a whip, a castle with a clock tower. Then there is the odd cousin who showed up on the Sega Genesis in 1994 and quietly did its own thing.

Castlevania: Bloodlines trades the usual Romanian castle for a tour across Europe in 1917.

This was Castlevania's one and only appearance on the Sega Genesis. Gruesome enemy animations, wild visual effects, and some of the most inventive stages the series had seen.

It was bloodier and a little more aggressive than its Nintendo counterparts, with rotating environments, distorted reflections, and plenty of technical tricks.

And underneath all that Genesis showmanship was the same punishing difficulty Castlevania fans knew all too well.

BEHIND THE PIXELS

Let’s Dive Into The Game

If you've never played Castlevania: Bloodlines, this is Castlevania before the series embraced sprawling castles, RPG mechanics, and endless backtracking.

It's a straightforward, side-scrolling action game built around six challenging stages, each with its own monsters, traps, and bosses.

The year is 1917, and a vampire named Elizabeth Bartley is using the chaos of World War I to resurrect her uncle, Dracula. Naturally, somebody has to put a stop to that.

John Morris comes armed with the familiar Vampire Killer whip, which he can also use to swing across certain gaps. Eric Lecarde prefers a spear, and his jumping ability lets him reach places John can't.

The differences go beyond their weapons, too. Certain sections offer character-specific routes, giving you a good reason to come back for another playthrough.

Along the way, you'll collect gems to fuel your subweapons, grab upgrades for your main weapon, and probably curse at the screen a few times. The Western release is tougher than its Japanese counterpart, and the limited continues aren't particularly forgiving.

The Atlantis Shrine features convincing water reflections, while the Leaning Tower of Pisa actually sways as you climb through it.

Then there are the bosses, some of them enormous creations made from multiple moving parts. It's impressive stuff for the era, especially considering the Genesis's limited color palette.

These weren't just flashy effects for the sake of showing off, either. They help give Bloodlines a visual identity that feels different from its Nintendo relatives.

And then there's the music. Bloodlines marked Michiru Yamane's first Castlevania soundtrack, beginning an association with the series that would eventually produce some of its most memorable compositions.

Drawing on her classical music background, including her studies of Bach, she mixed dramatic melodies with the driving energy Castlevania was already famous for.

She even handled programming the music into the game herself. Considering what she would later accomplish with Symphony of the Night, it's fascinating to hear where that part of Castlevania's musical history began.

Blu Dot surpasses 2,000% ROAS with self-serve CTV ads

Home furniture brand Blu Dot blew up on CTV with help from Roku Ads Manager. Here’s how:

After a test campaign reached 211,000 households and achieved 1,010% ROAS, the brand went all in to promote its annual sales event. It removed age and income constraints to expand reach and shifted budget to custom audiences and retargeting, where intent was strongest.

The results speak for themselves. As Blu Dot increased their investment by 10x, ROAS jumped to 2,308% and more page-view conversions surpassed 50,000.

“For CTV campaigns, Roku has been a top performer,” said Claire Folkestad, Paid Media Strategist, Blu Dot. “Comping to our other platforms, we have seen really strong ROAS… and highly efficient CPMs, lower than any other CTV partner we've worked with.”

Using Roku Ads Manager, the campaign moved from a pilot to a permanent performance engine for the brand.

Learn More

GAME INFORMATION

WHERE TO PLAY

• Nintendo Switch Online- Genesis app.

• Castlevania Anniversary Collection.

• Sega Genesis Mini.

• Original Copies of the Game (All prices in USD)

  • Loose: $68

  • Complete: $180

  • New/Sealed: $350

COVER ART

SOC 2 Ready in 14 days. Three sessions from you.

Enterprise buyers will not put your product near their customer data without a SOC 2 report. Sprinto gets you audit ready in 14 days, across three working sessions. AI agents do the collecting, you approve. Your auditor signs off.

Book a Demo and get $1,000 off

GAME OVER

Why You Should Play This

For a series that spent so much of its early life on Nintendo consoles, Castlevania: Bloodlines made a pretty convincing case for visiting Sega. It was the Genesis's one and only Castlevania game, and Konami didn't simply recycle what had come before.

Thankfully, you don't need to dig an old Genesis out of the closet to play it. Bloodlines is available through Nintendo Switch Online's Expansion Pack, the Castlevania Anniversary Collection on Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Steam, and the Sega Genesis Mini. There are plenty of ways to experience it without paying collector prices for an original cartridge.

If you're coming from Symphony of the Night or the later handheld games, be prepared for something very different. There's no sprawling castle to explore, no experience points to grind, and no inventory full of equipment. Just six stages, two very different heroes, and a game that expects you to learn from your mistakes.

And don't overlook the music. Michiru Yamane's first Castlevania soundtrack is worth hearing on its own, especially knowing what she would go on to compose for the series.

Give Bloodlines a chance, preferably with the volume turned up and a little patience set aside.

SUPPORT

This is a passion project made with love, and every open or read means the world.
If you’d like to show extra support, you can use the button below.

RETRO HARDWARE

The Miyoo Flip V2 is a tiny clamshell retro handheld that lets you carry a whole library of classic games in your pocket. With a bright screen, solid controls, and the nostalgic flip design we all remember, it’s perfect for quick gaming sessions anywhere. Click the picture to check it out. My readers can use the following code for a 12% discount: NY12