also known as Akumajou Dracula - Circle of the Moon
Game Boy Advance
🇬🇧
Reviewed in 2001
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✪ Reviewed on May 26, 2024
86
Castlevania at its best in portable form. Exploration is captivating, atmosphere is flawless. One of the best entries in the franchise, simply put.
Your verdict
Category
Action Adventure1 player12+
Description
Konami action-exploration game on GBA, released in the United States in November 2001. Nathan Graves explores Dracula's castle to rescue his master Morris Baldwin, armed with a whip and the DSS system combining 10 Attribute cards and 10 Action cards to create up to 100 distinct spells. Five game modes unlockable based on performance, labyrinthine castle architecture and varied enemies.
Castlevania - Circle of the Moon review
4/5
Art direction
★★★★★
"Striking"
MAX
Music
★★★★★
"Legendary"
3/5
Story
★★★★★
"Solid"
From the castle's first corridors, nervy gothic themes and catchy melodies set a tension worthy of the great Castlevanias. The GBA's sound chip deploys a surprisingly powerful symphonic rock that sticks to the whip and the jump. This dark, energetic atmosphere marked the series' return to handhelds.
Gameplay
"Excellent"
Fun
"Pleasant"
Addictiveness
"Captivating"
Difficulty
"Difficult"
Lifespan
"Long"
Technical info
💾3,8 MB📅11/06/2001
Published by Konami
Castlevania - Circle of the Moon (GBA) price, value & rarity
North American edition of the GBA launch entry for the Castlevania franchise, distributed under the full Circle of the Moon title that Europe had shortened. KCEK development under Konami supervision, without IGA direction, which gives the title a conceptually distinct identity from the other two GBA entries. US run was broad, but demand stays strong since the Castlevania Advance Collection. Pre Player's Choice cardboard box with manual and tower map stays a collection standard.
Memorable bosses
Reviving Metroid-style exploration, this gothic odyssey scatters revisited classic guardians across its castle: the three-headed Cerberus, the iron golem, the vampire Camilla, then Dracula himself. The DSS card system enables elemental counters that turn every duel into a laboratory. Demanding and richly animated, these clashes relaunch the formula with flair.
Is Castlevania - Circle of the Moon still worth playing in 2026?
The first Castlevania to bring the Symphony of the Night formula onto a handheld, Circle of the Moon may date back to the GBA launch, yet its sprawling map, ability gated progression and DSS card system with nearly endless combinations all hold up remarkably well. The gothic mood is anchored by a solid Konami score and the difficulty climbs without coddling. The original screen darkness is easily forgotten on emulator or Game Boy Player today. Still an essential pick for any metroidvania enthusiast.
