Konami announced today (September 25) that it is offering the mobile version of 'Castlevania,' the original entry in its iconic franchise, for free to celebrate the series' 40th anniversary.
Castlevania is a side-scrolling action-adventure game originally released for the Famicom on September 26, 1986. It follows protagonist Simon Belmont as he braves monsters and traps across 18 stages in Dracula's castle to defeat Dracula. The game received great acclaim for its gothic horror visuals and sound—a rarity at the time—and established core systems that would define the series, such as whip mechanics and sub-weapons.
The free release of Castlevania is a smartphone port of the original game. It recreates the nostalgic feel of the original by centering the game screen in its original aspect ratio, flanked by side and bottom margins featuring virtual controllers mapped with classic Famicom buttons. To celebrate the Castlevania series' 40th anniversary, the game is available for free from today (September 25) until October 24 at 11:59 PM, and players who download it during this period will still be able to redownload and play it after the promotion ends.
Konami stated, "As a token of our gratitude to all the players who have supported the series over the years, we hope you will take this opportunity during our 40th anniversary to enjoy the game that served as the starting point for the franchise."
More information on the free release of Castlevania can be found on the official website, Apple App Store, and Google Play Store.
