Block 1 (ブロック1 Block 1?) is the first stage in Castlevania. It consists of the entrance hall, an underground flooded area, and another corridor. It's a very iconic area of the Castlevania series, and has inspired many similar areas that appeared later on.
Overview[]
The stage starts outside the castle; torches can be whipped in order to power up Simon Belmont's Vampire Killer. The next screen is a long main hall with tattered curtains, where Simon will be attacked by Zombies, Bats and Black Leopards. After reaching an non-passable wall, it's required to descend down into the water-filled area inhabited by Fish Men. This subterranean cavern leads to the other side of the wall. Finally, another long hall not unlike the first part of the stage is entered, with the same enemies.
Stage 1[]
A[]
B[]
- Notes
- Destroy Zombies by striking them with the whip. However, when they come in groups be prepared by cracking the whip, without stopping. It's important to practice the timing of this technique.
- Holy Water is effective against the Black Leopard. Find it inside the candle at the top of the stairway. If not in possession of Holy Water, remember to whip just before the leopard jumps.
- A Cross is hidden at the top of the last stairway. This has the power to clear all enemies from the screen at once.
- The lower level at the end of this stage is a good place to collect points if you have a Holy Water equipped. Killing two Zombies with the same Holy Water attack nets 1,000 points; killing more nets even more points. This can be done repeatedly since the Zombies continue to spawn from the right edge of the screen and can easily earn enough points to gain an extra life.
Stage 2[]
- Notes
- Bats flutter toward you in a wave like motion. Because Bats fly at different heights, pay close attention to when to whip them. If necessary, strike from the crouching position.
- As soon as a Fish Man comes out of the water, quickly hit it before it's able to attack.
- It is possible to fill up your Heart meter completely (99) by looping around this stage repeatedly, collecting the three Large Hearts along the way. Hearts cannot be carried over to the next stage, but can translate to points after the boss has been defeated.
- It is possible to take damage from a Bat and use the knockback to cross over the wall without going into the Fish Men area.
Stage 3[]
- Notes
- The Invisibility Potion is hidden in the middle of the stairway. Collect it to move fearlessly through the enemies until its effects wear off.
- The Axe appears when you destroy the candle in the middle of the last stairway.
Boss[]
The Phantom Bat flies across the screen and occasionally swoops down to attack Simon. An easy strategy is to use the Axe and the Double Shot, which can be found by breaking the base of the staircase. Make sure not to get cornered by staying in the middle of the room. Dodge its swoop attack by simply moving left or right. An alternative method is to use the Watch when it's near. Make sure to move away when it unfreezes, because it will continue its attack as soon as it can move again.
Secrets[]
| Stage | Image | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Stage 1 | 
|
Jump over the castle entrance to make a Money Bag worth 1,000 points appear. Jump over it again in order to pick it up. |
| Stage 1 | 
|
After getting past the Black Leopards, jump and whip the block on the far right of the platform to receive a Money Bag worth 400 points. |
| Stage 2 | 
|
Near the beginning of Stage 2, walk down the stairs and whip the right brick wall to find a Pork Chop. |
| Stage 2 | 
|
A Money Bag can be found in section of Stage 2 where the Fish Men are encountered. At the far right of the screen, jump down and break the block to the left. Jump down and stand on the right brick of the platform. A Money Bag worth 700 points will appear on the platform above. |
| Stage 3 | 
|
In the section where the Phantom Bat is fought, jump up the little platform at the far right of the screen, drop down, and whip the brick to your left in order to obtain a Double Shot or Triple Shot. |
| Stage 19 | 
|
This Money Bag can only be obtained after playing through the game at least once. At the first screen, crouch by the second statue to make a Money Bag worth 700 points appear to the left. |
| Stage 20 | 
|
After climbing up two set of stairs, defeat the Black Leopard and stand on the middle brick to make a Money Bag worth 1,000 points appear. |
| Stage 21 | 
|
Near the beginning of Stage 21, drop down the platform and stand on the left brick while also facing left. A 1up will appear on the above platform. |
Enemy Data[]
| Enemy Data: Castlevania Block 1 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Image | Name - Game Description |
Statistics | Items | Location | Notes |
| Enemies | |||||
    (NES/C64/AMI/PC) |
|||||
| These are lost souls that walk trance-like straight ahead. Because they move so slowly, you can destroy them with a single crack of your Whip.(*) | HP: 1 Exp: 100 Atk: 2 |
1. Breaking In |
|||
    (NES/C64/AMI/PC) |
|||||
| When you come within a certain distance of this enemy, he charges you. He's very fast, so make sure you strike your Whip before he strikes you.(*) | HP: 1 Exp: 200 Atk: 2 |
1. Breaking In |
|||
    (NES/C64/AMI/PC) |
|||||
| The Bats fly at you moving up and down in a wave-like pattern. Because they don't fly fast, you can adjust to their wave-like motion and knock them down with your Whip.(*) | HP: 1 Exp: 200 Atk: 2 |
1. Breaking In, 4. Underground |
|||
    (NES/C64/AMI/PC) |
|||||
| In the water scene, Fish Man suddenly jumps out of the water and sneaks towards you. When he gets close enough, he'll spit fireballs at you from his mouth.(*) | HP: 1 Exp: 300 Atk: 2/4 |
1. Breaking In, 4. Underground |
Abil: Fire Ball (100 points) | ||
| Boss | |||||
    (NES/C64/AMI/PC) |
|||||
| Spreading his wings and moving irregularly, he flies close to you and then retreats. An Axe or Boomerang is more effective than hand-to-hand combat.(*) | HP: 12 Exp: 3,000 Atk: 2 |
1. Breaking In, 6. Clock Tower |
(Strategy)Abil: Fire Ball (stage 6 only, 100 points) | ||
Gallery[]
Screenshots[]
Videos[]
Maps[]
- See also: Castlevania Stage Maps
Other appearances[]
As the first level in the original Castlevania, this section has inspired many levels in later games. Most Castle Entrances are based on the layout, design, or feel of this block.
Vampire Killer[]
- Main article: Vampire Killer Block 1
The first stage of Vampire Killer is a direct reinterpretation of this block, and shares many of its assets, enemies, layout, and music. Several additional platforms connected with stairs have been added to Stages 1 and 3. Stage 1 was expanded to include an extra floor on top, with some of the elements moved to this floor. Stage 2 also has an extra floor on top of it. The green Fish Men in this area do not shoot fireballs, although a red version does later in the game. In Stage 3, the boss room has been moved to a basement level, and a key is required to enter it.
Castlevania II: Simon's Quest[]
- Main article: Dracula's Castle (Simon's Quest)
While Dracula's Castle had been destroyed following the events of the original Castlevania, remnants of Block 1 remain on the surface. The walls have partially fallen down and the base of the pillars are still standing, yet they no longer support the ceiling. Clearing through the debris with Holy Water will reveal an underground castle structure that remains mostly intact.
Castlevania III: Dracula's Curse[]
- Main article: Dracula's Curse Block 8
Block 8 of Castlevania III: Simon's Quest' captures the aesthetics and feel of the original Block 1 of Castlevania, although its layout differs considerably. It is dominated by similar pillars and curtain banners. A rendition of "Vampire Killer" called "Deja Vu" plays in the background calling back to the original block.
Several other games have Entrance layouts inspired by Dracula's Curse, including Super Castlevania IV, Dracula X, and Lords of Shadow 2.
Super Castlevania IV[]
After a long set of stairs at the end of Stage 5 (Castle Court) in Super Castlevania IV, three statues are seen in the background reminiscent of the original statues outside of the castle in the original Castlevania, with similar fences and shrubbery in the background. Once inside, the Entrance in Stage 6 bears a striking similarity to the Entrance ground level from Castlevania III: Dracula's Curse, which itself has many of the aesthetic features of the original Castlevania's Entrance.
Castlevania Chronicles[]
- Main article: Chronicles Block 1
Castlevania Chronicles is considered a remake of the original Castlevania. Its first stage closely mirrors the layout of the original block. A trap was set for players familiar with this level in the first game, however. If the player attempts to strike the wall where meat was found in Stage 2, instead of meat, a horde of Hunchbacks will come out of the crack in the wall. The Giant Bat is fought at the end of the stage in its original location.
Castlevania: Rondo of Blood[]
- Main article: Rondo of Blood Stage 2
The second stage of Castlevania: Rondo of Blood, "God, Grant Me Strength O Lord", is a near-replica of the original Castlevaniaʼs Block 1. A version of "Vampire Killer" plays throughout the stage. The original Stage 1's platforms appear in this version almost exactly. The walls and pillars are now shaded blue in this version. An additional segment was inserted between the original Stages 1 and 2, which involves a chase by a Behemoth. Maria Renard can be rescued to the right of the flooded area. The original Stage 3 retains its original color. The area where the Phantom Bat was fought in Castlevania remains empty. Beyond this room is an outside area, where the Werewolf is fought.
Castlevania: Bloodlines[]
The first section of the Ruins of Castle Dracula in Castlevania: Bloodlines is a replica of the original Castlevania Block 1. After completing this area, a battle against a Hellhound commences in a window-filled room in a similar location as the Phantom Bat's original boss room.
Castlevania: Symphony of the Night[]
- Main article: Entrance (Symphony of the Night)
Much of the layout of of Block 1 appears in the first four rooms of the Entrance stage for Castlevania: Symphony of the Night, including the hidden Pot Roast, infinite Mermen area, and the small stairs leading outside.
Castlevania: Curse of Darkness[]
The Abandoned Castle stage of Castlevania: Curse of Darkness consists of all the stages of the original Castlevania. This is the first time this Block was represented fully in a 3D game. Grounds outside of the castle are the same grounds from Block 1. The ground level of the castle represents the rest of the block. The hallways wrap around the perimeter of the castle. Around one corner is a damp waterlogged area infested by Mermen, although the water is only ankle deep. Stairs lead up and down from the Block 2 outer wall section. In the boss room where the Giant Bat fought in the original Castlevania game, an Executioner and several other enemies are faced. A crack in the wall in this room reminiscent of the leads to the basement caverns level of the Castle, which represents Block 4.
Castlevania: Harmony of Despair[]
The "Origins" downloadable chapter of Castlevania: Harmony of Despair contains rearranged assets of all stages of the original Castlevania. The layout and enemy placement of the first block is nearly identical to that of the original game. A rendition of "Vampire Killer" is played throughout the entire stage. The stage is located in the lower left corner of the map. The player starting in the far left front yard section of the castle, just beyond the gate Simon walks through in the intro of Castlevania, which was not shown in the original stage. A new wall blocks the direct path over the area above the Merman-infested flooded section, forcing the player to go down to that area. It is adjacent to the similar Block 4 underground waterway part of this block is, although there is no direct path connecting the two. The Phantom Bat is fought as a miniboss in its normal place. Beyond this is Block 2, which continues to expand above Block 1.
Castlevania: Grimoire of Souls[]
The first book of Grimoire of Souls, Dracula's Castle, chronicles Simon Belmont's first venture into Castlevania. The end of Stage 3 of the chapter, "In The Beginning", includes the entrance to the castle, and leads to the next chapter, "A Daring Advance", which represents the main entry halls of the castle. The background design is much like Block 1 from Castlevania and later incarnations. Staired slopes call back the stairs from this block. Several sections include flooded floors with Mermen hopping out of it, representing Stage 2 of Castlevania. The third block of this stage unlocks the "Wings in the Dark" chapter, where the Giant Bat is fought.
External links[]
| Castlevania | |
|---|---|
| Characters | |
| Simon Belmont • Dracula | |
| Bosses | |
| Phantom Bat • Queen Medusa • Mummy Man • Frankenstein & Igor • Grim Reaper • Count Dracula • Spirit of Dracula | |
| Stages | |
| The Castle Entrance • The Chapel • The Castle Ruins The Catacombs • The Dungeons • The Clock Tower and the Castle Keep | |
| Music | |
| Underground • Vampire Killer • Stalker • Wicked Child • Walking on the Edge • Heart of Fire • Out of Time Nothing to Lose • Poison Mind • Black Night • Voyager • Akumajō Dracula Famicom Best | |
| Guides | |
| Akumajō Dracula Perfect • The Official Nintendo Player's Guide • NES Game Atlas | |
| Archives | |
| Bestiary • Inventory | |