The morning sun has brought us a top ten list!

When I decided to try my hand at composing an album of 8-bit music, and frame it as an OST for a game that never existed, I turned to the source for inspiration: original NES soundtracks. I was not long in my search until I came across, and was utterly seduced by, Castlevania’s unique blend of action and spookiness. Since I had constantly flirted with the spooky-adjacent in my previous works (like Waldkrach and some of my illustrations), I thought I’d keep the party going.

I immersed myself fully in the soundtracks for Castlevania, Castlevania II: Simon’s Quest, and Castlevania III: Dracula’s Curse, the three games released for the Nintendo Entertainment System. Now that I’ve had plenty of time to absorb everything, I’ll share with you my top ten tracks!

Click the headphone icon next to each pick to be linked to a YouTube video of the song (opens in a new tab).

Be forewarned! My list is as unpredictable as any zombie-filled foyer! If you’re looking for some fan favorites here, then your vampire is in another castle (wait a minute…)

10. Dead Beat, from Castlevania III: Dracula’s Curse 🎧

I adore this song’s main melodic hook, and the instrumentation serving as support. Some describe it as goofy or silly, but I’d argue it’s a little sinister as well. What holds this track back is the lack of any percussion. When listening to it, I’ll drum on my desk, and it just brings the song to life in a whole new way. Perhaps they were running out of space on the cartridge, who knows? Perhaps someday, when I have a few spare hours, I’ll program some drums for it!

9. Vampire Killer, from Castlevania 🎧

Game 1, Level 1, the name of the very whip used by the Belmont clan! I must admit, “Vampire Killer” does not offer a lot (it is not a very complex song), but it is made up of four distinct, catchy sections. My favorite is the third section with the heavy bass and ascending lead. A good song and a satisfying loop, but I will rank more evil-sounding fare higher on this list.

8. Within These Castle Walls, from Castlevania II: Simon’s Quest 🎧

What better melody to play while in the halls of a dreary castle? The lead melody is creepy and great, but the song really shines here in the lower bass notes. In the beginning, we get lengthy bass notes. In the second part of the song, the bass will drop out at times, only to return full force. The harmony coming in on the later part is also good, supporting the lead melody. I also love the triple snare hits in the second part of the song. Keeps the song nice and fresh, despite its repetitive structure.

7. Walking on the Edge, from Castlevania 🎧

The first certifiable banger on this list. Firstly, I love the Jaws-reminiscent intro, that seems to add an instrument every measure, and thus the intensity. The first section is fine, but I really love when the song starts to build up, ascending higher and higher, and with some anticipatory percussion thrown in the mix, to climax and evolve into a catchy section where the snare-hits pick up the pace. And then the main loop ends with tumbling notes, and we go right back to where we started. Rise, release, fall. Good stuff.

6. Heart of Fire, from Castlevania 🎧

I love this song. Don’t tell me I’m the only one who loves that epic slide at the beginning: Duuhhhh. . . wheeee! That alone makes this track very distinct and fresh from the others on the first soundtrack. After that, we’re given a cool play between high and low notes. The sequence that follows is full of quick notes, reminiscent of those creepy organ songs of olde. To round out the song, a section where the drums pick-up the pace. A fantastic collection of sequences.

5. Monster Dance, from Castlevania II: Simon’s Quest 🎧

I’m loathe to say the term “banger” again so quickly, but I cannot help it. This song! The short starting melody brings to mind music associated with descents into madness. There is scant percussion here, and then we get a faster drum beat with some frantic low notes. Already this gets the head bopping. This section leads to what I consider to be the climax of the song, with the spooky, catchy lead melody. A much deserved payoff! Great! Truly listenable, even if it repeats every 23 seconds.

4. Beginning, from Castlevania III: Dracula’s Curse 🎧

Honestly, what a way to blast into the start of a game! If Castlevania is about spooky environments and kicking monster ass, I can think of no better song that fits the tone. It’s moody, creepy, and asks us to prepare for a challenge! The song arrives quite strongly with its introductory notes (always a plus), and leads into one of the catchiest, creepiest theme melodies. It’s perfect. With the exception of a tiny breakdown mid-song, this one’s pure energy. Hell yeah.

3. Silence of the Daylight, from Castlevania II: Simon’s Quest 🎧

A track doesn’t always need to be rip-roaring for me to love it, as evidenced by this mellower pick. Not so much a theme for a level, but rather an over-world theme, this song is infectiously catchy and fits its purpose surprisingly well. Hey, it does sound like a song for walking around an old medieval town, seeking information from randos. The composers here absolutely nailed it. The loop is comprised of three looping sections (the first of which has a stellar bassline), and each one is great and unique.

2. Wicked Child, from Castlevania 🎧

The best song of the original Castelvania, absolutely! Like “Beginning” (pick #4), this one is pure energy. After the long introduction, we get one of the catchiest all-time Castlevania melodies. It’s got action, danger, creepyness! After that, we get a section that sounds hesitant and unsure. As if finding its courage again, we dive into a more hopeful third section, with rhythm notes constantly driving in the background. To me, it signals the call to continue, even in the face of leaping dogs and swooshing bats. After this section, we’re back to the spookyness. Clear greatness.

1. Dwelling of Doom, from Castlevania II: Simon’s Quest 🎧

This is it, friends: the ultimate Castlevania song. I’ve used all of these words before, but they’re all here: sinister, creepy, action-packed, catchy! It’s so perfect. The relentless lead melody, doing these quick runs up and down the keys. Once again, ill-intentioned organs are brought to mind. The bass, with its descending phrases, is evil and foreboding. Although the song does this organ-bass byplay the entire time, it surprisingly never grows boring. To lend further credit to the song, its loop is one of the shortest in all Castlevania: a mere 25 seconds.

So there it is, my top ten original NES Castlevania tracks. Apologies if I caused any (bloody) tears.

If you’d like to see how these tracks inspired me for my own 8-bit horror-adventure album, check out my 8-bit music project, Draakula!

Draakula Bandcamp Page
Draakula release announcement
Band Information Page