Castlevania III: Dracula's Curse (NES) Full Playthrough w/ Mike Matei

Full Playthrough of Castlevania III: Dracula's Curse for NES by Mike Matei. This is the harder North American version of the game played on a top loader NES.
Watch Mike’s Live Streams ✜ www.mikematei.com
Read Mike’s Blog ✜ www.mikematei.blog
Twitter Mike ✜ / mike_matei
This playthrough is edited down from three previous live streams. If you'd like to watch the full length unedited Castlevania 3 streams, check them out on Cinemassacre Plays (Our Second Channel)
Castlevania 3 Part 1 • Castlevania III: Dracu...
Castlevania 3 Part 2 • Castlevania III: Dracu...
Castlevania 3 Part 3 • Castlevania III: Dracu... #retro #retrogaming #nes #snes #jamesrolfe #mikematei #atari #playthrough #gameplay #gamereview

[@mistrdevine]

I was nine when this game came out. I remember one amazing Christmas in 1990 when I received this, as well as Mega Man 3, it was the greatest Christmas ever.

[@syminite1]

Beast. My mom got me this too with bugs bunny birthday blowout. Syfa's energy ball magic was the strongest weapon in the game.

[@pigeonsil240sx]

i was 8 and bet i was living a simular utopia.did you also get mad claiming "THE GAME CHEATS!" and getting so mad? lol nes games always had me saying this because they did cheat.example is like ninja gaiden and jumping across a platform and having a bat fly out right then knocking you in a pit.

[@matrix91234]

For me it was Crash Bandicoot 2. So i had it easier : D

[@agiar2000]

My favorite part is around 51:10, how, after Mike kills the Leviathan demon, that spirit ball has _ONE LAST_ attack exploding in eight directions, which he just barely avoids by ducking. Imagine how many kids rage-quit after such a tough boss fight, celebrating their victory, only to get trolled by that last attack. I also love Mike's reaction to finally beating that boss. Big mood. :)

[@willmistretta]

I tested it out last time I played and that animation actually can't hurt you. It would be one hell of a troll if it could, though.

[@ShinobiNeon]

Sypha is a girl. I think the game calling her "him" is just their way of saying her gender is ambiguous because she's shrouded in a hooded robe. When she takes off her hood at the end and reveals long blonde hair, and Trevor puts his arm around her, that's when they reveal she was a woman all along. l think they were trying to do what they did with Metroid and Samus, leaving her gender assumedly male, until the reveal at the end.

[@iGuy28]

Well good! At some point, i thought i was into *men*

[@hdofu]

I like how the series pokes fun at that.

[@RivantCanton]

I think its more likely that it's just the same trigger command line for all companions, and they didn't want to make a new one for her.

[@makihara3713]

Great stream. Shows why this game was considered as a NES classic and how people reacted to its brutal and yet addicting difficulty.

[@TheT3rr0rMask]

Too bad it's not on the NES Classic. 1 and 2 are Simon'a story but 3 is way better than 2 lol

[@papabear6611]

I like how it’s like a film at the intro and the ending with the credits. It feels like I’m playing as a kid, dreaming up a great fantasy. That’s what makes these games great to me.

[@ChipRed87]

Syfa is a most definitely a female. The "take him with you" thing was either a localization error, or a trick to make player to think she was a male.

[@Habackuk24]

She has a Samus Aran moment in the end, removing the headpiece.

[@rocketcon]

The reveal moment was an unintentional side effect of the limited NES hardware. The developers couldn't put a unique text box saying "Will you take her with you?" for Sypha. So they had to use the same "Will you take him with you?" text for all three characters.

[@TheT3rr0rMask]

The Netflix series even played up on this- "Save my grandson". Trevor saves Syfa who removes hood. "Ok, granddaughter"

[@masquerade9703]

Chip M plus in symphony of the night she's obvious a girl when you fight the imposters

[@tbb033]

Or he's transexual before that shit was trendy.

[@alejandrovaldez9848]

I think this game is the best one in the trilogy in my opinion!👾 PRAISE THE WALL CHICKEN!!🍗

[@Aggrofool]

If there is a fkn pork chop in there, I would so eat it!

[@orlangurs]

I've beaten this game with all characters and routes at least once. But still every time when I try to replay it I usually get too frustrated and leave it, despite all the love I have for it. Epic and really hard game.

[@TheBLBShow]

I don't get how people always talk about how Castlevania 1 is among the hardest games ever when part 3 is alot more difficult. Still wouldn't put any in "hardest game ever" territory but CV3 is pretty hard.

[@hdofu]

Some versions are up there like the US version of Haunted Castle for the Arcades. That said the NES version isn't.

[@Ghalion666]

Yeah, though I find the alucard route way more difficult than the s ypha route.

[@richardgurney1844]

I actually think CV3 is harder than Ninja Gaiden

[@TheBLBShow]

@@hdofu well that is pretty much a whole different game than the nes cv1

[@jeffk7287]

Sypha being a girl is a story reveal like Samus in Metroid. One of my favorite NES games. I beat it every which way and I prefer Sypha because of her magic powers.

[@yvonnerogers6429]

Before there was Elsa... Actually, if Frozen 2 is about Elsa freezing vampires, I'll be pretty stoked. I kind of figured the gender reveal was meant as a gender reveal given the time period.

[@TheT3rr0rMask]

Something I liked in the Netflix series was how Trevor was fooled into believing Sypha was a man until he saves her. Thought it was a cool reference for fans

[@gooseygoose604]

I would always record on my phone the credits when I beat a game, I even said "woah Syphas a girl???!"

[@justintahair9119]

yea her spells are powerful and can destroy dracula lol i amglad to remember the path to get to her its a much more manageable path

[@HouYi-b6g]

Having been born in 95 and just finishing Castlevania 3, I can say it and Rondo of Blood are my favorite Castlevanias.

[@XpRnz]

Man this was a trip down memory lane, I still remember the love-hate relationship I had with this game, unforgivable but keeps you coming back for more. Still love the soundtrack too!

[@Infinighost]

35:06 I'm playing this on the Castlevania Collection for Switch, and this level took me DAYS to beat. It's so damn hard. The bridge took me a long time to master, and the boss is tough. Hope to finish the game in the next few days.

[@bobhoskins1790]

It’s gonna be a lot more time than that at your pace buddy.

[@polarbeargloves]

30 something year old man, still makes his name fuck you ... Nice

[@stryder414]

Castlevania games were a real precursor to games like Dark Souls, you can tell the folks at From Software played the Castlevania and Zelda series.

[@j.d.simahan5014]

Thanks you Captain.

[@the1ucidone]

Quality content baby.

[@XeviousD]

Joseph Freese Can't wait for Mike to play Castlevania Chronicles for the PSX/PS1!

[@charliehyland3603]

Joseph Freese I

[@Thatonegirl989]

Mike your playthroughs are awesome.

[@chillenkillen7277]

angel milton ✌😘

[@Thatonegirl989]

Chillen Killen :)

[@Thatonegirl989]

don solo add me, i cant find you. My profile pic is the same one on here

[@MaxMarriner]

No way. No goddamn way. This is incredible.

[@Scott86]

This is so ironic..I just re-watched the Avgn Castlevania-thon for the hundredth time and I was thinking when he was pissed how difficult the game is and how he never beat it..and I'm sitting there thinking "Mike should totally beat this!" And here it is! Now that's wicked!! Lol

[@michaelswitzer2121]

The VideoGame Champion quick think of some other cool games he should play wile u have this power before it fades away

[@apotheosis00]

"Help me" gave you a ton of lives.

[@mattb9664]

I can't even play this game now unless it's the Famicom version with the extra sound channels.... I'm an audiophile person and the extra channels make the music sound so much better..even if your just listening from crappy TV speakers.

[@inujosha]

Always love a Mike Matei play through

[@JamesNintendoNerd]

Thanks for watching! -Mike

[@inujosha]

Cinemassacre My pleasure my man. Thank you for uploading. My favorites of you are your play throughs of the mega mans.

[@Mattsterweb]

I really wish Mike's reply had said "Always love an Inujosha comment". :P

[@inujosha]

cheebert That would have been awesome lol

[@johneygd]

Inujosha now mike has to show this to james rolf.

[@crunchb3rry]

I just had a thought that Trevor Belmont looks like he's wearing Uggs and now I can't un-see it.

[@korgothkillings2032]

crunchb3rry hilarious

[@PositronPlays]

Hell yes, one of my favorite Castlevania games of all time. Also cool to see you go for Sypha, was always a fan of her but it seems people rarely go that route. Some neat stages on that path!

[@Dresdenstl]

I wasn't sure if I watched this or not but then Mike read my chat comment.

[@confusedkemono]

Turns into a skull thing? Skeleton?? EVERYTHING IS A SKULL.

[@maxbrandt6]

I never played this game, looks to be a good challenge. It really does harder the further you go and the extra characters are a nice touch.

[@b2manatees]

Ah yes. The dragons that came out of the water. Very hard area for me as a kid in the early 90s. As frustrated as I got, I loved this game. Played the hell out of it.

[@DerpMuse]

Great playthrough Mike! That stairway at the end refresh to get extra hearts is a game changer. I never knew about that.

[@masquerade9703]

Can't get anymore classic than this

[@jikissgamer]

Great game, I actually played it yesterday & took Alucard's route which is much harder. Level 7 on Alucard's path is a mother-fucker & a half.

[@JustinEvitable80]

You asked who said to go down the stairs to get hearts? AVGN did in his Castlevania-thon. Before anyone corrects me, yes, I know Mike was referring to the chat

[@rezterralico4369]

Game is on sale on the reship for 2.49 US/CAD until December 11th on the 3DS at least. Love this game. When through the easy, med, hard pathways and beat it a few times on hard mode. Hard mode unlocks after beating the game once. More enemies and each hit takes out 4 life points.

[@erikbell1723]

I feel like there is probably a ton on the cutting room floor on this one! this is a hard ass game! Congrats on winning Mike

[@IkarosTypeAlpha]

I actually missed this one and went right to 4. Funny how fast they dropped the Castlevania II direction

[@arykedawg1]

hands down the best soundtrack on NES

[@rocketcon]

The Japanese Famicom version is even better, thanks to the added sound chip.

[@amso7169]

Journey to Silius wants to know your location

[@RoyalRoseTrue]

Castlevania III: Dracula's Curse: Starring F*ck You.

[@sevranal]

I'm so disappointed that you didn't play with Grant. He was my favorite. I never completed this game because there were parts that I couldn't use him. I understand that other characters were much more effective, but in my opinion he was the most fun.

[@thegamesresearcher]

i know this post is one year old, but in case someone is digging old videos out, one word: "FUJIMOTO"

[@CopiousDoinksLLC]

Best ending of any Cinemassacre video ever.

[@megasean3000]

I also went through the playthrough with Sipha...not because I thought she was the best character to go with, but because I didn't know there was other characters like Grant and Alucard, and I went into the easy route unintentionally xD

[@briancyates1983]

If you guys get an SNES Classic, will there be a live stream. I work at a Target, and we have 70 in stock, according to what security told me yesterday. We may get more this week.

[@walkingcorpse1224]

Syfa is a girl, she was a girl in the official Castlevania Guide and she's a girl in the anime. I think the game however was only programmed to say "him..." which is easier considering you would've had to have made a "her..." for only one character. This is common laziness seen in NES games tho as I'm sure you know.

[@seikaskye]

I don't understand why James made the Dracula fight seem so impossible, its actually quite easy if you know the pattern

[@jeffunknown9927]

Wow that Hydra fight was epic!

[@kkzooi]

nice playthrough. mike since you like puzzle games, id like to see you play Ka-blooey on snes some day

[@windwaker0rules]

anyone else think the last level is way easier than the second last level XD

[@marcusmurphy993]

name your charter "demonitization" mike laughed

[@TrianiiRanger]

And Starring: Trevor C. Belmont "Fuck You" LOL!

[@TubeTubeToby]

that intro is frking awesome

[@aoccza7]

Best Castlevania ever in my opinion, im a huge castlevania fan and maybe this is #2 right after castlevania SOTN. Maybe even a tie, this game is awesome, you get to fight with all the characters from this game in SOTN

[@TheT3rr0rMask]

Easily the best from a design perspective, and along with 4 and Bloodlines was the last to have that classic atmosphere with linear gameplay. It's my favorite series, and I don't hate any game in the series, but I'm not a fan of Rondo's anime transition, and while I love Kojima's art it's not in keeping with CV1-Bloodlines. Looking forward to Bloodstained though- Iga looks like he has something great coming.

[@davidturbo8566]

Smokey McJoint right the best to me is super caslevania 4 that game is perfect..

[@Radassbadass69]

nah nah nah rondo of blood goty all years

[@SrTrapizomba]

One of the best Castlevania game, in my opinion

[@shivasthong4924]

Unforgivable difficulty!

[@perfectibility999]

My brother and I have played through it several times, the most recent just last year. It's about learning patterns and, when there's seemingly no pattern (like with that damn boss fight with two heads popping up from the water in some later level), just intense focus and really fast reflexes. When you learn how to do it, this game is amazingly satisfying. It's one of the best. And after a playthrough of Dracula's Curse, Castlevania IV just feels too easy.

[@drizzziit1]

Have any if you even completed the true quest? This is the Real deal.

[@tbb033]

"Unforgivable difficulty!" Then play a metrovania instead. That's what i do.

[@Lightningfootjones]

Shivas Thong and this is the easy path!

[@44bigfreeze]

+per doking Silver Surfer

[@Arm4g3dd0nX]

Hypothetical for you gamers out there. It's 1987, two years after Super Mario Bros was released... and out of the blue a game company releases three NES games that somehow fit an 8-bit, simplified mechanics version of three entire game series in them (other than Mario). For example: We are talking an NES cartridge with the entire Castlevania franchise including Nintendo, Super Nintendo, handheld, modern consoles/PC, and everything in between. When you complete the story of one game, your character(s) progress to the next story with the difficulty scaling to keep things challenging. So the question is, what three franchises would be the best ever to have? For me it'd be Castlevania, Final Fantasy, and World of Warcraft perhaps? (Party/raid members/PVP would be NPCs.) Honorable mentions to stuff like Kingdom Hearts, Megaman, Pokemon, Call of Duty, Fallout, Mass Effect, Baldur's Gate, Half-Life, Elder Scrolls, Diablo, and so many many more. It's possible no one is going to respond to this post, but I'd be really curious if anyone else has an alternate set of three franchises to rule over the early gaming history. :)

[@MayDayMei98]

Alucard is an avid homosexual and I can prove it mathematically.

[@michaelswitzer2121]

Mike is a fucking boss

[@dorpth]

Sypha really is the only choice. Grant requires you to go through that entire clocktower level TWICE, his main weapon sucks, and his wall climbing doesn't do much and gets in the way trying to navigate way more than it helps you. Alucard's fireballs SUCK (they're so weak they can't even destroy candles in one hit) and his levels are all frustrating, unfun bullshit. The only thing he's good for is the bat mode but his levels are designed to make it not help you much. Sypha doesn't require you to go out of your way, her levels don't suck, and is the only character whose abilities you'd actually use to fight enemies.

[@natduran1079]

Syfa was passing as a boy when they met but is really a girl. NES plots are pretty basic but that's called a 'twist.'

[@MarshallMathersthe7th]

HA he used the same trick i did on the final form of Dracula, NICE! (throwing the axe)

[@InternetDog_]

Wish the audio and video setup was a bit better, otherwise great playthrough!

[@Rpodnee]

What if Castlevania was a girl?

[@Marius-vw9hp]

OMG Fell asleep watching Mike play Jekyll and Hyde - had weird dreams about James and Mike all night.

[@lainiwakura4678]

Sypha: *Did you just assume my gender?*

[@hdofu]

You and James need to give your opinions on the Netflix series, it's based on this particular game after all

[@Astrodude55]

It's pretty damn cool Netflix adapted this into a show. This game just doesn't get enough love.

[@Theseus9-cl7ol]

Why play games when you can watch Mike play them.

[@matthewrs7]

This is probably the #1 most nostalgic game for me. My brother's and I played it as kids and we loved the visuals, loved the music, but we got SOO mad and could never get far in it.

[@richardpage9474]

Beat this when I was a kid did use HELP ME code, is still my favorite CV. Used Alucard, the boat was just to much of a pain.

[@SHR7778]

Ever try a Trevor only run?

[@thepatriot2603]

And you’re just taking the easy path Mike! There’s three different paths throughout the game!!

[@PurpleRupees]

I'm on the second to last level taking Sypha path. Is Alucard route really that much harder?

[@joeyk107]

@@PurpleRupees in my opinion, the paths easiest to hardest are the sypha path, the alucard path, then the sunken city path.

[@PurpleRupees]

@@joeyk107 now that I've done every level Trevor only now. I can say that most of Alucard route is easier. Except for the sunken city and especially the falling blocks stage. Those 2 are the hardest stages besides the final 2

[@TheSlatecrow]

Hey Mike, do you think you could do a full play though of the original Pax Payne on ps2/xbox... (On one of the harder difficulties perhaps?) It's kinda unique because it was a fairly difficult game from the ps2/xbox generation. A classic gem I think, at least for modern games. Its easy as pie compared to this monster of a game though.

[@MrSkullHead1250]

Agreed, it is one of my favorite Ps2 titles, and to me will be considered a classic, just as Castlevania is now, Max Payne will be in the future. In my opinion a classic is like anything N64 and earlier, so ps2 will be classic when I am much older lol. I can't call ps2 a classic yet XD. I love it, and it is one of the best consoles of the 2000's but It feels so weird hearing it called classic lol. I can't explain why, but anyway I do agree.

[@iJerseyDevil]

This game is FUCKING HARD. Especially when you use Trevor only.

[@melvinbutchhoot]

Aside from Alucard being able to bypass certain spots in bat form, hes pretty useless.

[@Synthmancer]

These full playthroughs are great.

[@Kumaclaws]

Personally I use Grant more than Alucard or Sypha since I could use Grant to use shortcuts and I could recover way better with the platforming.

[@brandonwilliams6119]

Without a doubt the hardest NES game I’ve played, harder than the 3 Ninja Gaidens combined! I need to try Ghosts’n’Goblins and Battletoads sometime in the future.

[@BrickTamlandOfficial]

You and james need to play Skitchin' for Genesis. it would be hilarious to play against each other.

[@redtygr14]

Call me a fool, but I literally skipped out on even trying to get an NES Classic just because it didn't have this one game, my fav nes game ever. I still haven't beat it, but I want to do it on a nes controller.

[@PidgeyHowler]

The reason Sypha is called a "he" is because she disguised herself as a man. She's a witch, and due to the fact that the people back then greatly feared witches, she pretended to be male so she could easily travel and fight without people being concerned that she might be a witch. Sypha married Trevor after the events of the game, even.

[@brandonmanuel2842]

I had a dream about this game. I was the protagonist and my helpers were Victoria Justice, Ariana Grande, and Elizabeth Gillies.

[@zakuguriin4521]

I always get stuck on the level near the end where the blocks fall for days till you can reach a platform way up top. I also get stuck at Death.

[@PrivateOGITH]

at Least i can Finish this Game Alone Without Help from Anybody.

[@KingHenryVR4]

I never really got into or beat any of the Castlevania games, think farthest I got in one was Super Castlevania IV playing through a emulator or maybe Castlevania Rebirth for the Wii

[@retrosoul8770]

I recommend Revenge of Shinobi?

[@RAfaelLopez-hm3lx]

You should have a DLG to AVGN game called Mike's revenge.

[@pigeonsil240sx]

i wish nes games had a difficulty scale on the box so when we rented them we knew what to expect.did anyon else throw fits that "the game cheats" growing up? lol

[@rmp.attackerfake9446]

I'm so dumb for trying to beat Stage 9 with Trevor. Took me 3 days not knowing that the most powerful spell is on the 2nd level of the water area in section 3. Oh well I beat the stage I guess. But I regret not knowing more.

[@thecollectingconnoisseur6345]

I know this video is old but damn!!!!! You rocked this shit out!!!!! Props bro!!!

[@saltyjoey2224]

Please review takeshie's challeng

[@khululyp]

Great game, paved the way for the Igavanias(commonly known as metroidvania) Now that you have a 3DS capture card, try some of the DS versions of Castlevania.

[@calvincameron354]

Hey Mike I've been watching you and AVGN since 2008 it's been 4ever! Keep on gaming

[@DEVIANTGEIST]

You're not supposed to know Syfa was a she until the end of the game. It's purposely done to hide her identity. That's why the epic hair reveal in the ending. It's like Samus from Metroid. :)

[@_JackNapier]

This is my FAVORITE NES GAME!!! Checking every Block is Mandatory 🏥

[@timrobinson7198]

Wish they would make a modern version of this game using same characters but with updated lord of shadows graphics and gameplay. With the ability to have grant and others to join you.

[@Scott86]

Mike beat the fuck out of Street Fighter 2010 on NES!!

[@thewal1ofsleep]

I think they were trying to make Syfa being a woman a "reveal" at the end of the game, hence why her hood falls and long hair flows out during the epilogue. They called her "him" when she is introduced in attempt to trick you.

[@toptenguy1]

In baseball terms, Trevor is the ace starting pitcher, Syfa is the closer.

[@knives401]

Great play through, but wasn't this already uploaded a while back? Not saying that's a problem, just curious.

[@LateNightRetro]

Dude prolly played this for days, then acted like he was clueless about it. EleGiggle

[@josephjones7828]

+Cinemassacre This game has four endings. One for each of the three characters you take as a partner and one for Trevor without any partner. Think you'll do the other endings?

[@zombiecrusher1100]

I wish Konami would make a new Castlevania. And bring back the side scrolling. I wasn't a huge fan of how they changed it.