Play Akumajou Dracula - Circle of the Moon (Capital) Online

Summary

Castlevania: Circle of the Moon (simply known as Castlevania in PAL regions) feels like a love letter to Symphony of the Night while daring to add its own twist. The standout is the Dual Set‑Up System, a deck of ten Action and ten Attribute cards that drop from enemies; pairing them creates up to a hundred unique magic effects, letting you tailor offense, defense or passive buffs on the fly. Beyond the card combos, the game hides four secret modes—Magician, Fighter, Shooter and Thief—each unlocked by a file‑select code and reshaping Nathan Graves’ stats, from extra intelligence and full card decks to boosted strength or a luck‑driven treasure hunt. Critics praised the sprawling castle layout, tight controls and a soundtrack that perfectly matches the gothic vibe, even as the handheld’s dark palette sometimes made enemies hard to spot. With half a million copies sold worldwide and a slew of award nominations, Circle of the Moon proved that a portable Metroidvania could stand shoulder‑to‑shoulder with its console brethren, offering deep replay value through its card system and mode‑specific strategies.

Storyline

Akumajou Dracula – Circle of the Moon (commonly known as Castlevania: Circle of the Moon) unfolds in 1830 Europe, centered on an ancient castle on the edge of the Austrian Empire. The eternal Belmont‑style clash between vampire hunters and Dracula provides the backdrop, but the game introduces new faces, chiefly Nathan Graves, who wields the Hunter Whip passed down from his mentor Morris Baldwin. Nathan’s fellow trainee, Hugh Baldwin—Morris’s son—envies the whip, believing it should be his birthright.

When the vampiress Camilla awakens Dracula, the floor beneath Nathan and Hugh collapses, sending them into the castle’s catacombs. Nathan decides to locate Morris, while Hugh abandons him, convinced Nathan will only hinder his own quest for recognition. Throughout the castle Nathan learns that Morris’s soul will be used at the next full moon to restore Dracula’s full power, and he repeatedly clashes with an increasingly hostile Hugh.

Nathan eventually defeats Camilla in her true form, only to be attacked by Hugh, who is being controlled by Dracula. After freeing Hugh from the vampire’s influence, the two reconcile and Hugh pledges to rescue their mentor.

In the ceremonial chamber Nathan confronts Dracula, who briefly teleports away to regain strength before returning for a final battle. With Hugh’s help, Nathan banishes Dracula, escapes the collapsing fortress, and reunites with Morris. Morris declares Nathan a master vampire hunter, while Hugh vows to retrain under his father’s guidance.